Obama insults Special Olympics? Update: Obama thinks Special Olympics are “wonderful”
posted at 9:59 pm on March 19, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
You know how you can tell when a President has a bad day? When his comparison of an American corporation to terrorists is the second-stupidest thing he said:
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.
Maybe he should have brought his Teleprompter with him. The Anchoress wonders whether the press will treat him like Bush:
One almost gets tired of saying it, but one must say it, still: Can you IMAGINE what the press and the Dems would do with that, had Bush said it. Can you IMAGINE what the press and the Dems would have done with the Irish PM Teleprompter gaffe (the press has helpfully embargoed the video, so Obama doesn’t have to see it playing 24/7, as Bush would have – had Bush so gaffed). Can you IMAGINE what the press and the Dems would have done if Bush had given the Prime Minister of Great Britain a lousy pack of 50 “Classic” DVD’s that didn’t work in the UK?
Eventually, even the media will have to realize that Obama is in over his head. They may be the last ones in on the joke, but eventually they’ll catch onto the fact that Obama is floundering.
Update (AP): The Anchoress’s point is well taken, but honestly, I tire of this politically calculated outrage. We all know what he meant; it was politically incorrect, but more political incorrectness among our political elite is all to the good. Lay off.
Update (Ed): Not if only one side gets away with it, AP.
Also, let’s remember that Obama is supposed to be leading, not campaigning or working as a stand-up comedian. He’s been insisting that we’re in the worst financial crisis in 70 years. Going on Leno to discuss his policies could have been a smart step; going on Leno to make quips and one-liners, and doing it badly, hardly builds confidence in his leadership or his priorities. When he stops with the crisis mentality, then he can show us why his stand-up career would have gone nowhere.
Also, wasn’t it Obama and his team that was screeching about the “political incorrectness” of Rush Limbaugh in hoping he’d fail, and insinuating that it amounted to treason?
Update (AP): Outrageous outrage warrants furious walkback!
“Good afternoon. The President made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics. He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world.”










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I was worried the teleprompter was still on strike from 2 days ago. I wanted to send the teleprompter a gift to thank it for what it did for all of us while the visitor from Ireland was here but I couldnt decide what to send it.
canditaylor68 on March 19, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Cage match.
Ed vs. Allah.
$10 on Pay-per-View.
Allah can wear a mask (ala Nacho Libre) to protect his identity.
My money is on the Alpha.
omnipotent on March 19, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Barry finds a way to dive below expectations every day… must be digging a vent for geothermal energy exploration…
Richard M Nixon must be working a wry smile working right now…
phreshone on March 19, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Help an old person out, what does that mean. I looked it up but nothing made sense.
Cindy Munford on March 19, 2009 at 10:21 PM
For a high percentage of Americans, if it’s not reported on TV, it never happened. And many of these are elderly, who always vote. So, no matter how much is reported here or elsewhere on the internet, the MSM still have enormous power.
And, what are we to do?
Loxodonta on March 19, 2009 at 10:21 PM
First of all, The Precedent is not part of OUR political elite. He is one of THEIR stooges.
OUR political elite certainly need to exhibit more political incorrectness, and tell the political correctness whores to STFU. Their hypocritical, nasty, underhanded political elite need to get some brains or take the Grassley Challenge.
progressoverpeace on March 19, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Where was all the outrage when Ann Coulter called Nancy Pelosi retarded?
Crickets.
SnarkVader on March 19, 2009 at 10:21 PM
I just noticed how Allah is telling everyone to LAY OFF. THE BOSS HAS SPOKEN PEOPLE, WE ALL NEED TO SHUT UP NOW. ALLAH YOU ARE BECOMING MORE OF A MORON BY THE DAY. HOW FUNNY YOU ARE. LAY OFF…
echosyst on March 19, 2009 at 10:21 PM
I’d bet there are plenty of disabled folks out there that bowl and break 200. 129, I thought Obama was a jock or something. 129, I beat that the first time I ever picked up a bowling ball. 129, I can beat that with a a couple pitchers of ale under my belt.
goat on March 19, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Coined just over an hour ago: What If Dubya Did It?
carbon_footprint on March 19, 2009 at 10:22 PM
I’ve mentioned this in at least 3 separate threads now, but I wonder what the chances are that NBC excises this clip from the Tonight Show.
teke184 on March 19, 2009 at 10:02 PM
This gaffe won’t make the West Coast feed, if it even makes the East Coast broadcast.
