Obama Apologizes to Special Olympics for Bowling Joke

Why do poeple insist on pointing out that stand up comedians are offensive?

The president is not a stand up comedian.

reply to post by riley


Why do people insist on blowing a statement out of proportion for obvious partisan reasons?

So many questions, so little time.

I have coached at Special Olympic events and even gone bowling with people that competed in the events..... They would have no problem with what the President said, they laugh at each other and have a wonderful time..... The are intelligent enough to understand the humour in what was said..... They are very loving and accepting people.

reply to post by hypervigilant


Plus, they would out-bowl him also. Some people must live the most hate-filled, superficial lives to be taking comment and turning it partisan.

Originally posted by Irish M1ck
reply to post by riley

 

Why do people insist on blowing a statement out of proportion for obvious partisan reasons?

So many questions, so little time.

Partisan reasons..? I'm just being an advocate for people with disabilities and started posting on seeing the word "retard" being thrown around like people were making up for lost time. I don't want ATS become an intollerent enviroment.. everyone should feel welcome.

I gave him credit for apologising but people still insist he did nothing wrong.. that is what I have a problem with. He is meant to be working for the poeple by the people.. believe it or not that INCLUDES disabled people.

[edit on 21-3-2009 by riley]

reply to post by Swatman


Actually, if Bush had said it, he would have said it at the Special Olympics after finishing third in a relay race because he got lost after being distracted by a shiney object.

Also, Bush has so many great quotes and actions, like making fun of dead troops by looking for WMDs behind a couch, that this doesn't even make the top 1000 stupid things said by a politician. Any one want a "What is the definition of is?"

[edit on 21-3-2009 by JMasters]

reply to post by riley


Everything you say is going to offend someone somewhere.
What matters is if it was intentional or not.
There's no doubt in my mind that it was not meant as an insult.

Originally posted by TruthParadox
reply to post by riley

 

Everything you say is going to offend someone somewhere.
What matters is if it was intentional or not.
There's no doubt in my mind that it was not meant as an insult.

I already said in that post I respected obama's apology and I have no doubt he is sorry but he has now made it even more ok to insult the disabled.. as proven by this thread.

If you are talking about my disdain for the word retard being used.. you are right. Everything that people say is bound to insult someone somewhere.. and I'm pretty sure if I say the n word it's going to insult some black people somewhere as well. Do you not see the double standard?

[edit on 21-3-2009 by riley]

If Obama did nothing wrong, like his followers keeps insisting, then why did he decide to aplogize?


Plus, in keeping with new tradition where we now judge a President by the things he says, now we can all agree that he said something really really stupid, so he must be an idiot.

reply to post by Alxandro


Because there were some who were truly offended by that comment. Now, on this thread, that represents about 2% of the posters. Most of the people making a big deal out of this are spineless, partisan hacks.

And there is a difference in making a joke that people think went to far, and not knowing "a famous phrase from Texas..." and thinking that "OBGYN's should practice love with their patients".

Bush's comments weren't offensive to people, they were outright dumb. Obama told a joke, and some were offended. Not the same, and there really isn't a parallel with Bush.


What I do love is how they admit Bush was an idiot now that he is out of office, and now try to compare Obama to Bush with nonexistent comparisons.

[edit on 3/21/2009 by Irish M1ck]

reply to post by riley


I'm just saying that this shouldn't be such a big deal.
Did he mean it as an insult? No
Was it a mistake to use those words? Yes
Do mistakes happen? Yes

That's it.

But many people are making it into something more, saying that Obama is showing his 'true colors'...
And I seriously doubt that these people who are making such a big deal about it actually care about the people who may have been insulted, most just care about using it as an attack against Obama, and to me that's far more offensive to those who may have been insulted in the first place.

Partisan stuff is so rubbish, people are sick of double standards, period.

I am sure too that plenty of disabled people do not like it, whether you obama fans, think it is great.

Originally posted by TruthParadox
reply to post by riley

 

And I seriously doubt that these people who are making such a big deal about it actually care about the people who may have been insulted, most just care about using it as an attack against Obama, and to me that's far more offensive to those who may have been insulted in the first place.

Why do doubt they wouldn't care about people being insulted? Sincerity is rarely questioned when people campaign againsts racism so why would you find it difficult to believe?


