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Maria Shriver: Obama Special Olympics 'Joke' Hurts
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Friday, March 20, 2009

Posted on 03/20/2009 12:21:40 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Maria Shriver says President Barack Obama's joke comparing his poor bowling score to that of a Special Olympics athlete was hurtful, although she is sure he didn't mean it that way.

California's first lady issued a statement Friday, a day after the president made the gaffe on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Obama later called Maria's brother, Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver, to apologize.

The siblings' mother, Eunice Kennedy-Shriver, founded the Special Olympics and has championed the rights of the mentally retarded.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bho2009; bho44; democrats; disabled; leno; obama; shriver; specialolympics
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To: nickcarraway

Yes he did Maria, Yes he can. He did it because Sarah Palin and that which she posted on her site.

He is a vicious, evil POS and you need to quit giving him a break.

He MEANT it to be hurtful. Ya know Maria, Hitler made sure the disabled were included in his final solution. Obama has a mean, cold heart, except for his own.

Wake up!


61 posted on 03/20/2009 1:26:03 PM PDT by dforest
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To: nickcarraway
"...she is sure he didn't mean it that way."

I'd love him to be asked off teleprompter what he meant. That would clarify things, eh, Maria? Sheesh...

62 posted on 03/20/2009 1:33:30 PM PDT by eureka! (Elections have consequences, boy howdy. *sigh*)
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To: CaliforniaCon
Hmmm.... can the intern be a “male?” Just asking....

I just looked at a few Michelle pictures. I'd say that's a "yes".

63 posted on 03/20/2009 1:34:32 PM PDT by TurtleUp (Turtle up: cancel optional spending until 2012, and boycott TARP/stimulus companies forever!)
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To: nickcarraway
Wasn't it during Obama's campaign that he spoke to a group of blacks and told them outright that their brains don't function the same way as white people's brains and that is why it is more difficult for them to succeed? Something like that. Anyway, I was surprised that the whole Black community did not tromp on Obama then, for admitting that they were less able. Obama is always safe with the Libs., no matter what he says that is insensitive (a mild term) and demeaning.

As to Schriver defending him, I suppose if he had said that he bowls as well as Teddy drives a car near water, she wouldn't be so willing to defend him.

64 posted on 03/20/2009 1:49:37 PM PDT by CitizenM ("An excuse is worse than an lie, because an excuse is a lie hidden." Pope John Paul, II)
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To: SaveTheChief
Do you honestly believe he intended to say this on national television?

Yes. It's called desensitization. And let's see, which political candidate has a mentally disabled child who tends to reflect her in a very positive light? Hmm?

65 posted on 03/20/2009 1:51:40 PM PDT by Talisker (When you find a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be damn sure it didn't get there on it's own.)
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To: nickcarraway
Obama later called Maria's brother, Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver, to apologize.

Afterward TOTUS was sent to stand in the corner for allowing this gaffe to happen.

Poor TOTUS was suffering jet lag from the West Coast trip.

66 posted on 03/20/2009 1:57:27 PM PDT by N. Theknow (Kennedys: Can't fly, can't ski, can't drive, can't skipper a boat, but they know what's best.)
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To: nickcarraway
Obama Special Olympics
67 posted on 03/20/2009 2:05:48 PM PDT by FTL
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To: SaveTheChief

your qualification of ‘to say this on national television’ puts it in quite a different light .. as a politician he would never say anything to alienate a voting bloc, i.e., disabled and families.

However, if the question was ‘would he say this in private and not give it a second thought,’ the answer would be yes.

The intellectual elites are grossly insensitive. They actually see little difference between the mentally retarded and the average IQ’d individual .. but a world of differene between everyone else and themselves.


68 posted on 03/20/2009 3:15:12 PM PDT by EDINVA
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Maria missed the best response:

“It’s not like he gave one a lobotomy.”


69 posted on 03/20/2009 3:49:31 PM PDT by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: nickcarraway

Apologist are in full scramble mode!


70 posted on 03/20/2009 4:13:41 PM PDT by topfile
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To: Ann Archy
No

"One" says cowflaps, or cowpies. Cowchips if they're dried.

71 posted on 03/20/2009 4:16:27 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (RATs...nothing more than Bald Haired Hippies!)
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To: P-Marlowe
"This is one overblown scandal. Frankly I am sick to death of all the political correctness."


So am I. I am also miffed that so many on the right are embracing political correctness simply as a way of scoring political points. There are so many issues of substance to go after President Obama, that I think it a complete diversion to keep on this issue.
72 posted on 03/20/2009 4:19:40 PM PDT by rob777 (Personal Responsibility is the Price of Freedom)
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To: nickcarraway

You can bet that all questions Leno posed to Obama were pre-approved. THEREFORE, his response was well planned. This was not an impulsive, unplanned response. He and his people obviously thought this was a funny comment. We need a leader, not a stand up comedian.

Maria surely knows how the Leno show works!


73 posted on 03/20/2009 5:12:04 PM PDT by hilligan
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To: SaveTheChief

You can bet that all questions Leno posed to Obama were pre-approved. THEREFORE, his response was well planned. This was not an impulsive, unplanned response. He and his people obviously thought this was a funny comment. We need a leader, not a stand up comedian.


74 posted on 03/20/2009 5:15:34 PM PDT by hilligan
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To: All

" Ach der lieber. Dat sonovagun Obama pokes fun o' dem retarts? "

"Chonny, Wooty and ai gotda vunny veeling Ameerecans tink Obama is pure crapola."

"Dat Obama could not eben get a jop as Val-Mart greetah, Home Deepoo
paint mixah, McD's ketchop pumpah, or vaiter at Ved Lopstah."

75 posted on 03/21/2009 1:44:45 AM PDT by Liz (I was like Snow White, then I drifted. Mae West (on liberalism.)
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To: All
Maria Shriver says Pres Obama's joke about Special Olympics athlete was hurtful, although she is sure he didn't mean it that way.

Yeah, but did she hear what his COS said?

"I'd like to see those braindead retards do this."

76 posted on 03/21/2009 1:49:08 AM PDT by Liz (I was like Snow White, then I drifted. Mae West (on liberalism.)
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