Every president is bound to screw up at some point and make the sort of off color remark that normal people can get away with but presidents can't. It's just that Bush did it all the time unapologetically. Of course, he was unapologetic for everything he did. As the "decider," he knew exactly what the majority of people (in the US and in the world) wanted and instead did things his way. In a true democracy, the people are the deciders.
But I digress. I imagine if Bush had made a remark about the special olympics, it would become a Bushism and an internet meme (mainly because remarks about Bush being retarded are about as common as remarks about Paris Hilton being a slut; it'd really be something if Bush, even jokingly, explicitly stated that he's retarded). But it wasn't Bush this time. It was Obama, who has a reputation for being more tactful than this, hence the uproar.
But I digress. I imagine if Bush had made a remark about the special olympics, it would become a Bushism and an internet meme (mainly because remarks about Bush being retarded are about as common as remarks about Paris Hilton being a slut; it'd really be something if Bush, even jokingly, explicitly stated that he's retarded). But it wasn't Bush this time. It was Obama, who has a reputation for being more tactful than this, hence the uproar.