[edit on 21-3-2009 by riley]

reply to post by riley


This kind of sensitivity is what caused the era of political correctness that conservatives HATE and blame the liberals for. That's how I know this is completely partisan.

I am 100% sure that many were really offended by those statements, but they aren't the ones raising a stink about it.

Originally posted by riley
Why do doubt they wouldn't care about people being insulted? Sincerity is rarely questioned when people campaign againsts racism so why would you find it difficult to believe?

Because if that's what people were really upset about, they would also be hammering every comedian who makes remarks which are far more offensive than what Obama said, and have just as many viewers as the the tonight show.
I'm not saying that everyone who is talking about this doesn't feel offended by his remarks, I'm saying that most of what I've seen is obviously about politics.
Seriously, just go back and read some of the remarks from people... this isn't about disabled people, it's about Obama "showing his true colors"...

Originally posted by TruthParadox

Originally posted by riley
Why do doubt they wouldn't care about people being insulted? Sincerity is rarely questioned when people campaign againsts racism so why would you find it difficult to believe?

Because if that's what people were really upset about, they would also be hammering every comedian who makes remarks which are far more offensive than what Obama said, and have just as many viewers as the the tonight show.

As I already said he is NOT a stand up comedian.
He is a head of state, a world political figure and a role model. He is also meant to be representing ALL citizens and therefore should respect all those citizens equally.

I'm not saying that everyone who is talking about this doesn't feel offended by his remarks, I'm saying that most of what I've seen is obviously about politics.

From most of what I've seen on this very thread many people have alot of contempt for people with disabilities.

Seriously, just go back and read some of the remarks from people... this isn't about disabled people, it's about Obama "showing his true colors"...

Go back and read them for yourself and count how many times you see the word "retard" used..

[edit on 21-3-2009 by riley]

Originally posted by riley
As I already said he is NOT a stand up comedian.
He is a head of state, a world political figure and a role model. He is also meant to be representing ALL citizens and therefore should respect all those citizens equally.

That's exactly my point. It isn't about what he said or how 'offensive' it was, it's about who he is.
This is about politics.
Again, what matters is the intent.
Was he intentionally showing some sort of hatred for disabled people?
Of course not.
He was insulting his own bowling abilities.

I've already said that it was a mistake for him to make that comment.
But, I'll gladly say again that it's a bigger mistake to make this about politics.

Originally posted by riley
From most of what I've seen on this very thread many people have alot of contempt for people with disabilities.

I'd say you're probably imagining that.
I haven't seen any contempt for disabled people.

Originally posted by riley
Go back and read them for yourself and count how many times you see the word "retard" used..

Saying someone is retarded isn't an insult unless you mean it as an insult.
Intent is everything.
A family member of mine is retarded, and I'm not being mean by saying that, it's just a fact.

People like you are afraid of stating facts.
Now we say "mentally handicapped". In the future, people will use THAT as an insult, and so you won't even be able to call someone mentally handicapped without feeling guilty. What will the next word be?
It's BS.

To be honest, I'm tired of these invisible social contracts.
If something is a fact, then say it - not in an offensive manner, but in a factual manner.


What Obama said was a mistake.
Not because it was offensive, but because we are too sensitive and politically correct, and he should have known what it would be portrayed as.

[edit on 21-3-2009 by TruthParadox]

Originally posted by Irish M1ck
reply to post by riley

 

This kind of sensitivity is what caused the era of political correctness that conservatives HATE and blame the liberals for. That's how I know this is completely partisan.

Oh really? So I'm lieing about being offended now?

I am 100% sure that many were really offended by those statements, but they aren't the ones raising a stink about it.

It's funny.. when someone "raises a stink" over racism everyone understands and does not immediately question that offense.. but twice you have tried to say I'm not being honest about it. Why should I have to qualify my offense? Asking people to do so is basically saying you don't think it's likely people would defend the disabled just because they care about them. They're human beings so why wouldn't they? Instead you presume we must have a seperate agenda.. that is called projecting.

[edit on 21-3-2009 by riley]

maybe obama should just sit back, relax and have some fried chicken in his mouth to keep him from making un funny remarks about the disabled, because they speak better without teleprompters than he does.

reply to post by Swatman


My point summed up perfectly. ^^

That's twice now a member has complained that it was offensive and then made an offensive joke.

Either it is all okay, or none of it is.