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Original poster

Obama gaffe!

18 replies

HecatesTwopenceworth · 21/03/2009 08:04

story here

he said that his bowling skills were "like the Special Olympics or something".

"Deputy press secretary Bill Burton later said Mr Obama's off-hand remark was meant to poke fun at his own bowling skills rather than disparage the Special Olympics."

Now, explain that to me. He was making fun of himself? He was poking fun at his (lack of) skill, or his style? By making that comparison?!! That IS making fun of the special olympics! his crap bowling = special olympics. then turn round and say it was himself he was making fun of.

By comparing himself to someone from the special olympics he was apparently mocking himself. Because to be part of the special olympics is what? If you compare yourself to a particular group to mock yourself, then you ARE mocking that group because you are laughing that your actions (and not being good at something) make you look like them! he is using them to illustrate his lack of skill or poor style so that means he thinks they have that lack of skill or poor style.

There's no way it means anything else, surely?

OP posts:
SamVimesIsMyHero · 21/03/2009 08:09

Yup, he's pulled a dubya there. Whilst not making light of his incredibly stupid remark, he's still in alot of credit looking at the bank of stupidity left by his lovely predecessor.

aGalChangedHerName · 21/03/2009 08:10

Jeez what a stupid thing to say. Is he going to be like the numpty before him i wonder??

Lindenlass · 21/03/2009 08:11

What a twit!

But we all make mistakes!

shootfromthehip · 21/03/2009 08:12

I think he was being flippant rather than showing a deep-rooted lack of understanding of the hardwork that disabled athletes put into their sports. It was in poor taste but hopefully not a reflection of a prejudice which presumably he knows all about. I would think he's mortified at his gaff.

PuppyMonkey · 21/03/2009 08:12

Made a tit of himself I agree. I always agree with Hecate she's brill she is! (Can't remember the exact words I'm s'posed to say all these weeks later....)

Original poster
HecatesTwopenceworth · 21/03/2009 09:14

"I agree with Hecate, she's fecking bril, she is"

OP posts:
Pruners · 21/03/2009 09:38

Message withdrawn

Nabster · 21/03/2009 17:08

I don't see it as he was saying the Special Olympics were substandard or how ever else you want to say it. I took it as he wasn't very good.

I see your points though but don't think he would make such a stupid remark and he is so much better than the numpty there before..

KayHarkerIsPlayingWithMitchell · 22/03/2009 18:14

Well, it diminished my respect for him. It's astonishingly disrespectful to Olympic athletes.

Don't get this 'Well, Dubya was a fecking idiot, so Obama can imply that the Special Olympics are for sub-standard athletes and we'll just shrug'.

bettany · 22/03/2009 20:45

You could see on the show how he realised almost straight away what a stupid remark it was- he started mumbling and lost all his bravado.
Not surprising, especially as the special olympics was founded by Eunice Shriver (Maria's mother and JFK's sister), in consequence of her disabled sister Rosemary Kennedy. And Obama has a lot to thank the Kennedys for, so it really was stupid on lots of levels, not to mention that he should be only too aware of prejudice and the hurt that can be caused by thoughtless remarks.
Probably good for him to be brought back down to earth a bit.

MadamDeathstare · 22/03/2009 20:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 22/03/2009 20:52

He did apologize immediately.

Yup, it was a really stupid thing to say, but he did call the Chairman of the Special Olympics and apologize...

hobbgoblin · 22/03/2009 20:59

In these circumstances, I think the most credible thing to say is "sorry, what a twonk I am, dunno where that came from, 'scuse me whilst I remove my foot from my mouth". Much more human (and honest) than some crappy 'excuse' with furious back pedaling rubbish.

bettany · 22/03/2009 21:09

Yep, and the Chairman of the special olympics is Tim Shriver (Kennedy clan member) so I'm not surprised he got on the phone sharpish. To be fair, I'm sure he deeply regrets saying it and I would expect Michelle to have given him a piece of her mind.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 22/03/2009 21:18

OMG. Bet he was absolutely grovelling!

AitchTwoOh · 22/03/2009 21:20

oh shit, what a thing to say... he didn't engage brain there at all.

paisleyleaf · 23/03/2009 08:26

I bet he's kicking himself all around the Whitehouse!

mayorquimby · 23/03/2009 10:18

i think he's really put a lot of his supporters in a bind also because much of his campaign was run along the liberal agenda and backed by many of the liberal media outlets. so now a lot of them are being made to look like hypocrites because if this had come out of the mouth of G.W.Bush they would be looking to crucify him as an insensitive backward hickit's be replayed over and over again on tv to paint him as a moron. but because it's obama many of them are sheepishly trying to pass it off as "oh my god what a mistake, but we all know he didn't mean it like THAT."

also according to a few friends i have in america the shine most definitely seems to be coming off obama for a lot of them and they don't feel his made the transition from campaigning to presiding succesfully yet.

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