Special Olympics...outrage.

[FLyellowdog]

I think people have misunderstood President Obama’s remark about the Special Olympics.

The set up was about his low score in bowling. Leno applauded him even though the President had a low score. Isn’t that the same as applauding anyone for doing the best that they can do? And isn't this exactly what we do through the Special Olympics? We applaud the participants for doing the best that they can do.

I think that the President was making a reference to that aspect of the conversation and it really wasn’t an insult or joke at all. It was merely making an observation about a comparison of recognized effort.

He was correct in apologizing for any hurt feelings, but the President didn’t do what people have interpreted his behavior to have been. This is nothing more than manufactured outrage.

What IS outrageous is the use of the Special Olympics statement to add credance to those who have instead done everything in their power to reduce the enhancement of lives of our challenged populations. That should be the news story because that is what is truly shameful.

[firedupdem]

1. 100% correct about what was said. I hate to say it, but I wish he

hadn't apologized. He didn't say anything that warranted one. This manufactured outrage is ridiculous.

[FLyellowdog]

2. I'm guessing he couldn't win for losing in this one.

Either way he was screwn. :shrug:

[BrklynLiberal]

11. Exactly right.

[DrDan]

7. of course he did - and he apologized because he knew it was wrong

[BrklynLiberal]

3. That was EXACTLY my take on it. That is what I posted last night.

I agree with you 100%.

[FLyellowdog]

5. Oops...didn't mean to steal from you.

So much information...so little time.:blush:

[BrklynLiberal]

8. No no no. I did not mean to imply theft. My statement was one of agreement.

and a question as to why it did not appear obvious to everyone.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=286425&mesg_id=286430

[FLyellowdog]

16. My reasoning is that

those of us who do not engage in denegrading those less fortunate will not see the statement as meant to denegrade. I do not believe that President Obama would denegrade anyone...it's ludicrous to interpret his words in such a way as to imply that he would. He does not think like most other people do. He has a higher calling and a lot more intelligence than most. The country's take on his words is for the most part wrong. He wouldn't joke about such a thing. His apology was made because of what others perceived to be his meaning, not because he meant what they think he meant.

[BrklynLiberal]

29. I agree...once again.. 100%

[cwcwmack]

4. lol...

you had to put some serious thought into that...

He said what he said, meant what he meant. It was funny, crude but funny. He made a mistake saying it publically as the POTUS, but was he TRYING to hurt someone's feelings? Of course not... so this is ALL about nothing.

On to bigger things...

[DrDan]

6. c'mon - that is a stretch

the parallel to Obama's poor bowling ability is the Special Olympics participant.

Just a lame joke. Obama knew it and acted accordingly - quickly. He did what he and other mature adults would do. Apologize and move on.

Can't be taken back. Any attempt to explain anything other than the obvious will just keep it in the news.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. What is obvious to one may not be so obvious to another.

I saw it exactly as the OP did, and we have never met.

[DrDan]

19. I agree - we just see it differently

I do not think for a second that it was meant in any cruel way. I think it was just an off-the-cuff comment that he did not think through. He certainly recognizes that some will see it as callous, hence the quick apology. That was completely appropriate imo.

[Joey Liberal]

10. Obama was a fool.

I LOVE THE GUY, BUT HE WAS A FOOL WHEN HE MADE THAT COMMENT.

[butterfly77]

14. Wrong..

[Joey Liberal]

30. Deal with it.

[butterfly77]

33. I guess you told me...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Joey Liberal]

36. Keep guessing:)................

[butterfly77]

12. Some have not misunderstood..

they are manufacturing this for a news story and the rightwing is going to wring it out for all its worth which they always do this is how Bush got away with all of his crimes so far.

Larry King is advertising this as though this is some type of scandal. Yes,special Olympics is a serious issue but,Now we will spending days and days on this when there are many more important issues to deal with..

[BrklynLiberal]

13. You are absolutely right.....

[Phx_Dem]

20. Yes, and now we have Sarah Palin piling on. Yeah, Sarah Palin

the woman who cut funding for special needs kids in her state; which actually has an impact on these kids. But hey, if she wasn't a huge hypocrit, she wouldn't be allowed in the GOP.

[butterfly77]

23. Obama's niece is special needs...

these people need to quit..

[FLyellowdog]

24. True!

[cwcwmack]

28. she's an idiot, but don't spread unthruths...

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/15/palin-cut-funding-for-alaska-special-olympics/

To clarify, the documents show that Gov. Palin proposed cutting the Special Olympics budget in half. The actual budget as passed slightly increased Special Olympics funding, though by only half of what the organization had requested.

Basically the Special Olympics requested a 3.5% increase in funding and they ended up with a 1.75% increase...

thus a 50% decrease

a 50% decrease of an INCREASE!

[Phx_Dem]

37. I stand by my post. Here's my source . . .

http://www.examiner.com/x-796-Mental-Health-Issues-Examiner~y2008m9d8-Palins-Budget-Cut-for-Severely-Disabled-Children-in-Alaska

However, during her tenure in office she cut spending for The Department of Education and Early Development of Special Needs in Alaska. These are funds specifically targeted to help disabled children in the public school system, particularly for families that cannot afford specialized care. Without these funds the supplementary services for local schools for children with special needs were not met.

