The Thing Obama Said About the Special Olympics

I don't like what President Obama said about the Special Olympics.

He compared his sub-par bowling score to Special Olympics athletes. 

Well, that's a pretty shitty thing to say.  Worse still, it's not even true.

Obama — who told Jay Leno he recently bowled a 129, an improvement over the paltry 37 he scored during a presidential campaign stop last year — would be no competition for Kolan McConiughey, a mentally disabled Michigan man who competes in the Special Olympics.

"He bowled a 129. I bowl a 300. I could beat that score easily," McConiughey said Friday. He has rolled five perfect games since 2005.

Not even close, Mr. President.

Of course, the Special Olympics folks are a lot more eloquent -- and understanding -- than I am.  They call it a "teachable moment".  And, really, I do agree.

And Obama offered up a sincere apology, which Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver called "moving".

Look, we're human.  We all say things we regret, or don't mean.  And we have to apologize for them.  Even the president.  In the end, a president should be judged on his actions as much as -- even more than -- his words.  Obama has invited Special Olympics athletes to the White House.  They deserve it, his comments notwithstanding.

Of course not every politician is all about eloquence -- or even about ensuring their actions meet the rhetoric.  Take Sarah Palin, for example.  She blasted Obama on his gaffe.  She has a son with Down syndrome, and this was to be her moment to stand up for folks with special needs.

“I was shocked to learn of the comment made by President Obama about Special Olympics,” Palin said in a statement. “This was a degrading remark about our world’s most precious and unique people, coming from the most powerful position in the world."

You won't read these words on this blog very often: I agree with what Sarah Palin said.

Except there's a problem.  See, she turned down a good portion -- more than 30 percent -- of the stimulus money for Alaska.

The biggest single chunk of money that Palin is turning down is about $170 million for education, including money that would go for programs to help economically disadvantaged and special needs students. Anchorage School Superintendent Carol Comeau said she is "shocked and very disappointed" that Palin would reject the schools money. She said it could be used for job preservation, teacher training, and helping kids who need it.

It's one thing to go on a show and say something stupid.  You apologize for it.  You make up for it how you can -- and when you're the most powerful man in the world, you have options. 

It is entirely another thing to claim the mantel of Hero of Those in Need... and then subsequently reject real money that would help them, right now. 

“These athletes overcome more challenges, discrimination and adversity than most of us ever will. By the way, these athletes can outperform many of us and we should be proud of them. I hope President Obama’s comments do not reflect how he truly feels about the special needs community.”

I hope his comments do not reflect how he truly feels about the special needs community, either, Governor.  I think his actions prove that.  What about your actions, Governor?  Do they reflect how you truly feel about the special needs community?  Seems like, after you expressed such an outrage, you might owe us that answer.

I look forward to when President Obama hosts those athletes at the White House.  I bet they'll teach him a lesson on the bowling alley, for sure.

Comments

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well yes, he was on a late night show and made a joke. He put himself on the level of people with handicaps in a sport that's unfamiliar.

I do not agree with this statement.
"our world’s most precious and unique people"
what makes them most precious? what makes them most unique? The disabled are not treasured, the gifted are. The disabled are not unique they are common everywhere throughout the world. Palin may or may not find her disabled child more precious and unique than her others but we as a species do not.