Obama and the Special Olympics - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Kjesse · 03-20-2009, 12:39 AM

It was only a matter of time before he stuck his foot in his mouth, but this one is a doozy:

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."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/...eno/index.html

Personally, I often laugh at really bad humour, including jokes like that. However, this guy is the POTUS. That is offside for a major television appearance. Its probably offside in any circumstance, but hey, everyone has vices.

Anyway, maybe I'm already too tired of seeing him on CNN every minute of every day giving another speech. I think he's doing a decent job so far in difficult circumstances, but the honeymoon will be over soon.

Dan02 · 03-20-2009, 12:42 AM

atleast he didn't call himself a ######.

Kjesse · 03-20-2009, 12:44 AM

Sarah Palin has an opening now:

http://video.google.ca/videosearch?q...cs&hl=en&emb=0

HotHotHeat · 03-20-2009, 12:46 AM

If his gaffes are everyday jokes he forgets he shouldn't make all of the sudden, then he's doing pretty damn good.

If Bush were to have said something like this, it wouldn't even be news. Granted, bush WAS ######ed.

moon · 03-20-2009, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

If his gaffes are everyday jokes he forgets he shouldn't make all of the sudden, then he's doing pretty damn good.

If Bush were to have said something like this, it wouldn't even be news. Granted, bush WAS ######ed.

What???

If Bush had said this there would be a demand from lefties to have him thrown from office and used as some sort of "proof" of what an idiot he is/was.

Instead people will laugh it off and talk about what a normal guy Obama is making mistakes like you and me.

GirlySports · 03-20-2009, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

What???

If Bush had said this there would be a demand from lefties to have him thrown from office and used as some sort of "proof" of what an idiot he is/was.

Instead people will laugh it off and talk about what a normal guy Obama is making mistakes like you and me.

And if Bush filled out an NCAA bracket, he'd be chastised for wasting time.

I don't think it's that big of a deal because I do expect Presidents to be human. But in this day and age people are outraged about everything so it'll be interesting how this plays over the next day or two.

Dion · 03-20-2009, 01:13 AM

Obama will make his apology and probably pay a visit to a local Special Olympics organization.

jayswin · 03-20-2009, 01:32 AM

I don't see anything wrong with it, it was just a little self-depreciating humor. Handicapped people would get destoyed in the real olympics, so they have their own "special" olympics. Meanwhile, Obama would get destoyed at professional bowling, so he was just stating that his bowling skills would put him in the "special olympics" of bowling if there was such a thing.

Igottago · 03-20-2009, 01:33 AM

I just watched that Leno interview and didn't even catch on to that. It just seemed like such a normal casual conversation you would have with anyone.

Not so bad in my books, but politically it is a bit of a blunder. Fox news will have fun with it for sure. Although they are like the special olympics of news.

jayswin · 03-20-2009, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igottago

I just watched that Leno interview and didn't even catch on to that. It just seemed like such a normal casual conversation you would have with anyone.

Not so bad in my books, but politically it is a bit of a blunder. Fox news will have fun with it for sure. Although they are like the special olympics of news.

Haha, nice!

jayswin · 03-20-2009, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igottago

I just watched that Leno interview and didn't even catch on to that. It just seemed like such a normal casual conversation you would have with anyone.

Not so bad in my books, but politically it is a bit of a blunder. Fox news will have fun with it for sure. Although they are like the special olympics of news.

I guess I'm not very politically correct, because I watched the whole interview and that line didn't jump out at me at all, it just sounded like two guys joking around. In fact I didn't even think of it until this thread popped up.

FanIn80 · 03-20-2009, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

If his gaffes are everyday jokes he forgets he shouldn't make all of the sudden, then he's doing pretty damn good.

No kidding. He could have done something really stupid like bombing a middle-eastern country, because he thought they had WMDs.

HotHotHeat · 03-20-2009, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

What???

If Bush had said this there would be a demand from lefties to have him thrown from office and used as some sort of "proof" of what an idiot he is/was.

Instead people will laugh it off and talk about what a normal guy Obama is making mistakes like you and me.

There was much better evidence. You can't be serious suggesting Bush didn't make mistakes like this almost every day. Did you ever see the 'Great moments in Presidential speeches' on Lettermen? The guy was a walking, talking disaster. Not a chance Obama makes mistakes on the same level or with the same consistency as that guy. It's really not even a point to argue.

It's hilarious to watch all the right wing cheerleaders come out of the woodwork with a torch and pitchfork when something like this happens.

koop · 03-20-2009, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

There was much better evidence. You can't be serious suggesting Bush didn't make mistakes like this almost every day. Did you ever see the 'Great moments in Presidential speeches' on Lettermen? The guy was a walking, talking disaster. Not a chance Obama makes mistakes on the same level or with the same consistency as that guy. It's really not even a point to argue.

It's hilarious to watch all the right wing cheerleaders come out of the woodwork with a torch and pitchfork when something like this happens.

I'm not right wing, but I think if you're going to criticize one guy for saying something stupid, it should be the same for anyone who says it. IMO it's not a right wing-left wing thing, it's a hypocrite thing, because if Bush says this, people are all over him.

CaptainCrunch · 03-20-2009, 08:25 AM

Well he didn't have his teleprompter in front of him, and his 10 speech writers and advisors had been given the day off.

HOZ · 03-20-2009, 08:39 AM

Did Obama thank himself for coming on "his" show too? Or does Leno not use a teleprompter?

Kool Keef · 03-20-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flameswin

I don't see anything wrong with it, it was just a little self-depreciating humor.

It's not self-deprecating if you "insult" others in the process.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flameswin

Handicapped people would get destoyed in the real olympics, so they have their own "special" olympics.

Most of us would get destroyed in the Olympics, disabled or not, so the comparison is irrelevant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flameswin

Meanwhile, Obama would get destoyed at professional bowling, so he was just stating that his bowling skills would put him in the "special olympics" of bowling if there was such a thing.

That's clever spin. You should apply for a job in DC.

What he said was dumb. He's human and like the rest of us, occasionally puts his foot is mouth. He apologized for it so no big deal. But c'mon, your defense of his comment is just weak.

atb · 03-20-2009, 09:03 AM

This was a bad gaffe and probably shows why previous Presidents have stayed away from these types of somewhat uncotrolled (dialogue wise) venues. He's trying something new to connect with the American people, and unfortunately this is the kind of stuff that can happen.

I do love reading the reaction (not necessarily on this forum) to this gaffe. What do people expect him to do? Resign? It was poor choice of words, and he's issued an apology.

Looking forward to see what Azure and Flame of Liberty say on this.

SportsJunky · 03-20-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

There was much better evidence. You can't be serious suggesting Bush didn't make mistakes like this almost every day. Did you ever see the 'Great moments in Presidential speeches' on Lettermen? The guy was a walking, talking disaster. Not a chance Obama makes mistakes on the same level or with the same consistency as that guy. It's really not even a point to argue.

It's hilarious to watch all the right wing cheerleaders come out of the woodwork with a torch and pitchfork when something like this happens.

I think he's suggesting there would be an uproar if Bush said it. I don't think he is saying Bush wouldn't have made such a gaffe.

flylock shox · 03-20-2009, 09:23 AM

Just watched the video. Bad joke - partly because it's offensive to some, partly because the joke is so old it's also not funny. I doubt much will be made of it in the end, but certainly a political gaffe.