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Obama: 129 Bowling Score "like the Special Olympics"
_J_
PedantRegistered User, __BANNED USERS regular
PedantRegistered User, __BANNED USERS regular
President Obama appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno this evening. The interview was fine except for one section:
How problematic is this "Special Olympic" comment for Obama? I assume this was simply an unintentional use of a colloquial expression which, presumably, we've all used before. That being said, I'll admit that if Bush had said this I would have been furious, news outlets would have focused upon it, Olbermann would have made a Special Comment about it, etc.
What do you think? Does this merit an apology? Or is this a complete non-issue?
Q Now, are they going to put a basketball -- I imagine the bowling alley has been just burned and closed down.
THE PRESIDENT: No, no. I have been practicing all -- (laughter.)
Q Really? Really?
THE PRESIDENT: I bowled a 129. (Laughter and applause.)
Q No, that's very good. Yes. That's very good, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something. (Laughter.)
Q No, that's very good.
THE PRESIDENT: No, listen, I'm making progress on the bowling, yes.
How problematic is this "Special Olympic" comment for Obama? I assume this was simply an unintentional use of a colloquial expression which, presumably, we've all used before. That being said, I'll admit that if Bush had said this I would have been furious, news outlets would have focused upon it, Olbermann would have made a Special Comment about it, etc.
What do you think? Does this merit an apology? Or is this a complete non-issue?
_J_ on
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In terms of what will happen, I anticipate a lot of cheap shots from the fringe.
better yet, come out first thing and say I said an insensitive thing last night... something something I'm a brilliant speaker goodbye.
edit - he has to diffuse it because of the people who will attack him. I think it's worth the five minutes it will take.
No, because of course every single complaint will begin with "if it was <insert conservative> that said this...."
And, to some extent, they'll be right. Which always sucks.
This is also true, unfortunately.
I ninja edited my post before you quoted it to say conservative instead of fundie to be a little more accurate, despite how interchangeable they sometimes are.
Well, it would be true. But it's mostly a joke because that wouldn't be the best way to go around it, and would make liberals hypocrits for not caring about political correctness.
Coming out with an apology quickly would be for the best.
But then it brings up the whole political correctness thing Nocturne mentioned. Yeah, on one level, I can understand applying a different category of "political correctness" to the president and his statements...but why would we fixate upon his standard and not our own standards? If Obama's saying this could hurt feelings then would it not also follow from this that when I say it feelings could be hurt? Why would I think Obama needs to apologize if I would not think that I would need to apologize?
There are a lot of true things that should never be said because they're not helpful or constructive.
Which is what I just labeled that as, yes.
I could tell you I want to bone you and it's very true but there's so much distance that this knowledge can't help you.
Ahem.
---
1.) Make insensitive comment
2.) Apologize
3.) Be a bigger man than mudslingers
4.) ???
5.) Universal healthcare
6.) Profit!
Insensitive, worth an apology, not worth freaking out about for the next week. It really only highlights how normal it is to belittle the disabled.
Normalcy does not make it right. Now, I do not take you to be arguing that normalcy makes it right. But I'm wondering if this would be the sort of thing about which Obama ought to say "sorry" or if this is an opportunity for another event similar to the race speech he gave during the election.
No, read it again. I'm saying its a learning opportunity, and not just for Obama. Certainly shows up the way liberals' ostensible progressive nature often isn't - I'm used to seeing that when women's issues are concerned, but people seem to give more of a crap about the broken-in-body.
I don't think it's big enough to turn it into a race-speech-like issue, but worth an apology and some words about using offensive remarks glibly like that.
I think it would be great if he came out before anyone says something about it *cough* Glen Beck/Orielly *Cough*. Just to shut them in their traps, then he has to say something like, "I'm not perfect, I make mistakes just like anyone does." And you can't really get on him much after that.
Arch,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_goGR39m2k
edit: then again, I've been told I'm a terrible person for once using the phrase mentally retarded instead of intellectually disabled.
What's funny about this example is that the former is only more offensive than the latter because it has been used in that capacity longer and more commonly.
If the common term had been intellectually disabled, that would hold the offensiveness that mentally retarded does now. They are fucking synonyms.
Cue faux outrage from right wingers who, 24 hours ago, were bitching about political correctness.
The circling of the Left Wing Wagons protecting Obama is something you seem to take part in.
Edit: Its stupid to go nuts over an innocent slip like this (no matter who said it) but an appology should be warranted, especially if done before the press digs into it.
Infinity Mog 21 and over Free Company Sargatanas Server. Recruitment currently closed.
Paralympics != Special Olympics.
Paralympics is for physically disabled people.
And you sling shit like a right wing monkey. Woo, a cute little teleprompter joke, you're so clever. You weren't saying that shit when he took questions from the press for AN HOUR without a teleprompter and was quite articulate.
Also, why don't you read the post where I said he should apologize for the remark instead of being a dipshit just because I'm not pitching a fit about a fairly innocuous, if insensitive, comment.
On the one hand it's insensitive. On the other hand, it's a fairly everyday level of insensitivity.
But yes, hypocritical left-wingers will support Obama and downplay it. Hypocritical right-wingers will suddenly pretend to care about the disabled and PC language.
Hypocrites suck?
I'm getting the impression you don't like me.
That said, I'd laugh about it if it was Bush - but that's when looked at as part of his body of work as a whole.
I don't like your politics or when you say stupid things, which is astoundingly often. Otherwise I don't care much about you either way.
I don't understand this statement.
How is saying, "It was a dick thing to say and Obama should apologize for it. Oh, he has. Very well then." circling the wagons?