Possible Obama oops on tonight's Leno (small spoiler)

[Appa23]

You should experience some of the ways "Mission Accomplished" have been made fun of. As have been the Special Olympics.

Poking fun of Mission Accomplished or George Bush in his flight suit (or Michael Dukakis in the tank) or "It depends on what the definition of is is" is one thing (that's a lot of is's in a row, huh).

Poking fun at the Special Olympics is something else. Just because people make Special Olympics and "retard" jokes all the time doesn't make them right. They make gay jokes, handicapped jokes, black jokes and Jewish jokes as well.

I don't have any relatives or close friends who have mentally challenged family members so I honestly can't comment on how offensive it might be. I doubt, however, it's a source of pride to them when the President of the United States compares his bowling game to that of a Special Olympian. Regardless of what one may think about political correctness, I don't think it's wrong to hold the President of the United States to a higher standard than some idiot at the office water cooler.

SSS, in defense of Obama, he was not comparing his bowling to that of a Special Olympian.

He noted that he bowled a 129 at the White House bowling alley, to which Leno applauded and said words to the effect of "good for you". Obama said "Special Olympics", making fun of the false words of encouragement being given by Leno.

It still was an off-the-cuff faux-pas, but not as bad as you are making it out to be. (Now, if you want to get upset at the fact that Obama did not hear what he said and immediately apologize, rather than wait until there was the reaction to the "rumors" and then react, then go right ahead.)

BTW, there was no mention if the bumpers were down, or if the 129 was a game or series score.

[SportsFan68]

It was still a joke. It was not a funny joke. There is no context or setting that can make me think that sending 800 people to die and then making fun of it is funny.

sprots,

I was blown out of the Pentagon a few years back.

I've attended the funerals of friends and/or comrades who sacrificed for their country. Some didn't believe in their assignedmission, but they still went because they had given their word.

I will respect your right to not think something is funny. Please have the courtesy to respect mine. Some of those I mentioned also thought such things were funny.

You should experience some of the ways "Mission Accomplished" have been made fun of. As have been the Special Olympics.

A sense of humor is often times the only/best stress relief one has. Even regarding dark/serious issues.

I do respect that, and I thought I said so -- ". . . there are about as many senses of humors on this Bored as there are posters."

I believe that after this exchange, I won't get a "lighten up," on this topic anyway . . . And it will be much appreciated.

[Jeemie]

So is this what it's come to?

In two months, we've gone from "Obama will provide real change" to "Well- he hasn't committed a faux pas as bad as Bush yet"?

Wow- how expectations have been lowered!

[silverscreenselect]

SSS, in defense of Obama, he was not comparing his bowling to that of a Special Olympian.

He noted that he bowled a 129 at the White House bowling alley, to which Leno applauded and said words to the effect of "good for you". Obama said "Special Olympics", making fun of the false words of encouragement being given by Leno.

It still was an off-the-cuff faux-pas, but not as bad as you are making it out to be. (Now, if you want to get upset at the fact that Obama did not hear what he said and immediately apologize, rather than wait until there was the reaction to the "rumors" and then react, then go right ahead.)

From the ABC News Blog (I can't play the video, which is all over Youtube, in my office, but it's easy to find):

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.

He was comparing his bowling game to that of a Special Olympian with the premise being that he still wasn't very good, just like a Special Olympian.

Imagine if someone had a picture of George Bush napping and said, "you sure are working hard, Mr. President" and Bush said "like a N____ or something."

[silvercamaro]

SSS, in defense of Obama, he was not comparing his bowling to that of a Special Olympian.

He noted that he bowled a 129 at the White House bowling alley, to which Leno applauded and said words to the effect of "good for you". Obama said "Special Olympics", making fun of the false words of encouragement being given by Leno.

It still was an off-the-cuff faux-pas, but not as bad as you are making it out to be. (Now, if you want to get upset at the fact that Obama did not hear what he said and immediately apologize, rather than wait until there was the reaction to the "rumors" and then react, then go right ahead.)

From the ABC News Blog (I can't play the video, which is all over Youtube, in my office, but it's easy to find):

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.

He was comparing his bowling game to that of a Special Olympian with the premise being that he still wasn't very good, just like a Special Olympian.

