OlderFri, 20 March 2009 at 8:14 pm
Barack Obama Apologizes For Special Olympic Joke
President Barack Obama appears on The Tonight Show and is interviewed by Jay Leno on Thursday (March 19) in Burback, Calif.
During the interview Leno tried to compliment the president’s bowling score but Obama said, “It was like the Special Olympics or something.” The White House quickly issued a statement and said Obama’s remarks were, “in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics.”
On his way back to Washington on Air Force One, Obama called the chairman of the Special Olympics, Tim Shriver, to apologize before the program aired Thursday night. “He expressed his disappointment and he apologized, I think in a way that was very moving,” Shriver told Good Morning America today.
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I’ve watched this show on CNBC Europe yesterday night as it’s broadcast with one day delay. I generally like Jay Leno and his show a lot, and this particular event was outstanding IMHO.
I think you Americans can be very proud to have such an open, intelligent man at the top of your Government. Of course he can’t work miracles, as nobody else could in his situation. But he tries at least, searching contact to regular people, and taking the time and finding the right words to speak to them in their own language and on their level, explaining them what exactly has happened and what he thinks/plans to do about it.
I wish we would have somebody with just half of his charisma in our politics over here as well. I absolutely admire Mr. Barack Obama and wish him the very best for his term in office which will hopefully be extended to the full possible eight years.
People should not be appalled, they have been used to stupid comments by Bush for the past 8 years.
President Obama is a kind and caring as well as extremely intelligent man. Give him a break, he was making fun of himself more then anything. I wonder if there are any among us who have not made a silly comment and regretted it. At least we have a sincere guy who is not afraid to say he was wrong and admit it.
I love this guy and all he stands for. When you are president everything you say and do is open to scrutiny and sometimes you just have to suck it it and be a man……and that he is.
God Bless Barack Obama.
Get over it people. this guy is a most admirable man and someone to treasure as our President. If we all can’t laugh at ourselves from time to time without all this fuss what a shame.
Good luck sir, you are a gift to this country.
What a difference another election makes and thank God the awakening majority in America ruled the day last November. Along with the youth of America, I am extraordinarily proud of President Obama’s great grace, confidence, courage, natural class, intelligence, historical and political savvy, humor, beautiful heart, respect, and dignity towards others. He courageously took on the enormous messes created by Bush and the shameful Republicans during the past eight years and “nobody” could do a better job right now so it behooves every American to put aside their party affiliations and simply get behind him and work alongside him during the next few months.
OMG! As usual the press needs something to jump on so they are going to milk this silly comment to death. He was talking about himself and I personally found it funny.
It’s great to see he knows how to laugh with the mess Bush left for him. Hope he’s around for a long time. You are incredible President Obama and I will vote for you again.
The guy is cool, calm and collected . We are not accustomed to having someone who can be pragmatic and think on his feet as a President, so when he makes a mistake we jump on it because we have been conditioned to do so over the past eight years.
I support you Mr. Obama and laud your praises even in these difficult times. Lighten up people and give him a chance.
this country is supposedly about freedom of speech, but people have to be constantly apologizing for what they say? .. he obviously said it as a joke and was not being disrespectful to the special Olympics.. what now? should every comedy show now apologize because what they do is joke around about other people…
Apology accepted sir, now let’s move on. What a great guy!
As a mother of a special needs child I gotta say this is a much to do about nothing. I watched and was not offended at all by the President’s comment. If laughter is the best kind of medicine, thank you Mr. President for making me chuckle. I know in your heart you are doing everything you can for ALL people……even my little guy.
The guy is a joke and yes he is an embarrassment too.
It’s okay for HIM to make jokjes about others, but shame on anyone who makes jokes about HIM.
Can you imagine if Bush made this joke ? Dumb Ase Leno would have used that as another nightly butt joke ! Let’s see if he uses it against the black golden boy ? Let’s hear more black jokes folks !
He’s not really suited for the job of President. How many of you out there know that when Britain’s Prime Minister Gordan came for a state visit, that Obama insulted him with his gifts. As state dignataries traditionally giftas are exchanged. What did Gordan Brown give to the Obamas? The following:
A pen holder fashioned from the oak timber of HMS Gannet, a Navy vessel that served on anti-slavery missions off Africa. This to signify he is the first president with African-American heritage. (However, here we are wrong - his relatives were never African American, only Kenyan. But none the less a nice gesture on the Browns part). What makes this nice also is that the HMS Gannet was the sister ship of the HMS Resolute.
Another treasure given to Obama is a framed commissioning paper for the HMS Resolute, a Royal Navy ship that came to symbolize British-American goodwill when the lost ship was rescued by the U.S. from icebergs and given back to Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria had a desk made for the white house out of the beams of that ship. This desk now sits in the Oval office. The Pen holder is a nice addition to that desk.
Finally, Brown gave Obama a first edition of Martin Gilbert’s seven-volume biography of Winston Churchill, whose World War II partnership with President Franklin Roosevelt symbolized the U.S.-Anglo alliance.
For Sasha and Malia, Sarah Brown, the Prime Minister’s wife, gave each an outfit from Topshop, a British chain of clothing stores, and selected six children’s books by British authors which have yet to be published in the U.S. Very very classy gifts.
So what do the Obamas give to the Browns? A 25 DVD coollection of Hollywood’s best movies. Something you could pick up in any Blockbuster store. Gordan Brown is not exactly a film buff and is blind in one eye. And not to also mention that Anerican DVDs will not play on European formats. And for the Gordan’s boys the quickly last minute gave them each a model of the Marine One helicopter from the White House gift shop. The models were probably made in China. Totally classless gifts. The guy is a baffoon.
It was all over the European press.
