When President Obama appeared on Leno last night, Leno asked him how his bowling was going. Obama is famously a horrible bowler, and he made a joke about how he was using the White House bowling alley to practice. Obama then made an unfortunate remark about his current score of 129, “It was like the Special Olympics or something.”
People were freaking out about it before the interview even aired. Keith Olberman talked about it on Countdown, and it seems like Obama knew he made a bad joke just minutes after he made it. Obama called the Chairman of the Special Olympics, Tim Shriver (some sort of Kennedy relative) to apologize for the joke. Radar Online has more:
President Obama is apologizing for a flippant joke aimed at the Special Olympics during his appearance on The Tonight Show on Thursday.
The President, discussing his mediocre bowling skills with host Jay Leno, said he was disappointed with his latest score of 129.
“It was like the Special Olympics or something,” the President said.
On his way back to Washington on Air Force One, Obama called the chairman of the Special Olympics, Tim Shriver, to say he was sorry, even before the taped program aired late Thursday night.
“He expressed his disappointed and he apologized in a way that was very moving. He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population,” Shriver said Friday on ABC’s Good Morning America. Obama, Shriver said, wants to have some Special Olympic athletes visit the White House to bowl or play basketball.
Still, Shriver said, “I think it’s important to see that words hurt and words do matter. And these words that in some respect can be seem as humiliating or a put down to people with special needs do cause pain and they do result in stereotypes.”
Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters traveling with Obama that the president’s offhand remark was not meant to disparage the Special Olympics, only to poke some fun at the commander-in-chief’s bowling skills.
“He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world,” Burton said.
[From Radar Online]
There’s no question the joke was in poor taste, but I also knew what Obama was trying to say. He was trying to be self-deprecating, but it just got mangled. It’s great that he apologized, and it sounds like the Special Olympics chairman is giving Obama a pass now.
President Barack Obama (with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, above) speaking about AIG on the South Lawn of the White House before his departure to California on Wednesday. Images thanks to WENN.com.
I love the PC police.
I know about getting out of hand with PC, and I like Obama, but seriously, you really can’t say those things. I know he was joking and did not mean to belittle special needs, but still. Good for him for apologizing. I don’t know if they actually have to come to the White House, but I would have apologized.
Meh. This is offensive, when Bush started a war on a bunch of lies? A war that has taken more lives than I can count? What an insane planet we live on.
Not PC – but I still love him. He’s a normal guy – Give him a break.
Insane PC is right! What really weirded me out was the President of the US going on Jay let’s make a joke Leno! Not only is our currency being downgraded, so is our Presidency! He wasn’t even running for anything. But if he tries to crack a joke, why the heck doesn’t he say, “It’s just a joke folks, let’s calm down and stop yelling for the PC Police the minute your feelings are hurt!” That would make his poll number go higher than this Leno stunt.
It was definitely a stupid thing to say.
Good. He most certainly should have apologized. That was “uncool” (TM – Jenn Aniston)
I didn’t vote for him, but I have grown to really like him. He is a regular guy and people need to grow up and realize that not everything is PC and I’ll bet everyone has said “retarded” at one point or another but you wouldn’t get them to admit it. What’s the big deal??? There wouldn’t be any specail olympics if Joe Kennedy hadn’t lobotomized his daughter all those years ago. You won’t get teh Kennedys or the Shrivers to talk about that…..
The question is , did he mean anything by the comment. Who in thier right mind thinks the president meant to insult anyone other than his own bowling abilities.
PC crap is out of hand. It was not a stab at anybody but himself. If people want to bitch or hate somebody, they’ll find any excuse, obviously.
I didn’t construe it as malicious, just making fun of himself. If those kids DIDN’T have difficulties or limitations there wouldn’t BE “special” olympics. It’s a FACT that they are limited, and he was addressing how his bowling skills are LIMITED. Come ON.
it’s unfortunate, like kaiser said, because he obviously didn’t mean any disrespect. but still understandably some individuals would be sensitive to it. i am surprised about this because he always comes across as so refined, and even when he’s making a joke he is always so smooth. not that being smooth is a fault, but i actually appreciate a blunder because he appears more genuine.
Wow. How forgiving everyone is. Can you IMAGINE if, say, George Bush, Rush Limbaugh, or Sarah Palin said that? The mob would be calling for their heads. What Obama said was insensitive and rude – not to mention thoughtless. But, then again, he didn’t have his trusty teleprompter.
