You are SO right! I thought it was a ridiculous comment!
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My cousin has down syndrome and I grew up watching some of the Special Olympics.
So…YES WE CAN!!!
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Jenny on March 25th, 2009 at 12:08 am #
I totally agree with you. I am disgusted with him on all levels really.
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Nicole on March 25th, 2009 at 12:22 am #
Heather on March 25th, 2009 at 12:30 am #
I could not have said that better.
Daily Obama proves himself to be an embarrassment to our country and I cannot figure out how he even got into office. Or how his ego even fits in the White House. I guess they will have to build on an addition to house his superiority complex.
I’m not bitter or anything….lol.
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Lori on March 25th, 2009 at 1:16 am #
I’m with you, girl. This is a wonderfully well-written post.
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Wendy on March 25th, 2009 at 2:16 am #
What the…?! I don’t even have words…
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Agreed. What else can I say?
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Tracey on March 25th, 2009 at 6:26 am #
Lori on March 25th, 2009 at 7:36 am #
What a wonderfully written post! Thank you!
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Erin on March 25th, 2009 at 8:38 am #
I know that we are often at separate ends politically, but this is one thing where I stand right with you. As a teacher, I’m constantly on top of my students for not using the r-word, so to see the President make a comment like that just killed me and set back what I try to undo EVERY SINGLE day.
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I agree, no public outcry. I couldn’t believe he actually said that when I heard about it a few days ago and not one comment in the “mainstream” media.
I stand with you on this.
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Jeff on March 25th, 2009 at 8:47 am #
You already know that I agree completely! Awesome post.
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Susan on March 25th, 2009 at 8:56 am #
I absolutely agree with you. I was outraged about that comment and firmly believe that there appears to have been no public outcry because the mainstream media refuses to point out our president’s flaws, shortcomings and mistakes. You know that if Bush has made such a comment the press would have had a field day condemning him.
This was a well written post and I only wish it could be published in a newspaper or somewhere with more exposure.
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d on March 25th, 2009 at 9:29 am #
Well said! Its interesting how the media made a point of saying he’d apologized and the president of the Special Olympics accepted his apology… I guess that made it okay. I’m glad he apologized but I wish he’d been held a little more accountable.
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Susanne on March 25th, 2009 at 9:46 am #
If Bush had made the exact same quote he would have been burned in effigy.
I so wish we had run Sarah Palin.
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Wow! That was a powerful and amazingly true post! You go girl! I am on my way now to retweet this post and I will blog about it, too!
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Amy on March 25th, 2009 at 10:20 am #
Great post. I have a brother with developmental disabilities; because of this, I’ve never been given the option to even meet him. Our dad was ashamed when he was born (he’s around 15 years older than I am), so he disowned him. My older sisters told me about him when I was about 12 and I was shocked, as you can imagine–the fact that my own dad could do that to his own son just floored me. He regrets it now; I’ve seen him writing my brother’s birthday on the calendar and hiding it. But I’ve only ever heard good things about my brother. I hear he’s a great human being, one worth looking up to–despite his disability.
I’m quite disgusted by Obama’s comments, whether he apologized or not. Apologies don’t take back the damage that’s already been done. The fact that the idea of joking about the Special Olympics was even in his head is what truly disgusts me.
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Great post, Darcie.
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Tracey on March 25th, 2009 at 12:12 pm #
Darcie…look at my last post again…the last picture shows the black leather jacket we already had for him! ;-)
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Kelly on March 25th, 2009 at 12:39 pm #
I like you Darcie. I like the way you think and feel. Thanks for putting it out there.
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misty on March 25th, 2009 at 12:44 pm #
great post… Although I saw the weight in what he said, more disturbing to me is that he is more consumed with being popular and celebrity like that he loses regard completely.
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Karen on March 25th, 2009 at 12:58 pm #
Krystyn on March 25th, 2009 at 1:30 pm #
Amen. What a great post and so well written.
I think you should send this to The White House. And, I’m not joking.
I agree, Bush would have been slammed by every media outlet. But, instead, it was just a little blip…and I totally agree with what Misty said. Why is this a popularity contest now?
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nancy on March 25th, 2009 at 2:27 pm #
Can you imagine the pressure of being in this man’s shoes? He has apologized. Is there forgiveness? How often have I unintentionally said something hurtful or cruel. Luckily, I am not ever on television. After apologizing, I am so grateful for the forgiveness of those around me. His mistake has drawn attention to your pain and concerns and hopefully many will learn from it. We’re all just trying here.
