Even the Globe gets it on Special Needs but some supporters still don't

[dick thompson]

Marianne Leone Special needs aren't funny, Mr. Obama President Obama's ''joke'' was a knife-in-the-heart moment for many parents. (Larry Downing/Reuters) By Marianne Leone March 21, 2009 Email| Print| Single Page| Yahoo! Buzz| ShareThis Text size – + PRESIDENT OBAMA made an off-the-teleprompter remark on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Thursday that wasn't the least bit funny. Joking that his bowling skills were "like the Special Olympics" was one of those knife-in-the-heart moments that parents of mentally challenged children live with every day. Discuss COMMENTS (75) Obama's presidency was hailed for breaking stereotypes. We have had a disabled president - Franklin Delano Roosevelt - but the fact that he used a wheelchair was kept hidden. Now we have a "cool" president, and racial slurs are supposed to be banished forever, but it's still OK to make fun of "retards." After all, our president does it. On national television. All over the progressive blogosphere, the Obama supporters who retired to the fainting couch over racial slights are quick to tell the disabled community to "get over it." A poll on the Huffington Post has 28 percent agreeing it was "just a light-hearted, self-deprecating comment. Get over it, people." Twenty-six percent agreed that it was "Maybe a dumb thing to say, but he didn't mean it in a mean-spirited way, and it is pretty funny." And 23 percent wondered, "Why are we even talking about this?" We're talking about this because words have power, and because Obama promised change, and to be a leader, not a comedian. There is little doubt that we'll be seeing lots of wheelchairs in photo ops at the White House in the coming weeks and Michelle Obama will have her arms around a lot of children with Down syndrome. But no stereotypes will have been broken by this new president in the area of public perception of children with disabilities. Not when they are used as a punch line on national television in a "joke." Obama apologized to the chairman of the Special Olympics, Tim Shriver, who regards this gaffe as a "teachable moment." But here's what Obama should learn from this: Stop your cringe-inducing attempts at humor, and try to bring about the change you promised when I voted for you. And don't go off the teleprompter again anytime soon. It makes you sound. . . not so smart. Marianne Leone is an actress and writer living on the South Shore. © Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company. READER COMMENTS (74) Post a comment I don't get it, Special Olympic atheletes try really hard and have a lot of heart but aren't ever going to be the best in the world. Funny, Obama is trying really hard to bowl but isn't ever going to ... Click here to see full comment I don't get it, Special Olympic atheletes try really hard and have a lot of heart but aren't ever going to be the best in the world. Funny, Obama is trying really hard to bowl but isn't ever going to be the best in the world. I think he's probably 100% accurate in his description. by BosPP March 21, 11:02 AM Report Abuse Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. by nadie March 21, 10:59 AM Report Abuse Jgp1954....that "macaca moment" you refer to was mean-spirited and deprecating; Obama's Tonite Show moment was none of the kind. George Allen is nowhere near Obama on ANY scale, just another idiot Rep... Click here to see full comment Jgp1954....that "macaca moment" you refer to was mean-spirited and deprecating; Obama's Tonite Show moment was none of the kind. George Allen is nowhere near Obama on ANY scale, just another idiot Republican trying to establish he's better than the Main St. folk... by bigunit47 March 21, 10:57 AM Report Abuse It is amazing how the media has picked up this remark as if it was the only thing Obama said. Obama was lucid, articulate, self-effacing, and most refreshing of all...presidential. He made a mistake a... Click here to see full comment It is amazing how the media has picked up this remark as if it was the only thing Obama said. Obama was lucid, articulate, self-effacing, and most refreshing of all...presidential. He made a mistake and he apologized promptly. It's done. Move on. After the past 8 years of 'not so smart' and 'I don't have anything to apologize for' it is refreshing to see that we have a capable and accountable leader. Cut Obama a break he is working his tail off. If Bush was still in office he would have been on his 3rd vacation by now. by cutmeabreak March 21, 10:53 AM Report Abuse VIEW ALL READER COMMENTS (74) > Email Email Print Print Single page Single page Reprints Reprints Share Share Comment Comment