President Obama Puts Foot in Mouth: Makes Offensive Remark About Special Olympics on Leno
Labels: President Barack Obama
This was gratuitously harmful politically to the president, and it reflects a thoughtlessness, I think, that belies his image as a sensitive egalitarian. President Obama has compared his poor bowling skills to the Special Olympics. From the story: Towards the end of his approximately 40-minute appearance, the president talked about how he's gotten better at bowling and has been practicing in the White House bowling alley.
He bowled a 129, the president said.
"That's very good, Mr. President," Leno said sarcastically.
It's "like the Special Olympics or something," the president said.
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 10:53 PM
27 Comments
27 Comments:
Barack Obama has never struck me as a sensitive egalitarian.
His approval ratings must be hurting for him to have gone on Leno. This whole thing, which seems to have started with Bush41 appearing on "Saturday Night Live" some years ago, of presidential candidates announcing their candidacies on late-night talk shows, culminating (as far as I've noticed) with John McCain appearing on one after he lost the election, reflects to what extent the dignity of the office, and along with it values and decorum in our society, have been lowered, just as the medical profession has abandoned ethics along with the Hippoccratic Oath. It's telling. But just let him keep talking. He's doing a good job of doing himself in politically and eventually even the teleprompter and Soros-type money behind him won't be able to prevail. Look what he said tonight without the teleprompter. People aren't as stupid as his backers think, despite having elected him. I just hope that they wake up in time. They may. The number next to the American flag here certainly is jumping before our eyes, aren't they.
And yes, George Bush would have been crucified for it. But he wouldn't have said it.
Yes the number is jumping. Now, wait a minute -- we're in a crisis, a catastrophe, things are so bad that 17 executive orders have been necessary and unquestioned in less than two months and he's been given a pass for ramming the "stimulus package" through without the legislative consideration that would be to be expected, "health care reform" is urgent and it looks like he'd like to ram that through in similar peremptory fashion (like peremptory futilitarian, abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and plug-pulling agendas), he was too wound up with the "crisis" to meet with another head of state -- and he's BOWLING and going on Leno's talk show and making jokes?
For the first time in a very long time, America has a rock-star president. I'm Canadian, and was alive for the last of Pierre Elliot Trudeau's 'reign' as Prime Minister. He was both politician and celebrity, extremely liberal, and strong-willed, and President Obama's behavior and action so far reminds me of what I heard of Trudeau - he really likes an audience. That said, Trudeau did good social things for Canada, but Canadians are still paying for them 25 years later (and will likely continue paying for them at least another 50 years)!
Celebrity does strange things to people - the more celebrity they have, the more it seems to affect them. You get statements like the one he made about the special olympics. Everyone knows what he meant, and many people (myself also, I'm ashamed to admit) have made similar jokes about themselves or others, usually in the private company of some friends. It's always inappropriate, but it is especially inappropriate when you are the president. As president, you don't have the luxury of always saying what you think or what first comes to mind. You are held to a higher public standard because of your office. Is it hypocritical? Yes, to some degree, but it isn't wrong for people to expect the president to comport himself with greater dignity and sensitivity. As a pastor, I've learned that the same rule applies to me - I have to vigilantly guard what I say in the presence of others because, whether I like it or not, people who hear me will associate whatever I say with my church, whether or not it has anything to do with it.
Simply put, an image conscious president should certainly know better, but he probably got carried away with the celebrity of the situation/moment. Hopefully he will have learned his lesson and hold himself to a better public standard in the future.
Maybe he figures those in the Special Olympics are able to do amazing things in wheelchairs, but can't get to the polls to vote, and/are too young, too mentally handicapped, or whatever. What did he say about the disabled while campaigning, and did he care about access to the polls for the disabled, by the way? Maybe people haven't paid attention to the plight of the disabled and the elderly re euthanasia, etc. up to now, but I'll be surprised if, despite Obamamania, there isn't an uproar over this; if there is, it will be a great opportunity to draw the public spotlight to related issues that have heretofore been ignored, and the ramifications could save the country as well as those at the mercy of the death culture in which he is a dangerous player and of which he is a mouthpiece. I don't know how much instant uproar there will be today, when there may be much fawning media and damage control (a p.r. track he's already on and which put him on Leno in the first place), but I sure do like where the moon is going to be this weekend and Monday, during which time the country is also going to be starting a new lunar return cycle. This could be most interesting. If he doesn't manage to get us all killed even faster than his socialist and utilitarian agenda can do it.
I meant he hasn't the logic (which goes along with the other qualities he lacks, and his orientation is short on logic to start with)to realize that they can do amazing things in wheelchairs compared to which voting is more simple. But it doesn't sound like he even considers them amazing things. Just something to laugh at. Wait until he he starts hearing from them, their families, their loved ones, and myriad others. Of course, he's been given a pass on so much already that it could be "forgiven" and accepted, which is evidence of what got him elected. But not by everybody, and I hope those who don't countenance it refuse to tolerate it, and that they make a big huge fuss about it, even if they are in the minority. I hope people point out how narrow and self-centered his perspective is, too, and how dangerous he is as a result. People are sending teabags to Washington on April 1; it would be good if that followed something similar over this. Not that he'll pay attention; he ignores whoever and whatever doesn't fit his agenda. But he ignores enough often enough, people will notice.