Right on Abby!! we would have heard about this on every single channel and news venue had a republican issued that slip of the tongue. But since it was from the “chosen one” its hardly a blip on the radar screen. Interesting.
let the teleprompter jokes begin…
I don’t know about “blip on a radar”…I live in Alberta, Canada, and I heard aaaall about it on every local radio station. It’s definitely made the news! I do agree though, that if Bush had said it, everyone would be out for blood.
That’ll teach him never to stray from his talking points. Call it Revenge of the Teleprompter!
@ abby- the difference is that bush, sarah palin or rush limbaugh would never have aplogized for making that remark. at least obama did – he said something that was offensive and he apologized. let’s get back to trying to fix the country after 8 years of chaos.
I think the whole “if a Republican did it, they would be lynched” argument is pretty lame. Bush was a gaffe machine, and people ignored a lot of the sillier gaffes he made.
I consider this Special Olympics “joke” on par with Bush’s statement that “there are so many OB/GYNs out there who can’t practice their love with women…” The PC police didn’t make Bush come out and aplogize to women who have been abused by their doctors, did they?
I think trying to make it sound okay because Bush said stupid things is even worse.
Kaiser: What’s lame is your analogy. Bush’s statement, while admittedly foolish and nonsensical, wasn’t a direct reference to women who’ve been abused by their doctors. Obama likened his lousy bowling skills to someone in the Special Olympics, which is a far more straightforward and tangible comparison.
And cut the crap, we know FULL WELL that you’d be leading the pack of the outraged masses if a Republican made this comment. In fact, tell me, what’s the difference between this blunder and the Miley Cyrus “Asian eyes” gaffe? She meant it as a joke, too, but she was crucified. I’m not defending her, because I agree she acted like a dumbass, but what’s the difference? If anything, Obama, unlike Miley, is smart enough to know better.
Background: I don’t like the guy. I think his real gaffes have been in things like the stimulus bill and all these nominees who haven’t paid their taxes, etc.
He said something stupid like most of us do and he apologized. I’m glad he apologized. Let’s move on.
The truth is, I think we see the real Obama when he’s unscripted and speaking off the cuff.
He just doesn’t do a thing for me. It’s like having a movie star as president.
And hey, The Original Kate:
Rush, Bush and especially Sarah Palin, mother of a child who will probably participate in the Special Olympics, wouldn’t say that. It wouldn’t occur to them.
Every time there’s a democratic president the media (which coincidentally is mostly owned by republicans who invented the title “liberal media” to hide that fact) desperately looks for stories to put them down on a daily basis.
I expected this when he got elected, and am not surprised at all that a tiny joke would be magnified to this level. If Bush would have said a similar thing i.e. “my opinion polls are so low I should enter the Special Olympics” or something, people would have laughed and dropped it as one more stupid thing to say. It’s not even a putdown of the Special Olympics — it’s a comparison!
Where’s the insult here? This is really grasping at straws, but I expect much worse as his presidency goes along. Jealous much, since every republican president in the last 30 years has destroyed the economy and basically been a total disaster?
No, the real difference is that Rush, Bush and Palin (yes, Palin included) are all against giving more funding to programs for people with special needs, as well as cutting funding for Medicare and Medicaid. While Obama’s joke was thoughtless, his words only offended, and he rightfully apologized. Republicans’ actions cut benefits to special needs persons and drive them and their families into poverty.
greta – he didn’t go on Leno to be a celeb. He went on there to explain about the bonuses to people who don’t watch political news shows. He’s attempting to save the stimulus (and us) from all the outrage. If we let this derail the process, we’re all sunk.
Ok first of all, George W. Bush has very famously claimed, more than once, that he’s never made a mistake. He would NEVER apologize for ANYTHING. Dude did WAY worse than make a stupid offensive offhand joke on a late night TV show. He started an unnecessary war, killing thousands and spending TRILLIONS. That deserved more than an apology, but we’ll never hear it.
But beyond that, this sounds just like something I would do. I do think the apology was warranted, and I’m glad we have a president now who KNOWS when they screwed up and is willing to say “hey I screwed up, I apologize.” It’s nice to have an actual adult in charge.
@ Courtney, I think your facts might be a bit off;
“According to an April 2008 article in Education Week, Palin signed legislation in March 2008 that would increase public school funding considerably, including special needs funding. In particular, it would increase spending for certain special needs students that Alaska calls “intensive needs” (students with high-cost special requirements) from $26,900 per student in 2008 to $73,840 per student in 2011. That almost triples the per-student spending in three fiscal years. Palin’s original proposal, according to the Anchorage Daily News, would have increased funds slightly more, giving intensive needs students a $77,740 allotment by 2011.”
There’s more if you care to research it further.
