Washington (CNN) – Sarah Palin expressed outrage at a Fox Broadcasting Company television program for deriding people with Down syndrome and making an apparent reference to her 22-month-old son, Trig, who has the genetic disorder.
The former Alaska governor said on her Facebook page that she was too angry to offer a coherent response so she had her daughter, Bristol, release a full statement on the family’s behalf.
The Palins directed their criticism at the prime time Fox cartoon, “Family Guy.” In Sunday’s episode, a teenaged female character with Down syndrome told another character that “my mom is the former governor of Alaska.” A song and dance routine by another character also used language that ridiculed people with disabilities.
“People are asking me to comment on yesterday’s Fox show that felt like another kick in the gut,” Palin, a Fox News contributor, said in the statement posted Monday evening on her Facebook page. “Bristol was one who asked what I thought of the show that mocked her baby brother, Trig (and/or others with special needs), in an episode yesterday. Instead of answering, I asked her what she thought. Here is her conscientious reply, which is a much more restrained and gracious statement than I want to make about an issue that begs the question, ‘when is enough, enough?’”
Bristol Palin’s statement was posted below her mother’s Facebook entry.
“When you’re the son or daughter of a public figure, you have to develop thick skin,” Bristol Palin said. “My siblings and I all have that, but insults directed at our youngest brother hurt too much for us to remain silent. People with special needs face challenges that many of us will never confront, and yet they are some of the kindest and most loving people you’ll ever meet. Their lives are difficult enough as it is, so why would anyone want to make their lives more difficult by mocking them?
“As a culture, shouldn’t we be more compassionate to innocent people – especially those who are less fortunate? Shouldn’t we be willing to say that some things just are not funny? Are there any limits to what some people will do or say in regards to my little brother or others in the special needs community? If the writers of a particularly pathetic cartoon show thought they were being clever in mocking my brother and my family yesterday, they failed. All they proved is that they’re heartless jerks.”
Fox Broadcasting – which, like Fox News, is owned by News Corp. – did not comment on the Palins’ response to the show.
From CNN Politics
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dont be a cry baby..its just comedy.. I applaud them they are making things up to make people laugh. They are expressing and saying things that people usually cant say in real life. so shut up palin and stick to your stupid reality tv. since thats probably what you were watching when your kid was doing it in her bedroom with her boyfriend...Great parent!!!
get real
I don't understand the appeal of shock/mock shows masquerading as comedy or social satire. I didn't vote for Sarah, but I think the criticism of her and her family has been over the top. Bring back the shows of the 60s and 70s.
This is why I love Family Guy.
But if Palin thinks that this is wrong, imagine what would occur if South Park did a take on it. Hehe, you know, I think south park SHOULD do a take on Sarah Palin in this manner. I'd watch that episode thrice.
I love it!
Here's betting that Bailin' Palin is not so incensed that she gives up the almighty dollar she make from Fake the News that sponsored the cartoon show.
Just like when Emanual said "retarded" and missy insisted he resign(as if any one other than tea baggers listen to her) however, Lush uses "retard" and she is only disappointed.
This woman never met a personal principle she wouldn't forsake if it meant she got to play the victim.
Webster's has a pic of this fishwife next to the definition of Hypocrisy!
Think what you like of Sarah Palin's politics–and I am not among those who think highly of them–but that's no excuse for cruelty or viciousness directed at her personally, let alone at her family.
Don't you know satire when you see it, Sara? I mean it's okay for Rush to use it as satire...
Boohoo! You say that you have to have some pretty thick skin to be the daughter of a Politician and yet you suddenly are offended by a show known for semi-offensive material. That's part of what comedy does because we will always be making jokes and statements based on characteristics or disabilities or horrible things. Family Guy is just a show and all you are doing is giving Seth McFarlene free advertising.
Watch out that we don't start becoming too politically correct and suddenly making observations about another person will be construed as being Racists/Bigoted/Offensive.
Someone needs to tell Bristol what her mom's policies would do to "those who are less fortunate." Sarah Barracuda is a champion of laissez-faire capitalism, a system that promotes the law of the jungle – survival of the fittest. Trig has a rich mommy and daddy. There are others, with and without such apparent disabilities, who are not only mocked, but robbed of all human dignity by an economic system that allows a select few to live in disgusting excess while others survive on little or nothing. Any day you can meet those people who have various disabilities and no support system. They live in tents under bridges. I hope Bristol can see what her mother is too willfully ignorant to see, i.e., that there are worse things in our society than ill-considered jokes.
If she is so upset about this FOX program she should quit she job at FOX news.We all know that she is a quitter.
Maybe Mrs. Palin should have considered how her celebrity would affect her family BEFORE she decided to devote her life to being a full-time Attention Hound. I also find it interesting that Mrs. Palin doesn't seem to have a problem with Fox attacking other people, but the moment they make fun of her in even the smallest way, she goes all Self-Righteous Outrage. It's also interesting that she defends Rush Limbaugh when he makes fun of the mentally handicapped by saying he's "funny" and it's just "parody", but when Family Guy, a show that's nothing but "funny parody" does it, she goes directly on the attack.
Maybe she should stop being such a self-serving hypocrite. It would certainly be better for her family.
The 1st neo christian dictator of the the former USA
Palin ought to try staying home and caring for her Down's Syndrome child, and shut her stupid mouth. This woman is fun to have around from time to time for comic relief. The rest of the time she's just a raging idiot.
This may be the only time I'll ever say this in my life. But I agree with the Palin's on this one.
Fox making money on both ends, God Bless America!
I thought it was pretty funny
also the point of the episode seemed to be that people with down syndrom are just like normal people with the same flaws and the same ability to be complete jerks.
In all fairness, Family Guy makes fun of everyone, nothing is immune...
BUT
A cartoon on tv to Sarah felt like a kick in the gut? And she wants to run for President? Seriously? So when she's so angry that she can't express herself she'll get her kid to speak for her? hahahahahahahaha, can't wait. The Moosalina show keeps getting better and better!
So when Rush Limbaugh says "There will be a Retard summit at the White House" it's OK. When "retard" is directed at republicans, it's not OK. I thought it was ok to use it as satire, which is what she said when Rush used it. Isn't Family Guy satire? When she came into the public eye, she accepted all criticisms and satire. If she doesn't like it, she should just quit..... Oh that's right, she did that already.
As Kristofferson said. "Everybody's gotta have somebody to look down on- whom they can feel better than just any time they please." Who you look down on says a lot more about you than them . From what I can see this aimed right at the heart of Fox's target audience. If you watch the Fox networks regularly, you probably thought it was funny- My heart goes out to the Palin children- However, The ex Gov has been swimming in this crap for more than a year and for her to voice hurt or surprise at this point is really weak.
it was satire. It was ok for limbaugh so why not on "family guy"
Did she quit working for Fox over this show, or is she just blowing more smoke.
"The former Alaska governor said on her Facebook page that she was too angry to offer a coherent response"
um...when has she ever given a coherent response about anything?
I don't think it's right to ridicule a politician's family. But Palin has paraded her family around and deserves part of the blame. Instead of learning how to deflect and diffuse, she uses it to garner sympathy and create controversy. Besides, whatever people direct at her is nothing compared to the insults she has levied on half of America (you know, not real America) and her outrageous lies against the president. She wants to sit in her Fox News bunker and dish it out but she can't take it.
Where was Palin's outrage against Rush Limbaugh? She tried to claim it was only satire; but guess what, Family Guy is satire too.
Family Guy goes after everyone and everything. There isn't a group that it hasn't mocked. Where were the Palins during those episodes? Oh, right, probably laughing.