Obama Makes Disablist Comment… On TV!
According to MSN, President Obama has messed up on TV, making what is thought to be his first major gaffe since being inaugurated.
Appearing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the head of state joked that his bowling abilities were “like the Special Olympics or something”.
His joke backfired when Disability Rights campaigners said it was indicative of the prejudice faced by disabled people.
He told Leno he had since been practising at the White House and had got his score up to 129. But he added: “It’s like, it was like the Special Olympics or something.”
The studio audience saw the funny side. I can’t say I do, though, being physically DisAbled.
White House officials anticipated criticism, so Obama apologised to the chairman of the Special Olympics, Tim Shriver, by phone on his flight back to Washington after taping the interview.
Same Difference 
Remeber Obama and the Don Imus Comment:
Obama said: “He fed into some of the worst stereotypes that my two young daughters are having to deal with today in America. The notions that as young African-American women — who I hope will be athletes — that that somehow makes them less beautiful or less important. It was a degrading comment. It’s one that I’m not interested in supporting.”
Therefore, laughter and the lack of reaction from Obama’s remarks suggest Americans have a set a rules for race, class and gender: If you touch them you will pay.
And another set of rules for individuals that have a mental or physical disability: If you touch them, it’s ok if you apologize. Oh, and by the way, it’s okay to laugh at the jokes that come at the expense of the latter.
It is just cruel:
http://tinyurl.com/cgpymq
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I agree with you, and your great post that you link to. I think the BBC is just like Americans in this way, as I said last month in this post: https://samedifference1.com/2009/02/06/sorry-seems-to-be-the-correct-answer/
Thanks for commenting!
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