Barack Obama red-faced after Special Olympics jibe on Leno Show -- UK Times

Times Online (UK) ^ | 3/21/2009

[GVnana]

It was all going so well as the President chatted to Jay Leno. Then he made a crack about the Special Olympics ...

It was billed as the first time that a sitting President of the United States had appeared as a guest on a late-night talk show. After Barack Obama’s performance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, there’s also a good chance that it was the last.

Granted, the President, as always, was charming. Granted, he lit up the studio with that Hollywood-grade smile. Yes, he explained the AIG crisis in clear, measured terms, and wisely backed away from a congressional attempt to impose a 90 per cent tax on unpopular bankers. (“I think that the best way to handle this is to make sure that you’ve closed the door before the horse gets out of the barn,” he said, calmly. “What happened here was that the money had already gone out, and people are scrambling to try to find ways to get back.” All in all, “Oboe One” reminded several million Americans why they voted for him.

[GVnana]

And then it happened. Mr Obama said: “It’s like – it was like the Special Olympics, or something.” And in the instant he said it, you could see a flash of realisation in his eyes: I’ve just mocked the disabled. On live TV.

[FlingWingFlyer]

It’s starting to appear as though that “late night appearance with Jay” wasn’t a very good idea. Time to throw somebody under the bus.

[ari-freedom]

now you know why he loves his teleprompter.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Check my new tag line!

[Semper Mark]

What a fitting cartoon!

Are the three holes fitted for George Soros?

[hsalaw]

now you know why he loves his teleprompter.

The TOTUS (Teleprompter of The United States).

[Paleo Conservative]

The red shows through, because Obama has thin skin.

[FlingWingFlyer]

I’ve just mocked the disabled. On live TV.

Yet another "historical" Obama moment.

[Atchafalaya]

TOTUS, Excellent. That might have legs, may I pass/use it, caveats? So so true, the minders won’t let him out of their control again.
A.

[Freedom56v2]

TOTUS, Excellent. That might have legs, may I pass/use it, caveats? So so true, the minders won’t let him out of their control again.
A.
Actually it is being used—there is even a blog posing as TOTUS—Rush is using the term as well :)

[EDINVA]

“On live TV.”

.. except that it was taped. Really surprised he didn’t have his people make the Leno producer delete that part.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

Even Leno, whom many suspect of being a Republican, appeared not to believe what he was hearing

Really? who thinks Leno is a Republican?

[Ticonderoga34]

The TOTUS Blog:

http://baracksteleprompter.blogspot.com/

[FlingWingFlyer]

Great point. If this story is true that he knew he screwed up when he said it, why wasn’t it removed? Hmmmmmm.

[ducdriver]

It looked like Leno tried to pass it over - he surely did not seem amused.

[Enterprise]

Hey Barack - don’t quit your day job. Oh wait - uh .......

[DieHard the Hunter]

I do believe the Honeymoon is officially over.