Welcome to our new Orwellian nightmare.
Nessuno on March 19, 2009 at 10:05 PM
It’s too late. Someone’s already uplinked footage of Keith Olbermann discussing it on his Countdown show over at youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD0EcujFSn8
You know it’s bad when something Obama does induces Olbermann to cringe simultaneously. Ouch!
sarahpalinfan99 on March 19, 2009 at 10:22 PM
What a frucking idiot this man is.
angryed on March 19, 2009 at 10:22 PM
If he had said it amongst a small group of friends it would not matter as much. He said this on a national television show that millions will be watching. I am the kind of guy who makes jokes like this all the time, but I would never tell such a joke around people I didn’t know because I don’t know if any of them have handicapped children or relatives. It is called good judgement and it comes with age and maturity, which is something the president seems to lack.
Mark1971 on March 19, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Why does President Obama hate handicapped children?
TheBigOldDog on March 19, 2009 at 10:23 PM
This is exactly right. He’s the President…should know that everything that comes out of his cake hole is going to be gone over 900 times 30 seconds after he says it.
This is childish…
George Bush is laughing his ass off right now….
BigWyo on March 19, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Let’s weigh this on the scale. Let’s see, Coulter is an author and Obama is the President of the United States of America!!!! For crying out loud.
carbon_footprint on March 19, 2009 at 10:23 PM
BTW, am I the only one who is beginning to wonder if the Dems deliberately did this whole AIG thing?
Follow me for a second… FACT: Dodd lied, said he had nothing to do with it… next day admits he did…. then says treasury pressured him to do it. FACT: Turbo Tax Tim now admits it, essentially admitting that he and everyone who claims they “just found out last week” knew for much much longer.
It’s no secret that these socialists hate business and want growth of government and increased government control. Is it inconceivable that they did this so that they could come out and conjure up anti-business sentiment, while The One and Friends shake their fists in anger (so that we turn to them as saviors).
The only flaw in this theory would be that we all know the truth now, that Obama, Geithner, and all the other Dems’ outrage was PHONY, now.
BUT, I’m willing to bet that at least 75% of the country doesn’t know all the Dodd/Geithner/Contracts stuff. This distraction from the real issue ($40 billion to overseas banks, etc.) isn’t to trick folks like us. It’s to trick the majority of the country – stupid 6 o’clock news watchers and headline readers.
I predicted earlier that Barry will get a bump in the polls out of this, and I stand by it for the reasons I just explained. I am truly beginning to believe what was initially just a theory. Knowing what we know now (that they all knew), I submit that the whole thing was orchestrated just so they could display the fake outrage to play hero so we all say “yay, Government, boo business!” (and all that follows after that sentiment grows)
RightWinged on March 19, 2009 at 10:23 PM
oooo, and ed responds with his uodated update!
/w00t!
Buckaroo on March 19, 2009 at 10:23 PM
You seem angry.
Is this true?
blatantblue on March 19, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Every day, I get up and pray to God
And he decreases the number of clocks by exactly one
Everybody’s comin’ home for lunch these days
Last night there were retards on my lawn
Take the retards bowling
Take them bowling
Take the retards bowling
Take them bowling
Some people say that bowling alleys got big lanes
Some people say that bowling alleys all look the same
There’s not a line that goes here that rhymes with anything
I has a dream last night, but I forget what it was
I had a dream last night about you, my friend
I had a dream–I wanted to sleep next to plastic
I had a dream–I wanted to lick your knees
I had a dream–it was about nothing
Cuz I am retarded. “TIMMAY!”
chunderroad on March 19, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Snark,
It would be insulting to retarded people to compare them to Pelosi.
