Maria Shriver: Obama Remark on Special Olympics Hurts Millions of People

President Barack Obama on last night’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno

The First Lady of California, Maria Shriver has called out President Barack Obama on his remarks regarding the Special Olympics.

Maria Shriver says President Barack Obama’s joke comparing his poor bowling score to that of a Special Olympics athlete was hurtful, although she is sure he didn’t mean it that way.

California’s first lady issued a statement Friday, a day after the president made the gaffe on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Obama later called Maria’s brother, Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver, to apologize.

The siblings’ mother, Eunice Kennedy-Shriver, founded the Special Olympics and has championed the rights of the mentally disabled.

Maria Shriver says the reaction to Obama’s joke shows there is still more work to do. She says laughing at such comments “hurts millions of people throughout the world.”

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s wife is offering some cover for President Obama. But, as I said before, the toohpaste is out of the tube.

This gaffe is now listed as Obama’s number one.

Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Special Olympics, Maria Shriver

10 Comments

Aneriz

March 20, 2009 at 3:18 pm

As a parent of a special needs child I could not believe my ears, no one works harder then a Special Olympian.
Shame on Mr. President! The mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart, no joke.

Jack

March 20, 2009 at 5:16 pm

Yes it was really out of line, but I still think he said it automatically with no thinking at all. It’s not OK for ordinary people, and for president it’s really huuuge mistake.

Sylvia

March 20, 2009 at 5:49 pm

First, I’m afraid Obama is showing a trend in his convictions–disrespect, or worse, for the unborn, the elderly, the mentally disabled. I’m afraid he might consider himself and his own as overly perfect. ‘Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaketh.’ Second, to all of those who are rushing either to condemn him or to excuse him–be equal in like cases. It won’t be long before someone else, poor soul, makes a gaffe–Don Imus did and the people behind the chimp cartoon did. (You can go back and read what Sen. Obama said about the Imus gaffe. Whew! Do you suppose he remembers his remarks?) If you brush this off, brush the other ‘misspeaks’ off, too. Third, I’m encouraged that many American people do care–about many facets of our life in this country, and about one another.

Aneriz

March 20, 2009 at 9:36 pm

Sorry Sylvia, that non-stance is what got Obama elected. I am not afraid to call it as I see it.

kym

March 21, 2009 at 11:39 am

without a tele-prompter to read from, did anyone expect otherwise??

Vast

March 22, 2009 at 11:06 am

It was a joke, people really need to get over it. There are more important things to deal with.

Flap

March 22, 2009 at 11:07 am

A joke?

How about a major insensitive, GAFFE.

RRM

March 25, 2009 at 5:16 am

Well I think its really sad when we start accepting that its okay for someon in is position to make a JOKE about some of the most special individuals we have in this great world. I think it was a mistake on his behalf, one he regrets but still very hurtful. I am the mother of a special needs child and it did hurt.

Tony Safina

March 26, 2009 at 10:38 am

On a different blog which addressed this topic I made comments about how Obama’s joke about a low bowling score was just a joke and nothing more. The comments which arrived after my comments made me realize my comments were just as thoughtless as his “joke.”

His “joke” seemed funny to me at the time, in part because I’m used to laughing at stuff I hear on Jay Leno’s show, but in larger part because I didn’t realize how hurtful it was to others. Initially I thought people were being excessively vocal only because they were probably sore loser McCain supporters, did not vote for Obama, would love to see President Palin in office more than anything, and would have gotten up in arms over anything they could find that they could make an issue over, …but I soon realized Obama was wrong and I was wrong for thinking nothing was wrong — none of my earlier thoughts had a nugget of truth in them — and I realized that rhyme we learned as kids is also wrong, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” If words weren’t hurtful there never would have been a need for that rhyme, am I wrong?

