Some people might argue whether President Barack Obama or Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley had the dubious honor of making last week's stupidest comment.

On March 16, during an interview with a Cedar Rapids, Iowa, radio station, Grassley, a Republican, suggested that executives of American International Group should accept responsibility for the collapse of the insurance giant by either resigning or killing themselves.

"I would suggest the first thing that would make me feel a little bit better toward them if they'd follow the Japanese example and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say, 'I'm sorry,' and then either do one of two things: resign or go commit suicide," Grassley said.

"And in the case of the Japanese, they usually commit suicide before they make any apology," he added.

Those with an understanding of feudal Japan know that ritual suicide was regarded as an honorable death under the samurai warrior ethic.

Despite the publicity and reaction to Grassley's comment, it's doubtful that there's any danger to his political future.

But when the President of the United States makes an obvious verbal gaffe that has the potential to offend many people, the president must — and did — implement immediate damage control to try to minimize negative fallout from the error.

Obama erred in telling NBC's Jay Leno Thursday that his bowling score of 129 "was like the Special Olympics or something."

No one ever should poke fun at people mentally or physically disabled.

Although Obama's comment prompted laughter from "The Tonight Show" audience, the president no doubt realized immediately that he had made a comment that he should not have voiced, although he probably hoped no one would dwell on it amid the other comments and views he expressed in the interview.

But he was right in not taking any chances about the eventual fallout from the comment and shortly after the interview called Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver to apologize.

Few people would believe that Obama would intentionally disparage the Special Olympics. Not only would that be foolish from a political and personal standpoint, but the president understands the valuable opportunities it offers those whom the program serves. It also provides a great feeling of satisfaction to the many thousands of volunteers nationwide and beyond who give so much of themselves to make the program so successful.

Speaking of Obama's respect for the program, Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said the president "thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities. . . ."

And that's why it's unlikely that Obama will ever make a similar mistake — saying something without having a full realization of what he's saying, even in a relaxed setting like Leno's late-night comedy show.

Perhaps Obama was too relaxed during the show's taping. He definitely was, for at least a moment, off guard to the fact that he's never outside the spotlight of scrutiny.

Meanwhile, regarding Grassley's gaffe, it's clear that many Americans, furious about AIG's problems and its arrogance, probably don't consider his stupid comment stupid at all, and might actually condone that "remedy," even if he was not serious.