What Leno said was MORE offensive

[proud2BlibKansan]

THE PRESIDENT: It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something. (Laughter.)

LENO: No, that's very good.

So he is implying Special Olympics is BAD!! That's much worse than what the president said.

[NYC Liberal]

1. That's what I said too. Leno was doing a mock "talk nice to the disabled kid"

If anything's offensive (I don't think any of it IS), it should be that!

[LisaL]

4. Oh baloney. The OP is not even correct. If you see the full exchange,

Leno said "no, that's very good" before Obama even mentioned the Special Olympics. Then after Obama has mentioned Special Olympics, Leno has repeated "no, that's very good."

[fishwax]

6. I don't think that's what Leno was doing at all

He was just being sarcastic about the score, but I don't see how anything he did was mocking special olympics :shrug:

[NYC Liberal]

7. Well it's obviously how Obama took it, and I think one could

certainly see it that way.

[LisaL]

8. That's baloney. Leno has repeated the same "no, that's very good"

comment before and after Obama's Special Olympics comment.
"LENO: Now, are they going to put a basketball -- I imagine the bowling alley has been just burned and closed down.
THE PRESIDENT: No, no. I have been practicing all -- (laughter.)

LENO: Really? Really?

THE PRESIDENT: I bowled a 129. (Laughter and applause.)

LENO: No, that's very good. Yes. That's very good, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something. (Laughter.)

LENO: No, that's very good.

THE PRESIDENT: No, listen, I'm making progress on the bowling, yes."


http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/03/obamas_insensitive_special_oly.html

[NYC Liberal]

9. How does him repeating it change the interpretation?

It's obvious that is how Obama took it that way, regardless of how YOU did.

[LisaL]

12. You seriously don't get it?

The OP seems to be making a claim the Leno was mocking Special Olympics. Since Leno said "no, it's very good" before Obama has even mentioned Special Olympics, how on Earth could Leno have been mocking Special Olympics? Get a clue.

[LisaL]

13. You seriously don't get it?

The OP seems to be making a claim the Leno was mocking Special Olympics. Since Leno said "no, it's very good" before Obama has even mentioned Special Olympics, how on Earth could Leno have been mocking Special Olympics? Get a clue.

[NYC Liberal]

16. Why COULDN'T he have? What do you think Obama was reacting to that made him say it!?

It was the way Leno was talking to him! Do *you* really not get it?

Obama mentioned Special Olympics because that's how Leno was talking...the way some people talk to disabled kids.

[LisaL]

21. Oh for crying out loud. How ridiculous can it get?

Are you people for real? So, if I tell you I am not good in something, and you tell me "no, it's very good" I should immediately imply you are mocking Special Olympics? O'key.
:eyes:

[NYC Liberal]

28. Yes indeed, how ridiculous can the outrage here get?

WHY do you think Obama responded to him that way? Because of the way Leno responded to his bowling score! Duh. Or do you still not get it?

I swear, some people really love being pissed off. Doesn't matter at what, as long as they have something to be mad about.

[LisaL]

29. I've already said that this logic is ridiculous.

Leno didn't mention Special Olympics, Obama did. Quit blaming everyone else for what Obama does or says.

[NYC Liberal]

31. You're acting like Leno said NOTHING before Obama spoke.

The way Leno spoke was joking about the way some people talk to disabled kids. Which is why Obama said what he did. Duh.

[fishwax]

37. Obama was poking fun at himself, not Leno

Obama made an ill-conceived joke. He apologized. The level of outrage is ridiculous. But blaming Leno is silly :)

[LisaL]

14. You seriously don't get it?

The OP seems to be making a claim the Leno was mocking Special Olympics. Since Leno said "no, it's very good" before Obama has even mentioned Special Olympics, how on Earth could Leno have been mocking Special Olympics? Get a clue.

[fishwax]

20. it's not obvious that's how Obama took it

I think Obama was responding to the content of what Leno was saying (that 129 is very good, wink-wink-nudge-nudge), which is not the same as saying he thought Leno was doing a mock special-olympics-type response. And I don't think there is anything in Leno's demeanor to suggest that's what he was doing.

[Zodiak]

2. Perhaps you are right

But I still think the whole exchange is rather low on the outrage meter.

I sure am glad that when I want to be self-deprecating about my abilities, I say "cue the golf-clap"...golf is much less of a PC mine-field.

[LisaL]

3. I got news for you. Leno is a comedian and not a president.

See the difference?
And by the way, the OP is misleading. Leno has said "no, that's very good" before and after Obama has mentioned the Special Olympics. So in fact there is no way Leno was mocking Special Olympics.

