Obama Special Olympics Joke

President Obama has apoligized to the head of the Special Olympics after he made a joke about his bowling skills and compared himself to a Special Olympian.

Obama made the crack as he became the first sitting president to visit "The Tonight Show".

When he was taping with Jay Leno on Thursday afternoon, Obama talked about getting better at bowling and said he had bowled a 129.

"That's very good, Mr. President," Leno said.

It's "like the Special Olympics or something," the president responded.

On his way back to Washington on Air Force One, Obama called the chairman of the Special Olympics, Tim Shriver, to say he was sorry -- even before the taped program aired late Thursday night.
"He expressed his disappointed and he apologized in a way that was very moving. He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population," Shriver said Friday on ABC's "Good Morning America." Obama, Shriver said, wants to have some Special Olympic athletes visit the White House to bowl or play basketball.

"The president made an off-hand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics," White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton said in a written statement. "He thinks the Special Olympics is a wonderful program that gives an opportunity for people with disabilities from around the world."

The president also talked about the economy and bonuses for AIG officials during the extended appearance.

READ MORE:  WAS IT OK FOR OBAMA TO APPEAR ON LENO?