“Obama’s ‘Special Olympics’ Comment: Humor, Foul Play, Or A Free Pass For The President?”

By: Corey Thompson, “The Thirsty Quill”

In case you missed it, Barack Obama became the first sitting President in United States history to appear on a late-night talk show last Thursday night. His appearance, an effort to stir support for his financial policies and to pump life back into his deflated approval ratings, was alongside longtime “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno.

During his brief interview, Obama talked candidly about the state of the economy and the first two months of his Presidency. He even went so far as to make a few jokes about his own performance, and to make light of several of the headaches he has dealt with since assuming the highest honor in the land.

For the most part, the interview went well and Obama’s performance was all in good nature. However, a late ‘slip of the tongue’ may have cost the President more than he could have ever imagined.

The mental lapse on the President’s part came while joking with Leno about the legendary White House bowling alley, a fixture in the Executive Mansion since Harry Truman had it installed in the years following World War II. Obama, a notoriously poor bowler, commented that he had recently visited the facility and had bowled a score of 129. Leno laughed at the score, as did the audience, right before Obama took a swipe at his lack of skill. Without missing a beat, Obama spouted “it was like the Special Olympics or something.”

Only a faint laughter could be heard after the President’s embarrassing remark, while Leno wisely steered clear of the comment and quickly guided the conversation to ‘higher ground.’ Still, the damage had been done.

I do not believe that President Obama intentionally meant to take a cheap shot at those who suffer from mental and physical handicaps. However, for the organizations like the Special Olympics and the amazing people they represent, one cannot help but be appalled by Obama’s lack of judgment…even if he was only trying to be humorous.

For years, advocates for the disabled and the handicapped have fought tooth and nail to achieve equality in the eyes of a society claiming the ideal that “all are created equal.” Through the years, we’ve worked hard to achieve social equality for minorities, for women, and for the less fortunate. We’ve waged societal wars in the midst of civil rights struggles to get there.

However, if you pay close attention, you’ll undoubtedly notice that discrimination against those with handicaps and disabilities still echoes the shouts of hatred that we’ve worked so hard to silence throughout decades of legislation, marching, and even bloodshed.

Our society is sick. While we’ve been so careful to tip-toe around the prejudices that infected our nation for so long against various races, women, and religious groups, we continue to tread upon the very feelings of those who have been afflicted with life-altering handicaps and disabilities.

Look around you America, it’s right there! One of the most popular movies of the past year was “Tropic Thunder,” a comedy littered with the “R-word” (Retard), a slur just as vile as any racial, ethnic, or religious label of generations past. The word was used repeatedly, obviously making reference to those who can rarely defend themselves from such “humor,” and America laughed. In fact, the film was nominated for multiple awards. Sickening.

My point today is this:

I’m quite certain that President Obama knows better than to make such a heartless comment on national television. Surely he didn’t mean any harm. I genuinely believe that.

However, he said it. He can’t take it back, despite the numerous apologies he’s made since. As the President of the United States, he cannot be that careless in his words and lack of judgment, making the foolish mistake of using the Special Olympics as a gauge by which his own performance should be measured.

Barack Obama should be ashamed of himself. If he has ever stood up for those movements that sought equality for people of color, for the less fortunate, or for any other special interest group, he should hang his head in shame for carrying out an act of discrimination by (in essence) slandering an organization that represents handicapped and disabled citizens.

Think of it this way:

What if a white President had stated that he/she had been working very hard at their job, “like a slave on a plantation?” Society would be enraged!

Or, what if a President commented that he had bowled “like a limp-wristed, effeminate male?” Every alternative-lifestyle group in America would be picketing in front of the White House!

Lastly, what if a male President had stated that he had bowled “like a barefoot and pregnant woman who just came out of the kitchen?” Feminist groups across the country would burn the Executive Mansion to the ground! 

Yet, very little has been made about the comment within the mainstream media, the very same outlets that repeatedly blistered George W. Bush for every mental blunder, slip of the tongue, or mispronunciation of the word “nuclear.” Don Imus lost his job because he referred to a women’s basketball team as “nappy-headed hoes.” Where is the outrage this time around?

Then again, this is just another example of how far our moral compasses have been twisted, and how they continue to guide so many astray from common decency and respect for their fellow man.

I guess we’re all a little guilty in one way or another, and we should all do our part in helping America find its way back to a more appropriate path. Still, we should count on our elected leaders to carry the torch and lantern that will guide our way. It’s too bad that Barack Obama forgot that in an effort to try to be funny. Even worse for him, so many of us are not laughing, and we are continuing to look elsewhere for a true leader to guide us out of the current wilderness…

For more on this story, and to view a video clip of Obama’s comment, please visit:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/19/obama-compares-bowling-score-special-olympics-tonight/100days/

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