Can This Be The Beginning of More Understanding?

I'm not at all an Obama fan however, I really don't see the big deal about his joke. Like the person above me said, he was making fun of himself. I was more upset about his saying we have to get back to no earmark bills. And about how he praised Geithner who didn't pay his own taxes until he got caught. And, about how he acted mad about the AIG bonuses when he signed the bill protecting them in the first place.

To be honest, the president didn't do anything wrong. He didn't make a joke about the special olympics.. he made a joke about himself. He was making fun of himself. I'm not a fan of Obama, but this is getting so ridiculous. He was saying that he bowled like he was handicapped... that is all he was saying. It's not like he had intended to insult disabled people. Some here on mylot are actually saying he said he bowled like a retarded person. He didn't say that at all.. it's getting out of hand everyone saying what he said, or what he meant when he said it. He didn't mean anything.. it was just making fun of himself. He called himself a mongrel too.. is anyone of bi-racial background getting upset about that? I haven't heard the bi-racial community getting up in arms saying he is calling them mongrels.

I don't think inappropriate jokes are ever okay, however, not every joke is inappropriate either. Jokes target someone or some group and that is what makes it funny. We must have a sense of humor about ourselves as long as the joke isn't downright tasteless and I have heard very bad jokes in which I was embarassed for the person telling it. I didn't see Obama's faux paux so I can't comment on the actual event, but sometimes I have to wonder if we take the humor out of life, what's next? I am a blond but I can still laugh at blond jokes because they are funny. I don't take it personal or seriouly.

I understand what you are saying about such remarks. However, I think that by becoming part of our "entertainment" by being on Jay Leno, our President is only going to make many other such blunders. It's not the forum for a President. When he retires, maybe. I don't want an entertainer for my President. If he was a candidate, that would be one thing. But setting aside time from his Presidential schedule to become just another celebrity on Late night TV is lowering what little respect we have for the Presidential office. Is he a "famous" person with paparazzi? Or is he a public servant? We need to dedide. So does he. No one really wants to hang out with the boss and be buddies. And the boss doesn't really want to do that either. When it happens in an office setting, the roles and boundaries become blurry. This situation seems similar to me. But I agree. We shouldn't call to everyone to resign when they put their foot in their mouth. It's ironic that we want them to be human but not really just like us.