Posted on 03/19/2009 7:06:51 PM PDT by cdchik123
The first appearance by a sitting president on "The Tonight Show" may well end up being the last.
President Obama, in his taping with Jay Leno Thursday afternoon, attempted to yuk it up with the funnyman, and ended up insulting the disabled.
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.
When asked about the remark, the White House said the president did not intend to offend.
"The president made an off-hand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics," White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton said. "He thinks the Special Olympics is a wonderful program that gives an opportunity for people with disabilities from around the world."
Facing tough questions about the performance of his Treasury Secretary, $165 million in bonuses for AIG officials and anticipating a fight over his $3.55 trillion budget, the president has not had a particularly good week, and it's unlikely this will help matters.
- jpt
“The president made an off-hand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics,” White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton said. “He thinks the Special Olympics is a wonderful program that gives an opportunity for people with disabilities from around the world.”
Is Gibbs sick or something?
I was reading the comments over on Fox News about this and some of the sheep amaze me: “He’s a human being! He’s not perfect! Quit being so sensitive! How many of you have told a tasteless joke before?”
These idiots don’t get it. BUsh had to put up with this crap for 8 years...every little thing he said was scrunitized. And I can’t remember Bush EVER trying to be funny while making anyone feel like they were lesser human beings.
Second, Obama isn’t just some ignorant drunk hanging out at the end of the bar, telling ridiculous jokes. He is the President. Big difference. He doesn’t have to be perfect, but he should know better. But being as which these sjeep elected an arrogant, pompous, Marxist jerk, they wouldn’t know class if it hit them in ass.
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.”
This just further proves my thoughts about Obama. This is a complete shame for a President to say. Isn’t it funny how the weak can bring down the strong. Thank God...
Why didn’t he make his apology public instead of going to Tim Shriver? The man behind the curtain, the empty suit, and so on.
He also said he wants to invie some special Olympic kids to the WH for bowling, .....a photo op.
such class... truly a a member of the Dumass family.
That's right, they didn't use taxpayer dollars. They gave and asked their friends to help them help their kids.
I wish your son good luck this year in the games. I know you are proud of him.
"'This is like the Special Olympics of comedy,' said CNN's Jamie McIntyre at Wednesday night's 'D.C.'s Funniest Celebrity Contest,' held at the DC Improv..."
Found that on google. The bit ("Special Olympics of Comedy") seems to be stolen from an earlier use by Andrew Sullivan.
You just don’t get liberal humor. They are allowed to make stupid remarks, it shows how human they are. When we make them it shows how “monstrous” we are. It’s that liberal single standard they operate by.
You can bet the MSM will pick up on this private phone call to cover for 0.
I heard a little while ago on a morning radio talk show that in September Obama made a comment along the lines of why should he care/worry about disabled people since they only make up about 12% of the population. I don’t have time to dig that up right now to see if he really said that. Hopefully someone will, or I’ll try later on today.
Where’s the ACLU in all of this?
It’s on my TiVo (just in case I forget)!
The media is only paying attention to 0’s remarks to Jay about AIG. I have nothing but contempt for 0 and his media minions.
He is an idiot
Oh, sorry, it's not a joke - it's real.
“The athletes who participate in Special Olympics are brave, unlike the current President of the United States.”
Thank you for that. What a no-talent ass-clown we have for POTUS.
Remember America, we could have had Palin.
Palin: The handicapped are a gift from God.
Obama: The handicapped are klutzes.
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