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.”










Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 … 6 7 8 9 10 … 12 Next »
And the conclusion is…help me out here.
baldilocks on March 20, 2009 at 12:49 AM
This should cheer you up.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/toc/2009/03/23/toc_20090316
getalife on March 20, 2009 at 12:50 AM
Yes, the Democrats may be crappy leaders but they are geniuses at public relations.
carbon_footprint on March 20, 2009 at 12:50 AM
Yes, JVelez, my husband and his family, including his brother, who is learning disabled, watched Tropic Thunder. They laughed through the entire movie, including the full and half thing, his brother the loudest and he understood what they were saying.
It is different from a president. Even an inept one.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 12:50 AM
And you typed that with a straight face? Oh I get it…you were just attempting some humor. Okay…ha..ha.
Deanna on March 20, 2009 at 12:50 AM
Dude, I was thinking something far more rude. ;)
baldilocks on March 20, 2009 at 12:42 AM
Now to really test your imagination, think of Dave’s head stuck in both places simultaneously.
Bishop on March 20, 2009 at 12:51 AM
….and hopefully, he will be the first sitting president to just up and quit. That would be historic.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 12:51 AM
carbon:
I am always so surprised at how well the rhetoric works. You would think that after awhile people would begin to smell a rat.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 12:52 AM
Bishop, you owe me a computer screen.
*Cleans up the mess*
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 12:52 AM
I sometimes go there in my mind. I call it my “happy place”.
capitalist piglet on March 20, 2009 at 12:52 AM
Actually what they are: long-term thinkers; strategists. The Left has been indoctrinating Americans since the sixties. At least.
baldilocks on March 20, 2009 at 12:52 AM
Some days I think he wants to quit… You can see the confusion on his face. He’s frustrated, plus he misses the Chicago Community Organizing.
Upstater85 on March 20, 2009 at 12:53 AM
Hornet:
I have heard other people say that Obama might quit. I don’t think so, but I have to admit, he makes Biden look almost acceptable.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 12:53 AM
Lay Off? AP are you sh!tting me? You have Russia thinking of putting bombers in Cuba and a State Dept. that doesn’t know how to order a box set of DVDs for play in Great Britain and Obama says his bowling is like the Special Olympics? That’s an insult to the Special Olympics. At least they’ve ‘accomplished’ something. Keep up the good work watching the back of your homeboy, dude. He’s gonna need it!
Sultry Beauty on March 20, 2009 at 12:54 AM
how awkward was the first comm. break
Joe Caps on March 20, 2009 at 12:54 AM
Agreed, but you can not deny their powerful PR when they get such support from the majority of the MSM.
carbon_footprint on March 20, 2009 at 12:54 AM
Terrye,
I was thinking the SAME thing. Scary.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 12:54 AM
baldilocks:
Longer than that. Don’t forget Huey Long.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 12:54 AM
Obama and Geither could go out together – like a flash of uhhhhhh well, something.
Upstater85 on March 20, 2009 at 12:54 AM
The first sitting President on a late night show was historic…
getalife on March 20, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Had Ogabe appeared in a porno movie it would have been just as historic, but in neither case would it be particularly meaningful.
Bishop on March 20, 2009 at 12:55 AM
It’s obvious to you because you’ve picked up on their hypocrisy. You stay up with who they are and you read and think.
Far too many people just take in the latest soundbite. I think that’s what Terrye meant and fall for the Dems PR job unless they have personally run afoul of it.
INC on March 20, 2009 at 12:55 AM
Like the flush of a toilet, Upstater85.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 12:55 AM
And give up that spiffy Air Force One, bowling alley and all the rest of his toys?
Saskwatch will never let that happen.
Knucklehead on March 20, 2009 at 12:56 AM
I believe the tide is turning. We struggled so long without alternative media it is a wonder that we ever won any major elections at all.
carbon_footprint on March 20, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Hey getalife…for some perspective…what is your favorite comedy?
ClassicCon on March 20, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Hornet Sting:
Obama really does seem to be out of his depth. Biden is a partisan hack, but I don’t think he is completely unaware of how things work. I honestly wonder if Obama understands what is going on. That makes all of us more vulnerable.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 12:56 AM
I see Terrye and carbon have already explained.
