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Barack Obama Apologizes for Joke Comparing His Poor Bowling to the Special Olympics; Invites Special Olympians to Bowl with Him

Posted: 3/20/2009 at 12:25 PM

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Barack Obama bowlingPresident Barack Obama, in an appearance on "the Tonight Show" with Jay Leno last night, angered disability advocates by comparing his lousy bowling score of 129 to competing in the Special Olympics.

 

One Special Olympian has something to say to Barack about bowling at the Special Olympics: "Game on!" Kolan Mconiughey of Ann Arbor, Michigan, an adult with a mental disability, has bowled numerous perfect games and says he'd easily beat Obama. As a matter of fact, even if Mconuighey stayed out of the game, Barack wouldn't be likely to place among the top competitors at the Special Olympics: The top three-game average in the 2003 games was 182, easily dwarfing Obama's score, which is below the average of 140-150 for able-bodied non-professional bowlers.

 

Widespread outrage in response to the President's remark prompted the White House to issue an apology through a spokesperson. In addition, Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver says that Barack Obama called him from Air Force One to apologize in person and invite Special Olympics athletes to the White House for a game of bowling or basketball. 

 

"He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population, certainly didn't want to embarrass or give anybody any more reason for pain or just suffering I would say," Shriver told Good Morning America. "He was very sincere, expressed an interest and an openness in being more engaged in the movement, and said he was a fan of the movement and I think importantly he said he was ready to have some of our athletes over to the White House to bowl or play basketball or help him improve his score."

 

Do you think Barack will follow through on his invitation? More importantly, is bowling a few frames with Special Olympians enough to make up for the insult to disabled athletes? Did the President's off-the-cuff remark offend you? Do you think this remark was simply a verbal gaffe, or does it hint at a deeper misunderstanding of the disability community? Leave a comment, or check out the thread discussing this incident in Disaboom Discussions.

 

Read More About Barack Obama and Disability

 

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  • Kara wrote on Mar 20, 2009 at 3:24 PM
    i agree that Obama made an insensitive and rude remark-but comparing his score to the Special Olympics was not a slander to all athletes with disabilities or all people with mental disabilities. I wasn't offended because (while I know he didn't intend to send this deeper message)...he was referencing the low scores/performances that often result from the Special Olympics. That's an unfortunate reality...NOT because people with mental disabilities aren't capable of being awesome athletes-they very much are! But because of the entire setup and running of the Special Olympics. Everyone is often awarded the same regardless of their performance and rules are flexible. It's not at all supportive of the athletes that work really hard and would like to excel to another level. I've always felt like the Special Olympics are much more beneficial to the volunteers that run them then the people they claim to serve. I know that's not a commonly held opinion-but it's mine:-) So in short, had Obama uttered the "R" word or said that's like the PARAlympics...THEN I'd have been offended. He still shouldn't have said it. I hope his interest in the "movement" is in the larger disability movement and not specifically the Special Olympics.
  • jer wrote on Mar 20, 2009 at 3:34 PM
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    Why is it that public figures have to speak a completely different language than everyone else? Who HASN'T ever made a joke about someone's ability in anything whom they know being on par with a special olympian? I mean come on get real. Is it a rule that people with disabilities also have to have such thin skin and such a lack of humor about their issues? You know, they say if you can't laugh at yourself, what CAN you laugh at? Do people seriously think that the President... The President of the United Freaking States... Actually meant any harm in the comment? Bottom line is that anyone hurt over this comment needs to pull their head out of their...Err, out of the mud and seriously lighten up.
  • macdoodle wrote on Mar 21, 2009 at 12:40 PM
    IT WASNT AN INSULT.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A WONDERFULLY CAPABLE extremely intelligent MAN BOWLS AS SOMEONE WIth physical disability, but not as bad as me - 57-.................... What it says to me is so your bad at one thing you can have one disability and still have other great Abilities........... I don't want to be protected! and coddled!, i want to be helped to be Able.................. I would suggest the at those who want to be protected to be disabeld, rather than encouraged and helped to be able are the ones who take offense.............. I want to know how do i get on his team?!!!............ And i want to concentrate on the important issues like denial of shelter and services the disabling reduction of medical care help and benefits in California.!!!!!!!................ Maria has nerve commenting on this at all when her husband is financially/ medically cutting many of us off at the knees.!!!!!!!!!!..........
  • Pao wrote on Mar 21, 2009 at 1:53 PM
    I stand by my comment that President Obama's remarks about Speciall Olympics and bowling was both not funny and very insensitive. He's a superb speaker and writer so as President of the US he should choose his words more carefully. Afterall, he does represent our country to the rest of the planet. Further tthis is my opinion. We all have them and they all differ. Differing opinions should be respected. Personal chides are hurtful, hateful and just plain out of line.
  • Don wrote on Mar 25, 2009 at 7:45 PM
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    Plain and simple he was trying to get a laugh at the expense of others beware he will stoop lower in an attempt to be cool, hip and funny what other President would stoop to do such a show? This guy will ruin our country and is well under way
  • Don wrote on Mar 26, 2009 at 2:28 AM
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    What most of you are missing is his lame attempt to be a jokester? Funnyman comedian? He is a punk period most do not realize he went to the most expensive prep school here in Hawaii so he can knock off the "Street" act for those of us who know better and he has nothing in common with people having lived a sheltered life?
  • rainey826 wrote on Mar 27, 2009 at 12:52 PM
    Our President was making fun of himself , nothing more . I have seen in the threads where many disababled have no problem with using term words like gimp , cripple or retarted when refering to their own disability , as sad as that is in my eyes .So why make a mountain out of a mole hill over what Obama said ~ he is sorry and i am sure it was a lesson learned . Again he was making fun of HIMSELF ONLY !
  • Rebecca wrote on Apr 2, 2009 at 4:56 AM
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    I have both a physical disability and a mental disability. I was not at all offended by his off-the-cuff remark. I often say off-the-cuff remarks, such as "I'm retarded when it comes to organizing my thoughts", meaning I am stunted in this area. There is a difference between poking fun at yourself and putting yourself down. I mean, I am so bad at sports I couldn't even make it to the Special Olympics! I think Obama made up for any hurt feelings by inviting Special Olympians to the White House. If you are this easily offended, I think it means you have not come to accept your disability. He wasn't stereotyping. He was relating.
  • macdoodle wrote on Apr 6, 2009 at 10:26 AM
    By Linda Matchan..... Globe Staff / February 15, 1990..........What seems to motivate Barack Obama is a strong identification with what he calls "the typical black experience," paired with a mission to help the black community and promote social justice. This is what fueled his unusual path, from childhood in Indonesia, where he grew up, he says, "as a street kid," to adolescence in Hawaii, where he was raised by his grandparents; to college in California and New York, where after graduating he wrote articles for Fortune 500 companies so he could see how the economic system works. He then had a job directing a community organization to advocate for poor blacks in Chicago, then moved on to Harvard Law School, where he hopes to learn more about "the nuts and bolts of how the system works" so he can return to public interest work or electoral politics. He says many of his friends were "street urchins," and it was here, on the outskirts of Jakarta, that he says he became aware of the implications and realities of poverty, of "the gaps between the have's and have-nots." Although his family was comfortable financially, "we couldn't afford the fancy American schools in Indonesia," Obama said. When he reached fifth grade, his mother, concerned that he would not get an adequate education in Indonesia, sent him to live with his grandparents in Hawaii.