It’s not about POLITICS…
Nationally another politician (comedian, celebrity – insert prominent person here) makes a joke referencing people with disabilities… on the short bus, like a retard, best parking places in the world and on and on. Locally, it’s the same with politicians, school board members, teachers, and other officials. It’s also the same in classrooms, club meetings, in the grocery store, library, church and even your neighbor next door or maybe even your closest friend.
Sadly, here in 2012 we find ourselves facing the same issues that brought us to start this grassroots campaign in 2007. Although things have changed and people are beginning to understand, there is still so much work to do.
This grassroots campaign is made up of all people with disabilities and the families and friends who love them, whether it’s the Special Olympics or Rick & Wanda in Oklahoma, or a self-advocate or family member of a child with disabilities standing in the check-out line of a grocery store. We all have the same power, we all have the same voice to stand up and say, “That Word, That Phrase, Offends Me!” and explain why.
We have to keep doing it over and over again whether it’s on TV, radio, by public speaker system, by blogging, writing, social media, or by simply turning to someone in a bus, meeting, grocery, etc. and telling them face to face.
WE MUST DO IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. EVERY TIME WE HEAR IT.
Why? Because they haven’t gotten it yet, THEY KEEP DOING IT. We must keep doing it because they keep doing it.
It’s going to take everyone of us, every time we hear it, no matter where we are.
They don’t understand that it’s not about politics, it’s not about being funny, it’s not about making a meaningless statement because you thought you were being cool and ‘everyone does it!” or whatever other excuse they have…
IT’S ABOUT RESPECT. One voice is but a whisper, MANY are a ROAR!
Jim Roddey’s ‘mentally retarded’ joke shows why conservatives are not funny newjerseynewsroom.com
Long-time Pennsylvania GOP official Jim Roddey reportedly got a raucous reception yesterday when he labeled a supporter of President Obama as someone who is “mentally retarded.” No word yet if he fell down to mock people with cerebral palsy.
GOP leader Roddey sorry for ‘retarded’ remark
Pittsburgh Post Gazette – Aug 8, 2012
Jim Roddey, the Allegheny County Republican chairman, has apologized for an election night joke in which he quipped that a supporter of President Barack Obama was “retarded.” Mr. Roddey, the veteran GOP leader, was speaking Tuesday night at state …
Republican Jokes Obama Supporters ‘Mentally Retarded’
ABC News (blog) – 20 hours ago
“We were disappointed to learn of Allegheny County’s GOP chair Jim Roddey’s poor choice to target people with intellectual disabilities in the punch line of a joke. We were even more disappointed to learn that as reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, …
Allegheny Co. GOP Chairman Roddey Regrets Inappropriate Joke
CBS Local – Aug 9, 2012
That’s what happened to Allegheny County GOP Chairman Jim Roddey, and he is apologizing for those remarks. While emceeing an event earlier this week, he talked about watching a man who was having trouble finding a parking spot, and Roddey pointed …
You are here: GOP chair Roddey: Obama supporter “retar…
Pittsburgh Post Gazette – Aug 8, 2012
Allegheny County’s GOP chair and former Jim Roddey has long been known for , and he added to that reputation tonight in a joke equating Obama supporters with the mentally disabled. Roddey as usual acted as MC at the election night party for state Rep.
Pa. GOP leader apologizes for Obama sticker insult
Sacramento Bee – Aug 9, 2012
Allegheny County GOP chairman Jim Roddey was speaking at the victory party for state Rep. Randy Vulakovich, who won a special election Tuesday to fill the state Senate seat vacated when Jane Orie was convicted of campaign corruption earlier this year.
Pittsburgh GOP Chair Jokes Obama Supporters Are ‘Mentally Retarded’
The New Civil Rights Movement – Aug 8, 2012
Jim Roddey, the well-known Chairman of the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania GOP, Tuesday at an election night party compared supporters of president Obama to the mentally disabled. “There was a disappointment tonight. I was very embarrassed. I was in …
Pennsylvania GOP Chair Compares Obama Supporter To Someone Who Is …
The Inquisitr – Aug 9, 2012
Posted: August 9, 2012. Jim Roddey, the GOP chair of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania and a former county executive, got a decent level of support for comparing a supporter of President Obama to a person who is “mentally retarded”.
Penn. Republican official jokes: Obama bumper sticker meant man was ‘mentally …
Daily Caller – Aug 8, 2012
Jim Roddey, the Allegheny County GOP chair and former county executive, made the joke at a victory party for a candidate for state senate who was elected Tuesday in a special election, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. “There was a disappointment …
Republican Official: People With Obama Bumper Stickers Are ‘Mentally Retarded’
ThinkProgress – Aug 8, 2012
Republican Official: People With Obama Bumper Stickers Are ‘Mentally Retarded’ | At an election party last night, Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County GOP Chair, Jim Roddey, brought the crowd to laughter and applause by calling an Obama supporter “mentally …
GOP official compares President Obama supporters to the ‘mentally retarded’
Examiner.com – Aug 8, 2012
Randy Vulakovich, Allegheny County GOP Chair, Jim Roddey, was speaking to a crowd of around 200 people. As his speech was going on, he told a story that made the conservatives in the crowd laugh, but it was hardly funny. “I was very embarrassed.