I am autistic. I have participated in the Special Olympics. Obama's remark didn't offend me.

[Odin2005]

My god, Obama made what I thought was a lame attempt at a joke and people are getting huffy and puffy about nothing. Like I said in another thread, this whole outage must be one of those social things I have trouble understanding. :shrug:

[BlooInBloo]

1. Don't worry about it. For the most part, it's just people who WANT to be outraged at Obama.

[babylonsister]

44. Bingo. nt

[eridani]

2. Whether it was offensive or not is irrelevant, because it was trivial

Our economic problems are not.

[Oregone]

3. You are autistic? Barely on the spectrum?

Or Asperger Syndrome?

Sorry to seem ignorant, but you seem very competent at communicating your thoughts to the world (which I don't normally associate with autism).

[Odin2005]

4. Asperger's

But it's more "disabling" then one would think. There are tons of little social things that I either don't perceive or don;t understand that that makes it very hard for me to hold down a job without assistance. Small talk and gossip are simply go right over my head. And I have sensory and OCD issues because of my Asperger's that can be quite disabling as well.

[aquart]

29. My brother-in-law has that.

And the OCD, too.

[kiranon]

5. My son has autism and is in a school for gifted children. There are

Nobel Laureates on the spectrum. It's social interaction that is difficult. And, my son has autism and is not an "Aspie". The level of ability varies greatly - a spectrum of differences.

[Odin2005]

7. Your son is lucky! I had to deal with normal public school.

Total Hell.

[TahitiNut]

14. My best friend's son is Aspie ... I've known (and occasionally cared for) him all his life.

He's in public high school, now, in the Fairfax, Virgina, area. They apparently have very good support for him. He's totally mainstreamed, of course, and hits honor roll much of the time. He's a great kid ... sincere and candid. He frustrated the hell outa me when he was a preschooler ... but he's totally cool to be around, now.

[Cha]

6. Obama has a good heart and he

and Biden actually care about the Special Olympics so I'm sure Obama will come out with his apology for his reference to the Special Olympics in relation to his bowling score.

<snip>

"Biden honors a movement at the Special Olympics
Yesterday Vice President Biden honored what he called the "movement" for the rights of the disabled.

To do so, he visited a premiere institution of that movement, the Special Olympics, being held this year in Boise, Idaho. And as meaningful as the medals he awarded to the figure skaters there were, even more significant was his assurance that the cause would always have an advocate in this White House, announcing Kareem Dale as Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy."



http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/02/13/Biden-honors-a-... /

[Warpy]

8. It's not you, it's them

but that's the way it usually is.

Some people think they have a divine right to go through life without ever being offended. It's almost enough to make some of us go out of the way to offend them.

Obama made a self deprecating wisecrack. That's all.

[Schema Thing]

13. Weird how those same people work so hard to take offense, eh?

[omega minimo]

24. " It's almost enough to make some of us go out of the way to offend them."

Lovely, that doesn't complicate matters at ALL :eyes:

[Warpy]

46. Nice of you to ignore the operative word

"almost."

[Tangerine LaBamba]

9. As soon as I heard about it,

I thought, "Oh, fine. For the next week, this is all the talking heads are going to be talking about."

In the meantime, Obama's giving an absolutely BRILLIANT lecture on what this banking crisis is all about and how the government is trying to handle it.

He's a natural teacher. I could listen to him forever. His choice of the Leno show as a venue is so smart, I can only laugh. Those who would see him defeated simply cannot get one past him. He's breaking all their rules because he's so confident and so sharp, he can/

He's even better than Clinton. And I've adored Mario Cuomo for decades. But, Obama eclipses both of them.

Yet, he made a Special Olympics joke, so that's what's gonna get covered.

I really despise the M$M.

[Odin2005]

10. The MSM idiots are really pissing me off.

I can't watch MSNBC anymore except for KO and Rachel, too much BS. CNN has been on my shit list for a while.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

16. Same here -

I gave up on CNN when that Glenn Beck thing started. He's gone now, but they still blow chunks.

Rachel and KO and the occasional Tweety get my undivided attention. But, all those Sunday morning talk shows - a waste of time....

