President Obama makes a Special Olympics joke - staffer apologizes
Members of the White House Press Corps watch from a holding room inside NBC Studios while President Barack Obama appears on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno in Burbank, Calif.
GERALD HERBERT/AP
There was plenty of talk about the risks of President Obama appearing on the Tonight Show. One simple mistake could dominate the conversation the next morning.
Skip to next paragraphRecent posts
-
12.29.11
As Iowa's Kent Sorenson jumps to Ron Paul ship, rat analogies abound -
12.27.11
Could Romney 'train' be derailed by Gingrich? Perry? Someone new? -
12.26.11
Virginia primary: Was it so hard for Perry and Gingrich to get on the ballot? -
12.26.11
Donald Trump as third-party candidate: Will he woo Americans Elect? -
12.22.11
Ron Paul: why racist newsletter flap could hurt him in Iowa
Subscribe Today to the Monitor
The last thing President Obama needed was a gaffe.
He made one.
Special Olympics
In a lighthearted conversation, President Obama told Jay Leno that he recently bowled a 129 at the White House bowling alley.
"Very good," Leno said sarcastically.
“It was like Special Olympics or something,” Obama replied.
Realizing the potential magnitude of the mistake, the White House addressed the president's remark to reporters aboard Air Force One.
"The President made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics," Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters. "He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world."
To read more about Obama's appearance on the Tonight Show, click here.
------
These comments are not screened before publication. Constructive debate about the above story is welcome, but personal attacks are not. Please do not post comments that are commercial in nature or that violate any copyright[s]. Comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence will be removed. If you find a comment offensive, you may flag it.