[cali]

5. this is all so ridiculous and hypocritical. it makes me sick

[earth mom]

11. It makes me sick that there are so many heartless people on DU who don't give a damn. nt

[cali]

17. what makes me sick is your hysterical bullshit OP

I'm one of the few people here who actually says something when they see a comment disparaging those with mental disabilities. And there are people here who have weighed in on this who have participated in the Special Olympics who aren't taking high umbrage from this gaffe. Obama mispoke. He apologized. get the fuck over it and move on, dearie.

[TahitiNut]

19. Word.

Man ... why am I flashing on Sarah Palin dragging her Downs Syndrome infant out on stage like a PROP? The self-aggrandizing exploitation is fucking appalling.

[cali]

23. no kidding.

that was truly horrifying.

[earth mom]

34. Don't look now but your holier than thou bullshit is showing.

:puke:

[TahitiNut]

35. You got a severe case of projection going on there? Sanctimonious much?

:eyes:

[earth mom]

38. No that's your department. You're another one of the DU (think they) know it alls.

:eyes:

[TahitiNut]

39. You sound insane.

Seek help.

:shrug:

[earth mom]

40. Funny, because I've long thought you are insane.

:crazy:

[earth mom]

32. Don't tell me what the fuck to do! I'm sick of your endless OP's spouting your opinion as god.

I rarely post OPs and when I do it's because I have something to say that is important to me or that has been overlooked here on DU. I posted that OP because I was sick of reading thread after thread where people like you tried to dominate and control the discussion about Obama's hurtful comment. What he said was horrible and he knows it because now he is doing damage control! If it was nothing as you say, then why is he even apologizing in the first place?! So stop your bullshit and spin!

BTW-Do you think that people don't see how you work overtime to try and control opinion and thought here on DU?

Well-not if I can help it!

[cali]

45. lol. too many people tell you how full of shit your moronic OP is?

and tough, dear, if you don't like what I have to say.

[mitchum]

46. And YOU need to get over your special needs by proxy identity...

it is transparently obvious what you are pulling.
You do your child no favors with your self-serving nonsense.
I have seen it before.

[earth mom]

10. Quit trying to spin it. It's insulting.

:eyes:

[LisaL]

15. Yes. It's pathetic.

[FudaFuda]

42. We're outnumbered by the brainiacs.

we know what it means that those words came out of the President's mouth as a joke, but people who aren't personally affected just think of it as 'politically incorrect' at most. we're hurt, because we feel that prejudice and dismissal for our loved ones deeply and personally every day, while those around us perpetrate it without thinking or remorse.

we're not alone, but it's pretty obvious we're outnumbered. and for some disproportionately vocal people here on DU, no criticism of Pres Obama will ever be valid, so debate and discussion is futile.

I'm disappointed that the President made this joke. It has changed my opinion of him. I don't expect anyone to understand, but I know some do. Thanks to those who do.

[aikoaiko]

18. wtf? you are trying to hard.

[RB TexLa]

22. He's an entertainer, no one even cares that he has a name, let alone what he says.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tarc]

27. /yawn Oh, its just cali

Sorry, I thought I was about to reply to someone important for a sec. My bad.

[earth mom]

36. ROFLMAO! Good one!

:thumbsup:

[Tarc]

48. cali's still upset

cause i called her out on her 'uncle tom' slurs against black supporters of Hillary during the primaries.

Some people just never get over their bitterness.

[LisaL]

26. Well good thing he actually didn't say "retards."

:eyes:

[WillieW]

30. Seriously, it was not offensive considering the exchange. But it was clever

that Obama was on Leno first and then Garth Brooks was clever. If anyone wanted to listen to Garth, they had to listen to Obama first. He may have convinced some selling his budget proposal.

[rucky]

33. Leno was referring to Obama's 129 bowling score.

get real.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

41. Leno was referring to the score itself, not the Special Olympics comment.

If you watch the clip, Leno says, "That's very good" twice after Obama mentions his 129 score, then Obama sneaks in the Special Olympics comment, and Leno says, "That's very good" again, but referring to the score itself.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

43. Leno was responding to the score being good and not addressing the Special Olympics.

[proud2BlibKansan]

44. I know that

[D-Lee]

47. They were talking about a 126 bowling score!

Wow ... talk about over-analyzing trivia.

I couldn't see that either Obama or Leno were criticizing anyone.