Independent

Sarah Palin is a political opportunist.

EJ

Yeah whatever, who cares? Everyone has made a special olympic off color joke, or made a comment about being retarded. The problem is hes doing an excellent job and this is the best mud they can find. Lame.

JLD

His comment shows his total lack of sensitivity. He is an elitist in sheep’s clothing. The sooner the American public recognizes that the better off this country will be.

Linda

I have a brother who was in Spec. Ed classes and is now almost 57 years old. We all have made comments of prejudice in some manor. President Obama is so high-profiled that no matter what he says or does it will be used against him. We should all learn to lighten up a little. The difficulties our country is going thru seems to be what we should focus on. he made an apology so lets move on people.

EJ

/agree 100% Linda, comment in bad taste but get over it!

jordan

OBAMA’S RHETORIC in CALLING for the FIRING OF DON IMUS SUGGEST SEPERATE RULES FOR THE DISABLED

In addition, someone who claims to have experienced prejudice and stereotypes throughout life, and has written about them in great detail, should be more sensitive and refined from life’s lessons—especially since he used them to call for the firing of Don Imus, after the shock jock made a racial remark.

Obama said, “but I would also say that there’s nobody on my staff who would still be working for me if they made a comment like that about anybody of any ethnic group. And I would hope that NBC ends up having that same attitude.”

“He didn’t just cross the line,” Obama said. “He fed into some of the worst stereotypes that my two young daughters are having to deal with today in America. The notions that as young African-American women — who I hope will be athletes — that that somehow makes them less beautiful or less important. It was a degrading comment. It’s one that I’m not interested in supporting.”

“What we’ve been seeing around this country is this constant ratcheting up of a coarsening of the culture that all of have to think about,” Obama said.

Obama continued, “Insults, humor that degrades women, humor that is based in racism and racial stereotypes isn’t fun.”

“And the notion that somehow it’s cute or amusing, or a useful diversion, I think, is something that all of us have to recognize is just not the case. We all have First Amendment rights. And I am a constitutional lawyer and strongly believe in free speech, but as a culture, we really have to do some soul-searching to think about what kind of toxic information are we feeding our kids,” he concluded.

Though every major presidential candidate has decried the racist remarks, Obama is the first one to say Imus should lose his job for them.¹

Therefore, the lack of reaction from Obama’s remarks suggest Americans have a set a rules for race, class and gender: If you touch them you will pay.

And another set of rules for individuals that have a mental or physical disability: If you touch them, it’s ok if you apologize. Oh, and by the way, it’s okay to laugh at the jokes that come at the expense of the latter.

Obama claimed he was going to have the world think ‘highly’ of America. Will this joke help?

For someone who spoke of equality as a creed. Does this joke match that philosophy?

For someone that said he would stand for all people. Does this stand up for those that participate in the Special Olympics?

The fact is Obama claimed a higher standard. He resides in an office that requires a higher standard. He resides in a country that demands a higher standard.

To much is given, much is required.

Dynnette Taylor

You ROCK Jordan! I couldn’t have said it any better myself. I am SICK TO DEATH of people telling the community of disabled Americans to “move on” or to “get over it”. This is one of the few remaining groups of people that the American public still think it is okay to ridicule and humiliate. This is the same mentality that the African Americans faced in the 60’s. IT’S PREJUDICE! It’s derogatory and flat out mean. It is a civil rights issue and I can’t WAIT till we march on Washington! And by the way, Sarah Palin has EVERY right to speak out since she is the mother of a child with special needs. It wouldn’t matter if she were Republican or Democrat, she is first and foremost a Mom. “There but for the grace of God go I.”

Eli Jikelele

@Dynnette: Get over yourself, Sarah Palin herself is a mother with special needs for her stupid and irresponsible political rantings. She can hardly be held up as a paragon of virtue for her self-seeking ways. She has done more to destroy this planet and her peoples than most modern day politicians and represents the worst “values” of Amercian big capital.

Yes, Obama made a joke in bad taste. I am sure he is sorry and apologised. Now, instead of taking to the streets why not do some good for the minority families with special needs kids in areas where you will get no publicity or special recognition?

JaniaJ

Presdient Obama made an honest mistake. The man is human and this just gave Sarah a chance to blow more smoke!!! He even apologized before the show aired. get over it already!!!! We all know what he meant! Tell Sarah to continue to kill animals while others have to go to jail for it!That was my chance to blow smoke!!!!!!

JaniaJ

Now let me explain what I mean’t by “Get Over it” I do mean Sarah Palin. She is no longer in the limelight and this is her chance. She needs to get over it. Yes there are people who are prejudice against hanidcapped people and that is WRONG!!! There is a huge difference in the difference between Presdient Obama’s comment and Don Imus. I can see if President Obama said something like the ” I am like the non walking retards in the special olympics”. DOn Imus said “nappy headed whores”. WTF!!! YES YES YES he should be punished if he said something like that but he didn’t say that. And everyone knows what he mean’t and those who are not a fan of President Obama this gives them a chance to soar!! He made a mistake and at least he apologized before hand. What about the people like the NY Post who have to be forced to apologize. Presdient Bush said so many things that I can’t count them all. Instead of being reactive be proactive and everyone should just be careful what they say. Everyone has said something, even handicapped people, that I bet are not to favorable. It doesn’t matter who you are people are human!

v.suresh

This page is useful for me,i known sarah palin’s shock atobama’s comment about special olymics.

SW

Sarah Palin’s shock?? Give me a break. Her relevancy is fading by the day. It’s like noting that my mailman was offended by the comment. Who cares?

EJ

Get over it.

Gretel Monster

Everyone is just sooooo PC it is disgusting. We should all be able to laugh with and laugh at anything and everyone. Good for the soul. When the televising of DWARF BOWLING and DWARF TOSSING was banned, we have been on a downward cycle ever since. OH yeah…it’s ok to laugh at fat white men. GET OVER IT!!!

thomas young

the facts are that days before Obama’s unfortunate remark on the Leno show the special needs olympics requested Sarah Palin for a video address which has been on youtube for the past several weeks. And Obama’s tasteless joke, very likely was a slip of the tongue, coming so soon after the Special Needs Olympics, Sarah Palin had to respond in a follow up statement which I find pretty mild. Maria Shriver also criticized Obama as well as her brother who is the president of the organization. Note also that the siblings’ mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the SNO.