The following is the budget reports provided by the Special Education Service Agency:

In 2007 before Gov. Palin took office the budget was at $8,265,300.

After she took office the budget for special needs in Alaska is now $3,156,000 for the years 2008 and 2009.

This is a cut of $5,109,300.

There has been recent buzz about these facts citing a separate line on the budget page allocating funds to The Alaska Challenge Youth Academy; as an inclusive package to the budget. Republican supports of Gov. Palin have cited that this is, in fact a 175% increase in funding. Though the original inclusion of ACYA in the FY07 budget proposal was not the only thing in there. While funding increased for ACYA, it decreased on a far more severe scale for Department of Education and Early Development of Special Needs in Alaska.

The description of the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy reads which expains why it was seperated out of the Severely Disabled inclusion of the budget after Governor Palin took office:

This instructional program is operated in Anchorage with student enrollees from across the state. Students work on challenging academic programs in a “boot camp” environment. Completing high school and building career goal and skills are the goals.

This is not the same budget that helps severely disabled children with the funds they need in public education. Therefore, the budgetary projections for severely disabled students remains as it states in difference between FY07 to FY09.

more at link. ..

[DrDan]

22. and some are manufacturing all kinds of excuses to avoid what Obama stepped up to

an apology.

He is more of a mature, caring adult than many here.

[cyndensco]

35. The local ABC affiliate had been teasing the story all day - "News at 5".

The story opened with a Special Olympics athlete bowling a strike. He said he was hurt by the comment, but would be willing to teach the president how to bowl. His father called for President Obama to place a Special Olympics in his administration. :shrug:

As a supporter of Obama, I wish he had not made the statement. I did not find it offensive (though, in fairness, if b*sh had said it, I may have). It was a gaffe and unfortunately the gaffe provided the others with additional anti-Obama fodder.

[mn9driver]

15. Obama will probably invite Kolan McConiughey to bowl at the WH

..and Kolan will totally smoke him:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ijqXg-8oueR1oRnf-cdJXw9ewluwD971TJ1O0

Of course, the Repigs will find a way to make that the most outrageously awful thing that has ever happened, too.

[FLyellowdog]

17. Hope Kolan does get in invitation. n/t

[Phx_Dem]

21. He should invite the Special Olympics bowling team, if there is

such a thing. But he did say he was going to host some type of SO event a the White House.

[Phx_Dem]

18. I agree. Intent is everything, and there was no malicious intent.

And I'm sorry, but Mark Shriver's remark that it wasn't just Obama; the audience laughed and Leno laughed. As though they were laughing AT handicapped people. They were laughing because Leno was making fun of Obama's low score. You could barely even hear the words "Special Oympics -- over the laughter -- because people were laughing before he even said it. Whatever.

:crazy:

[DrDan]

25. so if he said "I don't look so queer any more" - that would be fine if

he meant he doesn't look so "odd" any more?

[FLyellowdog]

27. Depends on the context. n/t

[FLyellowdog]

26. Look again at the replay...

The President's body language says it all...After telling his score,Leno starts applauding and praising him, he turns quickly towards Leno and puts out his left hand and responds to the audience with the comment about the Special Olympics. His comment is about Leno's applauding him, not about his score. My original post is accurate. I'm just saying...

[alcibiades_mystery]

31. Just. Fucking. Stop. It.

Yeesh.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

32. What Obama said was thoughtless

I believe it was innocent enough, but he was wrong to say it. I am totally surprised that most of you are saying this isn't a big deal and manufactured outrage. I guess the president is the "messiah" and can do no wrong.

[infidel dog]

38. Oh for chrissakes...

What Mr. Obama said was a gaffe. I don't believe anyone out there, even the most PC and hyper-sensitive among us, has not misspoken at some point in his or her life. Get over it.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

41. You obviously didnt read my post

Or you chose not to comprehend it. I said it was a gaffe,he apologized, and should be forgiven. Everyone makes mistakes, Barack Obama included. My problem was with the DUers who said, just like you "get over it". We would be outraged if Obama or anyone else for that matter made an off color joke about a different race or sexual preference. But I guess on DU people that are mentally disabled don't get that luxury. Again you obviously didn't read my post because you used the exact same phrase of "get over it" that I think is unforgivable and I said I would remember those names. You just got ignored, not a great way to start out on DU.

[lynne]

34. OH, PULEEZE! Accept that the man made a gaffe and move on!

This "silk purse out of a sow's ear" manufacturing is just tooo much.

[loyalsister]

39. Pretend all you want

.. but the truth is, that's another stereotype that demeans the event and by extention people with disabilities.
It was a clumsy gaffe. President Obama is transforming the office of the presidency back to what it should be by holding himself accountable -- even to people who you might not expect to be able to care. As Americans why shouldn't we hold ourselves to that high of a standard?

It was a comment that played on sterotypes. The guy who called and challenged the President to a bowling match did so because he wanted to break them.
How blatent can it be?

The disability community is ready to move on, but we are sick to death of hearing that it's okay to exploit the stereotypes if it only indirectly points to us.
What other minority would be derided for not being okay with this?

[donheld]

40. Exactly