[elleng]

12. Was the joke deleted in some markets?

Here in MD/DC, heard bowling discussion but sure missed any such joke.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

17. No, it was there -

I was watching it the same as you were - on WRC - and it was just a muttered aside, under the laughter, but it was there.

Watch - you'll be reading about it in the morning. Or right now....................

[elleng]

18. I did see it, on clip posted on DU front page;

guess I missed it, 'live', due to muttering.

Thx

[mopinko]

40. i could listen to him forever, also. i got his books on audio

listening to them is so fun i almost feel naughty.

[kentuck]

11. There's always somebody yipping and yapping....

and biting at your heels. They really are a nuisance.

[sutz12]

15. Big difference here I see is...

Obama has class. I expect he'll apologize.

And actually mean it.

It was an unfortunate slip. I've said worse my self. Not on national TV, of course.

:shrug:

[EmilyAnne]

19. I'm not outraged, but it was a stupid thing to say. We've all said stupid things. He just happens

to be the president. And he happened to say it on Leno.

It will be OK. The people who are outraged or see some insidious meaning in the stupid remark either didn't like him to begin with or are really sensitive about the issue. People who are really hurt by the comment, for example parents of children with Downs Syndrome, should not be made to feel petty or reactionary because it bothers them. It was a stupid offensive comment said by a good guy. It happens. It sucks to see someone you like get beaten up, but its inevitable because he's human. It will be OK.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

20. The problem with becoming President of the United States

is that it's all on-the-job training. No schools to prepare you, no cram courses, nothing.

He's gonna make mistakes, and he'll learn from them. But this is the kind of mistake that doesn't get people killed or lives destroyed. It was just a dumb joke, and no one died, went to prison, lost their home or their job.

Just a joke that he'll never make in public again. I think part of his problem is that he's so comfortable and relaxed no matter where he is, he just talks. You know, like a normal person in a normal conversation.

But, he's the President Of The United States. He's not normal any more. Never will be again.......................

[EmilyAnne]

21. I agree. I hate seeing him bashed publicly, but he can take it. He'll own up to the mistake and

acknowledge that some feelings were legitimately hurt. That's what a compassionate adult does when he/ she says something that offends.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

26. Remember how quickly he called Nancy Reagan

when he made that astrology crack?

The guy's elegant - and the people reeling from this "disaster" are fraudulent assholes. That's all they've got, which shows them up for the losers that they are.................

[aquart]

30. Pretty much.

It's not the first, it won't be the last. Hope they're all this small.

Just brace yourselves for the big fat fuss.

[Contrary1]

23. Yes, it was an unfortunate (and stupid) choice of words.

Let the Freeps have at it. We put up with eight long years of the Idiot Son's gaffes.

The difference is that there will be a public apology from Obama.

[Ms. Toad]

38. It will be OK,

Assuming he acknowledges his gaffe and apologizes.

[wtmusic]

22. If someone made Obama's comment on DU he/she would be trashed

mercilessly, so all the vigor some are expending on his behalf is amusing.

It was stupid, but probably not significant.

[Apollo11]

32. Most DUers are still in "honeymoon" mode

It was an unfortunate slip-up that was meant to be poking fun at Jay Leno and the studio audience.

They were applauding Obama's score because it was an OK score for someone who is no good at bowling.

Obama was kind of embarrassed about it and tried to make light of it.

The metaphor he mentioned was the closest available.

For me the biggest slip-up was when Obama said that "Tim Geithner is doing an outstanding job".

It kind of reminded me of that quote about Michael Brown doing a "heckuva job".

[AllentownJake]

33. Bingo, The Geithner comment offended me more than the bad joke

[rvablue]

25. Thanks, Odin, for lending your perspective!

:hi:

[cherish44]

27. My ex got a psychiatrist to diagnose our daughter as having Asperger Syndrome

The doctor spoke with her for about 30 minutes. At the time my ex and I were going through a divorce. He was already shacking up with his new girlfriend and my daughter didn't get along with the girlfriend or her kids. In my ex's mind she was clearly not able to get along with anyone. He was happy with his new life and to hell with everyone else's feelings. So yeah instead of the fact that maybe she was a child whose parents were divorcing and whose dad more or less moved another woman and kids into her house while she had to leave... my daughter had something "wrong" with her. I met with this doctor and told him my side of things. Well maybe she's not he said. She's definitely a creative kid, with a great imagination and also very sensitive (takes after her mom!). But some people think that's not "normal" I guess.

