Insensitive Comments by Political Officials

Last week, President Barack Obama appeared on the Jay Leno Show. One of his remarks landed him in hot water for a time:

Q (from Leno) Now, are they going to put a basketball -- I imagine the bowling alley has been just burned and closed down.
THE PRESIDENT: No, no. I have been practicing all -- (laughter.)
Q Really? Really?
THE PRESIDENT: I bowled a 129. (Laughter and applause.)
Q No, that's very good. Yes. That's very good, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something. (Laughter.)

Was this the worst comment ever uttered in the world? No. Was it enough to condemn President Obama and label him for life as a "disabled hater?" Absolutely not. Was Obama's comment insensitive? Yes. Individuals can make mistakes with their words - most do it. Some utterances cannot be contained, and an incorrect meaning is sometimes surmised by the listener.

However, if a Republican stated the above words of President Obama (or just another insensitive comment), he or she most definitely would be greeted with greater scrutiny than the President faced. Gasp! That Republican might even be called to resign. I am reminded about the comments of then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott back in 2002. Senator Lott definitely crossed the line - he was insensitive - but the media hammered him for his remarks given at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday celebration; and ultimately, the media was one of the primary factors causing Lott to resign his position as Majority Leader. Fast forward to 2009 - when Attorney General Eric Holder called America, "a nation of cowards." What was so different about his statement? Why did he receive little, if any, scrutiny over his speech?

There is a different standard for how the media and the country views Republicans and Democrats. Democrats are allowed many more slip-ups and insensitive comments than Republicans. They are allowed to make tax mistakes -even drive a car off a bridge, leaving a woman to die and their political lives are still (for the most part) still intact. Republicans are - at times - tarred and feathered for even rumors that allege their involvement in shady and sketchy episodes of their lives. We need to decide now how the country will treat political officials making insensitive comments. The hypocrisy of some to pick and choose which comments to condemn is wrong.