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Sarah Palin Takes Obama's Special Olympics Gaffe Personally
Posted:
03/20/09
It didn't take long for Governor Sarah Palin to gather her anger at Obama's gaffe on The Tonight Show last night. Benjamin Sarlin at The Daily Beast writes:
Obama's comment was insensitive, and it takes some pretty extreme word twisting to try to justify what he said. My favorite attempt at an apologia is this comment on Politico.In the wake of President Obama's gaffe on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno yesterday about Special Olympics athletes, Gov. Sarah Palin, whose son has Down syndrome, is blasting him for disparaging the special needs community.
"I was shocked to learn of the comment made by President Obama about Special Olympics," Palin said in a statement. "This was a degrading remark about our world's most precious and unique people, coming from the most powerful position in the world."
Obviously not the most important issue of the day, but I think people are misreading Obama's off-color joke. His comment came in response to Leno's sarcastic praise, sounding to me like he was comparing the empty compliment ("That's pretty good, Mr. President") to the "everyone gets a medal just for coming" ethos of the Special Olympics.
In other words, he wasn't saying he's as bad a bowler as a Special Olympian, he was saying Leno's encouragement was as cheerfully hollow as that of a Special Olympics organizer.
PD toolbar!I am, however, curious how long this particular story can last. The damage control from the Obama camp was rapid. He quickly reached out to Tim Shriver, the president of the Special Olympics, who publicly granted him penance.
"He expressed his disappointed and he apologized in a way that was very moving. He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population," Shriver said Friday on ABC's "Good Morning America." Obama, Shriver said, wants to have some Special Olympic athletes visit the White House to bowl or play basketball.I think Palin has every right to be offended, but frankly, I don't think this gaffe has legs. Conservative blogger Greg Hengler over at Townhall points out that criticizing the gaffe is to endorse political correctness, something anathema to many conservatives.
I shared President Obama's "Special Olympics" comment with friends and family who run nurseries for special needs kids and they didn't flinch--not even a yawn. What Obama said did not even appear on their "I'm offended" RADAR's. If political correctness is going to remain alive and well I say let it live and stay in the Democrat(sic) party. No need for such an ugly virus to become bipartisan.I don't think this is going to last long.
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Michael Kraskin
Michael Kraskin is the Executive Producer of PoliticsDaily.com. Formerly, he worked at Comedy Central... more
Comments (531)
moderate
5:10PM Mar 20th 2009
The remark was aimed at his ownlack of ability to bowl. Not an attack against the special olympics. Let sara and friends whine.
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(0) 
tbeeton
5:29PM Mar 20th 2009
I don't think that Politico commenter's read on Obama's ill-chosen words was too far off, actually. it occured to me as well that Obama was referring to Jay's condescension more than his own bowling skills. But the point is it doesn't matter, which is why I'm glad Obama didn't try to nuance his way out of it, he simply apologized and dispatched Tim Shriver to the morning shows. and I agree, this has no legs.
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(0) FARMGIRL
5:14PM Mar 20th 2009
MAYBE I'M GETTING CYNICAL- WOW- WHO CAN BLAME US- BUT IT SEEMS EVERYTIME THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY BIG IN THE NEWS- THE WHITE HOUSE AND MAIN- STREAM MEDIA FIND SOMETHING TO TRY AND DIVERT US- STEELE/LIMBAUGH FEUD; MEGHAN[ LIKE, I'M SMART, LIKE, REALLY, ]MCCAIN/COULTER/INGRAHAM; NOW MR. HOLLYWOOD MAKING ONE OF HIS USUAL ARROGANT, ELITIST, VICIOUS REMARKS- MAYBE HE CAN BLAME MR. TELEPROMPTER FOR MAKING HIM DO IT! YOU KNOW HOW HE LOVES TO BLAME OTHERS.
SARAH PALIN AND EVERY PARENT OF A "SPECIAL NEEDS" CHILD HAS EVERY RIGHT TO BE DEEPLY OFFENDED. TYPICAL OF THE MEDIA TO TRY AND EXCUSE HIM- AGAIN. HE'S A PIG-
LOOK WHAT YOU PUT IN OUR WHITE HOUSE- "NICE" JOB.
