Obama and his off taste joke about the mentally disabled

[Clayton_e]

I read an article a couple days ago stating that Obama jumping into the late night comedy field had a few parts that he could take advantage of and a few possible minefields. The good part is he's not in front of the podium spouting off words and numbers that even his greatest supporters can't go through without getting sleepy (and angry at wall street.. but at some point you get tired of hearing those numbers.. more numb than anything).

The minefield? Saying something that has ramifications. Something you don't mean to say that goes "oops.." and pisses off a whole group of people.


I used to work with the mentally disabled, and I'm shocked, even as a super supporter of Obama, just shocked, that the title of this article was this:

Obama mixes politics, comedy on 'Tonight Show'

The CNN article states:

Obama also remarked on his poor bowling skills, which were evident during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania. He told Leno that he bowled 129 in the White House bowling alley and said his bowling skills are "like Special Olympics or something."

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said the president's remarks were not meant to poke fun of the Special Olympics.

"The president made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics," Burton said. "He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world."

Yeah? Well where did he state that? The title, if he had said something about.. oh.. I don't know, Hispanics or Jews would be a bit different. The mentally disabled, though? They fit in with one of the following:

1) Politics
or...
2) Comedy

Would you please tell me which one he meant them to fit into?

I'm seriously a huge fan of his politics. I like the fact that he's not for the jackass super rich, the inside seven homes leaders that have run this country for so long. I do like that fact. But when I see him just disparaging a group of people that do not even have the ability to even get enough ahead to have more in their life than maybe, just maybe, get a paper certificate that states they had a good time at a bowling alley one day then that's low.

I've worked with people who's goal was to be able to go bowling without the bumpers (you know, those blow up things they put up in the gutters to make sure you get some pins down, no matter how bad you throw the ball?). They had a blast doing it. And they were proud of knowing they could get out of their group home and go to a for fun tournament rather than stay home. I've also worked (and still do in my current but different job) with people that have no control over their bowel movements. I work with people that forget that it's not 1955. Does he want to joke about knowing the date or being able to hold it until he gets to the shitter?

If he tried to say he.. oh... bowled like a guy with one leg would anyone be offended? Or if he said he bowled like he was blind? Or how about just if he just came out and said "like a retard"?

Someone please tell me the title of that article isn't jack shit and the press secretary isn't just patting the local mentally disabled kid on the back saying "hey hey.. he wasn't talking about you, specifically.


What the hell?

[Baldwin]

I've worked with people whose goal was to be able to go bowling without the bumpers (you know, those blow up things they put up in the gutters to make sure you get some pins down, no matter how bad you throw the ball?).

So, Obama's comparison was accurate. What exactly is the problem?

ETA: Wait a sec. They don't use those inflatable bumpers in the Special Olympics, do they? Sounds unlikely. To be honest, I've never watched the bowling event at the Special Olympics; is that even one of the competition sports?

Okay, just did a quick check. No mention of bumpers, but Special Olympics bowling does allow use of a ramp.

[TheFlame]

[modhat:398rfnkx]Thread moved to the Thunderdome[/modhat:398rfnkx]

[Liberal]

Oh, Jesus. He was depricating HIMSELF. I hate CNN. I hate Fucks News. I hate them all.

[AllWalker]

It's not the sort of comment a politician should say.

It is the sort of comment I would say to my mates, but then 1) I know them well enough to know they wont be offended, and 2) I'm not in politics, thank Bo.

Cut him some slack. A human making a human error is no biggie. It's only when this becomes an established pattern of behaviour that we should start grumbling about Barackisms.

[hatesfreedom]

Thank god the only people who care about retards are the mothers of retards. Now that this thread is in the thunderdome btw we can call them retards. That one behind you just pooped himself. Be afraid.

But seriously, so Obama has a sense of humor. I know its going to take all of us some getting use to, but I think we can get through it.

[hatesfreedom]

and retards genuinely are funny and none of you can deny that

[Chimera]

I'd almost be afraid to look in The Pit if he'd dare to say that he played like a FAT Retard. The recreational outrage would overflow the servers.

I dunno, these days it seems that everyone is just perched on the edge, looking around for something to be outraged about.

[Zuul]

I believe the thinking is that it's wrong to imply that any group of humanity is in some way categorically lesser than other groups. Including when that group of humanity is grouped together because of their reduced capabilities.