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Darcie on March 25th, 2009 at 2:52 pm #
Nancy: of course there can be forgiveness. But that doesn’t change the fact that a man who has been given GREAT responsibility used his “fame” in a manner that was very disparaging to a group of people who do not deserve to be mocked for their disabilities. He did a shameful thing, a thing that, in my opinion would better be made up for with actions than words. I hope that in the weeks and months to come Mr. Obama will go to great lengths to make up for the comment he made. An ideal first step would be to speak up for the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign.
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Great post. When will our world learn?
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what an excellent- well thought out- post. It’s dissapointing when men and women in power don’t hold to the honor and virtue that this great country was founded on.
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[...] fed up with what’s going on in Washington (and the media – don’t even get me started on Obama’s Special Olympics “joke”) that I haven’t the energy to write about [...]
me on March 25th, 2009 at 10:41 pm #
Awsome, eloquent post!
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Heather on March 25th, 2009 at 10:43 pm #
Wow. I need to watch the news more often.
That is just appalling. And sickening. And somehow…not surprising. The man is dead in the water without a teleprompter. Always. He’s completely incapable of spontaneous speech without putting his foot in his mouth. (Seems like I remember another recent President being ceaselessly mocked for a trait like that…)
You know that I agree with you, of course. And the apology and the forgiveness thing…of course, there is always forgiveness from God for those who seek it. But in society, not so much. If someone ‘accidentally made a mistake’ and said that other word Darcie referred to, would we be rushing to forgive? I bet Michael Richards can tell you about the outpouring of love and support he’s been receiving. His apology didn’t seem to mean much…so WHY is this different exactly?
Attacking anyone for the state of their existence is disgusting, and doing so to those who are completely defenseless is even more so. Shame on him. Shame.
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I cannot believe he said that. I know he apologized but he should go WAY further to make up for that — totally inappropriate!!
Great post and reminder. My roommate in college was a special ed major and I remember learning the hard way how often i used the r word — I’m so glad she broke me of that habit – I didnt even think about how what I was saying was inappropriate and completely disrespectful.
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debbie wilson on March 26th, 2009 at 12:44 am #
I watch Fox News and there was an outcry on that station, I can tell you!
It seems the “popular” news channels love anything this man does or says, but Fox tells the truth and they blasted him for his insensitivity, as well they should. As well we all should. And we can. Yes We Can!
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Great post, Darcie!
What amazes me is the way that people who were so quick to jump on the Bush bandwagon for every.little.comment.he.made, find it heartwarming and endearing that Oblahma apologized for his mistake.
If this had been McCain or Palin, the news media would still be talking about it next year.
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sally on March 26th, 2009 at 11:15 am #
it was an inappropriate remark for sure, but in watching it – it didnt seem malicious or said in hatred.
And let us all stop for a moment and examine our own lives…..I cannot imagine that no one on this blog has never, ever, ever used that word in their lives so far. Treat others as we wish to be treated (in all situations) …..I believe that was one of the most important teachings of our Lord.
Hopefully he has learned from this mistake and will become a more sensitive and concerned person as a result.
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melanie on March 26th, 2009 at 1:25 pm #
Sally, would that same word apply if Jay Leno had accidentally dropped the N Bomb in reference to Obama? Absolutely not. His CAREER would END in that moment.
But when it’s the most powerful man in the world v. what Jesus would call the “least” of these, a simple apology gets him off the hook. And believe me, he’s off the hook. Our liberal media will make sure of it.
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Jeff on March 27th, 2009 at 12:22 pm #
The phrase ‘nappy headed’ cost Don Imus his job. And he was just a radio talk show host. Why do we have higher standards for a radio dj than the president of our country? Or is it just that certain groups in society are OK to disrespect and others are not? What happened to the fight for equality?
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Absolutely, 100% spot on. Thanks for having the courage to “speak up” and write this post.
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Carrie on April 4th, 2009 at 4:05 pm #
YES WE CAN. And our family does. I was also outraged, and I think a good portion of the country was, but of course the media largely dismissed the incident, since they love Obama. I heard Rush Limbaugh talk about it on his talk show, and a lot of his listeners were offended.
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