From Politico.com:
After comparing his bowling to the Special Olympics on "The Tonight Show" Thursday, President Obama called Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver to apologize before the program even aired.
“He expressed his disappointment and he apologized, in a way that was very moving,” Shriver said on ABC's “Good Morning America.” “It’s important to see that words hurt, and words do matter. And these words that in some respect can be seen as humiliating or a put-down of people with special needs do cause pain, and they do result in stereotypes."
“He expressed his disappointment and he apologized, in a way that was very moving,” Shriver said on ABC's “Good Morning America.” “It’s important to see that words hurt, and words do matter. And these words that in some respect can be seen as humiliating or a put-down of people with special needs do cause pain, and they do result in stereotypes."
Right on cue, Alaska's demagoguing dipshit Governor Sarah Palin pounced on President Obama's Special Olympics faux pas, and was far less forgiving:
“I was shocked to learn of the comment made by President Obama about Special Olympics,” Governor Palin said. “This was a degrading remark about our world’s most precious and unique people, coming from the most powerful position in the world...I hope President Obama’s comments do not reflect how he truly feels about the special needs community.”
And I hope that Palin's fellow Alaskans are just as shocked as she claims to be when they realize what the almost $300 million in federal stimulus money that she refused in exchange for her own political posturing will really cost them. According to the Anchorage Daily News, the biggest single chunk of that money 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.
Obama may have made an unfortunate remark to Jay Leno that he'd love to take back, but his stimulus package provides much-needed education funding for Alaska's school children, which the L'il Maverick doesn't want. Should anybody be "shocked" that the Alaskan Disaster's actions speak much louder than chit-chat "Tonight Show" words?
UPDATE: Click here to learn more about the ethically-challenged Sarah Sideshow and her mounting legal bills.
L'il Maverick--the self-described "reformer"--has run up a ton of them "reformin'," and is looking at creating some kind of a fund to pay them off.
How about using proceeds from that book advance?
2 comments:
Remeber Obama and the Don Imus Comment:
Obama said: "He fed into some of the worst stereotypes that my two young daughters are having to deal with today in America. The notions that as young African-American women — who I hope will be athletes — that that somehow makes them less beautiful or less important. It was a degrading comment. It’s one that I’m not interested in supporting."
Therefore, laughter and the lack of reaction from Obama’s remarks suggest Americans have a set a rules for race, class and gender: If you touch them you will pay.
And another set of rules for individuals that have a mental or physical disability: If you touch them, it’s ok if you apologize. Oh, and by the way, it’s okay to laugh at the jokes that come at the expense of the latter.
It is just cruel:
http://tinyurl.com/cgpymq
I don't believe that Obama harbors some deep, dark anti-special needs feelings. I think his attempted stab at chatshow humor fell flat. He has discussed it with the head of the Special Olympics who wasn't thrilled with the comment, but who also knows Obama and doesn't see some pattern of insensitivity here.
Then there is Sarah Palin. Palin just refused federal funds targeted for one of her alleged causes--special-needs children. She did so strictly for future political considerations--nothing more, nothing less. She has denied needed funds for the very children she claims to "love" and "support," while all the president did was put his foot in his mouth.
I am certain that Barack Obama will do more for special needs children during his time in public service than Sarah Palin ever will.
And he won't rely on a nanny to get it done.
Post a Comment