Shameful: Obama’s bowling joke

Apparently President Obama’s message of hope does not extend to bowlers in the Special Olympics.

Despite being an Obama supporter (so far, at least) I posted on Twitter (@RobMeyerson) that I was “shocked/embarrassed” by Obama’s attempt at a joke. One of my coworkers, an avid Obama supporter, asked if I was serious. Yes I’m serious. And it really shouldn’t have anything to do with whether you’re a fan of Obama’s or not; it’s just a matter of taste—I don’t expect our nation’s leader to make jokes that are, to use another one of his favorite words, “divisive.”

Beyond the offensiveness, however, it’s just off-brand. Obama sold himself to us as an intelligent, sophisticated, empathetic grown up with amazing speaking skills and a decent sense of humor. I for one was looking forward to that “change” after eight years of Bush, not to mention the the more substantive policy changes that he built his platform on. But unfortunately—and not to beat it to death—this joke was neither grown-up nor funny.

Wouldn’t have been surprised if Biden had said it, though.

I’m also a little disappointed that the only apology that’s been issued (at least as far as I’ve heard) was a statement from the White House, as opposed to a public statement by Mr. Obama himself. My vote is that he invites some Special Olympic bowlers over to the White House lanes (it seems bowling really is one of the events in the Special Olympics), apologizes to them, and then they teach him how to pick up a 7-10 split. Now that’s diplomacy!