(CNN) – President Obama apologized Thursday night for an offhanded remark during his appearance on The Tonight Show that appeared disparaging toward Special Olympic athletes.
White House officials confirm the president called Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver before the show aired to personally apologize for the remark. One official said Obama expressed his disappointment over the comment and his intention not to humiliate the disabled.
iReport: What do you think about the president's comments?
The comment came midway through Obama's appearance on the late night comedy show, when host Jay Leno quipped about the president's lack of bowling skills: “I imagine the bowling alley [in the White House] has just been just burned and closed down," Leno said.
“No, no. I have been practicing,” Obama said. “I bowled a 129. It's like — it was like Special Olympics, or something."
Watch: CNN's Suzanne Malveaux looks at Obama's Tonight Show appearance
The Special Olympics, founded in 1968, is a nonprofit organization serving people with mental and physical disabilities. The Special Olympics holds its “Special Olympics World Games” every other year.
The White House immediately tried to undo any damage, releasing a statement before the show aired stating the president in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics."
"He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world," Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said.
Related: Obama mixes politics, comedy on 'Tonight Show'
According to White House officials, Obama also extended an invitation to Special Olympic athletes to come bowl or play basketball at the White House.
Appearing on ABC's Good Morning America Friday Morning, Shriver said Obama was "very sincere" in his apology.
"[He] expressed an openness and an interest in being more engaging in the movement and said he was a fan of the movement," Shriver said. "And I think importantly said he was ready to have some of our athletes over the White House to bowl or play basketball or help him improve his score."
During the campaign season, then-candidate Obama described his bowling skills as “terrible” after scoring 37 when he hit the lanes on the campaign trail in Altoona, Pennsylvania. A perfect score is 300
From CNN Politics
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Ok, who hasn't said something off the cuff and wish that they had not said it. Listened to the comedians lately?
obama is a person who thinks his crap don't stink....he talks down to and makes fun at everybody who is not like or disagrees with him...you people wait and see he don't care about anything but having all the power he can and making as many people dependent upon the goverment as he can and mean and decietful enough to hold them hostage because of it.....you wait and see .....i can't convince you with a few comments on this blog but obama's words will pale when this country and your freedom goes down the toilet
Just another accidental glimpse of his arrogance. Take note...more to come.
I am sure there will plenty of fools out there who lives revolve around pointing fingers, will jump all over this. I am sure those same fools will make plenty of noise on here.
You people need to lighted up. There's a time and place for everything
And you also need to learn how to address the him.
PRESIDENT OBAMA
NOT OBAMA-
HIPOCRITS
Obama INSULTED Special Kids and their parents and if I were one I would be OUTRAGED at his arrogant insensitive "joke". He IS a joke.
No big deal. Move on.
Wow... wait till Savage gets a hold of this one.
What a baffoon. What the heck is he even doing on that show. Dont they tape this thing during normal business hours?
He is so sensitive to challenged individuals...what a great guy!!!
This is what happens when his teleprompter is left in Washington.
I'm starting to think someone else is running things & he's just the puppet they throw out to the podium. Make fun of Bush & Cheney all you want, (God knows they gave us enough material) this administration is nothing but one huge gaff after another.
Did VP Biden write that great one-liner?
You people need to lighted up. There's a time and place for everything
And you also need to learn how to address him.
PRESIDENT OBAMA
NOT OBAMA-
HIPOCRITS
You know what? I don't care. If we have to go through life worrying whether everything we say is going to be "politically correct," we lose the freedom of speech. If you're offended, that's your fault.
Typical Arrogant Obama. The Obamanauts in the media will be quick to defend him and sweep it under the rug. Had a republican made the same comment we would be hearing for his resignation
How much do you want to bet that the people who are going to be the most outraged about this are the same people who go on and on about the "PC libs"? Just wait!
Can you IMAGINE if Bush would have said this??? Some far left idiot would be screaning to arrest Bush for some garbage...This is great!!!hahaha
OK Look I am disabled, I took no offense to what the President said, such a big deal made over a simple statement.
I think it is great to know that a President, is still a person, and down to earth.
Give it a break. Mr. President I will bowl you anytime.
His mind seems to be on his ego, not on his job.
OMG! Doesn't CNN have anything better to do than give this non-story such prominent play? Why don't you go cover some actual news for a change?
That's it! I'm voting for McCain.
Funny stuff. Of course most guests on Jay Leno would say this and get a laugh and that'd be it, but since it's a politician, we'll have the small amount of maniacs going on a witch hunt instead of laughing about it, and then it'll die down and be forgotten and the maniacs will wait until a politician doesn't say "bless you" when someone sneezes to come out of the woodwork again.
life is hard without a teleprompter
If President Bush had made such a remark, I shudder to think of the bashing he would have taken. But Obama need only apologize, and the fawning over him resumes . . . .
The fact that this would just roll out of his mouth disappoints me. I have a special needs child. This is really shameful. I'm sure this will just disappear. Imagine if someone made fun of a ethnic specific sporting event. It would be a big deal. This double standard is really sad.
Barry each n everyday , you make George Bush look better n better.