[EmilyAnne]

31. I'm so sorry, Cherish. You know your daughter better than anyone else! It sounds like you had

really good instincts about the doctor and his diagnosis. I can't believe that he would make a diagnosis like that and then say "well, maybe not" to you so casually. A change in home life should have been the first thing he asked about.

Do you think you can find a trustworthy person who your daughter can talk to? Maybe a counselor or child psychologist who deals with the fallout of divorce?

A creative, sensitive daughter is something so special, indeed, and someday soon I hope to have one!
I wish it was "normal" to be creative and sensitive.
Does she know about the diagnosis? If so, it seems that she needs to have you and another trusted adult with professional knowledge about it explain it to her or, hopefully, decide once and for all that she doesn't have it and then tell her that the other doctor was wrong. Children who are told there is something "wrong" with them may go through life feeling like it.

I feel for you and your daughter and am sending positive thoughts!

[cherish44]

36. Thanks Emilly

This was a few years ago and she's actually doing pretty well now. A lot of it was just adjusting to new circumstances. Things have calmed down with her dad but there's still some tension with the new family. She's still very creative and sensitive but I make she knows how lucky and how wonderful it is to have those gifts. I never told her about the diagnosis. The doctor just said use "common sense" with her. I had doubts about her having Asperger's. I have a friend who is a true Aspie and he laughed when I told him she was diagnosed after talking to my ex and then talking to her for 30 minutes.I found a very cool good counselor for her to go to who has helped her a lot. She's doing well in school, has friends and says she like school (more than I did at her age). She has typical 12 year old problems but she's a strong person (very sensitive but a very strong will) She's doing fine and I'm sure has a brilliant future. Thanks for you positive thought!

[Odin2005]

41. Your ex sounds like an ass.

:puke:

[aquart]

28. What was your sport?

How hard did you have to train? Did you do it more than once?

[Odin2005]

43. basketball.

Not much training, just practicing at the YMCA once in a while. I did it for 3 years but got bored with it.

[Judi Lynn]

34. Very glad to have seen your remarks. I believe we've got some people using this situation

as an opportunity to take some kicks at a man they just don't like, period, for unworthy reasons.

Thanks for initiating this thread with your comments.

[No Elephants]

35. IMO, the word "outrage" is way overused at DU. Simply acknowledging that Obama

made a gaffe and should apologize is not outrage. He did apologize, the head of the Special Olympics was just on GMA acknowledging both the mistake and the wonderful apology and now maybe the media can move on SOON, although I have no such hope for DU.

[GoneOffShore]

47. Ah but you forget - There is a special group here on DU

The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Outrage. There are various parishes, each with its own pet outrage. No one can be offended.

[earth mom]

37. I have a family member who competes in Special Olympics bowling & I am highly offended

and furious that so many here on DU brush it off as nothing.

Funny how whenever a public figure uses the N word or disparages any other minority group the outrage around DU is huge.

But it's nothing to some DUers because their "precious" Obama said it. :puke:

[LaurenG]

39. "Precious Obama?"

I haven't been keeping up with what he said and if he offended people I think he didn't think through what he said. We all go around being insulted everyday and I suppose Obama may have offended some people however, he has nothing on what the last president said and did.

Comments like "precious Obama" only give me cause to wonder how hard it is to be a human being on this planet anymore. I have never been in the special olympics but I do have a "handicap" that would probably make me eligible. Try not to take offense at everything people say, you'll probably be a lot happier.

edit spelling

[groundloop]

42. Good thoughts

Obama made a mistake with a wisecrack which certainly came out wrong. It was definitely a dumb thing to say. HOWEVER, he's a damn sight better president than we've had in the past 8 years, and can you imagine the mess we'd be in had McCain somehow pulled out a miracle? Hell, I've done lots of things in my life I wish I hadn't, but somehow my wife and kids still love me. For the most part I've learned from my mistakes, and I'm sure Obama will also.