Star20 on March 19, 2009 at 10:24 PM
They are using clips of his speeches in radio ads around here. Very annoying.
Cindy Munford on March 19, 2009 at 10:24 PM
No offense to Ed, but I think that match would be Beta on Beta.
But beta’s rule the world, so that’s a compliment.
p.s. I’m betting on the Allah. Isn’t he younger?
Trent1289 on March 19, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Selective outrage can always be justified, can’t it?
SnarkVader on March 19, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Pelosi is retarded.
progressoverpeace on March 19, 2009 at 10:24 PM
The truth is self-evident.
JammieWearingFool on March 19, 2009 at 10:24 PM
You know it is bizarro world when AP out-Olbermann’s Olbermann.
carbon_footprint on March 19, 2009 at 10:25 PM
The Teleprompter likes rechargeable batteries…it is going green you know but mostly a nice air can will be the best thanks we can give it….
sven10077 on March 19, 2009 at 10:25 PM
@ c_f
actually, i’dlike to see Ann’s in context quote before i would give dude any creditability on that topic ..
/jus’ sayin’ …
Buckaroo on March 19, 2009 at 10:25 PM
I hate phony outrage from either side. What he said was f’ing funny.
RW Wacko on March 19, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Exactly Ed. We need to hold the Left to their own standards or nothing will ever change. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
TheBigOldDog on March 19, 2009 at 10:25 PM
I am going to us this on a sign for the Orlando Tea Party. I am going to change lacking w/missing.
Mercy4Me on March 19, 2009 at 10:25 PM
” The Rise of the Machines “
thomasaur on March 19, 2009 at 10:25 PM
YOU JUST INSULTED SARAH PALIN’S BABY!! APOLOGIZE!!
SnarkVader on March 19, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Nice of you to throw some traffic to your friends like Anchoress.
RobCon on March 19, 2009 at 10:25 PM
I don’t know, your the liberal. Tell me?
carbon_footprint on March 19, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Once Obama’s abortion policies are in place, Special Olympics will become a thing of the past.
Star20 on March 19, 2009 at 10:26 PM
you’re!
carbon_footprint on March 19, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Hey AP just wants to cut Maximum Leader a break….
AP if it is no big deal why will the Leno show put it down the memory hole?
sven10077 on March 19, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Way to go Ed, tell Allah to LAY OFF!!!
blatantblue – No I am not angry, I was laughing at what a fool Allah is.
echosyst on March 19, 2009 at 10:26 PM
That’s the best you got, and you call yourself “Vader”? You. better. work!
chunderroad on March 19, 2009 at 10:26 PM
You don’t remember how she got kicked off the stage of the Tonight Show and was subsequently removed from office as President?
Jim Treacher on March 19, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Really… he is the President of the United States, what’s the point of having that much power if you can’t go on national TV and belittle a bunch of retarded kids…
elgeneralisimo on March 19, 2009 at 10:26 PM
SnarkVader on March 19, 2009 at 10:26 PM
What office does she hold again?
TheBigOldDog on March 19, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Hey chum Barry is a scion of PC….he sued banks to help get risk misvaluated recall???
Barry-petard, petard-Barry now hoist….
sven10077 on March 19, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Ed, thanks for the sanity.
Heh.
progressoverpeace on March 19, 2009 at 10:27 PM
AP, You pettiness is showing. Shut up and let Ed have a say once in a while. You’re acting like a whiney liberal atheist. oh..wait a minute….
R D on March 19, 2009 at 10:27 PM
I agree with Ed’s update.
Allah can be too much of a priggish scold sometimes.
RobCon on March 19, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Though I doubt the country will still be around, I hope Palin keeps this in the holster for 2012.
RightWinged on March 19, 2009 at 10:28 PM
1/2 cheer for snark for actually finding [and not altering] the quote …
/c_f’s point still stands
Buckaroo on March 19, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Here we go. Anyone who doesn’t march in lock step is a liberal.
