Patterico's Pontifications

3/20/2009

Treacher on Obama’s Special Olympics Joke

Filed under: Humor — Patterico @ 7:09 am

Treacher has Obama’s other Tonight Show jokes.

These were coming up one at a time on Twitter last night. It was a sight to behold.

48 Comments

  1. Allright, you asked for it.

    Obama: Why is St. Patrick’s Day so much more popular than Martin Luther King Day?

    Teleprompter: Because people like the Irish.

    Comment by nk — 3/20/2009 @ 7:35 am

  2. How about this one:

    “Because Obama supporters actually have to go to work on St. Patrick’s Day.”

    Comment by JVW — 3/20/2009 @ 8:20 am


  3. Not to beat this one to death, but it appears that President Obama’s high bowling score of 129 wouldn’t get him a medal in the Special Olympics.
    According to a quick scan of Google results, one well-known Special Olympian, Loretta Claiborne, reportedly bowled a high of 178 in 1995. Rachel Register of Virginia bowled a 212 in 2006. Team Kentucky’s top bowler, Keith Cotrell, boasts a 150 average.


    From Politico.

    I had to laugh, I suggested that Obama comparing himself to Special Olympians was a put down to them not him.

    The facts speak for themselves.

    Comment by ML — 3/20/2009 @ 8:27 am

  4. Obama, the insult comic President dog.

    (I keed, I keed!)

    Comment by Official Internet Data Office — 3/20/2009 @ 8:54 am

  5. “Stop me if you’ve heard this one…….”

    Comment by Techie — 3/20/2009 @ 9:05 am

  6. Obama: Hey, man, it’s hard enough being black. Now I have to be a Pollack, too?

    Comment by nk — 3/20/2009 @ 9:12 am

  7. Treacher – You are a genius.

    Comment by JD — 3/20/2009 @ 9:15 am

  8. Not to beat this one to death, but it appears that President Obama’s high bowling score of 129 wouldn’t get him a medal in the Special Olympics.

    If Obama had made it clear that that was the point of his comment, then it would have been self-deprecating humor, and funny.

    I’d like to think that the man just has trouble telling jokes.

    Comment by LarryD — 3/20/2009 @ 9:54 am

  9. Treacher – You are a genius.

    Yeah, but looks aren’t everything! Wait, that one doesn’t work…

    Thank you, my friend.

    Comment by Jim Treacher — 3/20/2009 @ 10:02 am

  10. you’d think that with as ears as big as his he’d be able to tell what sounded insulting easier.

    Comment by redc1c4 — 3/20/2009 @ 10:03 am

  11. Need to check the commodities index….
    Those BIG tin-ears might be worth something.

    Comment by AD - RtR/OS — 3/20/2009 @ 10:07 am

  12. Obama’s explanation only confirms the reason we all thought it was a gaffe.

    Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters traveling with Obama that the president’s offhand remark was not meant to disparage the Special Olympics, only to poke some fun at the commander in chief’s bowling skills.

    Yes, Mr. President, we know you only intended to disparage your own bowling skills. The problem is that by using the Special Olypics to describe your lack of skills, you are in fact also pointing out the people competing in Special Olympics are different because of their lack of athletic skills.

    Thank you Mr. Sensitivity.

    Comment by Mike S — 3/20/2009 @ 10:11 am

  13. Nope, nothing funny about this Administration at all.

    Comment by Techie — 3/20/2009 @ 10:14 am

  14. Jim T .. you are so busted! loved em all.

    Comment by PatAZ — 3/20/2009 @ 10:20 am

  15. I had to laugh, I suggested that Obama comparing himself to Special Olympians was a put down to them not him.

    The facts speak for themselves.

    Comment by ML — 3/20/2009 @ 8:27 am

    I bet he could beat the special olympians in basketball.

    Comment by Ed from PA — 3/20/2009 @ 10:31 am

  16. this is the man who is the leader of our country? what a totally inane thing to say. you expect a certain amount of decorum from your leaders. i sit here in disbelief that a ’sitting’ president would make such an insensitive remark. will msm ever comment on his flippant and disrespectful attitude? i’m not holding my breath.

    Comment by ktr — 3/20/2009 @ 11:01 am

  17. The point of this whole thing is not what Obama said, as most people, even leaders, make mistakes in what they say. It is the reaction of the media that never fails to amaze. If George W. Bush had made such a statement it would have been used against him for weeks if not months and it would have been on the front page, above the fold on every newspaper of note, in the country. I can only imagine what the chimps at MSNBC would have howled. Olberwoman would have gone bonkers on such a gaffe. Bet we don’t here more than a peep. If there is mention, it will be quickly accompanied with the noted explaination that quickly came from the Administration. Example: Mission accomplished. What Bush meant and how it was construed.

    Comment by Zelsdorf Ragshaft III — 3/20/2009 @ 11:17 am

  18. Example: Mission accomplished. What Bush meant and how it was construed.

    Are you referring to what Bush meant when the banner was originally displayed, or later when it became apparent that it was severely inaccurate at best, and a disgusting political stunt at worst?

    Comment by Ed from PA — 3/20/2009 @ 11:30 am

  19. OIDO: Why yes, this is indeed an excellent Administration.

    …for me to poop on.

    Comment by PCachu — 3/20/2009 @ 11:37 am

  20. Obamateur Hour and Edpa’s undying defense of it. Mission Accomplished.

    Comment by daleyrocks — 3/20/2009 @ 11:45 am

  21. Allah, Give Palin a pass. I mean if you have had to go through six months of Andrew Sullivan obessing over your ueterus and “Trig trutherism” for blatently partisan purposes to help Obama get elected, you might be a bit sensitive too.

    And Jim, the jokes were awesome.

