While he spent most of the time explaining to host Jay Leno how he plans to save the economy, Obama got laughs when asked about his plans to buy daughters Sasha and Malia a pet dog.
“This is Washington. That was a campaign promise,” he replied to the audience. “No, I’m teasing. The dog will be there shortly.”
As for the White House bowling alley? The President says it remains in place, adding that he rolled a 129-point game — “like the Special Olympics or something.” Talk about a political gutterball!
At the end of their chat, a beaming Leno delcared: “Mr. President, I must say this has been one of the best nights of my life.”
The same cannot be said about Obama’s Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton. Shortly after the President’s Special Olympics quip, he had to issue this statement: “He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world.”
via: Fame
21 Comments
Ouch! I love Obama, but he really should have thought before that quip.
My son is autistic and participated in the S O for many years and I don’t appreciate that.
Our President? Bad Comedian? President?…
I really don’t think he meant anything by that comment, but it was pretty stupid to say and he obviously realised that as soon as it was said. Everybody makes mistakes and says things they wish they could take back afterward. Unfortunately as President he needs to be a little more careful as people are just waiting for things like this. I really like this guy as a person though and I think he’s actually got a personality unlike a lot of other Presidents where anything other than political agenda alway seems forced.
Big deal!
It is not very nice to make about the Special Olympics joke. I am supportive of the Special Olympics.
I’m autistic and think it’s funny, and I’m even supposed to be bad at taking jokes as jokes.. Stop being so sensitive.
This guys is unbelievably narcissistic, arrogant and insensitive to the populace. What’s he doing on Leno anyway….
I think anyone could’ve slipped and made the same joke. It happens and he knows it was wrong. Now we can move on. I know plenty of ppl (myself included) who have made similar jokes. It just doesn’t happen on tv.
Obama says a lot of things without thinking first, and are below what the President should say. But then he choose Biden, who has had a career of putting his foot in his mouth.
Lets see now, where do I start. I agree with Stephi,Nina V and Anonymous posts above. The Pres was great on Leno-so nice to see him connect with people after 8 years of that political stiff Bush. Naturally every hard line Republican in the world will jump in on this minor gaff but then what can you expect from those narrow minded dumb asses–LOL……Obama is the man !!!!Great sense of humour..soooo glad he is President.
he is a puke
cant wait till he is gone
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recesssion is when your neighbors losses his job
depression is when you lose your job
RECOVERY is when obama loses his.
Yea, Obama shouldn’t have made that joke. But, it hard to not say things like that even though you aren’t trying to be an *ss.
I work with special needs kids and I have to catch myself at times not jokingly saying things to my friends like ‘that’s so retarded’. Obviously I don’t mean anything by it, but of course sounds bad.
I’m glad he’s our President, but even if it were McCain, I just want the President to succeed so we can go back to normal life and get out of this recession.
Did Jay have to submit all questions for approval, like he does at press conferences and procedes to call on the journalists from a list of the obama friendly questions.
BTW Hysterical new BLOG Obama’s teleprompter has it’s own BLOG.
If John Mcain had made a joke like that, the media would have crucified him. Mr. Obama and his folks continue to get a pass no matter what.
If McCain had said it he would have been serious—LOL.
Haha MikeC ;D
I actually don’t like obama,But that joke sounds liek my type of humor
Come on everybody. How much hay can you make out of a stupid one liner that in any other venue would have been taken in the spirit intended i.e. i bowled so bad it was like the special olympics. No one knocks a fspecial olympian for running the 440 in three time the time it takes professional athletes or can only throw a shot put a short distance. We applaude them for trying, of course, and Obama was alluding to the fact that his peformance falls short of proffessional standards. He was not malinening “Joe Down Syndrome guy” he was just sauing his game sucked. lighten up for goodness sake
I listened to Rush talk about how horrible and uncouth the president was off and on all through his speech. I don’t think the presidnt has ever been arrested at customs for carrying illegal pills that he had perscribed illeggalyy from every low life doctgor in New york that guy has absolutley no room to talk
OMFG! That is a disgrace…I understand that Obama was up there trying to be relaxed and cool and show everyone that he is just like the rest of us. The problem is that he’s just not. He’s the president and he should ALWAYS carry himself in a professional manner. Granted, he wanted to make a relaxed atmosphere, he just doesn’t have that luxury anymore as our President. We want a serious leader, not someone who is going to make negative comments and have bad PR.
you know what? My daughter is autistic, and competes in our local special olympics games and her great aunt is actually on the board for “The” Special olympics. I am not offended by his remark….yes it was dumb, but this is a man who cares about people. ALL people. He apologized for his remark….get over it. He DOES carry himself in a professional manner, unlike any president since Kennedy.