I was encouraged by the fallout over Obama's Special Olympics comment.

When I at first heard that he had made the comment (prior to its airing on TV), I was dismayed in a way I had not been since the Clinton Administration. Aside from the fact that I was uncomfortable with a President making such an insensitive comment (after the last EIGHT YEARS of insensitive commentary), I could just see days and days of newscycles dominated by opportunistic, suddenly resurgent Republicans hypocritically attacking Obama for saying it, unwilling to let up for even a second, lest they lose the political bludgeon such a gaffe afforded them.

The reason I am encouraged by what came out of it is essentially twofold: first, the Republicans thought it was no big deal(!!); I even snuck over to Michele Malkin's site to see how she had opportunistically glommed on to the gaffe for the purpose of bashing Obama, and to my surprise, she repeated the quote, but said it was no big deal, a distraction, move on, nothing to see here. If even that batshit crazy winger doesn't choose to sink her talons into that golden purchase, I guess none of the wingers will. Perhaps it's because after hearing things like Ann Coulter's remarks about Edwards, Gore, Clinton et al. being "faggots," some otherwise reflexively anti-Democratic GOPers are saying to themselves, "nothin' wrong with that; 'retards' ARE funny." You're never through with surprises 'til you're dead.

But the second reason I was encouraged by the fallout was the most important: that it all came from our side. Sure, there were those on the left who defended Obama by saying it was inadvertent, no big deal, give the guy a break, and so on (a sentiment which I'm somewhat sympathetic to). The more salient aspect of it was that those of us on the left do not simply follow our very popular elected leader uncritically and with good cheer regardless of his actions, the way the Republicans did up until about oh, let's say 2006. The new paint in the White House is not quite dry, and we're already giving our own guy his lumps when he deserves them. It's indicative of the fact that all of the political pressure he feels is coming from us, and the landscape now runs downhill in our direction.

In short, we're putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to holding our own accountable, not just on this count, but on all issues of fairness and justice. Perhaps it really is a new era in American responsibility.

I have a handicapped family member and work very closely with an association that watches over several dozen disabled people. I've seen federal funding all but vanish over the past 8 years along with a cut in state funds due to the shortfalls the boooshie tax cut created on that level. These people have little voice, few advocates who speak up for them and the suffering they are enduring. It's a shame that these people have been so neglected...put outta sight outta mind.

I'm grateful that President Obama has put money towards helping ease the plight of these people in the stimulus package...actions speak far louder than words! And SHAME on Sarah Barracuda...the grifter who used her disabled child as a prop...claiming to be a "friend of the disabled" and now refusing TARP funds to help the neediest in our society. The hypocrisy...especially in light of her own disabled child...is astounding.

The Special Olympics also needs a boost. Words can't express the impact this program has had on millions of disabled over the past 30 years. It's one of the Kennedy family's greatest legecies. Here's hoping people see how valuable a program it is and ensure its financial viability.

While others with handicapped family members were offended, I wasn't by President Obama's remarks. I am more offended by those who blatantly ignore and even shun these people...who cut their funding and won't give the time of day to look at how these people live. If they did, they'd be both shamed and inspired.

Cheers...

And sometimes those unintended consequences are actually positive developments. So maybe the 'golden purchase' I described might be taken hold of by advocates of the disabled to leverage improvements in the daily lives of real citizens. Hadn't thought of that -- terrific observation!

Over my years here on DU, I've seen many outrages...most of them very justified. People addressing both economic and social discrimination and the need for all people not just to understand their frustrations but to take action. Until now, I never saw much discussed about the disabled...and that's simply because, like the elderly, these people don't have the resources to be seen or heard and their needs fell behind as others made stronger and louder cases.

I'm grateful for this amount of discussion...and hope that a national dialogue can now begin for a group of people who are among the most vulnerable in this economic mess.

Cheers...

..."the political pressure he feels is coming from us....." says a great deal. Awareness of and funding for services for those with disabilities took a great leap forward beginning with the Kennedy/Shriver years. From an advocacy perspective, legislators on "our side" are typically more receptive, more likely to lead or support advancements.

:thumbsup:

It was a slip of the tongue and he handled it well. I have a kiddo who was a special olympian so I suppose I have skin in the game but I didn't even notice it, so much so that I had to ask.

from Malkin:

blame Obama’s Prompter… or lack thereof.
But this is all just a big distraction.
Let’s get back to the real business of America: NCAA picks!

But then again, she's always so dripping with sarcasm and vitriol that it's hard to tell when she's trying to make a serious point. (Wait, what did I just say?)

Or maybe it's like the two jaded 20-somethings watching Homer Simpson's cannonball-in-the-gut act at the Lollapalooza tour:

"Yeah, HE'S cool."
"Are you being sarcastic?"
<brief pause>
"I don't even know anymore."