not sure I should do this, but it seems like a little perspective is warranted:

[sohndrsmith]

Any chance this might end this argument... maybe... possibly? Does anyone think this man is insensitive, ignorant or prejudiced against people with disabilities? Review his own words for yourself:

Excerpt/snipped from President Obama's Los Angeles Town Hall today, (March 19, 2009):

---

Obama: All right. All right, the gentleman right here. The gentleman right here with the beard.

Question: I'm unable to stand up. I believe that I'm entitled to an exception of that rule under the ADA.

Obama: Go ahead.

Question: I forgive you.

Obama: Go ahead.

Question: Okay.

Obama: Introduce yourself.

Q: I'm Gary Carr, and Mr. President, thank God for you. (Applause.) Sir, my question regards the true renaissance that's happening with people with disabilities. They are an emerging population -- millions of people with more potential in capacity, more mobile, more educated, more healthy, more empowered technology, but still trapped in very, very old social models that see them in terms of tragedy and charity and need and care. And the modern population of people with disabilities simply does not fit that model.

And as your plan succeeds and you generate these jobs, and as baby boomers retire, we're going to need every single person of capacity to work that we can. And that must include many, many, many thousands, if not millions, of people with disabilities. (Applause.)

So -- I see you nodding your head, so my first question is, do you subscribe to what I'm saying, and next of all, can you talk about how your disability agenda will release this emerging potential that's currently wasted and untapped?

Obama: Well, you are exactly right, that we need everybody. And every program that we have has to be thinking on the front end, how do we make sure that it is inclusive, and building into it our ability to draw on the capacities of persons with disabilities.

That's true on the education front, where our recovery package increases funding for children with disabilities. It is true in terms of how Hilda Solis, our Secretary of Labor, will be thinking about our training programs, to make sure that we are not excluding from training for high-tech jobs, the new jobs of the future, persons with disability.

It means enforcing the ADA and fighting back on some court opinions that have tried to narrow in ways that I think are inappropriate the original intent of that legislation.

So one of the things that I think is important is to make sure, as you pointed out, that we don't see this as an afterthought, a segregated program, but we are infusing every department, every agency, every act that we take with a mindfulness about the importance of persons with disabilities, their skills, their talents, their capacity.

------

link to full transcript:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/03/obama-text-la.html

[Cha]

1. Thank you,

sohndrsmith!

[Clio the Leo]

2. Yes, thank you. NT

[rvablue]

3. Kicking and a sad commentary I'm only the 3rd to do so. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

4. Here I am!

:hi:

[HopeOverFear]

5. Also, I want to bring attention to this great point

that I got from the comments on daily kos:

"Let's not forget that in spite of Obama's unfortunate comment about the Special Olympics, he is the one fighting like a tiger for the national health coverage that would promise, ensure, guarantee, and deliver health insurance coverage, for 100% of American kids, including for the many medical complications (such as heart disease) that affect a lot of developmentally disabled kids. The Republicans who are already having a party on that remark are the ones blocking children receiving medical care because they think it's Socialism, if not Communism. And they have been supportive of Business Uber Alles policies so that parents hired by Corporate America often find  their developmentally disabled kid is denied coverage because of the "pre-existing condition" clause. Not to mention the parents who simply lost their jobs under Bush because the company got a tax break for sending Daddy's job to Asia, and the medical insurance stopped, so the Downs Syndrome kid is screwed. Republicans are very good at claiming the moral high ground when in fact their performance is immoral or amoral."

[sohndrsmith]

16. very well said. Thank you.

Republicans lost the ability to take the "moral" high ground, even marginally, with the slightest shred of credibility some time ago.

[Uzybone]

6. Reality has a funny way of shutting down poutrage

[FrenchieCat]

7. It's not the talk, but about the walk...after all is said and done!

[Uzybone]

8. Amen to that

[rhett o rick]

22. Also, ignoring the poutragous will shut it down. nm

[countingbluecars]

9. Thanks for posting this. n/t

[uppityperson]

10. k&r with thanks.

[WCGreen]

11. Number 15....

there is a decided lack of perspective here and in the country as well.

If we lose perspective, history, if you will, the GOP wins. They want us to focus on the outrage of the day and care little about the future. Like all the money infused into the credit markets in order for people to refinancing easier and more abundant.

But hey, $165 million is a lot of money, but really who cares about all the good that is being done by the Obama Administration.

And damn it, he didn't pick Duke and good god all mighty, he's making fun of the Special Olympics.

Can Tar and Feathers be far off?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

13. Your post deserves its own thread, IMHO...

Your words are right on the money...

I wish I could recommend them!

Perspective is needed, always. We seem to want to rush to judgment.

It's simplistic to ignore history...

Well said, Chris...

