He shouldn't have said it. It's not a Federal case, but come on. To label this fuck up, on national TV as being overly PC, well, I disagree. He admitted and realized his mistake as fast as he could have - still though - really? You can't keep shit like that inside your head?

I LOVE the proposed solution.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama_special_olympics


...or perhaps a better word would be " retrobution."

I'd love to see Obama get his ass kicked by a Special Olympian in bowling. Maybe that'll remind him to keep it humble, eh?

I do too.

One thing I've noted about Obama is he will suck it up and be humble about a gaffe.

Both he and Biden are a bit too honest at times. There are worse qualities... We are gonna have some laughs and gaffes out of these two. Pretty steady stream.

Bet it happens, and some special olympics kids are gonna school the President on the finer parts of bowling. I like the idea of that. And yes, we have the time for it. We have to.

One on One. No audience. Get the security in place. Put them in a cage. Tape it. Show it later.

Yeah!

That's the right way to get it done. And no matter what, that will be a very special time for everyone, without a bunch of clowns trying to make a quick buck off of it.

We've all eaten humble pie. It was Obama's turn. Probably won't be the last.

I get the idea Mr. Obama is apt to tell politically-incorrect jokes in private. He also made a quip about Nancy Reagan and a seance soon after the election - he had to apologize for that one, too. Still, doesn't it make him seem like a bit more of a regular guy? Is anyone here really offended about the Special Olympics quip? Clearly he shouldn't have said it, but I think some people express more outrage over this sort of thing than they truly feel.

I think so.

It's hard to hate on him for that. He's humble when he needs to be, and expresses real concern when he is called on something.

No different from any of us really.

Far easier to live with that reality than some false bubble boy one that is just for show.

Look, I'm no saint. But coming off the heels of a President who could be just flat-out rude with his remarks, this smacks of that. It's too early for me to just let it go.

And I always said I will hold him to a higher standard about things that bothered me. Crap like this just happens to be a sore spot. I don't know why. It just is.

I'll get over it. And myself. I just don't want to have to so soon.

Waaaa, Waaaa, Waaaa - I know. Sue me.

Oh NOW I've gone and pissed off the lawyers. Shit!

How about no limo for a week -- Obama has to ride a short bus instead.

Is anyone here really offended about the Special Olympics quip?

No one should be. It wasn't said with malice.

If someone is offended then they should listen to the words of Don Felder and the Eagles;

Get over it
Get over it
All this bitchin' and moanin'
and pitchin a fit
Get over it, get over it

Get over it
Get over it
It's gotta stop sometime,
so why don't you quit
Get over it, get over it

Yeah. I hate The Eagles.

I participate in Special Olympics in McMinnville. It doesn't bother me. I start track April 4. I will ask other athletes what they think.

My son is handicapped, and he has participated in the Special Olympics.

I thought the comment was humorous and harmless. People are making something out of nothing.

TOOOOOOO SENSITIVE!!!

It's not like he did a 5 minute stand up of "TARD JOKES"....

One of the funniest bits I ever saw a comedian do was about mentally challenged people, specifically his brother, who was in the audience.

He first apologized to anyone who might find it offensive, explained the importance of being able to make fun of ourselves, and being sensitive to those who are "different" was a form of exclusion.
As an equal opportunity offender, he launched into the bike helmet wearing bill who used to bag gwoce-wees at walmart but moved up to pwop-o-tee
manaj-mint.

Now if you read it as cheap humor at the expense of those who can't defend themselves, You would be dead wrong.

So I ask, if the president had referred to his bowling skills as on par with a white guy trying to dance in a hip hop club, would the outrage be as great? NO malice in his comment. no foul. higher standard? maybe, but appreciate the "regular guy" relatability. At times boosh came across as unapproachable. Part of the OBAMA charm is the fact that he comes across as a real person and not a piece of the bureaucratic machine.


Skep, the short bus comment is exactly what I'm talking about. FUNNY, we all know what you are referring to, and no malice intended.

Lighten up people.

Now if Obama orders all funding for handicapped halted, THEN you can be offended.

I agree with Deane. And the likely result is that good special olympics bowler gets to say he can dish out a can of whoop-ass to the President. Might actually get to do it too!

Me too. I thought his remark was innocent and the result is that focus will be placed on those kids with special needs.

I note that Gov. Palin was very critical of Pres. Obama's remarks. As it turns out, part of the money she is refusing to take is for special needs kids. Do you remember when she said that these kids would have a friend in the White House if she and McCain were elected? Pure BS.

God I really am on the verge of actually just flat out HATING that woman!