What really scares me is that some folks will let this distract them from what needs to happen to fix America. Think of all the great things Obama's already done (stem cell research, funding reasearch for the next generation of hybrid vehicles, closing gitmo, the pay equity bill, overturned Bush environmental giveaways, .....). While I agree that his remark was a dumb thing to say, we can't let that overshadow the fact that we're at a tipping point in history where our country needs to accomplish many things, and we've got a president who can do that. The repugs will be playing any Obama slip up for all it's worth to try and hold him back.

edit-added another thought

[Apollo11]

45. So you agree with earth mom that it was a dumb thing to say

Good. So do I.

We already had this "weasel words" cr@p last year with all the posts defending Jeremiah Wright.

I predict that President Obama will make a public apology today (Friday).

Then a lot of DUers will be wondering "But why does he feel the need to apologize?" :rolleyes:

[earth mom]

49. Some people on DU put Obama on a pedestal. I do not. What he said was hurtful

but you're not allowed to say that here on DU.

:eyes:

[LaurenG]

50. Why not - you just said it, it was hurtful to you.

I feel that it was a stupid misstatement and I'm betting an apology is forthcoming.

[earth mom]

51. Check the GD locked threads to see what I'm talking about. nt

[Bluebear]

52. I'm glad the President apologized. It should be a lesson to some folks here.

That he is tune with what he said and that he regrets it is admirable. The people here who said "get a life!" ..."don't be so PC! Sensitive!!" - not so much.

[Dappleganger]

48. It was stupid to say and he needs to apologize today...

and he's never been above doing so from what he's shown.

BTW, the special olympians ought to challenge him to a bowling match--bet they would whoop him good!

[cali]

53. he's apologized and invited special olympians to the White House

to bowl and play basketball.

[Dukkha]

54. Well now they'll be outraged at you for not feeling outraged

Which is what it often comes down to, dictating to others what they should find offensive because they know better. Even when they have no affiliation with the particular group in question.

[lonestarnot]

55. K & R!

[otohara]

56. Disabled Me Not Offended

either.

One time I went to Winter Park to ski in the handicap program and my instructor was also disabled. It was pretty funny, until the next day when I could hardly walk from being so sore. I'd fall, he couldn't help me get up. What a pair we were.

[Oak2004]

58. I think disabled folks have a much better sense of humor than the non-disabled people who try to

"protect" us from perceived insults.

For the able folks who don't know what I mean, take a look at the humor t-shirts at the nth degree, a t-shirt company run by a disability rights advocate (and a wheelie; a quad, I think):

http://www.thenthdegree.com/humor1.asp


There's a difference between laughing at oneself (or compassionately recognizing the humor in a fellow human's situation) and using humor as a weapon to insult and demean others. I and my friend think it's hilarious when we try to help each other with something and we end up falling out of our chairs or something equally ridiculous (my friend calls it the double gimp effect). Anyone, able or not, could laugh with us and not offend us. After all it would be equally funny if we were two able people who managed to fall all over themselves trying to help each other.

It would only be offensive if the laughter was *at* us, seeing us not as fellow humans in a ridiculous situation but as inferior beings to be ridiculed, that the laughter becomes offensive.

I am offended by "retard". "Retard" is exactly like the n-word, an insult intended to demean and dehumanize. I am not offended by Obama's remark, because Obama was relating himself to people with a handicap (i.e., positioning himself as equal with those who have handicaps, not as superior) and laughing at himself. Relating as an equal and a fellow human being with disabled people is not an insult.

[Karenina]

60. Exactamundo! And NOW may he accept THIS challenge:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8276325

endure his trouncing like a Mensch and bring the S.O. back into the public consciousness, that we REMEMBER our core values.

[Odin2005]

61. Those shirts are hilarious!

:rofl:

[mzmolly]

57. BRAVO!

:toast: I am not autistic and I have trouble understanding the outrage as well. ;)

[undeterred]

59. It was a self-deprecating remark not meant to offend.

[GeorgeGist]

62. It was immature and rude.

Typical of kool kids.