Call it what it is - the Special Olympics comment was not a smart thing to do but.....

think back to when that cartoon game out with the police shooting the monkey and quipping "I guess someone else will have to write the stimulus bill". That too was offensive; however, it took days of outrage by folks like us to finally get a comment from Murdoch's NY Post newspaper (or was it the daily news - I forget) that they were sorry for the comment.

Obama did 2 things:

1.) He knew immediately what he had said was wrong and he apologizes BEFORE the comment even made the airwaves. Yes we're upset with what he said (I know I am) but I didn't have to have a hissy fit for a week til Obama got around to saying he regreted what he said. And if that was Bush or Cheney who said it - they would have nevered even bothered - hell Cheney, a man who didn't even apologize for shooting someone in the face, would probably have mocked us and the Special Olympians.

2.) Obama didn't use his pull as president to remove the gaffe. He could have if he wanted to but he didn't. He could have saved his ass from this criticism and insist the comment be removed but the thing is the comment was taped AND a live audience saw him say it. If he had gotten in buried it would have came out anyways and it would have looked even WORSE than having it air 'as-is'. Perhaps this whole scenario was his way of saying we make mistakes but if we show remorse perhaps we can learn from them. And I think the Special Olympics have a valuable asset in the White House that will see to it that these kids get get the recognition for the hard work they do.

SO yes, I'm pissed at Obama for saying it but I'm proud of Obama for being a man and admiting his mistakes. I hope that he follows thru with hosting several Special Olympians at the White House and let them be a part of this great administration.

and I am sure he has learned from his mistake. I am happy to have a President who can recognize, admit and learn from mistakes. It is so much better than real outrage over lies and war crimes.

quite the change from the last 8 years when Bush screwed up all the time but never held himself responsible

Investments holding OK? I am so glad that we all have so much time to dissect each word and masturbate over Obama's every thought. As you say, he apologized for it. I am sure that he will more than make up for the slip. What else did the Prez say last night that we might discuss here?

That was such a great conversation last night. I hate that the only thing being discussed is this comment. I gained a better understanding of what we're dealing with economically, what the next steps are and felt it really went off great.

No snark toward the poster but I thought the discussion was so much more informative than what we are discussing here.

and I love snark - I'm the queen of Snark

:pals:

:)

:fistbump:

but it seems we have people jumping on the hate bandwagon and let's face it - I think Barack did a great job on Leno and he showed responsiblity when he goofed. Something we're just not use to out of the White House after 8 years of Bush.

The apology sucked. He only meant to derride himself say he only meant to show shat a loser he is by comparing himself to "those losers." Technically, I am one of those losers and I am very very disappointed.

The most frustrating thing is people who say it shouldn't bother me. That gets me really mad.

But I did see what he said and it was offensive. If he apologized then great and it's not out of his character to admit wrongdoing when necessary. But what has really gotten my ire up is all the DUers who are saying to "get over it". I think in their mind Obama can do no wrong and if you question anything he says then you are one of those dirty republican nay sayers. It is pretty disgusting to me.

They've gotten it off the "front page" successfully with the bowling challenge.
I agree with you. I'm in move on mode, as well. It left a mark though. I have a right to my feelings but that doesn't mean I don't respect President Obama.
In fact, one of the President's greatest assets is his recognition of his fallability and his willingness to hold himself to a high standard.

I thought it was pretty classless and I am sorry that you were offended. I don't have a personal stake in the Special Olympics and even I was offended by the remark. But like you I am in move on mode. Unfortunately I am surprised by the "get over it" mentality of many on DU and unless they apologize for their behavior I wont move on and I will remember their names in the future.

I am also surprised. It is an unfortunate dust up here. I think that the WH has since handled the fallout with their usual discipline. He will be forgiven. As for DUers who want me to "get over it" I kind of share your disposition.

if it means anything he has done what it takes to help recitify what he has done wrong.

A lesser president (even one who didn't actually win the election) would have smirked and blamed us for being too sensitive.

:pals:

He holds himself to a higher standard. I feel like I have a right to do the same. I wonder how many people remember that he ran on a platform of being held accountable?
I do and I will hold him accountable. I will also forgive his mistakes simply because of that platform and because I will take what makes me happy. And value what matters to myself and my friends as well.

Sorry for your disappointment. Something tells me you get hurt feelings very easily.

In what world does anyone here presume that any of us would rather have * in that chair making that mistake with the title of President?
It's ridiculous to bring him into the conversation. This is about clumsy wording last night. President Obama does more right than wrong. I think today's video message for Iran is incredible. Resurrecting that language about how we have more in common than we usually think made me have to catch my breath. That's the kind of thing that made me support him and I was pleased to hear it again.

He asked us to hold him accountable.
What is wrong with the fact that people with disabilities wanted to hold him accountable? It doesn't seem to be a problem when the GLBT population, women's rights groups, or labor unions want to hold him accountable.

Those words matter to people who are not fortunate to enough to have ever owned stocks. Or to worry be as absorbed in the war as some. Because they people to whome those words matter may often either have disabilities that require them to visit docters often, devote an unreal amount of time to planning their day due to accessibility ussues, or take a lot of medicine that interferes with their life significantly.
Or they may be the parents who have to coordinate therapies and run around trying to beg for services.
All of these people are worrying about getting the shaft and have often been poorer than most. So please don't pretend that it should be no sweat when the president uses what is to some people he should respect a claim of triumph and dignity a way to derride himself.
Especially when the poor and middle class are supposed to matter. Or is that only middle class who have lost money in the stock market.....

yes, what else did he say that we can comment on? I saw a President who was relax, intelligent and explaining to the american people the mess we are in. He was asking to give him time. This SO outrage is really sickening to me.. and i am outrage by the people who are overseeing the rest of what he said.

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It shouldn't even be posted on DU.

And the girls too.

Something good will come from this slip of the tongue.

just sayin'. :hi:

and he apologized to those that were affected.

the classy ones recognize what they've done wrong and make amends

BTW welcome to DU :hi:

:hug:

People screw up and say stupid shit all the time and apologize for it. I' m not going to waste energy getting mad about it.

He showed me that he is flawed but willing to admit his mistakes.

I wish the last guy in the White House would have done that a few times. He was flawed but assumed because he was the pResident that he could just overlook his mistakes as his 'god-given right'

Like I was talking to a customer today whose cancer is in remission and she said "I'm not perfect and I don't expect anyone else to be, either..sometimes life puts things in prespective for you."

It's not what happens but how you handle it.

it was a self-deprecating joke. The MSM is exaggerating the whole thing. But I knew that was going to happen.

I'm not upset about it, but I do wish it had not happened. I'm glad he reacted as he did, and that helped lessen the controversy.

Someone is going to be outraged.

Its part and parcel of being a liberal.

I strangely can't think of anything that could be said about any group I may be a part of that would offend me.