Politician calls Obama supporter "mentally retarded"

Jim Roddey, Allegheny County GOP Chairperson

Another example of a public figure standing in front of a crowd and making fun of the intellectually disabled. 

From Early Returns by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: 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 retarded.” Roddey, who is a long-time supporter of Mitt Romney, told the joke to a crowd of about 200: “I was in this parking lot and there was a man looking for a space to park, and I found a space for him. And I felt badly — he looked like he was sort of in distress. And I said, ‘Sir, here’s a place.’ And he said, ‘That’s a handicapped space.’ I said, ‘Oh I’m so sorry, I saw that Obama sticker and I thought you were mentally retarded.’”

"Brought the crowd to laughter"?? Nice. 

Aren't we done with this yet? Using mentally retarded as a joke? To make fun of someone? Being mentally retarded/intellectually disabled is something that people are often born with. That means it's not much different than being born a certain color, ethnicity, sexual orientation/identity, etc. That makes it a slur. It's not okay, people. Don't be a dick. 

If you want to let Allegheny County's Republican Party know how you feel about their chairperson: 412-458-0068