I'm not sure how I feel about that particular stance as applied here, but that is, AFAIK, the reasoning behind people getting worked up about similar comments.

[Harlequin]

It's not the sort of comment a politician should say.

Exactly. We all know what he meant and how such a thing might slip out, but it was still inappropriate and unfortunate.

We get Leno's show here in Sweden but I don't know when a particular episode will air and damnit, I don't want to miss this one. Is it available on the website somewhere?

[ivan astikov]

Exactly. If he consistently took pops at physically or mentally tarded people, there would be good reason to be outraged.


ETA. In response to Chimera's post.

[Exy]

It's not the sort of comment a politician should say.

Right.

It's the kind of thing that I think we all would agree is basically in poor taste, but that a lot of people say anyway. I've probably said worse (I'm not proud of that fact). Whatever his political party, though, it's not really something to make a huge deal out of. (I don't see any evidence that people are making a huge deal out of it, either, so uh good job humanity I guess?)

and retards genuinely are funny and none of you can deny that

This.

[BJMoose]

and retards genuinely are funny and none of you can deny that

I find your avatar intriguing -- I didn't know tin foil hats came in red. . . .


The remark was ill-advised. I suspect Obama hasn't quite fully grasped that he is now a resident of Glass Bubble Land.

[Exy]

and retards genuinely are funny and none of you can deny that

I find your avatar intriguing -- I didn't know tin foil hats came in red. . . .

I don't get it.

[Exy]

PS: The title of this thread contains an interesting linguistic thingy, the author accidentally mixed two idioms ("off-color" and "bad taste") and came up with something else.

I'm not, like, finding fault. I just think it's interesting.

[OneCentStamp]

I believe the thinking is that it's wrong to imply that any group of humanity is in some way categorically lesser than other groups.

Lesser at what, bowling?

[Zuul]

I believe the thinking is that it's wrong to imply that any group of humanity is in some way categorically lesser than other groups.

Lesser at what, bowling?

Of course, that's a deeply offensive statement. All people should bowl exactly the same way. If some people show a greater aptitude than others, we can put sandbags on their arms.

[What Exit?]

Of course, that's a deeply offensive statement. All people should bowl exactly the same way. If some people show a greater aptitude than others, we can put sandbags on their arms.

Hey, I remember that story. What was it called again? I think I read it in 7th grade.

[OneCentStamp]

PS: The title of this thread contains an interesting linguistic thingy, the author accidentally mixed two idioms ("off-color" and "bad taste") and came up with something else.

I'm not, like, finding fault. I just think it's interesting.

You know, off-taste. Like when you accidentally put the Cool Whip tub back in the fridge without the lid securely sealed, and then when you go back for more Cool Whip a week later, it tastes like pad thai or curry chicken or something?

[Zuul]

Hey, I remember that story. What was it called again? I think I read it in 7th grade.

Harrison Bergeron. I always think of it when people get riled up by genuine differences in ability.

[Harlequin]

Of course, that's a deeply offensive statement. All people should bowl exactly the same way. If some people show a greater aptitude than others, we can put sandbags on their arms.

Hey, I remember that story. What was it called again? I think I read it in 7th grade.

I believe you're thinking of Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut. It's a good story that was used as the basis of a good film, although the story in the film is very much expanded from the original story.

[Exy]

You know, off-taste. Like when you accidentally put the Cool Whip tub back in the fridge without the lid securely sealed, and then when you go back for more Cool Whip a week later, it tastes like pad thai or curry chicken or something?

I don't eat cool whip.

Harrison Bergeron. I always think of it when people get riled up by genuine differences in ability.

Yes. Political correctness has, indeed, run amok.

[Oliveloaf]

It's funny that talking heads spew about 10,000 words a day, much of which don't stand up to fact checking, or basic PC standards.

The president's words (and this happened to Bush, as well) are held to insanely high standards by comparison.

Some points:

It was a careless thing to say

Obama rarely says something careless

It was on a casual, late-night chit-chat show

It shows he's only human

It was a careless thing to say (x2)

...

Sadly, this just gives the right-wing punditry fuel. Of course, as they have had very little of substance to work with lately, this could distract them from
dicking around with stuff that matters, like fiscal policy.

