Comments on: President Obama Does ‘The Tonight Show’

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:48:01 +0000

I also did NOT appreciate his joke. not one bit. I agree with everything you said about it, trent :)

By: MaryJane

MaryJane — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:20:10 +0000

It’s amazing how Miley Cyrus was crucified for her slant eyes picture on this website, but Obama get’s a simple little paragraph and the following: “Moving on, I thought the whole appearance (absent the insensitive joke) was pretty great tho.”

Yeah, really awesome.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:07:07 +0000

So strange, I thought you would be more supported then critisized for your comments Trent! I guess I was under the impression that the youth of our generation were getting smarter and better educated, after what I see here as comments on your blog, I am not as hopeful.

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:03:43 +0000

I’m sorry, but as the PRESIDENT he needs to be a lot more aware of what he is saying. I cannot believe that he would make such an insensitive joke. Additionally, it would be nice if he himself had stepped up to admit his error and APOLOGIZE instead of channeling a half-assed explanation through an intermediary. That’s just ridiculous.

By: l

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:10:14 +0000

i’m glad that this whole thing has given way to this discussion. it seems like the subject of people with (all kinds of) disabilities goes generally unacknowledged.

listen, it’s true that the president is human and makes slips just like the rest of us. he apologized for it, and that’s great. but the issue for me is isn’t really whether or not obama is still a pretty great guy (i think he is), it’s about acknowledging the power of language.

lately people have been really questioning the use of the word “gay” as an insult. i know tons of people who would never use the word in that context, yet constanty use the word “retarded” without questioning it. i know it’s cool to be ironic and everything, but to me the word is just as hateful and hurtful as any other slur, regardless of context. the general difference, i think, is that most people know people who are gay, but not who have disabilities. but just because people aren’t in the room, or you think they’re not coherent enough to defend themselves, doesn’t make your language any less derogatory.

i know that everyone loves to slam political correctness (which is really just a plea for sensitivity) and become overly precious about their “right” to tell a joke, but i just wish people would realize how much offhand jokes and comments actually impact our culture, and whether they mean to or not, imply that certain people are “normal” and others are not.

By: zzozo

zzozo — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:22:47 +0000

you need to stop expecting everybody to be so god damn politically correct
i get that hes the pres and he should have worded his phrase better but its not just this post
you need to stop expecting the whole world to act like robots

By: sara

sara — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:14:37 +0000

http://www.r-word.org

By: mike

mike — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:49:30 +0000

omigosshh I don’t think I would have even given the comment a second glance if it wasn’t for all the hoopla that has been created by it. sooooo glad I don’t live amongst all this..!

By: Barb Lamont

Barb Lamont — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:17:14 +0000

Remeber Don Imus’ Comment?

Obama said: “He fed into some of the worst stereotypes that my two young daughters are having to deal with today in America. The notions that as young African-American women — who I hope will be athletes — that that somehow makes them less beautiful or less important. It was a degrading comment. It’s one that I’m not interested in supporting.”

Therefore, laughter and the lack of reaction from Obama’s remarks suggest Americans have a set a rules for race, class and gender: If you touch them you will pay.

And another set of rules for individuals that have a mental or physical disability: If you touch them, it’s ok if you apologize. Oh, and by the way, it’s okay to laugh at the jokes that come at the expense of the latter.

It is just cruel.

http://tinyurl.com/cgpymq

By: lauren

lauren — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:31:26 +0000

I don’t know, I think he realized that he fucked up and apologized right away, and the Special Olympics accepted his apology… so it’s all good in my book. We have a president who’s smart, passionate, and concerned about the little people… so one or two dumb things out of his mouth won’t break my heart.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:23:30 +0000

at least he didnt pretend to be politically correct.

By: panda

panda — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 10:50:56 +0000

i think the joke is made of a big deal than it really is. ppl shld just lighten up a lil bit

By: LM

LM — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 05:47:56 +0000

@Trent:
That’s one of the many reason I love ya and your site!!

