"In spiritual matters there really is no 'Third World.' It's all Third World."
- Dallas Willard
Friday, March 20, 2009
The now infamous "Special Olympics" joke...
To his credit, he's already apologized. But it was a horrible comment. I think he was "trying to be funny" because he was on Jay Leno. But I still don't like it. "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks."
What if G.W. had said that? No apology or offer to bring a special olympian to the White House would have been good enough. People would have been calling for his resignation.
By the way, am I the only one who has noticed that the late night talk show comedians don't make fun of Obama like they did previous presidents? G.W. Bush and Clinton are STILL the butt of Leno/Letterman jokes. But they don't make fun of Obama. They might make fun of people around Obama or people who respond to Obama. But Obama himself has not yet been the butt of even one joke that I'm aware of.
Why?
That said, I think Obama totally deserved this comment:
Shriver said there is someone who might be able to help the president with his bowling: a special Olympian in the Detroit area who has bowled three perfect games.I love that!
Trackbacks:
Trackback URL: http://thinklings.org/bloo.trackback.php/5316.
Comments on "If G.W. Bush Had Said this...":
2. Milly
- 03/20/2009 1:40 pm CDT
I’m not happy with that remark being that I have an autistic family member, my grandmother was one of the first teachers in a school for special children, my sister volunteers with Special Olympics, and I was an in home therapist for autistic children.
It‘s an example of easy it is to say the wrong thing without realizing it until it’s way too late.
No matter who you are at one time you've had that foot in mouth. Even "W"
4. Brandon Milan
- 03/20/2009 2:26 pm CDT
So I guess I'm a horrible person, because I've joked about my own bad scores at various sports with a reference to the special olympics, or the short bus, or "special ed" or whatever else. In fact, I would say that quite a few of us have--well into adulthood even. Its not meant as a crack at those who actually participate in the special olympics or ride the short bus or whatever... sure, he shouldn't have said it, but to use this as a judge of Obama's character is a little bit much...
5. Jared
- 03/20/2009 2:31 pm CDT
I wish he'd actually apologized. Like said, "What I said was insensitive and wrong." Instead of the White House spin machine saying "It was offhand and he didn't mean to disparage the Special Olympics."
Well, um, yes he did. He was saying his bad bowling is bad like handicapped people's bowling.
If you're not sorry just say "It was joke." If you are, then own up and say it was wrong.
But whatever. He's gonna get a pass on all kinds of stuff, and this won't be the biggest.
6. Les
- 03/20/2009 2:42 pm CDT
It's not enough to compare this to Bush hypothetically. I love that Ancient Mariner pointed out that this "Joke" would not have come to Bush's mind. I also appreciate that Brandon Milan says that to frame Obama's character around it is a bit much. Maybe so. I too am guilty of those kinds of jokes, to my shame.
The comparison that rankles even more, to me, is that Obama would never have dared to make such a disparaging comparison to the gay "community." That would have POLITICAL ramifications. This does not. This merely enrages good people.
The fact that we're more sensitive to the actively and egregiously outspoken group than we are to the relatively defenseless handicapped is Politically Atrocious as well as morally bereft.
7. Karl
- 03/20/2009 3:35 pm CDT
I kind of agree with Brandon Milan above.
I think the treatment of this issue may underscore the media's hypocrisy as indicated by the title and primary point of the original post. But I'm not really willing to take it further than that and use it as an indictment of Obama's character and unconcern for disabled people. Yeah, he shouldn't have said it but getting all riled up about it is too PC'ish for my taste.
8. Les
- 03/20/2009 5:21 pm CDT
...getting all riled up about it is too PC'ish for my taste.
Yes, but there's another layer here that's anti-PC, and it involves getting all riled up. It is certainly not an overall indication of character to have said it. But what condemns former President Obama here is his overall claim of purity. Had he truly copped to having slurred the handicapped, no foul. But his tacit suggestion that it was no big deal is more callous than the original slur. Therefore, the politically correct thing to do in this case is to let it go.
We can forgive human foibles. We cannot forgive the arrogation of Deity.
(That was hyperbole, by the way...) :-)
9. Andrew
- 03/20/2009 7:25 pm CDT
Had he truly copped to having slurred the handicapped, no foul. But his tacit suggestion that it was no big deal is more callous than the original slur. Therefore, the politically correct thing to do in this case is to let it go.
