Obama cracks a joke about the Special Olympics on the Tonight Show.

[DianeV]

Are you really wanting to get started on things Sara Palin has said? I am sure there doozies out there

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Hey did BO ever release his grade transcripts from college and law school?

Seems another famous DEM who everyone considered leagues ahead of President Bush in the smart’s department didn’t release his transcripts until way after his defeat. It turned out that he Kerry had far worse grades than President Bush. Go figure!





.

Yes, subpar academic performance has been known to lead to subsequent admission to a highly selective law school. And subpar law school performance has been known to lead to selection for and presidency of the law review.

He said something stupid. He will say other stupid things. But to suggest that he was intentionally attacking or belittling the mentally handicapped, to suggest that he has some deep-seated hatred for those with disabilities, is a reduction to the absurd.

 

[LVSWL]

Are you really wanting to get started on things Sara Palin has said? I am sure there doozies out there

On the subject of the Special Olympics? or the participants? Since that IS the subject at of the thread.

 

[luvmy3]

Wow do some posters have nothing else to do but scan and look around for something/anything to complain about and blame on Obama? I mean, really it gets very old

That post at the beginning about the unemployment rates etc..do you really think in the short time he has been President he caused all that? Do some have no concept of time ???

Are you really wanting to get started on things Sara Palin has said? I am sure there doozies out there

Bringing up what Sarah Palin has said about this particular incident is pretty relevant since she does have a son with Down Syndrome. I would imagine she has a very strong opinion on the President's little joke.
But I guess if you wanted to point out other things she has said that one can complain about, go for it, by your own opinion that would be pretty old.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

On the subject of the Special Olympics? or the participants? Since that IS the subject at of the thread.

Well, the message she taped for the Special Olympic games was very touching. But it also sounded like she had just discovered Special Olympics after having a baby with Downs. It also sounded like her family had no interest in the organization until Trigg was born. In reality, I'm sure she was aware of the organization before. I'm sure she thought the organization was a good and noble cause. Remarkably enough, though, what came out of her mouth didn't seem to reflect that.

And then there is that special tolerance she has for the homosexuals. I'm sure the gay community's collective hearts filled with warmth during her tolerance speech during the VP debate.

But hey, is this really worth the 20-some-odd pages? On second thought, how long did the cart thread go? We may have legs for this puppy yet!

 

[chobie]

Yes, it was stupid. I won't begrudge you cons having a field day with this. Enjoy. You have so little to celebrate these days.

 

[DancingBear]

Hey did BO ever release his grade transcripts from college and law school?

Seems another famous DEM who everyone considered leagues ahead of President Bush in the smart’s department didn’t release his transcripts until way after his defeat. It turned out that he Kerry had far worse grades than President Bush. Go figure!





.

Obama graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law.

 

[rie'smom]

Obama graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law.

Still doesn't change the fact that he has never released his transcripts.
After some of the stunts he's pulled lately and with some of the appointments he's made I think he graduated from the Jethro Bodine version of Harvard.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Still doesn't change the fact that he has never released his transcripts.
After some of the stunts he's pulled lately and with some of the appointments he's made I think he graduated from the Jethro Bodine version of Harvard.

Thanks!!

 

[mamajoan]

Obama supporter checking in...

Yes, he screwed up.. bad... very, bad. I was saddened to hear the Special Olympics comment. I forgive him. I forgave Bush for many verbal wanderings too. President Obama is bound to make more mistakes in the next 4 years.

Harsh judgement should come if he does not learn from this mistake.... I will put money on it that he will not make the same/similar mistake again. To me that is a better way to judge him on this event.

I must say that I thought President Obama was very relaxed on Leno last night. He has been in office 60 days. 60 very stressful days.. not too much good news to report .. yet... yet..

 

[shortbun]

Why do the Obama faithful insist on comparing the POTUS to two political pundits? Rush and Anne make outrageous comments, therefore it's OK for the POTUS to do the same? He is the President of the United States, he is held to a higher standard than Rush and Anne.

True, and his comment was nowhere CLOSE to anything Rush or Anne have said. He was not intentional about putting anyone down except himself. It was a self-deprecating comment about his own ability to bowl. Unfortunate choice, in fact should bring an apology BUT intentionally outrageous it was not. Now, had he dressed up in Special Olympics T-shirt and mocked a disabled person's behavior...or dressed in a fighter pilot's uniform and landed on an aircraft carrier...

 

[Liann]

I didn't vote for him but you know what I like about him? He's real. Ya he screws up but at least he does it in the open. He may be President of the united states but at the beginnin, middle, and end of the day he's just some guy who got votes. When was the last time we saw a President say "oops, my bad I'm sorry"?