[sohndrsmith]

18. I agree - what an important message... hope WCGreen posts it. n/t

[sohndrsmith]

12. thanks for the recs guys - this really matters to me

Thanks kids - this really matters to me -

I have an ex BIL who has Down's Syndrome/a Special Olympian (and I confidently say is a MUCH better bowler than Obama will ever be, I believe), a daughter who was diagnosed with a LD as a toddler, both my parents began their careers working for Head Start and disabled kids (mom was a teacher, dad a psychologist), my dad was gay and a card carrying Native American tribal member, and I have survived injury that brain scans indicated brain injury (to what extent, I don't know).

The point being - I have a little first hand knowledge with:

genetic disability,
cognitive disability,
learning disability,
homosexuality,
racial issues,

...and all the ugliness that can (sadly) spawn from them. I'm the last person to take lightly any statement or belief that I consider dismissive or negatively categorizes any group as inferior, "less than" or somehow faulty. Such statements have no purpose other than intending to insult, demean, cause harm or pain - or keep powerless. Those things don't fly with me and never will. Ever.

Obama has shown me NOTHING - in word or action - that I can't respect. That said, I've seen him mess up - more than once, and I know he will mess up again - more than once. (Speaking of imperfection - have you SEEN the guy bowl? His statement was probably more accurate than not! It was a really dumb thing to say, but there is NO WAY I believe it was said to demean or insult anyone who qualifies to compete in the Special Olympics, and there isn't anyone who has really listened and watched to what this president says and does who would think it was). I don't expect perfection from anyone - even someone with such alarming amounts of sane integrity, and I find it weird that anyone would.

[Mithreal]

28. Excellent addition to the op. K&R. nt

[JimGinPA]

14. Do You Think Morning Joke Will Show That Clip Tomorrow?

Me neither. Big poutrage in the morning I'm thinking.


I won't watch to see though.

[sohndrsmith]

17. wait - I'm confused. You do or don't think Joe S will take this and run with it?

I would hope he wouldn't but I think he will. He's very good at sounding like he's right, but I usually just find him annoying, myself. I wish someone else had that time slot... the Joe/Mika duo is really unpleasant on so many levels in my view. But that's me...

[TreasonousBastard]

15. Wisecracks and comments on Leno will live on in the smaller...

minds, but the, hopefully successful, actions the President takes to improve the lives and the standing of the disabled will live on in history.

(And I dare not guess what tomorrow's poutrage will be.)

[tbyg52]

19. AM K&R nt

[southerncrone]

20. Iraqi War Veterans will increase this population.

"They are an emerging population -- millions of people with more potential in capacity, more mobile, more educated, more healthy, more empowered technology, but still trapped in very, very old social models that see them in terms of tragedy and charity and need and care."

Although not enough focus is being placed on this fact, we will be flooded w/soldiers who have multiple disabilities, both physical & emotional, as they return from this horrible, horrible "war".

This, in itself, will have a major impact on our society on many levels. These folks will need loads of help to reintegrate back into society & try to overcome the psychological problems that were created for them by this ridiculous military action.

The MSM & the administration need to be more vocal about this & there should be action on this NOW to have assistance programs in place when they return. I believe the First Lady has touched on it when speaking on behalf of the military families. I certainly hope she will continue to do so & that her concerns land on fertile ground where help will be forthcoming immediately when these soldiers come home.

This may all be in the works already & I am just unaware. Let's hope so.

But, this issue needs more press.

[stillcool]

24. I so agree...if we could get these veterans..

from this war...real health care, especially emotional/mental health including their families, and job training/schooling to ease their way back into society, we would alter a world of generational hurt coming down the pike.

[azmouse]

21. k&r

[rhett o rick]

23. Here's rec 30 but I am going to save my kick. nm

[dkofos]

25. I watched it. I laughed (along with millions of others). NO BIG DEAL

[lumberjack_jeff]

26. Kicking, recommending AND BOOKMARKING. n/t

[Uncle Joe]

27. I don't and you don't, but I view his apology as a sign of strength, not weakness.

"Does anyone think this man is insensitive, ignorant or prejudiced against people with disabilities?"

[Tangerine LaBamba]

29. Thank you, K&R, and

that wisecrack was a joke I'd have made. It just made me love my President a bit more - his regular-guy humanity, even at the cost of being vilified by morans.

You did really GREAT with this! Well done!

You have earned The Congratulatory Pussycat!

[Seldona]

30. What comment is this in reference to?

Been away from pretty much all media for a week or so, care to provide some context?

[Hissyspit]

31. Obama on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Made clumsy Special Olympics reference. You can watch it on YouTube or NBC site.

[Seldona]

32. Thanks. Caught it on the NBC site.

It was a bit insensitive. Still I don't believe he would take the actions as the former administration. In fact I really believe he repudiates them.

[Hissyspit]

33. This post acts as a supplement to sohndrsmith's OP:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5293868&mesg_id=5293868