Obama Apologizes to Special Olympics for Bowling Joke

reply to post by jd140


You forgot #5: Uses an analogy to compare AIG to a suicide bomber. When he made that remark, his facial expression and tone was like 'oh ****, I did NOT just say that.'

Can you imagine if Dubya had made that remark. The entire planet would have shifted off its axis and exploded.


[edit on 20-3-2009 by vor78]

reply to post by jd140


Considering you are nothing more than a political hitman of anyone liberal... why should anyone give a damn what you think about Obama?

reply to post by skeptic1


No, see, I don't agree. He was on a comedy show. The president can't have a sense of humor? Anyone else could pull this joke off, unless you have 35% of the country still bitter at a loss.

reply to post by jd140


Yes... they only reported it because others did. Now if only you could prove that statement people might care.

reply to post by Swatman


Did you read it? They aren't "inviting" anyone. It was recommended by the very same people you said would give him a pass. No one is giving Obama a pass, and they won't.

I need to make this very clear:

The only people who should be upset about this are the extreme liberals. They are the ones who usually get upset about these kinds of comments. If you find yourself overly agitated by this, then you are probably being more partisan than you think.

reply to post by Irish M1ck


He can have a sense of humor, but not at the expense of others.....especially handicapped people. It was just in bad taste.

JMO....

reply to post by vor78


Dude... W made some of the dumbest remarks in history. I really don't think Obama has much to worry about when it comes to following that act. And no, the earth didn't shift off its axis and explode, it just rolled its eyes.

reply to post by skeptic1


So that kind of humor would always offend you? Or is it just because he's in a position of power?

[edit on 3/20/2009 by Irish M1ck]

Originally posted by Irish M1ck
I need to make this very clear:

The only people who should be upset about this are the extreme liberals. They are the ones who usually get upset about these kinds of comments. If you find yourself overly agitated by this, then you are probably being more partisan than you think.

I disagree strongly.

How many people in the United States have a relative that is disabled in some manner? Most of them. With this comment, he has exposed himself to criticism across the political spectrum.

There is simply no defense for his comment. Obama realized it; that's why he apologized as quickly as he did.

And dude, regarding my comment about the reaction had Bush made a similar comment about AIG, look up sarcasm in the dictionary. It may prove helpful.


[edit on 20-3-2009 by vor78]

reply to post by Irish M1ck


My uncle is mentally disabled.

Anyone using that kind of humor offends me to a degree. I'd have the same problem if it was a co-worker saying something like that....or a stranger or the President.

reply to post by Irish M1ck


I hardly consider myself a political hitman that targets the liberals.

I like to think that I use common sense. If the liberals view that as an unfair weapon then I do apologize.

Just let me know when I am using what the liberals consider to be a WMD and I will take that as a white flag and back off.

Originally posted by Swatman


only reason they are inviting special olympics to the white house is to spin control that obama actually cared about them. dam are you unintelligent or do you just wake up bowing to a picture of obama jesus?

Edited for clarity

Ok, I have said this on other threads, I will say it again. The only people I have ever heard calling Obama anything other than a HUMAN, are people who really seem to be "haters" of him. Why is that?

Gotta keep the hate going. Obama is a HUMAN MAN, nothing else.

I am sending out a question. Does ANYONE believe Obama is anything more than a human man?

I don't.

With the economy as it is, you guys are looking in the wrong direction for something to be upset at. Rush has said far more nasty things than Obama's joke, which was not appropriate I agree. He did make a gaffe. I would guess none of you have ever made a gaffe?

Peace

reply to post by vor78


I guess I am just surprised. Well, not really. I am trying to understand why those who normally would not be outraged by this are acting as if their world is ending.

I guarantee there are some pissed off people out there, just most of them aren't on ATS and other forums right now. No, they are going to the respective organizations and complaining, because their complaints aren't partisan.

reply to post by skeptic1


That seems fair to me. I guess that's the problem with trying to be funny - someone is going to get offended eventually. That makes it a good point that he possibly should have just avoided the show altogether.

Either way, you've changed my view. He needs to apologize to those that he offended, leave it at that, and ignore that partisan ranting that is going to ensue.

I would use a joke like that with my friends. The joke would most likely be followed up by an incredibly offensive gesture.

I would never use a joke like that around people I didnt know let alone on national television and if I were in a position remotely resembling the Presidency of anything those jokes would be on hold indefinitely.

Apparently without a teleprompter in his face Obama is either a complete moron who can't differentiate "hangin' with the boys" from being President of the United States or he really does hold individuals with disabilities in such contempt he is willing and seemingly eager to mock them in front of millions.

I would expect some tact from the POTUS.

reply to post by Irish M1ck


You shouldn't be, there is nothing different than if someone from the GOP said it, except the roles would be reversed.

You have to admit though that it was a rather stupid thing to say and now that he has said sorry, we should all just move on.

I do believe that some media outlets would be complaining a bit harder if a Republican had said it.

Oh I see, so the president has no right to free speech? Is that what we are saying here? The POTUS has absolutly no right to freedom under the first amendment of the United States?

I just want to make something clear. A joke is a joke and if you don't find it funny then you don't find it funny.

You can't sit there and make sure you don't offend everyone or you won't be able to say anything at all.

Its a freaking joke. Get over it. There are more important issues than stupid jokes.

Besides it was taken out of context, he was making a remark on how badly he bowles. He wasn't making fun of anyone but himself. So is that bad now?

reply to post by Irish M1ck


For my part, as I said earlier, I don't think its all that big of a deal taken by itself. He said something stupid and you're right, people do it all the time. I think its indefensible and it DID happen so it deserves to be discussed, but I also think it rates about a 2.0 on the scale of important matters at the moment.

I think there are two reasons for the reaction. One, people legitimately find it offensive. I do. Second, people see a disparity in how the media treats the two sides of the political isle when they make mistakes and it angers them even more than they already were.

[edit on 20-3-2009 by vor78]

reply to post by Irish M1ck


What partisan ranting? We are saying the same thing as she is. He screwed up by going on the show and then he inserted his foot in his mouth with this joke. Which wasn't really funny even if I tried to fine the humor in it.

I am simply adding this to the list of dumb things he has done. I must admit for only being 50 days, he is keeping me busy.

Well if they do picket the white house... theres a busy street right there by it. We could have alot of dead handicapped kids and damaged cars on our hands.

reply to post by vor78


I just don't see it. It's getting media coverage as we speak. How can you say it has been treated any differently? He's even got a spokesperson of that organization asking him to have someone work in the White House now.

He's getting absolutely hammered right now. I don't mind that... as long as it is legitimate response to something that people are offended by. I really don't think that is what this is - for the most part.

I can't speak for you, but I've already proven the hypocrisy of one member on this board as he laughed a racist joke and then pretended be offended by this.

reply to post by thisguyrighthere


Proof right there. ^^

Someone who has it out for Obama to begin with, even ADMITS HE LIKES THIS KIND OF HUMOR, but is offended by it.

That's classic.

The question isn't the fact that this should be Front page news or not, it is the fact that if it were someone else who made the Gaffe it would be.

"The One" does no wrong where if it were anyone with and (R) after there name it would be leading off Countdown and they would be on Keith's Worst people list if he can get O'Reilly off of it.