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|NEXT STORY »

Prez Trips Up With Special Olympics Gaffe

Major flak expected for Tonight Show quip on his clutzy bowling

By Rob Quinn| Posted Mar 20, 09 2:34 AM CDT|

(Newser) – President Obama is expected to be zinged by critics today after a quip he made about his bad bowling and the Special Olympics during the taping of yesterday's Tonight Show appearance, ABC News reports. "I scored a 129," the president said when Jay Leno asked him if the White House bowling alley was getting any use. "I know, it sounds like the Special Olympics."

"The president made an off-hand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics," said White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton. "He thinks the Special Olympics is a wonderful program that gives an opportunity for people with disabilities from around the world."

[Images (4)]

[Videos (2)]

Barack Obama bowls at Pleasant Valley Recreation Center in Altoona, Pa., last year. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

'I imagine the bowling alley has been just burned and closed down,' Jay Leno quipped to President Obama. (PRNewsFoto/Strike Ten)

Barack Obama shakes hands after bowling at Pleasant Valley Recreation Center in Altoona, Pa., a year ago. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Barack Obama talks to Jay Leno yesterday during a 'Tonight Show' taping. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Keith Olbermann reports on President Obama's Special Olympics gaffe on the "Tonight Show." (asdf11x)

Other highlights from President Obama's "Tonight Show" appearance. (msnbc)

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26 comments

VIEWING:

Jojo
Mar 20, 09 3:06 AM CDT

Prepare for a formal statement from the Special Olympics committee today demanding an apology and expressing their outrage becaues God forbid you say the wrong words, it's a national crisis ya know... Soon as I saw him say it, I said "this will be all over the web in a couple of hours" and it's already everywhere. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Ryan
Mar 20, 09 3:42 AM CDT

Sure why not? let's give him a pass it sure is fun to make a joke of those who can't help it. I guess to Barry it just comes naturally, this is exactly what happens when you take away his teleprompter. Let's be honest there exists a double standard with this administration and the media. I highly doubt they will sell any obamisims books anytime soon.

IN RESPONSE:

Forderon
Mar 20, 09 10:07 AM CDT

Ryan, shouldn't you be off running up your Newser points or something? Go refresh your browser 1000 times.

| 0 minutes ago

oldgoat
Mar 20, 09 3:38 AM CDT

What is the fuss about? Yes his bowling was bad and he was trying to laugh at himself. Many people can't bring themselves to admit that they didn't do very good at something and instead blame someone or something. Maybe using the special olympics wasn't the greatest but I don't think that it was meant in a mean manner. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Collusive
Mar 21, 09 8:05 AM CDT

Maybe when your child is mentally handicapped you'll reconsider...

IN RESPONSE:

Lula
Mar 21, 09 10:03 AM CDT

Oldgoat, I totatally agree, this has been taken out of contents. It was not meant to be mean, he was only joking about his bowling. Get a life people.

| 0 minutes ago

riffran
Mar 20, 09 3:50 AM CDT

uh......oops......probably not meant to be insulting, except to himself, in regards to his bowling ability, or self perceived lack there of but uh........oops Reply

| 0 minutes ago

cornelison
Mar 20, 09 4:50 AM CDT

There will be an apology, no doubt. But what does this tell you? Millions of people were watching Leno and listening to The President's every word!! Those who miss it will now play the interview on their computers. That's exactly what the current administration was hoping for. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Rob
Mar 20, 09 6:14 AM CDT

Another example of giving him a pass with not even a bit of hesitation to accept from the left. These are the things that force me to keep my distance from the left. And yes, screamers, same thing from the right. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

BackAgain
Mar 20, 09 7:33 AM CDT

Can you image the hate flames had Bush said anything remotely like this? Always a double standard with the Messiah. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

jaguarj
Mar 20, 09 8:38 AM CDT

Bush had enough of his own faux pas'....like everytime he opened his mouth...

IN RESPONSE:

Rob
Mar 20, 09 9:46 AM CDT

Yes, jaguar, and Bush was crucified for every one. Obama has had his share as well, and always gets a pass. "I've visited all 58 states." Oh yeah? What country do you live in?

