Washington (CNN) - In comedy, timing is everything.
And minutes before Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor and parent of a child with Down syndrome, made her much-anticipated speech in Iowa, Los Angeles-based comedian Eric Golub told a joke that compared liberal political ideology to “special needs children.”
After commending Palin on raising her son Trig while balancing other responsibilities, Golub made the analogy.
“For that reason alone, the left should worship Sarah Palin and adopt her as one of their own,” Golub said. “Because the leftist haters are an entire political ideology of special needs children.”
Golub continued by saying that liberals are needy and feel entitled.
“And unlike Trig, they aren't very lovable,” Golub said. “All you hear from them is give me, give me, I need, I need, I want, I deserve, I’m entitled – no you don’t.”
Since announcing she had a child with Down syndrome in 2008, Palin has defended the special needs community in a number of instances.
In February 2010, Palin called for Rahm Emanuel, then-White House chief of staff, to be fired after he called liberal groups thinking of running ads against Democratic lawmakers “retarded.”
When an episode of Fox’s “Family Guy” mocked Trig that same month, Palin wrote in a post to her Facebook followers that it felt like “a kick in the gut.”
She also included a response to the "Family Guy" episode from her daughter, Bristol Palin.
“As a culture, shouldn’t we be more compassionate to innocent people – especially those who are less fortunate,” Bristol wrote. “Shouldn’t we be willing to say that some things just are not funny?”
Palin never mentioned the remark while speaking at the tea party-affiliated “Restoring America” rally in Indianola, Iowa.
Charlie Gruschow, co-founder of Tea Party of America, said he never heard the comment or met the comedian before the event.
"Some of the people on staff had heard him speak before and thought he would be a good person to break up and entertain the crowd," Gruschow said.
This isn't the first time Golub made the comment. He also used it while speaking at a 2010 convention for the conservative organization Young America's Foundation.
Palin's team could not be reached for comment.
CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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He doesn't sound funny, just hateful and sad, a prefect comedian for the Baggers.
When I see or hear of 'Trig', then I can understand why she acts retarded – it's in her genes – lord help us. Between her & bachman this country is falling apart politically
The right wing has never been funny. It's even worse when they try.
So a couple of years ago, Palin absolutely BLASTED David Letterman for bringing special needs kids into the conversation, and blasted shows like family guy for doing the same thing.
Why isn't she blasting back at this comedian too?
Oh, right, because apparently when it's a positive comparison using special needs in comedy is okay?
@ In Texas,
Does being a "registered independent voter" make you somehow above party affiliation. Stop hiding behind the "independent" label and make a commitment. You independent voters who teeter-totter are the big problem in this country!
I don't equate "leftist-haters" (Limbaugh, Palin, all GOP's, teabaggers, et al) with "special needs kids." Special needs kids didn't chose to be the way they are, they were just born that way. They are trying hard to get through a world not designed for them. To do that, you need heart. The GOP, on the other hand, have no heart.
'Minority'-Owned/Woman-Owned Business Programs are discriminatory and racist.
Legislators responsible for these programs are committing federal discrimination/racism
crimes against white males. The legislators responsible should be fired and
prosecuted.
GOLUB The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.
Do you smell that? Smells like a hypocrite.
Is Palin EVER going to get rid of her MC HAMMER glasses?
Typical GOP MO- offensive, bad timing, and wallowing in stereotypes... “Because the leftist haters are an entire political ideology of special needs children.” Sounds like this "comedian" just gave the very definition of GOP Tea party members.
Sarah Palin you are RETARDED! Now what?
I hate the political correct movement, it makes no sense. Instead what should be adopted is an equal right to make fun of everyone. Equal rights don't just mean you get all of the benefits of the majority. Equal rights mean you get all the disadvantages of the majority which include being made fun of all the time.
In this case however, the bigger problem is the joke isn't very funny.
The political correct movement makes no sense. Instead what should be adopted is an equal right to make fun of everyone. Equal rights don't just mean you get all of the benefits of the majority. Equal rights mean you get all the disadvantages of the majority which include being made fun of all the time.
In this case however, the bigger problem is the joke isn't very funny.
Trig isn't the one with special needs. At least his needs can be addressed. Sarah's special needs – her narcism, her pathological need for attention, her disregard for others – are beyond this nation's capabilities. She's a lost cause!
“As a culture, shouldn’t we be more compassionate to innocent people – especially those who are less fortunate,”
Sounds like something one of those "needy", "self-entitled", "me-thinking" democrats would say.
So when Big Oil, Big Banks, Wall Street, Tax Cut Lovers and so on say I need, I need I want, I am entitled – What are they acting like?
Poor little boy. His mother's actions will always make him feel uncomfortable!
Did you know that the surname, Palin, comes from an ancient Native American term that means "hypocrite". True story.
You know, I've just about had it with the Republican Party. I'm sick of them demonizing Democrats, as if they don't love their country; as if they don't want what's best for their country. They're tearing us apart with this crap, and not only are we letting them, we're giving them the power to do so. They're destroying this country in order to destroy a Democratic President. Where have we seen this before? Oh, just the last time there was a Democratic president. This time it's even meaner and more disrespectful. Is that because our President is black? I can't figure it out. From "you lie" Wilson to Boehner's rebuffs and games. I'm ashamed of us, for the first time in my life. Common decency is gone. Respect for those with differing beliefs is gone. How are we going to hold together when one side hates so badly they'd destroy us because of it? ENOUGH!
Iif the "special needs" community and it's "defenders" weren't always treating [insert preferred term;slow/retarded/mental/mentally handicapped/challenged here] people like they need to be defended all the time. The people who claim to be helping special needs people are doing the most damage to their image in society are the ones who have decided they are incapable of deciding what is offensive, and surviving insults. I think the fairest thing is to allow them to be teased on shows like family guy and south park, just like everyone else gets the piss taken out of them. One last note...@indy Children of varying abilities?You have to be joking...ALL children are children of varying abilities..i think words are worthless without intent, I can call someone a "child of varying abilities" and make it as mean as anything, or lovingly call someone retarded...if you are going to make up a name for a grouping of people, it should be descriptive enough to be useful...retarded really just means slowed down, it is the way it is used that makes it offensive to some.
It's OK if you're a conservative. He'll get a pass just like the Rush did.
Sarah Palin is a disgrace to America.
Is this any different than Biden equating tea partiers to terrorists
I hate to have to say this, but this whole family (except for Trig) deserves to be mocked and ridicule (not that they don't do a very good job of it themselves).
What other responsibilities does this quitter have? Counting bendy straws? Hoping on a bus after flying in a private jet? Not working a day in her life since quitting as governor? Getting paid like the whore she is for spreading hate and lies?
Her team could not be reached for comment? What team would that be? The dysfunctional family including the eunuch husband who has a little on the side but not enough to leave the cash cow (sorry cows)?