Nix Those Presidential Gaffes And Customs
There was less tsk tsking than I suspected after President Obama’s comparison of himself to that of a Special Olympics participant when it comes to his bowling prowess.
Obama uttered the remark mocking himself on Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” Thursday. Even so, he apologized today to the head of the Special Olympics program.
We still live in a politically correct world and sometimes it approaches the absurd. No one likes being the butt of a joke but it is clear the president’s words were not mocking nor mean spirited nor disrespectful.
Obama’s bowling “skills” are pathetic. During the presidential campaign television played over and over his gutter ball in a game in which he rolled a 96 score. He told Leno his game has improved, scoring a 129 at the White House alley. At that rate, he’ll be in his 16th term as president before he bowls a perfect 300.
Obama is a jock. A gym rat. A damn good basketball player even at his age in his mid-40′s. A bowler, he is not.
When an amateur jock — whether he’s President of the United States or your friendly UPS driver from the neighborhood — says he played like a “spaz,” as we used to say, or physically handicapped, he implies no harm nor foul. It’s jock talk. Live with it.
In our age of instant communication through live television, radio, Internet, Face Book, YouTube, text messaging and Twitter, the politically correct police are on duty 24/7.
So the president mentions Special Olympics and immediately the PC cops track down any shrink, yahoo, special interest group spokesperson or Republican for a response. Come on guys, get a life.
I happen to believe Obama has a marvelous, dry wit and endearing sense of humor. Let him be. It makes him human. We need to encourage that in our presidents, not shackle them to timidity scared to death of saying something a few people believe is offensive to others.
As long as we’re on this subject, in the spirit of Obama’s “change” message, perhaps he can fore go some of the so-called traditions expected from presidents.
Off the top of my head, I can think of a few.
One, don’t wear native apparel that makes one look like an idiot just to please a few constituents. Obama dressed in African garb once and probably never again after the snickers it created from Republican opponents. Remember Calvin Coolidge wearing an Indian headdress?
Stop the stupid “pardons” of turkeys the day before Thanksgiving. Think Sarah Palin.
Meanwhile, if Obama wants to convert the White House bowling lanes into a basketball court, so be it. Gosh only knows what a woman president would do. Convert it into a sewing room?
Just kidding, ladies.
Cross posted on The Remmers Report
5 Responses to “Nix Those Presidential Gaffes And Customs”
Thanks for a very sensible post, Jerry.
Tim Shriver, the chairman of the Special Olympics board, told “Good Morning America” today.”President Obama expressed his disappointment and he apologized, I think in a way that was very moving,” “He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population, certainly didn't want to embarrass or give anybody any more reason for pain or just suffering I would say,” said Shriver, who received the call from Obama as the president was flying back to Washington.
“He was very sincere, expressed an interest and an openness in being more engaged in the movement and said he was a fan of the movement and I think importantly he said he was ready to have some of our athletes over to the White House to bowl or play basketball or help him improve his score.”
Will this placate the Obama haters; the “I hope Obama fails” fans? Probably NOT
It doesn't help to use a proper noun in the joke – an actual organization, as opposed to long-forgotten slang like “spaz,” which more accurately refers to a particularly twitchy nerd. If a Republican said this, you know MSNBC wouldn't shut up for a week. It shows a mark of Republican maturity that they'll let this one slide, knowing it was just a lame joke delivered off the cuff.
“If a Republican said this, you know MSNBC wouldn't shut up for a week.”
I don't really think so. It wasn't a big deal and pretty much every post I've seen just about everywhere acknowledges it as such. They are basically read GAFFE! but…meh. I don't think it's a mark of anyone's maturity that noone is making a fuss about something noone cares about. Really, I suppose more people should be offended, but they have other thinga to think about.
On other related notes, spazz was still used when I was in school in the '00s so it isn't totally dead. Also, I really hope the bowling alley stays as it was always my favorite bit of white house trivia as a kid.
After 8 years of beating Bush and every GOP'er over the head with every little utterance and making as much political hay with it as possible?? Now that your man is in office you want a pass?
Are you serious?
A good post, but one I don't entirely agree with. President Obama made an insensitive comment. He deserved to get hit for it, and he did. I'm glad he apologized.
Republicans have been revealing publicly in unguarded moments why they hope President Obama fails.