Obama Mocks Special Olympics.

Posted on March 20, 2009 by elizabeth

Obama's extemporaneous remarks are the most telling. Remember his remark that an unplanned pregnancy is like being "punished with a baby"? And then there were his "spread the wealth around" comments to Joe The Plumber. 

So, I wasn't surprised when, on the Jay Leno show, he compared his bowling skills to "the Special Olympics or something." Read here.

I'm not surprised, but I am saddened. Can you imagine being the parent of a special needs child today? How heartbreaking to know that our President mocked your child on national television. And if this is what he says in public, what does he say in private about the special needs population? How does he really feel about human beings who are not "useful" to society?

I'm beginning to wonder how many times he gets to use the excuse: I didn't intend to offend, I didn't mean what I said, I'm being misunderstood, my words are being taken out of context.

Because if Bush had said anything CLOSE to mocking a minority group, there would be complete outrage. And rightly so. The news shows would carry the story for weeks.

Furthermore, whatever happened to the dignity of the Presidential office? I have a hard time imagining FDR appearing on a late night comedy show cracking jokes about people in wheelchairs. Especially during a Depression.

President Obama's comments were something we might expect of a junior senator from Illinois. Not the President of the United States.

Which makes me wonder: do we have a novice leading the free world? Who is the real President Obama? The man behind the teleprompter, or the one on Leno?

Will the real Obama please stand up?

Or maybe, since he's pre-empting American Idol next week in order to give yet another primetime speech, should we start calling him The Glorious Leader?

Regardless, a President of the United States never makes jokes at the expense of a
minority group. Ever. A Presidential "slip of the tongue" at the wrong
time, in the wrong place can be devastating.

Yesterday, President Obama devastated the special needs population. And the audience laughed.

The audience laughed.

That's what scares me more than anything else.

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  • http://www.saracarmichael.blogspot.com Sara Carmichael

    I totally agree!! And YES, we DO have a novice leading the free world. Completely.

    Lord, have mercy on us.

  • Jennifer

    My first thought when I heard this story was – Wow, if Bush had said this he would practically be tarred and feathered! But Obama says it, and as Channel 4 news put it, the media is being gracious to him. What hypocrisy – and it’s so frustrating!

    As someone who works with special needs children, I am so saddened. Especially when I remember what Palin said in her first big speech – parents with kids with special needs, you will have a friend in the White House. From that greatness to this debacle.

    Sara said it best above – Lord, have mercy on us.

  • http://restoringtheyears.blogspot.com Grafted Branch@Restoring the Years

    Yup. As my 13 year old pointed out…from the overflow of the heart.

  • http://terrysoapbox.blogspot.com terry, ornament of His Grace

    What the man says when there is no teleprompter!

    And why was the “leader of the free world” on the Tonight Show when the country is coming apart, printing money to borrow from itself, for heavens sake?

    Finally, as the aunt of a Special Olympian, I cringe that such a statement came from our President, and worse, that he harbors those kinds of thoughts towards the most vulnerable among us. The ones he claims to be crusading for, no?

  • http://www.destry.suffridge.blogspot.com destry

    I worry about all of the damage that will be done over the next four years. I hope that his term is limited to four years as opposed to eight. I pray that the Lord will keep me from worrying and hoping too much.

    For some reason being “cool” is valued far above integrity, wisdom, and character. Lord, have mercy indeed.

  • http://www.usborneconnection.com Tressa

    As my son said, “Mom, he looks like a nice man and a nice president. But that’s not nice. How do you tell nice from not nice, if they look nice?”

    Good question.

  • Cathy

    How many times have I unwittingly used words that were/are offensive to some part of our society? For example, I understand that “midget” is like a swear word–I have a friend whose daughter is a “little person” or “dwarf,” but “midget” is out. I DO think that the culture at large gets up in arms unnecessarily at times–actually, a lot of times, so I would overlook the crack IF the same standards were applied to Bush. It was OK to bash Bush, to mock and point out ANY accidental breach or error, e.g., like the time he tried to open doors that were locked, which, BTW, similarly happened to Obama when he started to try to enter a French window that looked like a door. Nary a word is whimpered when Obama errs, however.

    What I do think, though, is that Obama SEEMS bereft of the milk of human kindness and emotions. This isn’t the first time that he has shown inconsideration and unkindness off the cuff. Remember the crack about Nancy Reagan? When he doesn’t use his teleprompter, read tele prop, he, and we, are in trouble.

    I seriously do not understand the love affair with Obama. Even conservatives that I respect, and who disagree with his policies, tout him as an eloquent speaker and as a charming guy. I just do not get it. I think he comes across as disingenous and rather prickly–but, that may be just me. However, who cares about all that? Eloquence and being a good communicator are NOT character traits. The MESSAGE is the important thing, and, unfortunately, I GET Obama’s message–loud and clear. He is selling the country down the river, so we better learn how to swim–and fast!

    Cathy

  • http://www.famosix.blogspot.com WendyLou

    Very well said, indeed. Thank you.

  • http://sue-livingandlearning.blogspot.com/ Sue

    It is scary! I have a special needs child, and was saddened and dismayed to hear what he said. Yes, on a TV show like that things may pop out of a person’s mouth that they should not say. No amount of,”I didn’t mean it that way” is going to erase the hurtful words. That is exactly why he should never have put himself in that position in the first place.

  • http://adventuresofgrandmahoney.blogspot.com Jill Shelley

    Thank you for posting this. I thought I was the only one who was offended. He truly owes us all an apology, but especially the parents of special needs children.

  • http://thedcookshouse.blogspot.com Rebecca C

    I am glad you posted this. I don’t stay up late thanks to having a baby, but heard about it from a friend. I have an older brother with severe autism and its insulting. Even though my brother can’t bowl and never will, the sad thing is that people like him are made a mockery. For someone that worked in human rights law, Obama is a billboard for closed minded people. Its honestly just really sad.

  • Mary Brooke Baria

    wow.

    Let’s keep praying for his heart. We pray on Tuesdays. I think often of the King in the book of Daniel (my new son’s name) who finally lifted his head and acknowledged God.
    Mary Brooke
    *I love the list you made about your husband. I’ll make one for us*

  • http://www.minthegap.com MInTheGap

    When you ascend to higher positions of leadership, you give up things. You give up “rights” that other people have because you have to be an example. Spiderman’s right in that with great power comes great responsibility.

    What we’re seeing is an irresponsible attitude– one that believes that he can continue to run the country like he did his campaign (you remember when he said that his executive experience was what he learned running a campaign?), and that he can say things and control people– and yet many are now noticing how little control he has even when he is trying a tactic.

    I have no doubt he’ll learn, but at what expense?

    I don’t know that he has the reverence for the office, nor an understanding of the responsibility, and that concerns me.