Sarah Palin
A response to “Family Guy”
People are asking me to comment on yesterday’s Fox show that felt like another kick in the gut. 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?”
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3
I did watch Family Guy for a while but was eventually put off. Some parts would make me laugh but the overriding libby agenda finally overtook any humourous impact. I transitioned to King of the Hill and it is awesome. Mike Judge, the creator, is a genius and his commentary on society is usually spot on. He takes on all sides – blue collar, white collar, conservative, liberal, etc., and always has some sort of redeeming ending that makes you smile.
yubley on February 16, 2010 at 2:22 PM
“caught” on…
hawkdriver on February 16, 2010 at 2:23 PM
So does Colbert get a pass too for calling Palin an “effin r-tard”? It’d be difficult to claim that Colbert isn’t engaged in satire on multiple levels.
Either way, Palin would be on firmer ground siding consistently with special needs kids against the use of the word than parsing each instance of satire and offering a pass to a few who (coincidentally) agree with her on other political issues.
dedalus on February 16, 2010 at 2:23 PM
You know, Dave, with all due respect for your right to your own opinion, I have to say that the thing that strikes me the most about your posts is your apparent expectations that anyone not in agreement with you (philosophically, ideologically, fill in the blank…) must, ergo, be so imperfect as to not warrant a single moment’s serious consideration for them as a whole person, or their party, or their movement, whichever is the case.
We are all human, and subject to the niggling human failings that we all exhibit from the moment of birth. Sarah Palin is no different. Yet you and others intentionally look for even just one single strand of hair to be out of place on her head to criticize rather than engage in a rational and intelligent debate regarding the pros and cons of the issues she addresses which are impacting our lives currently.
I wonder why that is? Do you really, truly believe that by belittling one’s human frailties it serves to discredit and dismiss any sound positions one might have on pertinent issues? Not in the eyes of mature, thinking adults, thankfully. [The moral equivalence you attempt to superimpose involving Rush Limbaugh’s obvious satire of the use of the “R” word when compared to how it was slanderously used by, say, Rahm Emanuel, is so far off the mark as to be comparing not just apples to oranges, but rotten apples to boot.]
KendraWilder on February 16, 2010 at 2:24 PM
How does one know if Rush was using satire?
The word Retarded it not a popular word that Rush used before the “effin Retard” that was said by Rahm , Rush used it to mock Rahm the day Rahm was sliced and diced by Palin, and now Rush nor Rahm use it at all.
.
Those are Facts.
Palin Wins!
Amadeus on February 16, 2010 at 2:11 PM
—–
Bullsh*t. Palin never called out Rush on it.
Dave Rywall on February 16, 2010 at 2:25 PM
I don’t know about using those words. But the show uses just about every stereotype out there for every group.
angryed on February 16, 2010 at 2:30 PM
No,FG doesnt insult everyone, that’s what the far superior South Park does. FG wishes it was as cool and funny as SP.
di butler on February 16, 2010 at 2:31 PM
Peter also had a stroke and was injected with the “gay gene”. ‘Nuff said.
angryed on February 16, 2010 at 2:35 PM
WTF RC. Don’t you think you might be a bit of a hypocrite on this subject. First, words have meaning and Seth Macfarlane knew exactly who he was taking a swipe at. How many Governors from Alaska do you know that have had a DS child?
Anyway, it’s not your place to decide what someone else is allowed to be offended by or what they equate the word to. You certainly let us know that in no uncertain terms a couple months back.
Considering the level of anger you experienced when the First Lady was equated to a “Wookie” by commenter’s here on Hot Air, I just find you comments on this thread very, very puzzling. You were as angry as anyone I’ve seen comment here. I wouldn’t have used any such term to describe her, but I got the impression it was a swipe at her stature and had nothing to do with her race. You equated it to a racial epithet. You also went so far as to call us in the military that frequent the threads “cowards” for not defending her.
Sarah Palin isn’t acting any different than you…yourself…did right here on HA.
Very surprized to read what you said.
hawkdriver on February 16, 2010 at 2:37 PM
He said it would be next season.
