President Obama’s Special-Olympics Gaffe Presents ‘Teachable Moment’

Criticism continues to be directed at President Obama after he compared his lackluster bowling skills to “like the Special Olympics or something” during an appearance last night on “The Tonight Show.”

The president apologized to Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver from Air Force One for his comment before the show aired on television.

But there have been some stinging responses to his slipup.

Mr. Shriver appeared on “Good Morning America” today and said of the president’s apology, “He was very sincere, expressed an interest and an openness 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.”

He also added that the gaffe was “a teachable moment.”

Tod Robberson, in the opinion blog of The Dallas Morning News wrote, “I understand why Obama wanted a conversational format, especially having a live audience to laugh at the jokes. But this confirmed all of my worst fears about what it means for a sitting U.S. president to appear on a late-night talk show.”

Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times wrote, “Politics may make room for the occasional actor, but it’s best to leave comedy to the professionals.”

The president already has one Special Olympics bowler who has offered to beat him.