In two weeks, only Rush will still be talking about this. In two years, he will still be talking about this.

He probably couldn't sleep last night because he was so excited about talking about this.

[Harlequin]

Sadly, this just gives the right-wing punditry fuel.

Yes. The number of people who were genuinely offended is probably very, very low, but that doesn't matter to the shit-slingers.

The question is of course whether this really matters. Maybe the people listening to Rush Limbaugh are beyond reach by Obama anyway, no matter what he says, and this thing will be preached to the choir and no-one else.

[What Exit?]

Hey, I remember that story. What was it called again? I think I read it in 7th grade.

Harrison Bergeron. I always think of it when people get riled up by genuine differences in ability.

That was it, thank you. I did not realize it was Vonnegut but I should have as it stayed with me for so long. I guess I had a fairly cool 7th grade English teacher.

[featherlou]

Obama needs to take a lesson from one of my old sigs - "There is no opinion you could conceivably express, however innocuous, that won't piss off somebody, somewhere." - Spider Robinson

As I get older, my PC'ness is shrinking. Soon I'm going to start saying exactly what I think, and to hell with the consequences.

[silenus]

Soon I'm going to start saying exactly what I think, and to hell with the consequences.

I'd do that, but pretty soon people are going to get tired of hearing "I wonder what's for dinner?" and "Nice tits."

[featherlou]

Soon I'm going to start saying exactly what I think, and to hell with the consequences.

I'd do that, but pretty soon people are going to get tired of hearing "I wonder what's for dinner?" and "Nice tits."

Heh - I think for me it might be, "Oh my god, are you still talking? Why won't you JUST STOP TALKING?"

[LVgeogeek]

Obama needs to take a lesson from one of my old sigs - "There is no opinion you could conceivably express, however innocuous, that won't piss off somebody, somewhere." - Spider Robinson

As I get older, my PC'ness is shrinking. Soon I'm going to start saying exactly what I think, and to hell with the consequences.

Exactly.

I have always hated "political correctness" from when it started way back when. I am so anti-pc that I sometimes tend to shock people in casual conversation. As far as I'm concerned PC is nothing more than a way to try to make everything equal and try to make everyone "feel better", like having no "losers" in kids sporting events, or something. [I know this will probably put me plainly into "asshole" territory even though I am not an asshole] These days you're not retarded, you are mentally challenged. Stupid? Nope now you're "gifted"! Crippled? No way, not now, now you are "handi-capable"!! Do I think I am better than retarded people, stupid people or crippled people ? No. Definitely not. Each person is who they are and should be appreciated as such, just quit putting pansy-ass PC catch-phrase titles on everything.

I think Obama's gaffe on Leno was nothing more than showing us that he is a real human being, not some political automaton with a permanently attached teleprompter. Does it make it right? Is it wrong? Who fucking cares!! People have to quit being so uptight and quit getting offended at every little thing that happens or at something somebody says.

On the radio program this morning, some kid from the Special Olympics bowling stated [making fun of Obama a bit] something along the lines of "Mr. President, you have to bowl better than 129 to win [bowling] at the SO" and he invited Obama to play a game of bowling with him. So, now a kid in the Special Olympics isn't throwing a fit , why should anyone else be.

[Exy]

hey look let's all discuss how much we dislike political correctness, it is an interesting topic for conversation and not at all a sad indictment of the way we uncritically repeat whatever slogans the media push on us

when we all say whatever the tv tells us to, we all agree and that's nice, bandwagons are neat

you can tell i'm an intelligent, independent thinker because i get outraged at what i am supposed to get outraged at

[Exy]

So, now a kid in the Special Olympics isn't throwing a fit , why should anyone else be.

Where is the evidence that someone is "throwing a fit"? You are getting outraged about something that is literally imaginary.

(P.S. Of course he's not good at bowling, black people don't go bowling.)

[Liberal]

Sadly, this just gives the right-wing punditry fuel.

Yes. The number of people who were genuinely offended is probably very, very low, but that doesn't matter to the shit-slingers.

The question is of course whether this really matters. Maybe the people listening to Rush Limbaugh are beyond reach by Obama anyway, no matter what he says, and this thing will be preached to the choir and no-one else.