INC on March 20, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Looking at Newsbusters, you know its bad if Olby was a bit turbed by it…..
JVelez on March 20, 2009 at 12:56 AM
There is no “double edge” to the PC sword. It’s designed to make right speaking people guard their speech.
You should have figured that out when they didn’t criticize their most Senior serving Democrack for his “white Ni..ers” comment, for starters.
See. Even a conservative like me has been conditioned to not even repeat what a Democrat can say. Allahpundit might re-ban me.
Buddahpundit on March 20, 2009 at 12:57 AM
sorry to hear Bush took the economy back over after Barry spoke…
sven10077 on March 20, 2009 at 12:57 AM
*Scream* Off-color comedy!!! But I’m sure Obama would find it funny.
Upstater85 on March 20, 2009 at 12:58 AM
carbon:
There are poor people, working people who just want a fair chance to make a living. That is all. Then there are people who want to be taken care of. I think Republicans can win over some of the people in the first group if they make them understand that America is still the land of opportunity.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 12:58 AM
Watching C Span today.
getalife on March 20, 2009 at 12:59 AM
Special Olympics…to Obama and his ilk there is nothing more tragic…a sporting event consisting of what they consider failed abortions…
ClassicCon on March 20, 2009 at 12:59 AM
Terrye,
Biden is stupid. Obama is just plain dangerous. We can survive dumb, we were still here after Carter. I remember one of the first big words I learned when I was four or five was ‘inflation’. Saw it all over the grocery stores advertising. Don’t want to see that again.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:00 AM
How about intentional comedy?
ClassicCon on March 20, 2009 at 1:00 AM
Yeah, and they called Bush an idiot…
By the time 0bama’s done, he’ll have made Bush look like HAL 9000.
Maybe 0bama made the comparisson because Affirmative Action is so very much like The Special Olympics…you know, ya get a prize just for showing up?
SuperCool on March 20, 2009 at 1:00 AM
sven:
Ever notice how Bush did not get credit for the Dow at 14,000 or unemployment at 4.4%, but somehow or other Obama is supposed to get credit if the market has two or three whole days that are not completely sucky?
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:00 AM
Watching C Span today.
getalife on March 20, 2009 at 12:59 AM
So you saw Dodd doing his dancing circus-dog act too?
Bishop on March 20, 2009 at 1:01 AM
G20 meeting in London.
getalife on March 20, 2009 at 1:01 AM
I can’t help watching Dodd’s eyebrows. creepy.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:02 AM
What kind of gifts do you think we’ll give to our Fav20?
Upstater85 on March 20, 2009 at 1:02 AM
Indeed if the market fell 25 points on Bush’s watch it was the free market system itself personally rebuking Bush’s leadership….market falls 200 points for Ogabe…..”well that’s just Bush”….
sven10077 on March 20, 2009 at 1:02 AM
Hornet Sting:
I can remember when a can of beans would have a half dozen stickers on it. That is how often the price would change by the time it sold.
Obama is dangerous, I agree.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:02 AM
No, the gop voting yes on a unconstitutional 90% tax hike on the greedy.
Hilarious.
getalife on March 20, 2009 at 1:03 AM
Yawn…ok have it your way…
ClassicCon on March 20, 2009 at 1:03 AM
I don’t know whether you know this but I was a Democrat until my late thirties. I used to listen to Pacifica Radio’s KPFK (so Left that Clinton was too Conservative for them), volunteer there even. That’s part of what turned me around.
Outside of my immediate family, my whole family are Democrats who voted for Obama. (This is actually a pretty good ratio for a black family–especially when one is of the same African tribe as Obama.) I know that it’s more than just “keeping up on current events.”