What is so hard to understand about what Rush does. Every single time a LIBERAL says something politically incorrect Rush adopts what they said and repeats it over and over and over. Ultimately the media, who has totally ignored the original “misstep” and it’s author, either attribute it to Rush or somehow claim a double standard. Which is exactly what Gov. Palin has been accused of. I don’t know about anyone else but it cracks me up when the MSM starts playing clips of Rush repeating Liberal speak with their a$$es squarely and firmly on their shoulders.
Cindy Munford on February 16, 2010 at 2:40 PM
I see your Bullshit and raise you.
Rush now calls it the “R – Word”
Palin Wins!
Amadeus on February 16, 2010 at 2:40 PM
Fo shizzle!
crr6 on February 16, 2010 at 2:45 PM
Remember when Cartoons were for Children?
Things haven’t changed.
portlandon on February 16, 2010 at 2:47 PM
Dave, you’re just flat wrong on this. One of her reps, then she herself initially made public statements taking him to task on what she thought he had said. After the context of what he said was presented to her, she conceded it was satirical in rebuffing Emmanual. I don’t think he should have used it at all just because of the way liberal piss their pants and run with a ball like this, but stick to the facts. You claim you’re good at that.
hawkdriver on February 16, 2010 at 2:49 PM
Do you think I condone this attack on Trig? Let me be clear, I don’t!
I have stood up and spoken out repeatedly against Rahm, Rush and probably hundreds of Hot Air commenters simply for using the r-word. Do a google search on links to r-word.org from Hotair.com and see from whose comments they originate.
I still think that Palin should have stood her ground against Rush. She is the best voice these kids, and adults could possibly have. I say that even though I think she has diminished her stance by defending Rush.
I don’t excuse any of them! I expected more from Palin on this. I am being hard on her because I know that she is just about the only person who I have heard publicly go there. Then she backed down!
I will continue to chastise people for using the r-word pejoratively. I will look forward to Palin’s revitalized stance against such slurs.
Your example is perfect, except that I don’t condone the insults against Palin’s family.
I suspect that’s because you missed the scores of other times when I was the one standing up against the r-word.
***
On that w00kie thing…I thought that you dressed me down then and that I took your words into deep consideration. If I’m mistaken, I apologize belatedly for the coward remark. It was way out on the fringes of inexcusable.
The Race Card on February 16, 2010 at 2:49 PM
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/02/05/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6177457.shtml
Reading through this, I think I misunderstood Rush’s intent. I’m not so sure that his initial response was primarily satire so much as analysis (I’ve just read the transcripted lines, though, so it’s hard to detect tone), but I think the distinction between Rahm and Rush is pretty clear: Emmanuel used the term as an off-the-cuff pejorative and Rush made a more analytical statement.
Palin seems to have taken issue with both.
BlueCollarAstronaut on February 16, 2010 at 2:50 PM
Okay, can you explain to me clearly how this was an “attack on Trig”?
Because I’m still not getting it.
Count to 10 on February 16, 2010 at 2:52 PM
That’s right, ignore any comment I’ve ever made until you can make fun of a misspelled word. Must be nice to be perfect and odor free.
hawkdriver on February 16, 2010 at 2:52 PM
I hate to defend him but TRC was ahead of the curve on this one. He was annoying us with that r-word crap way back.
The Race Card on February 16, 2010 at 2:54 PM
Very well Maybe.
But Palin is doing what she said she would and admire that, as she said “politically, if I die, I die.”
I like that about her. She don’t care!
Personally, I accept her in this roll.
A Politico or an advcate, I dont really care which direction she takes. She’s a good person and I like her.
Amadeus on February 16, 2010 at 2:55 PM
Yeah, I was a little worked up over being so thoroughly misunderstood by Hawkdriver. “Attack on Trig” overstates. It’s a an insult to all Americans with an allusion to Trig and Palin’s entire family.
The real offense was how woefully unfunny it was.
The Race Card on February 16, 2010 at 2:57 PM
Who would have guessed this thread was filled with intellectual detritus?
daesleeper on February 16, 2010 at 2:58 PM
And that we can agree!
Amadeus on February 16, 2010 at 2:59 PM
I have never understood why the media asks or expects people to answer for what other people have said. She should have just stuck with her original statment that the world should not be used and referred the questioner to Rush for an explanation of his use of the word. It always amazes me that politicians are asked to endorse or criticize his comments. Are they Rush’s parents? Is there some reason they should be compelled to even know what a talk radio host said let alone why he said it? I expect more from professionals then falling for easy “gotcha” questions.
