So you can't say 'retarded' anymore?

[Dari]

That's just stupid. What happened to free speech.

Emanuel to discuss use of 'R-word'

(CNN) – White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will meet with representatives from various advocacy organizations representing people with disabilities Wednesday morning in the wake of criticism over his use of the word "retarded" to put down Democrats in opposition to President Obama's health care plan.

The comment came in a closed-door meeting in August but was reported by the Wall Street Journal last week. Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver immediately penned a letter to Emanuel asking that he take a pledge not to use the "R-word."

Emanuel's choice of words also gained greater visibility when former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the mother of a special-needs child, lashed at Emanuel on her Facebook page Monday and called for President Obama to fire his top aide.

Emanuel, known for his coarse language, apologized for the comment, according to a White House official. He will also meet with Shriver and four other disability advocates at the White House on Wednesday.

"The meeting will be a face-to-face discussion with Rahm Emanuel about the suffering and pain of people with intellectual disabilities that is perpetuated by the use of the terms 'retard' and 'retarded' as well as the damage that can be done by the casual use of the R-word – even if it is not directed toward people with intellectual disabilities," the Special Olympics said in a statement.

This isn't the first time the Obama White House has issued an apology to the Special Olympics. President Obama personally apologized last March after he joked to comedian Jay Leno that his lack of bowling skills was "like the Special Olympics or something."

 

[Nitemare]

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words make me a sad panda?

 

[Wyndru]

Is ratard still accepted?

 

[FelixDeCat]

The timing in my last car was retarded. I corrected that with a timing gun. Then I got rid of the car and bought a 10 speed. That may sound retarded, but I save 1000s by doing this.

 

[SunSamurai]

Story is retarded.

 

[mugs]

You can say 'retarded' all you want. You have the freedom to say what you want, but other people have the freedom to criticize you for it.

Also, this belongs in P&N, retard.

 

[glenn beck]

seriously, that is so gay

 

[FelixDeCat]

seriously, that is so gay

Yeah, I dont think you can say gay. You might get a letter from the Rainbow Coalition.

 

[Dari]

You can say 'retarded' all you want. You have the freedom to say what you want, but other people have the freedom to criticize you for it.

Also, this belongs in P&N, retard.

Does not really belong there. The president said he bowled like a retard and was criticized. His CoS called others retarded and is criticized. We can just replace 'president' with 'Mel Gibson' and the discussion would be the same.

 

[Cogman]

Meh, I hate PCness. I watched Major Pain the other day on ABC, they censored him saying "I'm sorry mister handycapped man" and put "I'm sorry mister [blank] man"

Seriously? So is every word used to describe the disabled slowly going to be a taboo because it describes the disabled? How is handycapped any more offensive then disabled?

The retarded issue is retarded. retards don't care that other people are called retards, only their over sensitive family really care.

 

[acheron]

Yeah, that is lame.

(waiting...)

 

[Hacp]

How much you wanna bet the people who are offended by "retard" are Vegitarian environmental wacko PETA members??

 

[soulcougher73]

You can say 'retarded' all you want. You have the freedom to say what you want, but other people have the freedom to criticize you for it.

Also, this belongs in P&N, retard.

This.

 

[AdamK47]

It's an ignant thing to say.

 

[Nitemare]

Yeah, that is lame.

(waiting...)

<---whacks you with a crutch, then kicks a baby seal

 

[mcmilljb]

The Special Olympics can kiss my ass. I do not call mentally handicapped people retards. People that I call retards are people who are fucking stupid because their brain works, they just choose to not use it.

 

[vshah]

god damn, we need a mass bitch slap

 

[jhu]

Why are people being so niggardly with the word '"retarded"?

 

[zinfamous]

The timing in my last car was retarded. I corrected that with a timing gun. Then I got rid of the car and bought a 10 speed. That may sound retarded, but I save 1000s by doing this.

This post makes me gay.

 

[Cogman]

The timing in my last car was retarded. I corrected that with a timing gun. Then I got rid of the car and bought a 10 speed. That may sound retarded, but I save 1000s by doing this.

I usually enjoy listening/playing music with well placed retards. It adds a beautiful effect.

 

[zinfamous]

The Special Olympics can kiss my ass. I do not call mentally handicapped people retards. People that I call retards are people who are fucking stupid because their brain works, they just choose to not use it.

absolutely.

this is a perfect explanation, I think; but too many dipsticks will not be able to grasp the subtlety and appropriateness of such use.

 

[Linflas]

Hoisted on their own PC petard.

 

[Lifted]

But... retards are funny. :\

 

[JulesMaximus]

seriously, that is so gay

Shut up you gay retard.

 

[NFS4]