Is Making Fun of Retarded People Considered Presidential?

Barack Obama had an unscripted moment on Jay Leno's show:

President Obama sat down with Jay Leno on Thursday for a late-night TV interview that spanned a range of topics -- from the economic crisis to the presidential dog -- and even, at one point, featured the president joking that his bowling ability was suitable for the Special Olympics.

The bowling comment was a reminder of his poor performance on the lanes last year during one of his campaign stops. Obama bragged to "The Tonight Show" that he recently bowled 129 on the White House alley.

"It's like Special Olympics," he said.

I wonder if that line will still be in the West Coast feed?

For the record, Obama's teleprompter sent out this Tweet:

BOTeleprompter Man, it's going to be a long flight home tonight. But let me be clear, that was HIS ad lib, not mine.

No Republican could have made a joke about the Special Olympics and gotten away with it.

UPDATE: The White House is trying to walk the statement back:

“Good afternoon. The President made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was 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.”

Sounds like he may have to go back to Washington on the short plane.