Published: August 26, 2008 03:56 pm            

Not amused — 08/27/08

Telling a politically incorrect joke certainly is not criminal

Otis “Bullman” Hensley may be guilty of telling a lousy joke or of being politically incorrect, but he is not a criminal. His arrest last week on a charge of attempted unlawful transaction with a minor was an overreaction to a bad joke.

The charges were dropped Monday — but not before the two-time Democratic candidate for governor spent three days in jail in Harlan.

Hensley is best known for his two longshot races for governor during which he toured the state with a giant Fiberglas bull on which he attached a sign proclaiming that, if elected, he would “chase the bull out of Frankfort.”

Hensley was at a Harlan grocery store last week when he encountered a woman with her two nieces, ages 11 and 13. “I offered to trade her a fattening hog for those girls,” Hensley said. “I meant it as a joke. I’ve said it a million times. Most people get a kick out of it.”

But the aunt was not the least bit amused. The family obtained a warrant for Hensley’s arrest from the local prosecutor, claiming the comment was intended to entice the children into illegal sexual activity.

Appalachian scholar Loyal Jones — who has written several popular books on mountain humor — said the jest Hensley made has been around for generations and actually is intended as a compliment.

“I’ve heard many variations of that,” said Jones, retired director of Berea College’s Appalachian Center. “You might hear ‘That’s a good looking boy; I’d trade you a pocket knife for him’ ... Political correctness has ruined country humor.”

Hensley apologized to the family, and he and the girls’ father shook hands in the courtroom Monday. All is forgiven.

In Kentucky, citizens can obtain arrest warrants simply by filing a complaint with local prosecutors. Defense attorney Karen Davenport said no investigation is necessary for police to make an arrest when the charge involves an alleged sexual offense, adding that Hensley’s arrest was unwarranted because he had done nothing criminal.

“Jay Leno makes jokes every night and makes millions,” Hensley said. “I make one joke and go to jail.”

In the future, we suspect Hensley will limit his humor to poking fun of bulls and Frankfort politicians — and hope the bovines aren’t offended.

        

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