Cindy Munford on February 16, 2010 at 3:03 PM
No apology is necessary. Your recollection of the exchange is exactly correct. It was very understandable that considering your perception of what was said about Mrs. Obama, that you would be angry. I was only commenting on the fact that you seemed to take Palin to task for equating it to the N-word. I’m not sure I would draw that conclusion either, but as I said, the use of Wookie elicited an emotional response in you and you equated in a manner no one else seemed to. If I ever offend someone, I simply apologize. I don’t split hairs about whether they should have been offended in the first place, I just assume they were.
RC, we’re way past any differences that would keep us from having discussions here. I respect your opinion, and enjoy your humor. I just haven’t seen much of the funny side lately. (AAMOF, I haven’t seen much of anything funny lately)
(Now I’m off to check all the threads since CR666 registered to check for misspelled words and poor grammar) ;-P
hawkdriver on February 16, 2010 at 3:11 PM
The thing about this whole “discussion” that amazes me is the apparent lack of understanding on the part of those who attack Palin for her comments.
As a white person the use of racial slurs doesn’t hurt me because I’m not the one being called them. However I am empathetic and accept that being called a n***** is offensive to people of color and thus unacceptable.
As the parent of a child with DS, Palin finds insulting special needs people equally offensive. It isn’t being PC – it’s being considerate of others to not continue to offend them when there is no need to do so. Why is that so hard for people to understand?
katiejane on February 16, 2010 at 3:11 PM
Amadeus on February 16, 2010 at 1:19 PM
All I’m going to say is that if I were the esteemed husband of Sarah and the father of Trig, I would be going to the offices of the likes of Seth McFarlane and asking him if “he’d like to address his issues with Trig to Mr. 12-Gauge.”
BradSchwartze on February 16, 2010 at 3:17 PM
Everybody is over analyzing this whole event. Palin is merely defending her base…the retards that like her.
Besides how can a manatee knowingly offend anyone?
LevStrauss on February 16, 2010 at 3:21 PM
crr6 hasn’t recovered from Mr. Treacher getting a job and moving on. Very lonely.
Cindy Munford on February 16, 2010 at 3:23 PM
BTW, I stopped watching FG when the old guy down the street started crushing on Chris. The dream fantasy the old guy had about ending up in some kind of relationship where they could actually produce children, totally weirded (Yes, yes CR666, I know weirded is not a real word) me out. It was just creepy and that’s where it crossed the line for me. The imagination that could conceive of something like that is just sick. I wouldn’t condemn anyone else for still watching it, but it’s just not funny anymore and to me, I think he’s pushing his sick impression of life in general. I’ve heard since then, that he used dead US Soldiers as some kind of prop for a joke in one cartoon. Again, not funny to me.
(Hey Cindy Munford!)
hawkdriver on February 16, 2010 at 3:25 PM
No that is not things are said in a normal discussion, but it is how things are said in a normal essay.
allrsn on February 16, 2010 at 3:51 PM
*how things are said
allrsn on February 16, 2010 at 3:51 PM
Please tell me you forgot to put the /s after your posting.
mizflame98 on February 16, 2010 at 3:52 PM
Amen brother! I’ve been a straight-up dud lately.
::self-smack::
The Race Card on February 16, 2010 at 3:56 PM
Nope.
Cindy Munford on February 16, 2010 at 4:01 PM
Geez, lighten up man. It was a joke.
crr6 on February 16, 2010 at 4:01 PM
Please tell me you forgot to put the /s after your posting.
mizflame98 on February 16, 2010 at 3:52 PM
Nope. He didn’t. He’s gone through his life bitter. Why should he stop now?
kingsjester on February 16, 2010 at 4:07 PM
Getting into arguments with cartoon characters is a no-win situation for a politician. Palin should just have a principled statement regretting the abusive effect of the word “r-tard” and focus on a positive message about the accomplishments of the disabled. She should let others handle the scolding of individual media figures.
dedalus on February 16, 2010 at 4:10 PM
Geez, you lighten up, it was a joke back.
See?
hawkdriver on February 16, 2010 at 4:12 PM
I am finding it hard to care….
Squid Shark on February 16, 2010 at 4:21 PM
Now that was funny.
RD on February 16, 2010 at 4:57 PM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3