Posted on 03/20/2009 2:07:28 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
California First Lady Maria Shriver -- whose mother Eunice Shriver founded the Special Olympics -- has weighed in this morning on the furor surrounding President Obama's comments regarding the Special Olympics on the "Tonight" show.
Here's her statement:
"While I am confident that President Obama never intended to offend anyone, the response that his comments have caused, coupled with the reaction of a primetime audience, demonstrate the need to continue to educate the non-disabled community on the issues that confront those with a developmental disability. My mother has dedicated her life to fighting stereotypes and ridicule for this community, and there is still much work to be done."
"The President's apology for his comments and his commitment to bringing the Special Olympics to the White House are important first steps in shedding light on this important issue. Often times we don't realize that when we laugh at comments like this it hurts millions of people throughout the world. People with special needs are great athletes and productive citizens, and I look forward to working with the President to knock down myths and stereotypes about this community.''
Obama himself apologized to Tim Shriver, the chairman of the Special Olympics, for the gaffe made on the Leno show, which has prompted some of the organization's athletes also to comment.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Good ol’ Gutter Ball Obama ..
pi$$ing off liberals in less than 90 days.
Priceless!
In other words...forget it. BO didn’t mean anything by it.
No way.
I thought rush was just being silly today. I didn’t know obama actually said that.
Hey Maria! Where were you for Trigg Palin!!!
Imagine if Bush said this.
Oh, so that’s how they’re going to spin it. “Obama never intended to offend anyone”, meaning he did nothing wrong but it “demonstrate the need to continue to educate the non-disabled community” who are in the wrong.
So, Obama meant no harm, but the reaction of the audience, along with the country's response ARE THE PROBLEM??
Maria, you are AN IDIOT!
Re: “”While I am confident that President Obama never intended to offend anyone, the response that his comments have caused, coupled with the reaction of a primetime audience, demonstrate the need to continue to educate the non-disabled community on the issues that confront those with a developmental disability.”
I am sure that a lot of people who tell Negro jokes, Jewish jokes, Polish jokes, Irish jokes, and so on never intend to offend anybody either, but they are simply too stupid to figure out that the jokes are offensive.
Come to think of it, didn’t a Reagan staffer get into trouble over a remark about “two Jews, a woman, and a cripple?”
Trig Palin should be your poster child, Shriver.
If my memory recalls right, aRnie used to show up at the WH when George HW Bush was President.. not sure what their bowling averages were tho.. probably better than ZerObama’s.
If nothing else Maria confirms that a lot of ‘disabled’ education is in order... or it was a nice distraction from AIG.
Speaking of Al, I wonder what Don Imus thinks? Should the Usurper lose his job for callously uttering such a slur?
Earl Butz
“demonstrate the need to continue to educate the non-disabled community...”
Why indict the entire community? He’s the one that made the thoughtless comment.
Exactly! It's everyone else who is the problem, not the person who actually said it.
continue to educate the non-disabled community
How about educating the idiot you endorsed for President?!
Thanks for that AP thread re: Maria’s reaction!
Maria is not happy,, is directing her ‘scorn’ at those who laughed at Obama’s comments last night rather than Obama tripping all over himself.
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