It’s often said that politics isn’t beanbag but, if the game involves a punching bag, some feelings may get hurt.  At least that’s what the Delaware County Republicans learned this week.  A punching bag bearing a cartoon image of the President with a black eye was on display in the GOP tent at the Delaware County Fair in Muncie this week and it prompted complaints, one by a Republican who thought it was disrespectful to the Commander in Chief.  “There were some people that were upset by it so we put it away,” said Republican Jonna Reece, “and when we come back to get it, it was stolen.”

The fact that party leaders felt the need to remove the punching bag gave this story life but it’s something that’s been done before.  An Obama punching bag appeared in a booth operated by a vendor at the state Republican convention in June.  Delegates could purchase the opportunity to punch it.  There was just one complaint.  Even so, it was given away in a drawing.  It didn’t produce the sort of reaction you get at the Delaware County Fair where one woman said, “I think it’s just wrong.”

Nevertheless, leaders in both major parties shy away from the controversy and Reece says, “I think this has just kind of been blown out of proportion.”

But, late this afternoon during a taping of Indiana Week in Review, State GOP Chairman Eric Holcomb said that he does not approve of the Obama punching bag in any setting.  He said that it won’t be permitted at the next GOP convention