When's the last time you heard a politician truly apologize for anything?
10. Milly
- 03/20/2009 8:59 pm CDT
Lots of us make joke that are wrong but we aren't doing it on camera and we aren't the president. He needs to learn not to make jokes like that. I can tell you that on a daily bases I hear bad jokes from my customers and from my coworkers. Thankfully they don’t have the rest of the world listening, hardware stores are rough places for delicate ears.
He should have apologized for this one but he will offend others like those who came before him and he won’t be able to apologize every time. I hope he has learned from this one
11. hutch
- 03/21/2009 12:48 pm CDT
"am I the only one who has noticed that the late night talk show comedians don't make fun of Obama like they did previous presidents? G.W. Bush and Clinton are STILL the butt of Leno/Letterman jokes. But they don't make fun of Obama."
I don't think that comedians have found an angle yet for making fun of Obama. It was easy to ridicule Clinton's lechery or Bush's inarticulateness, but Obama hasn't yet clearly displayed a tendency which comedians can focus on.
12. Karl2
- 03/21/2009 3:10 pm CDT
I don't often watch the late night comics, so I can't say if they are easier on our current Prez than his predecessors. But I have noticed that mainstream commentators have taken to calling him Mister. Especially NPR. They might refer to Bush or Clinton, but the current POTUS is always called, "Mr. Obama."
17. Wickle
- 03/21/2009 6:40 pm CDT
Two things ...
I hate hypotheticals. "What if G. W. Bush had said this ..."? I prefer actual comparisons, rather than guesswork.
I realize that they're very popular, but it's tiring ... Why not find an equivalent example from Pres. Bush and compare the handling of the two? If there isn't one, then let it go.
The other thing is about making fun of Pres. Obama. Since I don't get any TV channels, I don't know about that, but I do know that on "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me," host Peter Segel has hit Pres. Obama just as much as he ever did Pres. Bush.
18. Les
- 03/21/2009 10:56 pm CDT
Wickle
This hypothetical isn't all that hypothetical. We have on record enough of the irrational vitriol on Bush and the irrational apotheosis of Obama that the question is actually rhetorical. Legitimately and solidly rhetorical.
It's no more guesswork than asking, "What does Obama believe in?"
Oh, wait, that's the DEFINITION of guesswork...
19. Mark
- 03/24/2009 4:10 am CDT
I would agree he is being treated differently than Bush would in that situation. Also, what he said was a pretty foolish blunder, whatever the position of his heart is...his brain was not working very well in that moment.
What is disturbing is when we seem to need reminding that the world is still the world...a very problematic place whose solutions are not found in any man. But maybe it is a good thing that the late night comedians and media treat Obama with more respect than Bush, but I don't think it will last forever, he is human.
That being said, I am imagining a Dana Carvey skit where Obama co-stars with Johnny Knoxville in "The Ringer 2".
20. Ugo
- 03/24/2009 7:16 am CDT
By the way, am I the only one who has noticed that the late night talk show comedians don't make fun of Obama like they did previous presidents?
interesting. somebody i can't remember once said something like "Obama's personality and actions don't lend themselves much to ridicule, but God, in his infinite mercy, provided joe biden instead.
jokes aside, it is a very pathetic sight indeed the way these politicians scramble over political correctness. i have nothing against anybody with any kind of disability, but i see no harm in a fully able person likening himself to a disabled person unless it was meant to be insulting. Do we not have 'appropriate' jokes about God?
what next? Blondes getting upset over the numerous blond jokes flying around? or cats getting upset over the portrayal of Tom always trying to eat jerry?
21. salguod
- 03/25/2009 11:53 pm CDT
Well, Leno made a joke last night (?) about Obama's bowling comment. Leno has made jokes and has Fergusen. I stopped watching Letterman because he was so obviously hateful, not just hard, but hateful, toward McCain and gave Obama a free pass.
On the comment, I'm with Brandon above, I've said stuff like this and I understand where it came from. Of course, being President, it was inappropriate, but if it was the average Joe in your office it's not a big deal. I'm thinking it's blown out of proportion.
Leave a Comment:
Dubya would never have said that. Out of the overflow of the heart, indeed--and he's not the kind of man who thinks that sort of thing is funny. He wouldn't have gone that way. He doesn't portray himself as well as Obama does, but he's a man of greater real compassion and warmth.