SARAH PALIN AND EVERY PARENT OF A "SPECIAL NEEDS" CHILD HAS EVERY RIGHT TO BE DEEPLY OFFENDED. TYPICAL OF THE MEDIA TO TRY AND EXCUSE HIM- AGAIN. HE'S A PIG-
LOOK WHAT YOU PUT IN OUR WHITE HOUSE- "NICE" JOB.
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(0) ed baggett
5:16PM Mar 20th 2009
Sarah is spewing some "sour grapes"......why did she have a baby knowing that older women have a higher risk for retarded children ? Poor judgement? Or it could be rageing hormones like her horny daughter.
Keep your legs closed woman !!!!
Keep your legs closed woman !!!!
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(0) DavesRaves
5:20PM Mar 20th 2009
Think he'll apologize to Governor Palin?
Often it is not what is said so much as it is the person who says it.
This wasn't some stranger who walked up to Palin and said, "Cute kid- in ten years he'll be ready for Special Olympics!" No , this is our President.
If McCain had won, and made the remark Obama made, the liberal media would be having a field day. We'd be hearing about for the next four years. Of course, I don't believe you would see John McCain cracking jokes on Leno during the most difficult economic period since the Depression.
Often it is not what is said so much as it is the person who says it.
This wasn't some stranger who walked up to Palin and said, "Cute kid- in ten years he'll be ready for Special Olympics!" No , this is our President.
If McCain had won, and made the remark Obama made, the liberal media would be having a field day. We'd be hearing about for the next four years. Of course, I don't believe you would see John McCain cracking jokes on Leno during the most difficult economic period since the Depression.
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(0) Cube
5:24PM Mar 20th 2009
Look. What Obama said was wrong. Obviously he must hate retards.
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(0) federalistblogs
5:26PM Mar 20th 2009
I think the only people with any right to outrage are the families of disabled children. For them the topic hits too close to home. As Gov Palin has a disabled child she does have some right to speak back in his defense. If Palin told a black joke on Leno, people would be outraged as well. It was a sill slip of the tongue, but not very PC all the same.
Of course, some would argue that being liberal is VERY close to a mental disability, so the rest of you have room to be indignant too.
http://federalistblogs.wordpress.com
Of course, some would argue that being liberal is VERY close to a mental disability, so the rest of you have room to be indignant too.
http://federalistblogs.wordpress.com
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(0) tfcrow
5:34PM Mar 20th 2009
Hey tax cheater. Did you pay your taxes yet? She is an empty skirt with a head to match.
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(0) Serena
5:36PM Mar 20th 2009
Ed Baggett--Are you for real?? She's married, she's entitled to have sex with her husband any time she wants. Just because your wife won't give it up to you anymore because of your saggy b@lls doesn't mean that other married couples have to stop doing it too!
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(0) Cube
5:39PM Mar 20th 2009
No offense, but, here comes the offense.
Fuck this PC shit. I want my retard jokes. I need my retard jokes. Retards are fair game. Sorry. Thank you Mr. President for sticking up for us demented folks who like to make fun of those with big foreheads. Clearly, you meant to encourage me in my retarded endeavors.
Fuck this PC shit. I want my retard jokes. I need my retard jokes. Retards are fair game. Sorry. Thank you Mr. President for sticking up for us demented folks who like to make fun of those with big foreheads. Clearly, you meant to encourage me in my retarded endeavors.
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(0) Sebas
7:50PM Mar 20th 2009
Looks like Obama is catching Joe Biden's disease = gaffes that usually comes with senility. Maybe he used too much drugs as a young adult which he admitted in his own book and in his own words.
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(0) Cube
5:44PM Mar 20th 2009
Insult comedy, satire, humor, politics, and progress.
Is this OK? Lisa Lampanelli on Obama, Palin, and Trig. I think so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYZSnMdn1LU
Ironically, before this happened, line drawing and comedy were written up as the subjects of Unusable Signal for tomorrow. Saturday, 11:00 PM EST.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Unusable-Signal
Is this OK? Lisa Lampanelli on Obama, Palin, and Trig. I think so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYZSnMdn1LU
Ironically, before this happened, line drawing and comedy were written up as the subjects of Unusable Signal for tomorrow. Saturday, 11:00 PM EST.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Unusable-Signal
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(0) Shame on you
5:54PM Mar 20th 2009
Cube5:39PMMar 20th 2009
No offense, but, here comes the offense.