She is a pain in the ass. Pretty too. Damn.

No wonder she is trying to avoid education dollars in Alaska. Those guys need it! Electing her again goes directly against their best interests! The more of them that know that, the sooner they can pick again.

It was funny, when I flew down to Vegas last week I sat next to a lifelong Alaska native ... we got to talking about business, politics, etc. He said that Ted Stevens walks on water up there, even with the scandal and everything that happened, because of the money he brought to the state and what he did for the state.

He says that the opinion of most Alaskans now is that Sarah Palin can go pack sand. He is personally shamed to be represented by her as his governor ... and he described himself as a Neo-Con by nature, fed up with Palin and the direction of the GOP.

It baffles me that she is turning down 1/3 of the stimulus funds tagged for her state, when they have such a high unemployment, and their economy is hurting so much mostly because of the price of oil dropping like it has. These Republican governors that are putting their own personal ideologies ahead of what their states need as a jump-start astounds me.

.....because of the money he brought to the state and what he did for the state.....

Wasn't a best use of funding, and it came out of ALL of our pockets. Byrd of West Virginia is in the same vein. Unnecessary projects costing EVERYBODY. Same with the federal dollars used to put sidewalks in some neighborhoods here. My block got new sidewalks on one side of one block, you paid for it, and my neighbors mostly didn't want them except the council person told everyone they were free, so I guess it was ok. Of course the concrete road is full of car damaging holes and was a MUCH bigger priority, but the FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT couldn't be used for road repair, only new sidewalks. Which, by the way, have in little more than a year cracked in several spots, and it is up to the home owners to provide repairs....... WASTED FEDERAL DOLLARS.

Stevens, Byrd, and all the other trough feeding lifers are bad news for all of us.....

Palin = old news let her go back to what she was
by 2012 everyone will have moved on.

"I get the idea Mr. Obama is apt to tell politically-incorrect jokes in private.."

Who doesn't??

I want my president to be a real person. Real people tell jokes, and let's face it, jokes are always making fun of something or someone.

I watched the Leno show that night and as soon as he said that, I knew immediately that it would be an issue because some people will take anything he does and attempt to make an issue of it.

And as for Palin, she can fuck right off.

Regarding Federal Stimulus dollars rejected by Sarah Palin.

From the School Matters Blog and the Anchorage Daily News:

"Much of the stimulus package money for education -- about $74 million -- was designated for poor schools and special-needs kids. It was to be spent over the next two academic years."

Remember her comments in her acceptance speech at the GOP Convention in St. Paul last summer. She said the following:

"To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message for you: For years, you've sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. And I pledge to you that, if we're elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."

I guess as governor of Alaska, the same standard does not apply.

....get his ass kicked by a Special Olympian in bowling.....

Got news for you some of those guys roll 200+ on a regular basis. The best I could ever muster as a league average was 165, so in that respect I might get a medal for participating, but I sure as hell wouldn't be competitive with some of those guys, and might even be subjected to "you do ok for a regular person" jokes......

On the upside, the Special Olympics got a bit of attention. Lets hope Obama "insults" one of my causes next!

Well, I'm in the minority for being bugged by it. That's OK. I guess I can expect this case never being cited in the future when someone makes a list of things they don't like about Obama. < --- Silver Lining.

And Skep, and I cannot believe I am quoting Herb - but I don't have a dog in this fight. So, yeah, Special Olympics got some attention. I like that too.

This is not to single you out CJ. It hit me wrong too. But, as others mentioned, it was a net positive.

Obama is not perfect, but he is very savvy. He knows how to turn mistakes into wisdom and positive action in a hurry. The challenge from bowlers could usher in a whole new approach to kids with special needs. Additionally, Nixon's alley could see regular use from all kinds of children. This is a whole new kind of ballgame. Our leaders are learners.

After following reactions for a few days, this incident proved once again that the GOP is out to lunch. Genuinely caring about every American and taking positive actions are immense hurdles for them to leap. Opportunity for reform knocked again and the party fell on the sword of truth. Not only Palin, but all three governors who consider themselves leaders in the 2012 race rejected funding.

Finally, I have known people with challenges my whole life. By and large, they have bigger hearts and better senses of humor about things like this than people with far easier paths. They know truly brutal malice for who they are often enough to sort out the mean from the unintended.

Bush stumbled over his tongue once a week at least. I think we can forgive Obama for one mistake.

Once a week? Every 15 seconds was more like it...

"God I really am on the verge of actually just flat out HATING that woman!"

Feel free to join me. I do hate her. She's an insult to women. As is Mann Coulter, whom I don't believe was born female.