Anyone catch President Obama’s appearance on The Tonight Show yesterday evening? I didn’t, mainly because I prefer Letterman or Nightline during that hour. Plus, I knew I would be able to catch the highlights on any number of websites and blogs the next day. Unfortunately, it turns out the President made an insensitive remark that implicitly insulted the Special Olympics and its athletes. He has apologized, but the damage has been done and many of his veteran critics now have new fodder to blast him with.
I frankly had mixed feelings about Obama appearing on the Tonight Show, not because it wasn’t “presidential” or because no previous sitting president has done such a thing (I like that he wants to reach the everyman), but because the very nature of a late-night talk show is to be loose and silly and offhanded. You feel obligated to be a little more crude and crass; you want people to find you humorous. In that kind of environment, with that kind of casual mindset, a lot of unintended comments can fly. And you would think that after Obama’s mindless crack about Nancy Reagan at his pre-inaugural press conference, he would be more careful.
Still, I’m sure we’ve all mindedlessly cracked jokes that we’ve later regretted. (I almost got my butt kicked in high school by a black belt in Karate one night for making a joke, at his expense, during a Friday-night football game. I learned a lot from that gaffe, though I’ve gone on to make many more verbal blunders over the years.)
This article from DiversityInc magazine shares some useful tips about what do when you’ve said something stupid and hurtful to another person. The list could be helpful to anyone seeking to add another tool to his or her reconciliation resource kit.
I also didn’t watch the Obama/Leno show. But I KNEW that I’d be hearing about some Obama catastrophe the morning after.
Most politicians don’t go on entertainment shows like Leno because the chances are so high that something retarded (no pun intended) will come out of their dishonest mouths.
Liberal and conservative politicians all have something in common: they are dishonest for a living. That’s why they should avoid going on live shows that could woo them into saying something unrehearsed/un-teleprompted. When they momentarily become themselves, they forget what lies they’re supposed to be living and speaking out.
That’s why this appearance was the first — and probably the last — time a politician will appear on a late-night show.
He has hurt many families in America. He needs to say he is sorry in the public, not to an organization.
In addition, someone who claims to have experienced prejudice and stereotypes throughout life, and has written about them in great detail, should be more sensitive and refined from life’s lessons.
Furthermore, Obama claimed he was going to have the world think ‘highly’ of America again. Will this joke help?
For someone who spoke of equality as a creed. Does this joke match that philosophy?
For someone that said he would stand for all people. Does this stand up for those that participate in the Special Olympics?
The fact is Obama claimed a higher standard. To much is given, much is required.
Obama has just showed us that ‘yes we can’ destroy what a campaign stands for with a single joke.
During the campaign for the White House in 2008, the media criticized Palin for being ‘common,’ ‘not-polished,’ ‘not-compassionate’ and ‘not presidential.’ However, compare Sarah Palins attitude in this video created three weeks ago for the Special Olympics in Boise, Idaho.
You decide the more ‘presidential’ among them. Watch: http://tinyurl.com/ccz6nj
It was definitely an insensitive remark, no question.
My two thoughts on this are as follows … I have yet to meet a perfect human. Even those of us who “claim” to have experienced prejudice and stereotypes. (WOW – even if we actually did experience prejudice and stereotyping – apparently by that experience we should instantly be perfectly tolerant)
Second – it is a wider issue on which “non-PC” things are fair game for fodder. Even one of the previous commentators used the word retarded in his reply. Race, women, sexual orientation – DON’T go there or you will pay. Mental disability, physical challenges – well – it depends.
It should not depend – we need to be sensitive and considerate to all.
Good response, Mdenisewb.
You are right. (I haven’t met a perfect human either.)
Except for Christ, humans are flawed, imperfect, and evil by nature. The prejudices and stereotypes we all have as human beings are evil.
So you’re right when you say, “It should not depend – we need to be sensitive and considerate to all.” The problem is that human nature prevents us from being sensitive to all.
There is no political candidate or political party that can make our lives better. No matter what laws are passed — or not passed — we are still evil/sinful. Only by looking up to God can we find the help we need.
Politicians on both sides of the isle are evil, and liars — like all of humanity. (Their evil and dishonesty becomes even more apparent when they appear on late-night shows!)
We need to stop looking to politicians and political parties for help. Help and salvation come from Christ alone.
Most people don’t understand the sensitivities of the disability community until they are a part of it. We don’t like the use of the word “retarded,” period.
I’m not taking offense at Obama’s comment, but it does carry a sting.
I think he should make a concrete, longterm gesture of goodwill. One of the Special Olympics staff has suggested hiring an athlete who competes in the Special Olympics to work in the Whitehouse.
Employment for those with disabilities is a huge issue.
How many “mindless cracks” does President Obama have to make before we start seeing a pattern?