Tim Shriver: “This kind of language needs to be a teachable moment”

March 20, 2009

Jake Tapper at ABC calls it a “wisecrack” and that “the White House says these other issues being raised are just noise and what the president will continue to push is his agenda to fix the economy.”

His “wisecrack” is just “noise”.

That’s not what those of us who have family members with special minds feel. Follow the links below to see and hear what Gov Palin, Maria Shriver and Gov Schwarzenegger had to say as well as Tim Shriver’s official statement.

Here’s the transcript of Shriver’s brief comments: provided by JAKE TAPPER & HUMA KHAN.

Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver talked with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America:

SHRIVER: He [Obama] expressed his disappointment and he apologized, I think, in a way that was very moving. He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population, certainly didn’t want to embarrass or give anybody any more reason for pain or just suffering, I would say.

He was very sincere, expressed an openness and an interest in being more engaged in the movement, and said he was a fan of the movement and I think, importantly, he said he was ready to have some of our athletes over to the White House to bowl or play basketball or help him improve his score.

ROBIN ROBERTS: Is that enough for you or do you think there is something else he should do?

I think it’s important to see that words hurt, and words do matter. And these words that in some respect can be seen can be seen as humiliating or a put-down to people with special needs –do cause pain, and they do result in stereotypes, they do result in behavior that is neglectful and almost oppressive moment of people with special needs.

This kind of language needs to be a teachable moment, I think, for our country.

I would hope every parent that’s at home this morning watching this show could turn to their children and say, ‘This is a chance for us to recognize that when we talk about Special Olympics, when we talk about people with special needs. Let’s make sure we talk about it in an affirming way.

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(2-19) barry’s “It’s like the Special Olympics”
(2-19) Bill Burton: Apology #1 “offhand remark”
(2-20) Robert Gibbs: Apology #2 “thoughtless joke”
(2-20) Gov Palin re: Trig & Special Olympics (video)
(2-20) Gov Palin re: barry’s Special Olympics “joke”
(2-20) Gov Arnold & Maria Shriver re: barry’s Special Olympics “joke”
(2-20) Special Olympics video: The new R-word is Respect
(2-20) Bowling in top 5 Special Olympics sports, Kolan McConiughey
(2-20) Special Olympics Chairman, Tim Shriver statement re: barry’s ”joke”
(2-20) GMA: Tim Shriver: “This kind of language needs to be a teachable moment”
(2-21) Where are barry’s own words of apology on his Special Olympics “joke”?
(2-22) Yo, barry, you talked the trash, now back it up, and bowl