It was like the answer to a prayer this morning. A talking head (Alex Witt) on MSNBC was interviewing some insignificant slug about this. She kept looking down, and finally just interrupted the guy. "I'm getting Tweets like crazy," she said. "They're all saying how petty this is, and how they're tired of hearing about it. Why don't we just cut this short..."

It was a beautiful moment. And God bless Twitter.

[Misanthropic Contrarian]

It's not the sort of comment a politician should say.

It is the sort of comment I would say to my mates, but then 1) I know them well enough to know they wont be offended, and 2) I'm not in politics, thank Bo.

Cut him some slack. A human making a human error is no biggie. It's only when this becomes an established pattern of behaviour that we should start grumbling about Barackisms.

Wait a minute, why shouldn't a politician say something like this. If nothing else he comes across as being somewhat like a normal dude, rather then some robotic politician who can;t say dick unless he has cue cards in front of him.

Thing is, someone, somewhere is going to be offended by everything Obama says, it;s just going to be different people who are offended.

[manx]

That's an excellent story, Liberal.

[featherlou]

He should take lessons from former Alberta premier, Ralph Klein. Ralphie was a former newsman - he knew the media backwards and forwards. Ralph always said exactly what he felt like saying, and then apologized in a half-assed fashion if the outcry was big enough (for example, throwing change at homeless people, or telling disabled people they didn't look severely handicapped). Of course, Ralph drank a lot, too.

[jayjay]

Of course, Ralph drank a lot, too.

Of course he did. He had to live through Alberta winters.


:mrgreen:

[WhyNot]

So, now a kid in the Special Olympics isn't throwing a fit , why should anyone else be.

Where is the evidence that someone is "throwing a fit"? You are getting outraged about something that is literally imaginary.

(P.S. Of course he's not good at bowling, black people don't go bowling.)

The OP was, as well as anyone can do so in writing, throwing a fit.

[Exy]

The OP was, as well as anyone can do so in writing, throwing a fit.

Not even remotely. Go back and reread it.

[LVgeogeek]

So, now a kid in the Special Olympics isn't throwing a fit , why should anyone else be.

Where is the evidence that someone is "throwing a fit"? You are getting outraged about something that is literally imaginary.

(P.S. Of course he's not good at bowling, black people don't go bowling.)

OK, I should have clarified who the fit throwers are... the people who are whining that he insulted the crippled or the disabled (OMG you can't make fun of the cripples!!) with his comment about his bowling skills "being like the Special Olympics or something", when he was just making a disparaging remark about himself. He wasn't making fun of people in the SO.

[garygnu]

I heard an uncorroborated account that Obama called the Special Olympics director from Air Force One after the taping, before it aired, to apologize.

[Exy]

OK, I should have clarified who the fit throwers are... the people who are whining that he insulted the crippled or the disabled (OMG you can't make fun of the cripples!!) with his comment about his bowling skills "being like the Special Olympics or something", when he was just making a disparaging remark about himself. He wasn't making fun of people in the SO.

Once again, his comment was in poor taste.

Is this where we have come as a society? No one can even say, "You know, that comment was in poor taste" without being falsely accused of "throwing a fit"?

You guys who are always patting yourselves on the back for being "politically incorrect" are the ones who actually are constantly, noisily offended. Just sayin'.

[WhyNot]

The OP was, as well as anyone can do so in writing, throwing a fit.

Not even remotely. Go back and reread it.

I did. Once you start talking about uncontrollable bowel movements and people who can't remember it's not 1955 and pretend that it's specifically those people whom you have worked with that the President was making fun of (or that his comment was making fun of Special Olympics competitors at all), you're at least as far into "throwing a fit" territory as to be the sort of person I think is overreacting.

I do have a low "fit" tolerance, I admit. When my kid's more than a bit whiny, I call it a fit and put an end to it. Got to teach 'em to repress their emotions early, ya know.

[Exy]

The OP was, as well as anyone can do so in writing, throwing a fit.

Not even remotely. Go back and reread it.

I did. Once you start talking about uncontrollable bowel movements and people who can't remember it's not 1955 and pretend that it's specifically those people whom you have worked with that the President was making fun of (or that his comment was making fun of Special Olympics competitors at all), you're at least as far into "throwing a fit" territory as to be the sort of person I think is overreacting.