SnarkVader on March 19, 2009 at 10:28 PM
We know Obama is a friend to the disabled, because look how nice he is to Tim Geithner.
chunderroad on March 19, 2009 at 10:28 PM
The teleprompter is going to scold Obama.
pearson on March 19, 2009 at 10:28 PM
This has nothing to do with political correctness.
This kind of careless, thoughtless comment rarely if ever came from a respected political leader from any generation.
It just wasn’t done. This man is clearly an immature boob who has no need or understanding of class!
katy on March 19, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Hats off to Olberdouche for keeping this kinda-sorta out of the memory hole.
Cuffy Meigs on March 19, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Thank you. I must say that you folks are brilliant
Cindy Munford on March 19, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Allah, some of us agree with ya. No worries.
Trent1289 on March 19, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Why the heck do he Republicans have to behave like nuns?
If the party had a clue they would pounce on this guys gaffes and milk it.
Alas, never underestimate the Republican ability to surrender the field to the opponent at every step.
mylegsareswollen on March 19, 2009 at 10:29 PM
SnarkVader,
We’re talking about kids being insulted by Obama.
Pelosi can certainly speak up for herself if she feels slighted by Ann. She seems to have no problems getting in slanging matches with other adults.
INC on March 19, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Allah’s too busy making an list of commenters to ban in the near future to respond to the beating he’s taking here.
omnipotent on March 19, 2009 at 10:29 PM
I tend to think he’s quite smart
I don’t care about this comment either.
Ain’t gonna win the election in 2010, all this outrage.
blatantblue on March 19, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Did I miss the part where President Coulter demanded political correctness from everyone else and then possessed none herself?
amerpundit on March 19, 2009 at 10:29 PM
remember Ed your new amigo here adheres to the RiNO Rules….
man I miss CQ
sven10077 on March 19, 2009 at 10:29 PM
How long before Preside teleprompter has his, “Fuck You San Diego” moment?
TheBigOldDog on March 19, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Anyone who defends liberals sure is. You’re marching with them.
chunderroad on March 19, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Precedent Coward.
progressoverpeace on March 19, 2009 at 10:30 PM
You should of closed this thread too, while you had the chance PUTO
redrock on March 19, 2009 at 10:30 PM
“omnipotent on March 19, 2009 at 10:29 PM”
i’m on ed’s side on this thread, but — DUDE — if a.p. ever actually went on a ban ramapge, we’d see a LOT fewer posters than we do …
/some of which frankly we COULD do without …
:-)
Buckaroo on March 19, 2009 at 10:31 PM
98 percent of the media will say lay-off for Obama while 98 percent would have crucified Bush or any other Republican for the same gaffe. Give me a break. I am tired of playing by different rules in this crooked game.
RobCon on March 19, 2009 at 10:31 PM
AP — does this mean that if some commenter slips and uses a derogatory term for Osama Obama’s race, everything will still be unicorns and rainbows as far as you’re concerned?
I mean, it seems to me everyone here has been careful to avoid even the so-called “code words” that so thoroughly apply to the child-president and would apply to him no matter what race(s) he is.
Obama disgusts me. Not only is he a lying, inexperienced fool who is trying hard to force the nation into financial disaster and Marxism, but he manages to be arrogant, insensitive and all too often incoherent while doing so.
If you want to write for ObamaAir, go for it, dude.
But Obama has neither earned nor deserves any more free passes than he has had in his uncommonly pampered life.
I, for one, refuse to let him get away with anything.
MrScribbler on March 19, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Snark:
I have criticized Coulter many a time. In fact I think there are times when she does more harm than good, but she is not the President of the United States. And what is more, Democrats are always talking about what callous morons wingnuts are for making cracks like that so maybe you should be the one defending your moral outrage.
Terrye on March 19, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Oh, I have read your comments for quite some time now. You are a liberal.
carbon_footprint on March 19, 2009 at 10:31 PM
I am still looking for that clip!
TimeTraveler on March 19, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Exactly. The myth of his temperament is as much baloney as the myth of his oratory skills.
DrStock on March 19, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Just to be clear….
A conservative commentator calling an elected official a name = The President of the United States, last seen blasting Rush Limbaugh for lacking political correctness, insulting mentally retarded children.