It’s…letting go of a lot baggage: anger, pride, etc. Lots of people aren’t willing to do that.
baldilocks on March 20, 2009 at 1:03 AM
By the way news.aol.com conducted a poll tonight on the matchup between Obama and Palin. Here are the results so far:
Obama 46%
Palin 42%
Neither 12%
248,000 votes cast so far
technopeasant on March 20, 2009 at 1:04 AM
I think a big challenge for the GOP is to educate people about government and what the Constitution intended and what the founding fathers based our country upon. For the majority of my life I never questioned the role of government in society. I swallowed the idea that government should aggressively help and interfere with our lives. That’s because I was ignorant to the Constitution and had been spoon-fed so much propaganda by the media and institutions. It was much like an alcoholic’s moment of clarity the day I realized the conservative way was the right path.
carbon_footprint on March 20, 2009 at 1:04 AM
old enough here as well….
the 18-26 year old voters were not lucky enough to be alive when Barry’s dad was in the office and we got to see Stagflation….just as lucky we are reenacting idiot democrat energy policy too….
sven10077 on March 20, 2009 at 1:04 AM
And all but, what SIX, democrats cheering an unconstitutional waste of time…..
Yes, that makes me laugh.
BTW, congress, our borders are still WIDE OPEN TONIGHT!
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:04 AM
Real outrage from the English people.
getalife on March 20, 2009 at 1:05 AM
sven:
Sooner or later they will have to give up the Bush crutch.
In truth the economy did pretty well until Pelosi and Reid took over.
BTW, I read that there is an investigation into the sudden stock drop back in September. It seems someone was pulling hundreds of billions out in a day and that is what precipitated the panic. The DoJ started looking into it in December. It will be interesting to see what Obama does with that investigation
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:05 AM
carbon:
Yes, I think that a lot of people think that government is supposed to meet their every need. Of course that is not the purpose at all. The point is to give people the opportunities to meet their own needs. Safety nets are fine, even good, but too much help hampers. I think that is the challenge.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:07 AM
35 here. I was so vulnerable to media and the entire hipness that was attached to liberalism. I was a musician, architecture student and bought into the whole thing. It took George W. Bush to convert me.
carbon_footprint on March 20, 2009 at 1:08 AM
Yeah, we could like cage them (the outraged English people) and give them to Sarkozy, because that would be so cool.
Upstater85 on March 20, 2009 at 1:08 AM
The question is: Are we ever going to be able to go back? I mean, Obama is willing to give cradle to grave assistance, more so than has been given before. That will be a big challenge.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:09 AM
Create some distraction, kick a puppy perhaps, anything but have them discover it was Soros.
msmveritas on March 20, 2009 at 1:09 AM
getalife:
You have mentioned that vote about a dozen times. Are you having problems with your short term memory?
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:10 AM
msm:
I wonder.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:10 AM
No, the gop voting yes on a unconstitutional 90% tax hike on the greedy.
Hilarious.
getalife on March 20, 2009 at 1:03 AM
I didn’t think it was funny, especially not when I saw how many members of the demorat party voted in favor of that unconstitutional bill.
However, I do look forward to some fine laughs when I hear Dodd, Ogabe and Geithner try to spin their way out of explaining how they approved the AIG retention bonuses.
Bishop on March 20, 2009 at 1:10 AM
Yes, as Mark Levin says, entitlements, once granted, are almost impossible to reverse. The reformers are almost always seen as the bad guys.
carbon_footprint on March 20, 2009 at 1:11 AM
36. My father made sure that when I turned 18, I registered to vote. He explained the difference in conservative and liberal. He also told me if I wanted to live in his house, I would vote conservative. He didn’t have to threaten me, though. I liked getting a check every two weeks that I worked hard for. He explained that liberals want more taxes out of your check for their welfare programs. I have voted conservative ever since….
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:11 AM
What vote?
getalife on March 20, 2009 at 1:11 AM
I said SOROS too. Gotta be.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:12 AM
Hornet:
I think we will go back out of necessity because we will run out of money.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:12 AM
getalife is a ‘proud independent’ meaning not sure where he or she stands. BTW, what are you, getalife? I heard a rumor you were a woman….
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:13 AM
You see…you said “problems with short term memory” and he says “What vote?”
Get it? Get it? I was wondering what happened to the comedy writers for Full House.
ClassicCon on March 20, 2009 at 1:13 AM
It was either Soros, or the Saudis, or maybe even several players. It might also be that they did not know it would be this extreme. Sometimes I wonder if someone thought they might help Obama out a little, some fortuitous trading soon after the Republican convention..and then bam! the thing took on a life of its own.