IN RESPONSE:

JonmarkP
Mar 20, 09 7:43 PM CDT

Bush would not know there is such a thing as the Special Olympics. If he had, he would have mocked them, not said he was one of them.

| 0 minutes ago

sache
Mar 20, 09 8:21 AM CDT

Give it a rest. This country has a lot of pressing problems and this is not one of them. clroger , i did not know Obama was the Messiah to you. I notice the extreme right have a habit of addressing Obama as such.He is my President not my Messiah. What is the problem with you right wingers? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

stw111
Mar 20, 09 8:55 AM CDT

The "problem?" .....they lost....

IN RESPONSE:

Rob
Mar 20, 09 9:49 AM CDT

Hey, sache, even the left wingers compared Obama to Jesus, who is, by a coincidence, “The Messiah” so everyone, left and right, has said it only not with the same inflection. As for you, stw, as long as it remains "they lost" then "we all" lost. Smarten up, for Christ’s sake!

| 0 minutes ago

jaguarj
Mar 20, 09 11:00 AM CDT

For Christ's sake....get a life..or a job!!!! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

northeast
Mar 20, 09 12:23 PM CDT

Whoa, what's he trying to do? Take Biden's job away?! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

SPH
Mar 20, 09 2:16 PM CDT

After working for many years as a Special O bowling coach ( I live in Wisconsin after all), I can say that the participants knew the were weak bowlers. I, as coach tried to improve their technique and form....I can say with certainty that all involved. athletes, coaches, and even bowling center employees had a great time and learned valuable lessons....Far more then bowling.... Reply

| 0 minutes ago

riffran
Mar 20, 09 7:23 PM CDT

but there is no bias in the media or preference to hang one and let the other pass ......and Elvis lives next door to Jimmie Hoffa down the block Reply

| 0 minutes ago

United_States_of_Entertainment
Mar 20, 09 11:15 PM CDT

Obama is a douche. Ofcourse he'll get away with this. He gets away with talking alot of shit and it's getting old. Idiots should've voted for RON PAUL. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

jaguarj
Mar 21, 09 7:24 AM CDT

USofE..yeh and THE BUSH got away with plenty of shit for 8 years and it got VERY OLD...and you being the idiot...did you vote for Ron Paul?

IN RESPONSE:

Lula
Mar 21, 09 10:08 AM CDT

Maybe a idiot like you voted for Ron Paul. But not all of us.

| 0 minutes ago

kokuaguy
Mar 21, 09 12:13 AM CDT

One American president’s thoughtless verbal miscalculation undoubtedly cost lives and may have prolonged a war; it took years for the POTUS to acknowledge the consequences of his “bring it on” taunt hurled at terrorist enemies in the heat of a deadly war. The latest example of conversational fallibility by a Commander-in-Chief no doubt disappointed millions and genuinely wounded the sensibilities of some (I doubt Governor Palin was among them.) Obama’s gaffe was followed by an immediate and unqualified public apology, and seems likely to result in a number of beneficial, if unintended, consequences. So far as I am aware, no grieving family or mother, and certainly not Cindy Sheehan, has received a similar act of civility and compassion from Bush. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Lula
Mar 21, 09 10:11 AM CDT

Kokuaguy, you are correct. I have never received ONE word from the war monger Bush.

| 0 minutes ago

whtmountain
Mar 21, 09 9:34 AM CDT

It was Jay Leno-it was a joke - he was making fun of himself - let it go.........If nothing else, he is simply saying I can identify - there are clutzes in America that couldn't win at Special Olympics - I happen to be one of them. While I realize it was not in the best taste - it would seem that we should allow our president to be human. He has a 24/7 job - but it WAS Jay Leno - get a grip!! The people who do not like President Obama will jump on anything and ride it until the wheels fall off! It's amazing. .. just amazing - the whole media has turned into the National Enquirer - you take peoples worst moments and make headlines with it, you shame everyone all day long - this gets a little old. God bless Walter Cronkite where ever you are! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 26 comments »

Barack Obama • Jay Leno • late night talk show • Tonight Show • gaffe • Special Olympics • President Obama

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Prez Trips Up With Special Olympics Gaffe