Imagine if someone had a picture of George Bush napping and said, "you sure are working hard, Mr. President" and Bush said "like a N____ or something."

The whole thing demonstrates a lack of information or misunderstanding by the President about the people to whom he was comparing his bowling ability an an unsuccessful effort at self-deprecating humor. It was unsuccessful, IMO, because by putting himself down with these words, he also was putting down the Special Olympians.

Special Olympians have a wide range of challenges that may be physical or mental, or a combination thereof. Among the participants without significant physical disabilities, the range of bowling skills probably is similar to the range in the general population. Some people are good at it; some aren't. Some work hard to get better; some don't care at all. In short, some Special Olympians are excellent bowlers.

One young man from the group home where Tigger visted is in this category. Mike was born with Down Syndrome, but he is outgoing and hard-working, with a huge personality. His father first took him bowling in childhood, and he enjoyed it, so the family took him again and again. When I last saw him, he had an average of around 182, and his high game, IIRC, was in the 240s.

Mike is not even the best. Here's a story in today's news about a Special Olympian who has scored five perfect games:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id ... _article=1

The President needs to meet some of these folks. Guess what? His eyes will be opened; he'll have fun, and they probably can help him become a better bowler. If they can't do that, they still will help him to become a better person.

[Appa23]

SSS, in defense of Obama, he was not comparing his bowling to that of a Special Olympian.

He noted that he bowled a 129 at the White House bowling alley, to which Leno applauded and said words to the effect of "good for you". Obama said "Special Olympics", making fun of the false words of encouragement being given by Leno.

It still was an off-the-cuff faux-pas, but not as bad as you are making it out to be. (Now, if you want to get upset at the fact that Obama did not hear what he said and immediately apologize, rather than wait until there was the reaction to the "rumors" and then react, then go right ahead.)

From the ABC News Blog (I can't play the video, which is all over Youtube, in my office, but it's easy to find):

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.

He was comparing his bowling game to that of a Special Olympian with the premise being that he still wasn't very good, just like a Special Olympian.

Imagine if someone had a picture of George Bush napping and said, "you sure are working hard, Mr. President" and Bush said "like a N____ or something."

I can't tell if you actually watched the video or not. I did see the show when it aired, and then I re-watched it this afternoon, on YouTube.

It seemed to me both times that Obama was not addressing his bowling, but rather Leno's "condescending" clapping and praise. He is looking and indicating towards Leno. So, he was not mocking Special Olympians, in my view, but rather how people treat Special Olympians.

Again, it's a faux pas. Just not the one that everyone seems to think that it is.

(I can not believe that we are at the point where I have to defend a Democratic President from SSS. <g> )

[Appa23]

Here is the YouTube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE0yAEvVsUo


The comment comes around 0:22.

If you watch from 0:15 to 0:22, it seems to me that you get the point that Obama is addressing Leno's reaction.

[chad1m]

Some of this stuff I'm seeing is ridiculous.

[silverscreenselect]

Here is the YouTube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE0yAEvVsUo


The comment comes around 0:22.

If you watch from 0:15 to 0:22, it seems to me that you get the point that Obama is addressing Leno's reaction.

I have now seen the video, which I hadn't this afternoon. It doesn't change my opinion. Obama attempted self-deprecating humor by saying his bowling was "like the Special Olympics or something."

Unlike Bush's WMD joke, this wasn't thought out and planned, but it's just one in a series of Obama comments which show a considerable lack of empathy and understanding. The President of the United States appearing on national television should know better.

I highly doubt Sarah Palin would have told a joke like this.

[chad1m]

So, let me pose this question to all those jumping down the president's throat. Is it a fallacy that people at Special Olympics events applaud to make the Olympians feel good about what they're doing, even if it's not "good"?

In May of 2006, I volunteered at a Special Olympics event. I applauded and cheered to make the participants feel good about what they were doing even if they weren't doing it "well" and so did just about everyone else there. We applauded their effort.

Jay applauded Pres. Obama, even though he didn't do something "well". Certainly, the president could've used a less sensitive comparison, but is that not similar?

Oh, and...

Obama's joke is [like a] tasteless comment...about Sarah Palin (lipstick on a pig)

Give me a break.