Fuck this PC shit. I want my retard jokes. I need my retard jokes. Retards are fair game. Sorry. Thank you Mr. President for sticking up for us demented folks who like to make fun of those with big foreheads. Clearly, you meant to encourage me in my retarded endeavors........................You are beneath contempt. With your mentality, it is no wonder you support Obama.
No offense, but, here comes the offense.
Fuck this PC shit. I want my retard jokes. I need my retard jokes. Retards are fair game. Sorry. Thank you Mr. President for sticking up for us demented folks who like to make fun of those with big foreheads. Clearly, you meant to encourage me in my retarded endeavors........................You are beneath contempt. With your mentality, it is no wonder you support Obama.
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(0) zanytothemaxx
5:56PM Mar 20th 2009
Palin says she will only take 69 percent of the stimulus money for Alaska. She had better watch out, she does not have that old crook Stevens around to bring in the big earmarks. I guess she can still be a socialist and tax the oil companies and redistribute the money to the 700,000 people who live in the state.And she called Obama a "socialist"
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(0) Winston Smith
6:07PM Mar 20th 2009
This coming from the same woman who seem to feel she could differenciate between "Real Americans" and the rest of us, folk.
She needs to worry about her own family.
She needs to worry about her own family.
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(0) Cube
6:10PM Mar 20th 2009
@ Shame on You: Hello.
That's right, I'll say it. Retard jokes are funny. Obviously you are not supportive of the president's plan to legitimize insult comics. Shame on me! Shame on you! (Perhaps you may want to comment on Lampanelli beneath on Trig, but that would be retarded). Obviously Obama is not an insult comic and this was a gaffe. It is what is. He fucked up. But, for the rest of us in the world, the truth is jokes like this are made every day without hyper hyperbole. There is a place for it in comedy. Sorry. That's the truth. There is no place for it in Presidential Q & A's unless...
Clearly, what the President said was retarded. He made his bogus, retarded, apology. To argue Obama's comment was anything other than retarded, is retarded. This is being blown out of proportion by retards. I also never write with heavy handed satire designed to have shock value.
But, if you really want to be serious, George Bush took down gold in the Special Olympics like Michael Phelps.
That's right, I'll say it. Retard jokes are funny. Obviously you are not supportive of the president's plan to legitimize insult comics. Shame on me! Shame on you! (Perhaps you may want to comment on Lampanelli beneath on Trig, but that would be retarded). Obviously Obama is not an insult comic and this was a gaffe. It is what is. He fucked up. But, for the rest of us in the world, the truth is jokes like this are made every day without hyper hyperbole. There is a place for it in comedy. Sorry. That's the truth. There is no place for it in Presidential Q & A's unless...
Clearly, what the President said was retarded. He made his bogus, retarded, apology. To argue Obama's comment was anything other than retarded, is retarded. This is being blown out of proportion by retards. I also never write with heavy handed satire designed to have shock value.
But, if you really want to be serious, George Bush took down gold in the Special Olympics like Michael Phelps.
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(0) zanytothemaxx
6:12PM Mar 20th 2009
Sarah Palin should apologize to the people who called her a "family values" candidate. With her socialist views, her tax dodging and her daughter's conduct......she is not a good example of family values. Not to mention she is an air head who most of the time does not know what she is talking about. But then.....she makes a perfect politician....able to talk out of both sides of her mouth at the same time.
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(0) Cajun
6:16PM Mar 20th 2009
PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS FACE SO MANY CHALLENGES ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES. THEIR DAILY STRUGGLE IS COURAGEOUS, HEARTBREAKING, AND EMOTIONAL. PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CRYPTIC REMARK IS SADDENING...ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE PARENTS WHO VOTED FOR HIM.
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(0) rcott
6:14PM Mar 20th 2009
PC is for morons with nothing else to occupy their pea sized brains but to search for reasons to call everybody else insensitive. I can make jokes about women staying home in the kitchen where they belong, and still fight for a woman employee who's working competently at a lower grade scale than her male counterparts doing the same job. And the fact remains that kids do get medals just for showing up at Special Olympics. And in context, it was funny, so get over it you morons.
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(0) Cube
6:17PM Mar 20th 2009
rcott gives a good example and it made me think of one. I can go to a pro life rally but have an embryonic stem cell roast later to show my support for women.
Clearly the gag reflects ideology, and dirty gags should be banned.
Clearly the gag reflects ideology, and dirty gags should be banned.
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