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_palin.html
Oh, and I don’t care who made the Special Olympics comment; it wasn’t the smartest thing to say, but the PC brigade has become ridiculous. It’s now totally overboard to the point where people are afraid to say anything.
Republicans aren’t the only ones offended. Shriver said he hoped this would be a time for everyone to learn that words are hurful.
He apologised, what more could he do? I think that remark was made in reaction to the stupid face Leno was pulling. If Obama had said the Irish Olympics the PC police would be laughing along… PC-ness still isn’t across the board.
In case anyone is interested, here’s the response from The Special Olympics:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/20/raw-data-special-olympics-official-statement-obamas-joke/
Feebee. I doubt it. Everyone with a drop of Irish blood would be howling just as loudly.
I predict that the Obamas will be special patrons of the Special Olympics as soon as an opportunity presents itself! I also look forward to some Special Olympians being invited to whip the POTUS at bowling at the White House bowling lane…
I’m confused why there are Bush bashing comments on this thread. He’s OUT OF OFFICE LET IT GO… Yes Obama made an off color joke, but he was man enough to apologize. Let’s move on and fix this economy.
He was really making fun of Leno’s reaction to his mediocre bowling score, but I’m glad that he apologized because his opponents are looking for any opportunity to make him a bad guy. I think if a lot of people are honest we frequently use language that could be offensive even if it is not our intent to demean, like short bus and other insults. Anyway, I’m glad that we have Prez who doesn’t stubbornly resist taking responsibility for anything. And Republicans are offended? Really, the same people who didn’t find the NY Post monkey cartoon, Barack the Magic Negro, or Obama Waffles, offensive, is offended. Puhleeze.
FFS, Codzilla, what crawled up your ass? Re: Miley Cyrus… at first I was just annoyed that she was just a dumb kid who made a mistake. I only got pissed when it took her so long to apologize.
Re: Obama – He made a mistake. He apologized. What Republican has apologized for any of the stupid sh-t they say on a daily basis?
My point by bringing up the Bush stuff was that he said a lot of dumb things, to the point that most of us barely cared about the latest gaffe. Perhaps Obama is the one being held to a different standard, because he’s usually so eloquant.
Bush started no war on lies.
What Obama said was horrible, I have an autistic son. I bet he doesn’t like racial or Islamic jokes that talk about his kinfolk.
BUSH IS GONE. You can stop blaming and speaking of him.
What he says off the teleprompter is the real him. Damn communist.
Wow: I really didn’t think it was such a big deal.
This totally reminds me of Joe Biden saying you had to have an Indian accent to walk into a 7-11 or a Dunkin Donuts. For some reason, that was totally fine with everyone. Everyone said – oh, he said that a couple years ago. WHO CARES! The fact that he ever said it is ridiculous. If Sarah Palin had said that when she was TWELVE, everyone would have been screaming ‘racist’! But a Democrat says it and it’s largely ignored. Apparently, Dems think because they label themselves compassionate and tolerant, they can say whatever offensive thing they want to say.
Double fucking standard.
@ jennameow: no, you’re right. rush would never make a joke about retarded people, he’s too busy making AIDS jokes and telling black callers to “take the bone out of your nose and call me back”. what a guy.
Me: Believe me, you don’t want to go there on Bush and his unnecessary war.
FAKEROVERSY!!
The Original Kate: How often do you listen to Rush? I download his podcasts, so I’m pretty familiar with him. If you think he’s a racist or a sexist or whatever, then you obviously aren’t in on his schtick. You don’t want the PC police after Obama, but it’s okay if they attack Rush, who’s a private citizen.
And Kristin: You’re exactly right about Joe Biden making a disgusting remark about Indians and 7-11s. I guess he thinks Bobby Jindal should be serving Slurpees instead of governor of Louisiana.
The truth is, liberals get away with saying whatever they please and it seems like Republicans are held to different standards.
Rush L. isn’t really a “private citizen” at this point, he’s on the radio and the proclaimed leader of the republican party.
Also, Codzilla and Kaiser, please, using “lame” is offensive to the differently-abled among us and probably even to some people who participate in the Special Olympics. (see? this shit can just go on and on.)
people…chill pill.
@ jennameow: thanks for explaining that rush isn’t racist, sexist or homophobic…it’s just a “schtick”. now i get it, and wow…he IS hilarious, espcially when he makes fun of people with AIDS. as far as obama goes, when did i say that i thought his comment was ok? i said it was offensive, but he apologized like a man. you should probably read people’s posts before you comment on them. better yet, just go download some rush podcasts.
Political correctness I suppose is for politics. I find it refreshing and amusing when you meet people that can poke fun at their own weaknesses, or race or gender. Sometimes that involves tip-toeing into someone elses to make the point. Political correctness (carefully watching everything you say) and the drama it causes when someone **gasp slips, makes me yawn.