Gotcha.
amerpundit on March 19, 2009 at 10:31 PM
BigOldDog,
Funnnnnnnnnnyyyyy!!! I can see it coming!
At least I hope it does!
Star20 on March 19, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Is 129 really that bad? Damn, I’m happy breaking 100.
angryed on March 19, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Dayem,….that boy has some big ears!
christene on March 19, 2009 at 10:32 PM
“….like special olympics or something……now watch me hit this drive..”
BobMbx on March 19, 2009 at 10:32 PM
its pretty important to anyone with a political IQ that we should ignore AP, and take every opportunity to brand Obama for what he is. The Dems would and are playing for keeps, and the AP line of thought is to just grab the ankles. Heaven forbid we play politics and actually try to convince the public that Obama is an incompetent fool.
jp on March 19, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Exactly, and I am getting so turned off to this movement by that attitude.
Why are we wasting our breath on these clearly stupid comments?
Laugh at them, show them to friends, then move on.
Getting all angry and amped over a Special Ed comment isn’t going to take back the House and Senate. We should stay focused on the task at hand.
blatantblue on March 19, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Barry is an insult to vertebrates everywhere…
phreshone on March 19, 2009 at 10:33 PM
It’ll never make national TV.
JellyToast on March 19, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Oh no! Ed insulted liberal AllahPundit’s Messiah! Horrors. The RINO AllahPundit doesn’t like this one bit. I think AllahPundit should be writing for the Huffington Post, not on a blog owned by Michelle Malkin.
Gabe on March 19, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Isn’t it funny how Libs never want to admit their Libs? It’s like they know deep down inside they are mentally ill or something…
TheBigOldDog on March 19, 2009 at 10:33 PM
ED MORRISSEY basically kicked Allah’s ‘always has to be a dick’ big time — allah defends the Pimp My ride Limo driving on the Oprah President…Of course.
Topsecretk9 on March 19, 2009 at 10:34 PM
“Gabe on March 19, 2009 at 10:33 PM”
always remember mm brought a.p. onto the team [!!]
Buckaroo on March 19, 2009 at 10:34 PM
its amazing he could get through 2 years of campaigning, with Rev. Wright and company and all, and come through basically unscathed.
truely scary how powerful the MSM is
jp on March 19, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Body blows until he drops his hands and then clean his clock.
thomasaur on March 19, 2009 at 10:34 PM
I don’t have any moral outrage about this. What I’m saying is that if you want everyone held to the same standards, that starts in your own backyard.
SnarkVader on March 19, 2009 at 10:34 PM
It may not win the elections but if you had a family member who was mentally handicapped you would be offended that the President of the United States chose to use Special Olympics as an analogy to his own incompetence. It was irresponsible and uncalled for.
sherry on March 19, 2009 at 10:34 PM
blatantblue – You mean commenting here will prevent us from taking back congress? Holy shit we better stop now, 2010 is right around the corner. What exactly at this hour of the night can we do to ensure victory in the mid terms? Please.
echosyst on March 19, 2009 at 10:34 PM
No surprise this disrespect. He does not have respect before they are born nor after. If they were born in a botched abortion he expects everyone to stand back. Just more evidence of his sickness and ours(America’s)
Jamson64 on March 19, 2009 at 10:34 PM
I’m just ribbing AP for chiming in negatively on Ed’s post.
Good natured to be sure, but these damn interwebs make it difficult to discern sarcasm (and adding the “/” tag to every post gets old).
Agreed, the ban-hammer does need to get dusted off around these parts.
omnipotent on March 19, 2009 at 10:35 PM
‘Retard’ jokes are deeply offensive and unfunny and it doesn’t matter who tells them. They are a very unfortunate part of blog commentary, but I do expect better from those entrusted with leadership positions.
obladioblada on March 19, 2009 at 10:35 PM
I’ve noticed that.
Hey, are you keeping a list of gaffes like you were keeping the Obama list during the campaign?
carbon_footprint on March 19, 2009 at 10:35 PM
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