    Comment by Joe — 3/20/2009 @ 2:38 pm

  22. If anyone was offended by the remark he made about special olympics they need to re examine their own life or values. When is it going to stop. Is their nothing that can’t be taken lightly anymore. I dare anyone to make or repeat a blonde joke. Anybody that makes a big deal out of that remark needs to just get a life or something. Its just so ridiculus It is just someone suffering from a bad case of sour grapes.

    Comment by Deborah — 3/20/2009 @ 2:59 pm

  23. Deborah is a joke -right? I mean come on, one of you is messing with us.

    Comment by Have Blue — 3/20/2009 @ 3:02 pm

  24. Deborah Messing…good one, Blue.

    Comment by allan — 3/20/2009 @ 3:07 pm

  25. “…someone suffering from a bad case of sour grapes…”
    Typlical for a Starter-Wife!

    Comment by AD - RtR/OS — 3/20/2009 @ 3:09 pm

  26. “Typical”….lazy third finger.

    Comment by AD - RtR/OS — 3/20/2009 @ 3:10 pm

  27. Nice pick up allan but i have to admit I did not see that.

    Comment by Have Blue — 3/20/2009 @ 3:11 pm

  28. It is a cute aliteration, but the actress’ name is “Debra”.

    Comment by AD - RtR/OS — 3/20/2009 @ 3:14 pm

  29. Spoilsport.

    Comment by SPQR — 3/20/2009 @ 3:17 pm

  30. Deborah – None of us is is leader of the free world, Teh One that we have been waiting for, the TOTUS.

    Comment by JD — 3/20/2009 @ 3:19 pm

  31. Has everybody seen The Official Seal of the Teleprompter of the United States?

    Comment by nk — 3/20/2009 @ 3:20 pm

  32. If he was poking fun at his bowling skills why didn’t he say he bowled like a blind black man or a dumb camel humping Arab with three left hands and no fingers.
    He said exactly what he meant to say. They went after Sarah Palin during the campaign and used her handicapped child to do it. O’Dumbo’s socialist health care system will be designed to assure no handicap/defect makes it through birth alive. Democrats have no soul and all will burn in hell.

    Comment by Scrapiron — 3/20/2009 @ 4:18 pm

  33. For some of them, burning in Hell would be a step above what they deserve.

    Comment by AD - RtR/OS — 3/20/2009 @ 5:02 pm

  34. Ed from PA, What ever that ship’s mission was, it was accomplished. That is all the sign meant. I do not recall Bush going any further with it. I do, however remember the media running with the idea that the Iraq war was not over. The mission, as I recall was to remove Saddam from power. Admittedly it got complicated, however that mission was accomplished. Ed we should not try to rewrite historical fact by using what the media said about the incident for as you may have noticed by now, they are a wee bit bias.

    Comment by Zelsdorf Ragshaft III — 3/20/2009 @ 8:57 pm

  35. ZRIII, you are wasting your time. History = things that actually happened. Ed isn’t big on those. Better to teach your goldfish to whistle.

    Comment by carlitos — 3/20/2009 @ 9:28 pm

  36. Jim,

    You have a dark sickness in your soul… but it’s so damned funny that I can’t help but laugh.

    I love you, man! *sniff*

    Comment by TheNewGuy — 3/21/2009 @ 12:58 am

  37. “Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters traveling with Obama that the president’s offhand remark was not meant to disparage the Special Olympics, only to poke some fun at the commander in chief’s bowling skills.”

    Was Burton scratching the side of his face when he said this?

    Comment by davod — 3/21/2009 @ 3:42 am

  38. I did not watch the show – Were the jokes listed on Treacher’s site really used by Obama on the show?

    Comment by davod — 3/21/2009 @ 3:45 am

  39. Re 38:

    Sorry for wasting your time. I looked up the transcript.

    Comment by davod — 3/21/2009 @ 3:59 am

  40. #15 Comment by Ed from PA — 3/20/2009 @ 10:31 am

    I bet he could beat the special olympians in basketball.

    I bet he’d lose to one in chess.

    Comment by Pons Asinorum — 3/21/2009 @ 11:01 am

  41. Some Special Olympics bowlers laughed, when they heard what Obama said because they bowl considerably higher than 129. They weren’t the least bit offended. It’s obvious Obama was joking about his own bowling skills.

    Now all those who feel strongly about this issue should donate to the Special Olympics. Otherwise you are lack character.

    As Arnold Schwarzeneggar pointed out on Meet the Press Obama has been an advocate of Special Olympics, and disabled for years. He spent disabled veteran Tammy Duckworth, assistant secretary of Veteran Affairs.

    Comment by Mr. Unite Us — 3/23/2009 @ 2:17 am

  42. Otherwise you are lack character.

    Chicken-givers

    Comment by JD — 3/23/2009 @ 6:30 am

  43. How does one spend a disabled veteran?

    Comment by JD — 3/23/2009 @ 6:31 am

  44. Careful analysis, as always

    Comment by timb — 3/23/2009 @ 6:53 am

  45. JD – If he didn’t spend her on a donation to the Special Olympics, he lacks character.

    Comment by carlitos — 3/23/2009 @ 7:06 am

  46. Mr Unite Us – Thank you for the well-reasoned well-written comment. I appreciate your fresh perspective. I also await the post-partisan post-racial President to start acting like his rhetoric, you know, to do something all hopey and unitey.

    Comment by JD — 3/23/2009 @ 7:08 am

  47. Obama has been an advocate of Special Olympics, and disabled for years.

    I am thinking that this one is not a native English speaker. If one diagrams that sentence…

    Comment by carlitos — 3/23/2009 @ 7:34 am

  48. Why does Mr Unite Us think Barcky is disabled?

    Comment by JD — 3/23/2009 @ 7:43 am

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