Pastor Bakker: We've got a mayor like that (except he's too concerned about his political career to make such a statement, whereas Barry has gotten to the top office in the land now), and you should see the state of this city; in fact, if by chance you're in Toronto, you've probably heard; we're the ones with the supermarket, the crime rate, and the erstwhile fast ferry. Also a hospital that is an egregious example of issues addressed here which he wants to expand in order to put the city back on the map.
I agree that Bush would have been crucified for it, but that doesn't mean those who disagree with Obama should try and do the same.
Sometimes in our desire to be "sensitive" we cease to be realistic. We've all seen clips of the special olympics, even the ones put together by the promoters to show how inspiring the event is. It is very obvious they are not great athletes... in fact it's not the point of the event.
So why is it so wrong for Obama, political idiot though he may be for saying it, to admit he struggles as much at bowling as a group of people who clearly struggle athletically?
Let's stop being so darned over-sensitive.
"if President Bush ever said something like that, the howling about how the remark"
At least Obama apologized for a mistake. Showing more compassion than his predecessor mocking a death row inmate.
Bush Mocks Death Row inmate
Tucker Carlson of Talk magazine described the smirk Bush wore as he mimicked convicted murderer turned Christian Karla Faye Tucker begging, "Please don't kill me," something she never actually did.
Tucker recounts to Salon
Karla's Story
Ken-what you say about SO athletes is not true-many of them are great athletes, it depends on the level each person participates on-everyone can compete, but only the best athletes get to do certain things. I don't think that this was an acceptable comparison at all. It would be like if BO said that his bowling skills were "gay" instead of "like the special olympics."
i have a cousin with cerebral palsy.... will allways love him and admire him.. and i couldnt care less about this joke.. cause it was.... just a silly joke... definitely agree with Ken.... stop being so over-sensitive... grow some balls for chrissake! ;)
(even my gay friends laugh at some gay jokes... is it wrong? no... their just jokes.. it's the intent behind them that matters... and we definitely dont aim to destroy people's honor and self respect or take away their civil liberties ;) ..cause THAT is what matters.. not some silly joke...)
In the scheme of things, yes, it is a silly joke. It would be better to talk about how the President intends to promote better education and accessibility for those with disabilities and any flaws in his approach. So, I'm with you there, Ricardo. I think that the only reason that it becomes relevant is its acceptability within the broader cultural framework and our ignorance of prejudice towards the handicapped in history-if people were more aware of that, they would be less likely to say such things because they would recognize the historical baggage attached to such comparisons.
Ken and Ricardo, The problem with the joke has nothing to do with sensitivity or growing balls. It was not the joke that was so bothersome but Leno's and the audience laughter. The chuckle came at the expense of people that until recently were not treated for life threatening medical problems, locked away in institutions such as Willowbrook known for deplorable conditions. What the laughter indicated was an inherent bias against all people with disabilities that is part of the social fabric of American society. Disability prejudice takes many forms, is deeply rooted and assumes people with a disability are not "normal" and thus less than human. Disability studies scholars call this ableism, a term I dislike because most people do not understand the meaning of this term. Essentially ableism assumes inferiority and is based on antiquated stereotypes about disability. I know all too much about this because I encounter ignorance and bigotry daily. The worst part of the joke is that Obama engaged in typical behavior people with a cognitive disability encounter. Taunting at schools is common place and the president and the laughter he generated endorsed blatant discrimination. I don't consider this silly or inconsequential.
William-you said exactly what I was thinking, only better!
Right. It was both the joke and the laughter, and that the President of the United States made the joke that elicited the laughter. On television. On a late-night tv talk show. It's not that it was politically incorrect. I'm no fan of political correctness. It's that it was rude, and that it revealed how self-centered, thoughtless, callous, inconsiderate, backwards, shallow, and dumb he is. In isolation, it's a joke. But we don't live in isolation, certainly he doesn't, and not on tv. It had no more decorum than a President going onto a late-night tv talk show does, and the whole thing encapsulated what the problem is. He just doesn't have manners, depth, good sense, or good taste. And he's the one we put in the position of being able to make decisions that affect critically important ethical decisions, and all our lives.
By the way when did "handicapped" become "disabled:"? I'm not sure that the former is't a better term than the latter. The former indicates that the person has a burden of which we should be aware in a way that makes us more considerate of him or her. The latter purports to be more enlightened, but indicates that the person is something less, and seems to have become the term of use at the same time the death culture began to take hold. And "special" purports to compensate and to be "nice," but actually sets apart, and is a euphemism, just as "euthanasia" actually means murder, and "living will" actually means death warrant.