I do have a low "fit" tolerance, I admit. When my kid's more than a bit whiny, I call it a fit and put an end to it. Got to teach 'em to repress their emotions early, ya know.

I'm sorry, but I don't think that's remotely fair to the OP. It was a reasonably calm explanation of exactly why what Obama said was offensive. Which (to reiterate) it was, even if it wasn't grotesquely so -- for one thing, because in fact Special Olympians can bowl way the fuck better than Obama.

It's the internet, I sort of expect people to start this same tiresome round of self-congratulation wherein everyone talks about how edgy and un-PC they are or whatever, but I guess I still kind of find it disappointing. Everybody's conditioned like Pavlov's dogs, so that it doesn't matter the actual content of the original offensive statement, or whether or not the response was actually in proportion, everybody has to start repeating this same tired refrain about how they're so opposed to "political correctness".

[danceswithcats]

I didn't vote for Mr. Obama, but this doesn't raise a 'Meh' on my screen. Too many people looking for reasons to get their political panties in a wad. Fuck 'em all.

[Tuckerfan]

This is simply a pisspoor attempt at "distracting" folks from the real issues of the day. (I put distracting in quotes because I don't think that its a deliberate action on the media's part, but that they'd rather go after what it sees as an easy subject to cover.) So far, I've not seen a mention in the news, save on The Daily Show (which is an entertainment program and not a news program) of the fact that much of the money being paid to AIG has in turn, been handed over to either foreign banks or US banks which have already been recipients of bailout funds.

That should be the focus of the news, and not an off-the-cuff remark of minor importance by Obama.

[ivan astikov]

My feelings too. We'd all love to have a device we could edit our past utterances with, only none of us average folks are followed by a media waiting to pounce on such slip-ups.

[Rigamarole]

I've worked with people who's goal was to be able to go bowling without the bumpers (you know, those blow up things they put up in the gutters to make sure you get some pins down, no matter how bad you throw the ball?). They had a blast doing it. And they were proud of knowing they could get out of their group home and go to a for fun tournament rather than stay home. I've also worked (and still do in my current but different job) with people that have no control over their bowel movements. I work with people that forget that it's not 1955.

That's great, you're a fucking hero because you've done all that and never been able to see the humor in any of it. Where should we send the medal?

[Exy]

I've worked with people who's goal was to be able to go bowling without the bumpers (you know, those blow up things they put up in the gutters to make sure you get some pins down, no matter how bad you throw the ball?). They had a blast doing it. And they were proud of knowing they could get out of their group home and go to a for fun tournament rather than stay home. I've also worked (and still do in my current but different job) with people that have no control over their bowel movements. I work with people that forget that it's not 1955.

That's great, you're a fucking hero because you've done all that and never been able to see the humor in any of it. Where should we send the medal?

Reread his post, reread your response, and then just let the shame wash over you.

[Rigamarole]

Reread his post, reread your response, and then just let the shame wash over you.

You keep telling people in the thread to re-read the OP, but honestly it's just not that well written. It's unclear whether he's more upset with Obama's comment or the newspaper for putting a certain spin on it.

But this comment, from the OP:

But when I see him just disparaging a group of people that do not even have the ability to even get enough ahead to have more in their life than maybe, just maybe, get a paper certificate that states they had a good time at a bowling alley one day then that's low.

Is enough to make me think he has a bit of a stick up his ass. So I don't know WTF you are talking about Excalibre.

[Exy]

Is enough to make me think he has a bit of a stick up his ass. So I don't know WTF you are talking about Excalibre.

What I'm talking about is I'm inviting people to reconsider the knee-jerk "I am DEEPLY OUTRAGED because somebody somewhere was POLITICALLY CORRECT" thing that internet people do. It's basically that shit like this deserves to be considered critically and it would be awesome for people to stop with this stupid anti-"PC" backlash stuff and actually start to think about these things.

Threads like this always end up as a whole lot of people all agreeing with each other about how terrible "political correctness" is and how OUTRAGED they are because (so they think) someone, somewhere is OUTRAGED about something. Not only is it tedious and stupid, but getting OUTRAGED like just about everyone else in this thread is is a bad thing -- it stops people from thinking in a serious way about things, which is inimical to a democratic society of thinking people, something I think everyone here is in favor of.