@ Orangejulius. Are you kidding me? The Irish would not be howling, what a waste of time that would be. We have too good a sense of humour to not be able to laugh at ourselves. For the record my drop of Irish blood is 75%.
Isn’t Rush the guy who mocked Michael J. Fox’s tremors?
Anni: can you please chuck me a chill pill before we start handing them around? This is getting almost as heated as an Angelina / Jennifer thread, and we know those posts bring out the best in all of us. Do you have enough to go around?
Here’s how I see it: EVERYONE has prejudices to some degree. It’s part of being human. Some people own up to them, and when they realize they’ve been hurtful to someone else, they apologize and try not to do it again. Others dig their heels in, let their egos take over and belittle the people that were hurt; telling them that they’re being too sensitive, or the PC Police or whatever.
I think the apology approach actually works towards something constructive, whereas telling people that they are being “too sensitive/PC” only furthers division.
JennaMeow– you’ve got to be kidding me, you think Rush Limbaugh is some kind of saint? You’ve lost all credibility.
I think people made too much of this– my uncle is involved in Special Olympics so it is definitely a cause close to my heart and I don’t appreciate his remark. BUT– he apologized and I understand that he didn’t mean any ill will.
@daisy: my facts are just fine. check the last paragraph in this:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/story/959465.html
“The biggest single chunk of money that Palin is turning down is about $170 million for education, including money that would go for programs to help economically disadvantaged and special needs students.”
And Palin was only one of the three people mentioned in previous posts. Bush and Limbaugh have advocated cutting benefits for those with special needs, not just turning down much needed extra funding.
wasn’t impressed. why did he even make that remark in the first place. prez obama definitely needs a little “disability etiquette” as no one should compare the special olympics with goofs and bloopers.
Kaiser, Bush said that? I’m actually not surprised, but that is stupider than stupid.
I am completely with you anastasia.
@Courtney, Did you even read the article I posted the link to or just google her name trying to prove your claims?
The funds your link is referring to is from the new stimulus bill. The purpose of the stimulus is to create jobs, not put the US in debt so far my Grand-children’s kids will be paying it off. She is not alone, other Governors are turning down those funds for the same reasons.
You omitted this out of your post from that article;
Palin is not taking about $288 million of the $930.7 million that Alaska is due in the federal stimulus. Palin said she is accepting the federal stimulus money that would go for construction projects, but not funding directed at government operations.
“We are not requesting funds intended to just grow government,” Palin said. “In essence we say no to operating funds for more positions in government.”
As far as your other claims, I would continue our banter if I gave a flying crap about Bush & Limbaugh, or if you had more interesting points.
It was a dumb thing to say, agreed. He apologized. He owned it. Next.
@daisy: I wasn’t aware Google isn’t allowed when you’re trying to find an article on something you heard on a TV news show. I apologize for utilizing the internet in an internet debate? Haha.
If you’d like a really interesting point, here’s one for you: She and McCain lost, primarily because of her lack of intelligence. So she can do whatever she’d like in Alaska, because it seems like that’s where she’s destined to stay. Out of my oil-rich Gulf of Mexico, out of my uterus, and out of my life :).
@courtney, no problem, I do agree with your last statement though.
Great weekend to you down in the warm weather. Peace.
@ texasmom: you are correct, rush did indeed mock michael j. fox’s tremors. he even accused him of not taking his medication before he testified before congress for more funding, so that -according to rush- his tremors would be worse. it was quickly pointed out to rush that the tremors are actually a terrible side effect of the medication – if michael hadn’t taken the meds he would not have been able to move much at all, let alone speak. yeah, we’re still waiting for the apology…
me, you need to get an education. Do not address me in such a fashion again, are we clear?
Just for those who don’t know a few facts commonly overlooked. As it sits 64cents to $1.00 goes to most states to SPECIAL needs children. Less than 4cents goes to GIFTED or ADVANCED. And the special needs child lobby is one of the most powerful in the nation……one that takes money from the OTHER kids that need it rightfully as much. Food for thought in this interesting debate.
This is all about the trying to find something against Obama ! I didn’t find it offensive! Palin needs to get over herself and the rest of the Obama haters!
That must have been an honest mistake. Was probably trying to crack a joke and it was taken out of context
I understand it was a silly mistake, but having said that, he is the president of the united states and should monitor his language more carefully as there will always be backlash. Unfortunately, the president doesn’t have to right to be as relaxed and candid as average citizens.
It was insulting and he should be ashamed of himself.