Actually, I learned that for some reason, the etymology of the word "handicapped" lead to it being considered insulting by some individuals because it supposedly referenced the technique used by needy (financially or otherwise) individuals to collect money-with their hat, which came to be called a "handy-cap," which evolved into "handicap." Some people find this term disparaging because of its history as a term to describe someone who needs or is seeking handouts. I'm not sure why "disabled" become a more widely-embraced term,or if either term was first embraced by the handicapped community. I prefer that term "handicapped" because I feel like disability often implies the absence of an ability to the extent that it characterizes the person as unable to do something important, such as use the stairs. On the contrary, this goes to the person's ability to enter a building, which can be accomplished quite well as long as a ramp is in place. Thus, "disabled" is a misleading term if it is misapplied to the person's overall capacities.
So he made a bad joke. Big deal. Don't you have better things to do with your time than play card-carrying Republican?
SAFEpres: I agree completely. I think it would have been better if they'd left well enough alone with "handicapped." It's not the only word in the language whose etymology is quaint. "Disabled" seems to me a nouveaux politically correct pseudo-scientific-etymological term that was supposed to intimidate people, in terms of political correctness, into fearing to discriminate, and instead has exactly the effect you described. "Guy in a wheelchair" at least partly associates the person described with everyone else. "Guy with a wheelchair" is better; implication is active, not passive.
Of course Obama apologized. He had to. He was already on Leno trying to do damage control re his approval ratings and then he went and did this. He couldn't afford not to. Meanwhile, as President the EXAMPLE he sets is important, and that's part of why this is appalling, in more than one way. In any event, he's the one from the party and orientation that favors "political correctness," and that in itself is interesting here.
I remember my mother, a Republican, not liking W because of his smirk. I don't like people with substance problems, present or past, or who say "nucular." I don't think someone born at the time of year he was born is best choice for president, or even for not to be someone who makes a mess of things, but then the country was born then too. I don't like his being Skull & Bones. But he's got it all over this guy, and those who compete in the Special Olympics are not convicted criminals.
We need to impeach this guy before it's too late. He'd be just as much bad news no matter what his party; Republicans and conservatives worthy of their party are too smart not to have seen through him all along; don't worry, we're used to the jealousy.
Next time I have a chance to look at SHS, which may be after the weekend, I know the number by the U.S. flag here will be over 50,000. That's well over five times as many as when I first saw SHS not too long ago. I think it may be 100K by the end of March at the rate things are going. The jump, I think, may be because people are alarmed about the death culture since this yahoo got elected. He has GOT to be impeached.
He has hurt many families in America. He needs to say he is sorry in the public, not to some organization.
During the campaign for the White House in 2008, the media criticized Palin for being ‘common,’ 'not-polished,' 'not-compassionate' and ‘not presidential.’ However, compare Sarah Palins attitude in this video created three weeks ago for the Special Olympics in Boise, Idaho.
You decide the more ‘presidential’ among them:
http://tinyurl.com/ccz6nj
RE: Politics-I think it's a good policy not to like any President too much-it helps in avoiding partiality in accessing his or her behavior.
History, This is a first for me--being called a "card carrying Republican". I am anything but a Republican!
Lanthe and Safe, In my experience the discussion on the etymology of "handicapped" and "disabled" is a waste of time in terms of contemporary society. It is however fodder for an interesting historical discussion. As for current terminology, I would venture to say people with a disability, pwd, is widely used in the disability rights community. This is obviously awkward for the news media.
Lanthe, I have never considered my disability, paralysis, "a burden". If I have any "burden" it is the social stigma associated with using a wheelchair. I also do not expect others to be more considerate when I am present. All I have ever asked is to be treated with respect and equality. Sadly, this is illusive.
william Peace: I find it remarkable that anyone would think disliking insensitivity to people with disabilities was a partisan matter. It seems to me it should be a human matter.
Wesley-I agree. What HW said is reflective of anyone from either party who sees any criticism of their leader as a partisan attack. The problem, too, is that political parties like to pretend that they have a monopoly on rights/compassion for certain people groups.
William Peace: I didn't mean that the person with a disability feels burdened. I meant that others should regard the person with a disability as the same as themselves except for having something extra, which is the burden of having to do things differently, and that they should be considerate rather than regard the person with a disability as less than what they would be if they did not have that disability. I'm not expressing this right, I know.
Pro: Well, I could see that, as could many others, and I voted for her ticket. He certainly should, but he seems to be thinking only of the organization whose project he insulted, and not of the people he insulted and offended. His thinking relates only to what's in his own head.
Lanthe, I think I understand what you are saying but don't think it is coming out well. Different in your estimation is bad or perhaps inconvenient? I see power and positive elements in being paralyzed. I have adapted and take great joy in my body. For example, I love to ski and use my paralysis to my advantage when on the slopes using a sit ski. I also happen to be a better than average skier. I do expect only one thing from others: equality.
William: No I didn't seem to be able to make it come out well, and I'm glad you understood what I meant. Different in my estimation is not bad or inconvenient, it's realizing that a person IS equal and functions in a way that is different and is to be understood and accommodated, rather than discounting the person because they function differently. Maybe I'm still not saying it right; I'm trying.
William: No I didn't seem to be able to make it come out well, and I'm glad you understood what I meant. Different in my estimation is not bad or inconvenient, it's realizing that a person IS equal and functions in a way that is different and is to be understood and accommodated, rather than discounting the person because they function differently than oneself. Maybe I'm still not saying it right; I'm trying.
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