Bowling A Perfect Scorn

I left this comment on the Wall Street Journal's website in response to what seemed a rather dismissive editorial about Mr. Obama's "Special Olympics" gaffe:

It is self-evident that any president needs to safeguard the images of his or her most vulnerable constituents. Special Olympians are a particularly vulnerable set; the vast majority of Special Olympians are not capable of mounting much, if any, defense against ridicule. Moreover, it strikes me as particularly grotesque to lessen the severity of Mr. Obama's gaffe with comparisons to a Special Olympian who has bowled 5 perfect games. Those of us who have worked and lived with Special Olympians know that such a bowler is not the rule but rather the rare exception among the exceptional.

Lastly, Mr. Obama did not appear at all to struggle to find some funny analogue to his inadequacies as a bowler. My sense was that he had used this sort of locution before. It may have been meant as a joke, but, as Citizen in Chief, he has a responsibility to clip his tongue when tempted to mock -- or falsely self-identify with -- a group of Americans who struggle with some of life's simplest tasks. There are countless Special Olympians who would not only love to bowl a 129, they'd love to understand the significance of such a score. And they'd love to understand Mr. Obama's sense of humor -- and irony. But they can't. He should have apologized instantly, right then and there, in front of America and Mr. Leno.

Now THAT would have been a presidential moment, and a change.

One wonders whether Mr. Obama understands not only the value and import but the true vulnerability of the minority group he so glibly referenced in a joke. Imagine the outrage if a different occupant of the White House had identified himself with a minority group to which he or she did not belong.

Oh, that's right. That's different.

Peace through dissent.

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