Joanna

April 3, 2009 at 4:42 pm

I think President Obama made a mistake, but a common one in our culture. True humor does not have to put anyone down. If you watched the whole interview, Obama was responding to Leno’s put down over a 129 bowling score. How many of us use self-depreciating humor to deflect embarrasment? (to laugh with…as opposed to being laughed at?????) We should thank President Obama and Leno for bringing the subject up! The FIRST step in changing anything is visibility….people with disabilities in the U.S.have BEEN INVISIBLE FOR TOO LONG!! People with disabilities deserve the same respect (valuing diverstiy) rights (Free,Appropiate,Public Education in their home community!, protections under the law.) and previledges (meaningful employment, equal access, accommodations to build a happy involved life, friends and a community) under the U.S. Constitution as any other person w/o a disability. PERIOD! If we can elect a Preeident of Afro-American decent, thank God, it is time to examine our attitudes, perceptions and actions towards our fellow citizens with disabilities.

Aneriz

March 20, 2009 at 3:18 pm

As a parent of a special needs child I could not believe my ears, no one works harder then a Special Olympian.
Shame on Mr. President! The mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart, no joke.
Jack

March 20, 2009 at 5:16 pm

Yes it was really out of line, but I still think he said it automatically with no thinking at all. It’s not OK for ordinary people, and for president it’s really huuuge mistake.
Sylvia

March 20, 2009 at 5:49 pm

First, I’m afraid Obama is showing a trend in his convictions–disrespect, or worse, for the unborn, the elderly, the mentally disabled. I’m afraid he might consider himself and his own as overly perfect. ‘Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaketh.’ Second, to all of those who are rushing either to condemn him or to excuse him–be equal in like cases. It won’t be long before someone else, poor soul, makes a gaffe–Don Imus did and the people behind the chimp cartoon did. (You can go back and read what Sen. Obama said about the Imus gaffe. Whew! Do you suppose he remembers his remarks?) If you brush this off, brush the other ‘misspeaks’ off, too. Third, I’m encouraged that many American people do care–about many facets of our life in this country, and about one another.
Aneriz

March 20, 2009 at 9:36 pm

Sorry Sylvia, that non-stance is what got Obama elected. I am not afraid to call it as I see it.
kym

March 21, 2009 at 11:39 am

without a tele-prompter to read from, did anyone expect otherwise??
Vast

March 22, 2009 at 11:06 am

It was a joke, people really need to get over it. There are more important things to deal with.
Flap

March 22, 2009 at 11:07 am

A joke?

How about a major insensitive, GAFFE.
RRM

March 25, 2009 at 5:16 am

Well I think its really sad when we start accepting that its okay for someon in is position to make a JOKE about some of the most special individuals we have in this great world. I think it was a mistake on his behalf, one he regrets but still very hurtful. I am the mother of a special needs child and it did hurt.
Tony Safina

March 26, 2009 at 10:38 am

On a different blog which addressed this topic I made comments about how Obama’s joke about a low bowling score was just a joke and nothing more. The comments which arrived after my comments made me realize my comments were just as thoughtless as his “joke.”

His “joke” seemed funny to me at the time, in part because I’m used to laughing at stuff I hear on Jay Leno’s show, but in larger part because I didn’t realize how hurtful it was to others. Initially I thought people were being excessively vocal only because they were probably sore loser McCain supporters, did not vote for Obama, would love to see President Palin in office more than anything, and would have gotten up in arms over anything they could find that they could make an issue over, …but I soon realized Obama was wrong and I was wrong for thinking nothing was wrong — none of my earlier thoughts had a nugget of truth in them — and I realized that rhyme we learned as kids is also wrong, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” If words weren’t hurtful there never would have been a need for that rhyme, am I wrong?
Joanna

April 3, 2009 at 4:42 pm

I think President Obama made a mistake, but a common one in our culture. True humor does not have to put anyone down. If you watched the whole interview, Obama was responding to Leno’s put down over a 129 bowling score. How many of us use self-depreciating humor to deflect embarrasment? (to laugh with…as opposed to being laughed at?????) We should thank President Obama and Leno for bringing the subject up! The FIRST step in changing anything is visibility….people with disabilities in the U.S.have BEEN INVISIBLE FOR TOO LONG!! People with disabilities deserve the same respect (valuing diverstiy) rights (Free,Appropiate,Public Education in their home community!, protections under the law.) and previledges (meaningful employment, equal access, accommodations to build a happy involved life, friends and a community) under the U.S. Constitution as any other person w/o a disability. PERIOD! If we can elect a Preeident of Afro-American decent, thank God, it is time to examine our attitudes, perceptions and actions towards our fellow citizens with disabilities.