Arc CEO: Emanuel’s private apology to Shriver is not enough
February 2nd, 2010The Wall Street Journal’s “Washington Wire” blog reports that Peter Berns, CEO of The Arc of the United States, is calling on White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to make a public expression of regret for his use of the epithet “f — ing retarded.”
The White House has acknowledged that Emanuel used the term, first reported in the Wall Street Journal, and that he has apologized privately by phone to Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver.
“A private call does not seem to us to be what’s called for in this situation,” said Berns. “Rather there should be some kind of statement indicating that he understands what a sensitive issue this is for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
Emanuel’s call to Shriver marked the second such apology from the Obama White House. Last spring, President Obama apologized to Shriver privately after joking on the Tonight Show that his poor bowling score was “like the Special Olympics or something.”
In statements Tuesday night, both the Arc and the Special Olympics organizations said their officials would be among a group that will meet with Emanuel at the White House on Wednesday afternoon. In its release, the Special Olympics said the group would discuss “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.”
See also:
Emanuel steps up his apology — Wall Street Journal “Washington Wire” blog
Emanuel apologizes, in wake of Palin slam — New York Times ‘The caucus” blog
Obama’s chief of staff sorry for ‘retarded’ remark — AP/Yahoo
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February 3rd, 2010 at 8:40 am
I would like to know why the White House or anyone else believes that it is enough to apologize to Special Olympics for using the “R” word? I appreciate Special Olympics but they are but one small ring in the big picture here. Will they call my daughter and apologize to her? Will they call the hundreds of thousands of individuals with cognitive disabilities and apologize to them privately? What about to NDSS, NDSC, The National Autism Society, The ARC, and on and on and on. And privately is not good enough either. There needs to be a public apology.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:01 am
While the White House is at it, can they also please apologize for the lack of policies for restraints and seclusion, the continued lack of employment opportunities, Medicaid policies that make institutionalization the default, and a burst in special education funding that merely allowed districts to shift funds?
These are problems that span political parties and decades. The fact is: this complaint about Emanuel gets boiled down to words. But, the words reflect public policies that actually boil down to the widespread marginalization of people with disabilities.