By: tyler

tyler — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 05:14:47 +0000

self-righteousness is a beautiful thing.

By: ezzyc

ezzyc — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 04:50:28 +0000

awww give barack a break. it’s enough that he has to take up the pressure of shoring up the troubled economy, now he has to watch every single thing he says? even in his apology?

i’d say i agree with you, trent, when you say that it’s gaffes like this that make him seem more like a regular guy.

By: robin

robin — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 04:26:36 +0000

you can be easily offended and have your panties in a wad your whole life and it won’t change people or make a difference…WHO EFFING CARES?

By: jay

jay — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:09:38 +0000

During the campaign for the White House in 2008, the media criticized Palin for being ‘common,’ and ‘not presidential.’ However, compare Sarah Palins attitude in this video created three weeks ago for the Special Olympics in Boise, Idaho.

You decide the more ‘presidential’ among them.

http://tinyurl.com/ccz6nj

By: mmaagg

mmaagg — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 02:31:03 +0000

@christine: What do you think most of the people in this nation watch more, Leno and ESPN or CSPAN? It’s nice that he’s being visible to the people of this country that lazily choose ignorance.

The ‘outrage’ over his comment is pathetic. THIS is what people have issues with these days!?! Clearly, these people don’t know what’s actually happening in the world today.

By: jenny

jenny — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 02:14:24 +0000

Oh, and my best friend’s brother is severely autistic and partially mentally retarded, and I still make the ‘tard jokes- just not around here. Common courtesy.
Like I said, it’s one thing to make the joke to his friends without cameras, he made a mistake saying it on TV- just shows he’s human.

By: jenny

jenny — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 02:12:49 +0000

Well, call me different but I laughed. I hate how PC our country has become. We can’t say ANYTHING or do ANYTHING without some group being offended.
I don’t get offended by jokes that degrade women, I find them just as funny as anyone else.

Should he have said it on national tv? nope, definitely not, but it’s nothing to freak out over. Human error, and a funny one at that. At least he has a sense of humor, and can form full sentences unlike GWB

By: smp

smp — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:32:53 +0000

Trent, I just have to say thank you. As a conservative republican who reads your site regularly, I am glad to see the even-handedness of your statement regarding obama’s insensitive comment. You never accept stupid comments or actions like that from anyone, whether it be Mel Gibson, Miley Cyrus, Obama, or any other public figure, even Republicans. I don’t care what party or race or sex, if you make a stupid offensive comment, you need to appropriately make amends. Just my opinion…

By: Jess

Jess — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:30:31 +0000

I just watched the Interview…I think Barack was fantastic, he was so human and real in the interview…cracking jokes just like anyone else. I didn’t take offense to his comment, and I have family members with disabilities…He definitely could have said something ignorant, but he didn’t. At least, unlike others, he did not say “retarded.”

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:56:16 +0000

An insensitive bad joke it was. I accept the president’s aplogy and am sure we will see something positive come from the administration about people with disabilities. At least he didn’t cut or is rejecting money for special education like the governor from Alaska. Also I appreciate a president who doesn’t live in a bubble and finds new ways to communicate with Americans.

By: tatiana

tatiana — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:43:47 +0000

I think it was a honest mistake on the presidents part, and I don’t believe he thinks ill of the mentally handicap. I think we as a society need to be more sensitive towards these type of topics, but to be honest with you, Im just so sick of the media blowing one small thing out of portion. As soon as I heard about this I did an internal sigh because I knew the Republicans were going to have a field day, and Barack would have his character assassinated because of his slip of the tongue. Does this make him a horrible person? I really don’t think so. Should he change his way of thinking. Yes, and would say the same thing if that loser George Bush said it. My best friends daughter is mentally handicap, and believe me, shes hardly offended because Barack made a joke about the Special Olympics. She has bigger fish to fry. Lets move on.

By: laura

laura — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:33:34 +0000

I think what you said what spot on Trent. And thank you for saying it.