#62 I heard about that once again MAJOR embarrassment.
Dumbo ears Obama, Gawd… what next.
A friend was telling me about him insulting the british by giving them back a gift they gave to the USA moons ago. I am unclear of all details but thought he said it was a bust of Winston Churchill
given to the States so “O decides they don’t have room or need it anymore and sent it back to them. Apparently they were totally insulted as they should be.
Does anybody have the story on it. Possibly could have been another president from the past but the bust itself was given back.
I think Dumbo should make up his mind. Does he want to be a celebrity or the prez of the USA? He did the Leno show so whats next. The guy is an idiot.
A litle late for apologies after the fact. He should have known better.
No two ways about it..
Tim S sounds like an idiot if anyone else said that it certainly would not sound “moving. Call it what it is ..A Bloody insult.
grace @ 03/21/2009 at 9:30 am What kind of idiot would expect our new president to be able to
undo in just two months what a clueless chief executive took almost a decade to create??!!
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I guess the kind of idiot is you. Obama has added MORE to the deficit in two months than Bush did in 8 years.
In plain english. Obama has done more damage (money wise) in two months than Bush has done in 8 years.
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idiot…whoever inherited this mess that we are in would have done
the same. Fiscally responsible conservatives… in plain fcuking english …what a joke they are!!
Leno is a taped show, so why didn’t they just cut that part out???? Apparently, Obama called the Special Olympics guy to apologize before the show even aired, so he recognized his faux pas right away. Boo to Jay Leno for not editing that out.
Leno is a taped show, so why didn’t they just cut that part out???? Apparently, Obama called the Special Olympics guy to apologize before the show even aired, so he recognized his faux pas right away. Boo to Jay Leno for not editing that out.
If it were Bush we’d still be talking about it! This guy can say ANYTHING and it’s all good for the millions of idiots who voted for him. He’s in so far over his head and now with the massive deficit it’s starting to show. This wasn’t posted as an “on the job training program”.
why does everyone think he is so perfect! Seriosly people he is not the perfect flaw free person you make him out to be, I thought I did the right thing voting for him but now I greatly regret it. I should have wrote in hilary clinton or Sara plain for president. No wonder his polls are going down, its becuase he obviously not ready to be a president. His stimulus bill sucks. so many earmarks like the billions of dollars going to be put in replacing the grass at the white house, the wtaer park they plan to build, the 30 million going to buy government officials new cars (like they need it, they are rich as hell!!!) He kept those in put took out the e-verify which checks when you apply for a job to make sure you are a legal citizen of the country and not an illegal immigrant. Not to mention its been reealed that Obama and the white house some other senator knew about th AIG bonuses way before they apparently claimed to. and why??? becuase some of that many went to Obama and the senator!!! I wish I could go back and write in someone as president instead of putting trust in a man like Obama whos inexperience shows and has no honesty!!! He says what we want to hear but then does the complete opposite when he gets into office!
And like #68 said, if this were Bill Clinton, George Bush (hate him!), Hilary Clinton or Sarah Palin (love these two), Everyone, even the damn liberal media would make a big freakin deal over it but becuase it s our precious Obama who everyone thinks is so perfect and claims can do no wrong no one makes it a big deal! So sad that people can be so ignorant!
I didn’t read your whole comment because you just sound like you need a drink. So I’ll just, ever so politly ,repeat please pull the large stick out of your ass and have a little laugh. Trust me it won’t kill you.
Oh and that was Steve-o who stappled his nuts to his thigh, not Knoxville.
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Too bad you don’t know as much about the office of the presidency as you do about grown men who call themselves “jackasses.” But I suppose you are doing all that your limited intellect will allow .
So, you didn’t read my full post (do you have ADD?), yet you conclude I “sound” like I need a drink. So exactly what language in my post led you to this highly–analytical conclusion? And how exactly does one in need of libation SOUND? Come now, don’t be shy. Please enlighten us all with your wisdom.
No wonder you are so drawn to the jackass crew — they appeal primarily to 13-year-olds, don’t they? With an electorate comprised of people like YOU, it’s no wonder we are left with a president more concerned with how “funny and charming” he can be on camera, than with how effective he can be as a world leader. Do you have a clue as to what Hoovervilles are? Try LEARNING something about the history of this nation and perhaps you will know why informed Americans want him WORKING in Washington rather than insulting special needs kids on Leno. We are in an economic crisis. This isn’t a time for jokes.
And to all who say “leave him alone”, do you even understand how our nation’s political system operates?
No elected official is untouchable. Everyone from the county dog-catcher to the President ANSWERS TO THE PEOPLE. We aren’t supposed to smile and nod like Stepford Citizens at a time when we have families losing their homes. Leave him alone? Are you serious? Do they no longer teach government and history in our public schools? We have a President, not a King to whom we swear blind allegiance. Every adult american has a duty to QUESTION everything our President does, and Obama’s color should not shield him from the same minute examination that every other elected official must endure.
The only positive things about this man’s presidency is that it’s going to be a one-term presidency. He’s inexperienced and incompetent. No better than Bush.
ehh i think that it was kinda stupid of him 2 say
but it happens 2 a lot of ppl, u dont mean it to be meant in a mean way
personally i dont really care, it shouldnt have been a big deal in the 1st place
And for all you guys out there who think the enonomy sucks now and blame Bush. Look at your history. The economy was great until 2006. What happened in 2006? The democrats took control over the congress. The economy has been tanking ever since. It was the democratic congress that pushed the sub-prime mortgage lending and contributed to the Fall of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Which sparked to fall of the market. Who tried to stop it? The repblicans.
Here it is on tape.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
Get a clue you Obamabots. And by the way who gained the most financuially from these companies? Obama and Barney Frank.
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