So at what point is a guy just a…not a nice guy. Obama mocked Jessica Simpson for weight issues. His campaign mocked disabled veteran John McCain for not being able to type. He compared Sarah Palin to a pig. Just yesterday he compared AIG to suicide bombers. And now, get this one from ABC:
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.”
March 20, 2009 at 3:34 am
Shameful. He’s just a very mean man.
March 20, 2009 at 3:43 am
He doesn’t seem to be growing into the Presidency at all. Some men do. Other don’t. It’s a shame.
March 20, 2009 at 4:13 am
Sure he wasn’t “intended”, just like he wasn’t intended to kill the babies
March 20, 2009 at 4:14 am
That just shows no class – none at all. He forgets he’s not just the junior Senator from Illinois anymore.
March 20, 2009 at 10:53 am
Yeah, and I rode the short bus to school (seriously, I did).
Look, guys, on this one I’m going to have to disagree. I don’t think the President’s remarks are a big deal. Honestly, your post has the scent of professionally aggrieved aggrievance professionals.
March 20, 2009 at 11:21 am
His superiority complex is showing.
The fact that he is on Leno yukking it up at all is a shame.
March 20, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Eo,
Yes. I clearly have overblown this story completely. I said Obama wasn’t a nice guy for saying something insensitive and he has a record of saying insensitive things. Gasp! Horror! Tears. Gnashing of teeth.
March 20, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I’m surprised he didn’t appear on Letterman. Then again, maybe he doesn’t like it when people slobber all over him. If that’s true, it doesn’t explain why he won, does it?
March 20, 2009 at 12:48 pm
He has no.class.end.of.story. But, he’ll keep putting his foot in his mouth over and over again, because he is an insensitive git!
March 20, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Sarah:
If that’s true, and if it’s that obvious, why do you think most people, including “pro-life” Catholics, voted for him? Are most of us also insensitive gits? (Don’t be afraid to tell the truth here.)
March 20, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Well let’s see. In his short tenure as President he’s managed to mock people with weight problems and special needs people. I’m sure his regret comes from being caught not the actual statement. Remember this man helps irradicate the need for Special Olympics.
March 20, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Hold on, folks. Haven’t you ever said anything like this? The man was making fun of himself.
The issue that perhaps is root is: should a sitting President joke around on a talk show? Is that behavior dignified?
I think the man is evil for his soul-less baby-killing politics. Making fun of his own bowling skills in a slightly politically-incorrect way means he can joke a little.
March 20, 2009 at 2:21 pm
As the father of an autistic son the President’s idiotic statement is a very big deal for me. Humor isn’t funny when you pick on people weaker than you. Get this guy away from the teleprompter and the real Obama comes fumbling out.
March 20, 2009 at 2:55 pm
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March 20, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Eo/Christopher:
If you or I were to make a statement such as this, it would be a far less big of a deal (albeit still very inappropriate). However, coming from POTUS, it IS a big deal. POTUS should have far more class, dignity and decorum. He was representing the OFFICE of the President of the United States last night on Leno for crying out loud!
This is the equivalent of the Queen of England or our Holy Father mocking special needs children. That is what he just did. He degraded our special needs children who are out there working so hard to overcome obstacles and fulfill their dreams via the Special Olympics program.
Even I wouldn’t make such a statement. As a parent of a special needs child, I found it offensive. Obama has quite a track record in less than 100 days of insulting people he finds to be below his pay grade. Let’s not forget him mocking Jessica Simpson on national TV. Has any other president made such remarks? I can’t think of one!
They always say you can tell a tree by its fruit. Well, here ya go. It’s not that hard to figure out what is going on in his heart.
This man needs a serious conversion experience and for those out there who dismiss this, give him a free pass and continue to chant the mantra – please plug in the caffeine drip ASAP and start paying attention.
BTW, I love TOTUS’s new blog!!! At least it seems to have some sense of intelligence and rationalization, although I’m quite worried it’s trying to enter a sordid love affair with Rush…
March 20, 2009 at 3:18 pm
There’s something else in the middle of this question, did he make light of kids with special needs, or of himself?
How about: “We don’t know.” And THAT’S the problem. The American people elected a man about whom we know very little. That we knew very little didn’t matter to us. So we had very little insight into the man.
It’s like meeting a woman you fall head over heels for, without knowing a thing about her. Then she burns you and leaves you totally heart-broken, and you’re sitting there wondering what went wrong. Most of us find out early in life, that we never really got to know them before we let them in.
That tells you something about the American electorate. Not to mention the stupid “pro-life” Catholics who voted for him.
March 20, 2009 at 3:28 pm
David
Whether he mocked the kids intentionally or he was mocking himself, it doesn’t matter. Would you run around making cracks about yourself (in self degradation) such as “I’m about as with it as a kid with Down Syndrome?” or “I’m about as coordinated as a kid with cerebral palsey?” Absolutely not!
We don’t really need an explanation or backpeddling from him at this point. The slip told us a lot about what is in his heart – and what isn’t. It’s just not something that would typically slip out of the mouth of someone who put others before themself or had a basic sense of courtesy and respect for others.
Considering this is coming from our PRESIDENT, it’s shocking and appalling. Combine this with his insensitive behavior with regard to other US citizens – as well as the blatant rudeness and arrogance extended to the UK. [He returned the bust of Churchill – which was a gift to the American citizens following 9/11. Yes, that was a gift to you and I – not just he who sits in the Oval Office. How he treated the PM a few weeks ago when he came to the US? The refusal for the press conference and then the box of 24 dvd’s?] Apalling. Again, it’s just all about Obama. Never about anyone else.
It’s just one more piece in the puzzle we call POTUS. I’m just waiting for Al Sharpton to arrive on the scene and somehow twist race into this.
Time for Zero to grow up.
March 20, 2009 at 3:39 pm
“Whether he mocked the kids intentionally or he was mocking himself, it doesn’t matter.”
You contradicted yourself in your first paragraph. For my part, I don’t pretend to know if he was or wasn’t. I know nothing about him. Neither do you. Neither do any of us. But we elected him anyway.
Which brings me (again) to my point.
March 20, 2009 at 4:19 pm
“Whether he mocked the kids intentionally or he was mocking himself, it doesn’t matter… he is still a complete jerk for saying it.”
(The remainder of my thought.)
Sorry, I’ve been up all night working and the caffeine isn’t doing much.
I don’t need to know him personally. His actions speak for who he is and what is in his heart – just like your actions would or mine would. The point is, most people do not find it acceptable to make a statement like that. Finding offense in the reference is not “political correctness,” but rather finding fault in the lack of basic respect for others. It’s one thing to bust on yourself, but it’s a different ballgame when you insult, even if indirectly, an individual or group of individuals. In this reference, he was degrading the Special Olympics kids with that reference. He certainly wasn’t saying “I’m as good as the Special Olympics kids (with an assumed understanding that the Special Olympics kids are the finest athletes, on par with major league sports stars).” No, we all know what he meant with regard to the comparison. We all understand that Special Olympics are comprised of kids with special needs/challenges/handicaps.
Correction on the “we elected him.” I did not and would not, ever, vote for the man. Please don’t include some of us in that “we.” 🙂
March 20, 2009 at 4:55 pm
“Eo, Yes. I clearly have overblown this story completely. I said Obama wasn’t a nice guy for saying something insensitive and he has a record of saying insensitive things. Gasp! Horror! Tears. Gnashing of teeth.”
This is why I keep coming back to CMR for more. I love the snarkiness (actually, in all seriousness, I really do).
I suppose everyone is entitled to their own opinion on issues like this. I still maintain that what Obama said isn’t a big deal.