It's sort of refreshing. Ppl screw up and do/say stupid things no matter their education, status, or celebrity. We are all human. This guy isn't pretending to be any less.

The ones prior have covered their mistakes up, tried to push blame to others,

Maybe I'm a wierd R but I appreciate the occasional truthfulness.

 

[themilesfamily]

Perhaps this was mentioned already, but I just read an article about one of the top bowlers in the Special Olympics -- he's bowled FIVE perfect 300 games since 2005! His name is Kolan McConiughey. That is really impressive.

If you're bowling poorly, you're certainly NOT bowling like a Special Olympian!

 

[ConcKahuna]

http://www.specialolympics.org/official_statement.aspx

MARCH 20, 2009

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHAIRMAN
TIMOTHY SHRIVER

REGARDING U.S. PRESIDENT OBAMA’S COMMENT ON
THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO​

“President Obama called last night and expressed his regret and he apologized. He said that he did not intend to humiliate Special Olympics athletes or people with intellectual disabilities. He was sincere and heartfelt, and said that he is a fan of our movement and is ready to work with our athletes to make the United States a more accepting and welcoming country for all people with special needs.

“Words hurt and words matter. Words can cause pain and result in stereotypes that are unfair and damaging to people with intellectual disabilities. And using 'Special Olympics' in a negative or derogatory context can be a humiliating put-down to people with special needs.

“This is a teachable moment for our country. We are asking young people, parents and leaders from all walks of life to engage in conversation and help dispel negative caricatures about people with intellectual disabilities. We believe that it’s only through open conversation and dialogue about how stereotypes can cause pain that we can begin to work together to create communities of acceptance and inclusion for all.

“Special Olympics is not a program, but a worldwide movement operating 30,000 events a year in more than 180 countries. Every one of them is a chance for people of all ages to get involved, to think differently about attitudes and perceptions they may have about people with intellectual disabilities, and to make a difference.

“And so we challenge people to join our 'Spread the Word to End the Word' campaign, a youth-led national awareness effort that will launch on March 31, where we are asking people to pledge their respect for people with special needs. We’re asking people to sign our 'R-word' pledge, to join in our Unified Sports programs, to volunteer, and to be fans of our athletes and our movement.

“Additionally, we challenge policy leaders at all levels to commit to improving the support and resources for people with intellectual disabilities in areas such as healthcare, education, housing and recreation.

“Finally, we invite the President to take the lead and consider hiring a Special Olympics athlete to work in the White House. In so doing, he could help end misperceptions about the talents and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities, and demonstrate their dignity and value to the world."

Contact:
Kirsten Suto Seckler
Special Olympics
kseckler@specialolympics.org

I see disappointment in the choice of words, wich we all feel, and I see that they feel his apology to them was sincere and they accepted it. I dont see the outrage from the Special Olympics that some people seem to want to push.

 

[Charade]

http://www.specialolympics.org/official_statement.aspx



I see disappointment in the choice of words, wich we all feel, and I see that they feel his apology to them was sincere and they accepted it. I dont see the outrage from the Special Olympics that some people seem to want to push.

Just imagine if it were a Republican.

 

[Goofycampers]

Still doesn't change the fact that he has never released his transcripts.
After some of the stunts he's pulled lately and with some of the appointments he's made I think he graduated from the Jethro Bodine version of Harvard.

You're killin' me!

 

[ConcKahuna]

Just imagine if it were a Republican.

Slips like that, when uncommon, are to me disappointing but no reason to flip out. Bush often said funny things just because of syntax errors, but it wasn't anything I got mad at. Coulter on the other hand is a spiteful hellbound wench who spouts hatered constantly.

 

[ntsammy5]

Coulter on the other hand is a spiteful hellbound wench who spouts hatered constantly.

I agree - what I don't understand though, is why most of these commentators tend to be conservative. I don't listen/watch much of this stuff - is there a liberal journalist that uses these types of attacks as a normal part of their show? I'm curious about that. Why is the broadcast hate and venom concentrated on the right?

 

[cindy_belle]

Keith Olberman for starters

 

[Goofycampers]

I agree - what I don't understand though, is why most of these commentators tend to be conservative. I don't listen/watch much of this stuff - is there a liberal journalist that uses these types of attacks as a normal part of their show? I'm curious about that. Why is the broadcast hate and venom concentrated on the right?

Wow, guess you don't watch many news shows. How about Mattews, Carville, fill in the blank with pretty much any hollywood nutjob.