But it is odd.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:14 AM
Good one, classic.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:14 AM
getalife:
Dumb.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:14 AM
It could have been all those overseas donors to Ogabe’s campaign. But, my money is on soros.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:14 AM
I am a proud Independent.
What difference does gender make?
getalife on March 20, 2009 at 1:15 AM
Most definitely $oro$.
carbon_footprint on March 20, 2009 at 1:15 AM
old enough here as well….
the 18-26 year old voters were not lucky enough to be alive when Barry’s dad was in the office and we got to see Stagflation….just as lucky we are reenacting idiot democrat energy policy too….
sven10077 on March 20, 2009 at 1:04 AM
Knucklehead on March 20, 2009 at 1:15 AM
I was a GI. It took being back in the real world to convert me…that and the African emabassy bombings and the USS Cole.
baldilocks on March 20, 2009 at 1:15 AM
Oh Terrye, you are such a lame con, don’t you recognize brilliant, biting, quick wit when you see it?
ClassicCon on March 20, 2009 at 1:15 AM
We are out of money now and yet, we have enough to give to terrorists to rebuild a crumbling craptrap in Gaza.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:16 AM
getalife’s real point is that Democrats don’t have principles so they can vote anyway they want. And somehow that is supposed to make Republicans look bad.
What a hoot.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:16 AM
I know someone who praises the Carter years, saying everything was better then, until Reagan came along and ruined it. No amount of “mis-information” from conservatives, like me and every encyclopedia I cite, can change this person’s mind. The economy was great under Carter and caved under Reagan.
For some, nothing is sacred, except Republican hatred.
Loxodonta on March 20, 2009 at 1:16 AM
For the me difference is a happy morning, or a long morning guzzling mouth wash.
ClassicCon on March 20, 2009 at 1:17 AM
Just curious, getalife. I have to give it to you, you’re dedicated.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:17 AM
Well, we want O’s future home to be Presidential and all…
Upstater85 on March 20, 2009 at 1:17 AM
I know, and though we may disagree once in a blue moon, I respect you tremendously.
carbon_footprint on March 20, 2009 at 1:17 AM
Hornet Sting:
No, we are out of cash. Eventually we will be out of everything and then there will be no more.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:17 AM
I didn’t know you’d been a Dem until your late thirties. I knew you had a military background and remembered that reading Sowell had impacted your thinking. In my comment I was trying to encompass more than just staying up with current events.
INC on March 20, 2009 at 1:17 AM
So you’re a transvestite?
Got it.
Now. Go. To. Bed.
Knucklehead on March 20, 2009 at 1:18 AM
BTW, can you be an independent without being ‘proud’, getalife?
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:18 AM
Callic Con:
No, I am just a dimwitted wingnut. getalife is the real talent here.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:18 AM
LMAO, Upstater85. You’re my kind of conservative.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:19 AM
I hate to say this, but I’m thinking the young one’s are going to see stagflation again, and soon.
Loxodonta on March 20, 2009 at 1:19 AM
I was taught, when you are out of cash, you are out of money. We need to practice this and tell everyone, including that assbag at the UN that we are broke, no more government teet and close up shop.
HornetSting on March 20, 2009 at 1:20 AM
BTW, if Libs and Moderates don’t care that he belonged to a church headed by a man who implored God to damn America for 20 years, they won’t care about this.
“Rich…white…people!!!”
baldilocks on March 20, 2009 at 1:20 AM
It is time for me to go to bed. I am somehow managed to turn classic into callic.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:20 AM
Hey, you’re the one that wants to flush Barry and Geithner. Who can top that?
Upstater85 on March 20, 2009 at 1:20 AM
Damn I thought you were coming on to me with some sort of cute pet name or something. I’m crushed.
ClassicCon on March 20, 2009 at 1:21 AM
Hornet:
Think of all the grief it would save people if they did learn that lesson.
Terrye on March 20, 2009 at 1:21 AM
Excellent post. The regulars here tend to be wraped up in their own self importance sometimes and don’t notice.
R D on March 20, 2009 at 1:21 AM
Notice what?
*brought to you by getalife’s top surefire comedic strategies*
ClassicCon on March 20, 2009 at 1:22 AM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 … 6 7 8 9 10 … 12 Next »