Palin lashes out at Fox animated comedy 'Family Guy'

Family Guy has made fun at everything and almost everybody. They didn't just take a stab at the Palin Family. Next week, it'll be somebody or something else.

What's funny is the FOX network, predominately a republican (conservative) orientated network has some of the risque shows. I enjoy the cartoons. < :-)

Palin's well on her way to becoming America's scold, with a total lack of any sense of humor to match.

Making fools out of her supporters who, quite frankly, didn't need all that much help to begin with.

I think a "heartless jerk" is someone who uses their handicapped child to further their own political gains

Doesn't she work for Fox as a talking head? Maybe she should be griping to the boys cutting her checks.

Family Guy call themselves an equal opportunity offender. She is either advertising the show for Fox network or she is just being a bitch.

Good advertising for Family Guy!

Anything that offends this ludicrous extremist can only be a good thing. Family Guy is a consistently brilliant show, Long may it get up the noses of intellectually-stunted witches.

Thanks to the glories of the internet, I discovered this tv show. One of their main characters is a man in a wheelchair. The show makes fun of lots of things all in good fun. I encourage Ms. Palin to notice that the son, Chris, fell for and went on a date with the character in question. Instead of making fun of the particular character, it seems, except for the joke about Ms. Palin, that the character in question was just being presented as a regular member of society. Isn't that the real goal of a fair and kind society?

I can understand Ms. Palin and her family's sensitivity about this issue as it hits straight at home for them. However, if our goal is to treat everyone equally, it should be that everyone can also be the subject of humour equally as well. That is as long as it is meant in good fun and not meant to harm anyone.

I wish she would shut her pie hole and go back to Alaska. She's about as electable as Lyndon Larouche...

Family Guy has never been my cup of tea but its a bit pointless to criticize them for doing what they do best.

the character in question was just being presented as a regular member of society.

I have to agree. The shows aim is to offend but reallly it does just reflect society where everyone isn't a white male aged 18-35, married, christian, 1.8 children etc

The episode features the character Chris falling for a girl with Down syndrome. On a date, he asks what her parents do.

She replies: “My dad’s an accountant, and my mom is the former governor of Alaska.”

Gosh, my sides are just splitting at this so funny and edgy joke about a two year kid with downs syndrome.....

Well, I agree and disagree with the dolt on this one. On the one hand, she's absolutely correct that the show sucks (or at least the daughter is!). It's a crap show that only pushes the envelope to get ratings -- it's never been good. On the other hand, as with South Park at times, and certainly with Republican shock-jockey Limbaugh, the only success they can achieve is through said pushing the envelope, and in that respect the Family Guy is at least consistent. I never heard palin take issue with any of the other characters or caricatures in Family Guy, so why only when it's personal if the show is as bad as she says? They seem to equally try and offend everyone.

The only difference, by the way, with Limbaugh and the aforementioned cartoons is that the latter, in particular South Park, can be clever.

Come on Seth! Were you hard up for material that week? Disappointed buddy.

Is Palin part of the routine, an extended joke beyond the 2-D cartoon and into 3-D real life? Clever marketing by Fox, leveraging its assets in two different segments of TV... or have news, opinion and cartoons now merged into one.

for someone who quit the governor's office because she "didnt want to be hounded by the media", she seems to be in the media everyday...definitely she hasn't shut up since then

US politics has become a Roman circus in which you can find every kind of nauseating freak imaginable. Why should we delude ourselves to think it will stop with Palin? By 2012 the human menagerie will have almost certainly become an even bigger spectacle.

The sad thing is that you will find more reality in 5 minutes of the animated comedy, 'Family Guy' than you will in 100 hours of palin speeches.

All I can say is thank God for Facebook so that she has a place to play concern troll.

Taka

The only difference, by the way, with Limbaugh and the aforementioned cartoons is that the latter, in particular South Park, can be clever.

The real difference is that, beneath all the shock tatics and offensive bits, South Park actually has something something to say...

Peel away the layers from Family Guy and you're left with, well... nothing really.

The sad thing is that you will find more reality in 5 minutes of the animated comedy, 'Family Guy' than you will in 100 hours of palin speeches.

I never thought Liberals spent their time watching cartoons myself. NPR to boring I guess.

"Anything that offends this ludicrous extremist can only be a good thing"

Anyone who thinks this "joke" is a good thing is insensitive, to say the least.

NPR to boring I guess.

That would be "too" boring, but then how would you know?

Anyone who thinks this "joke" is a good thing is insensitive, to say the least.

The girl with Down Syndrome in the cartoon had a life and was articulate, where was insensitivity? The joke was about Palin, not about DS. Would it have been more sensitive to portray her as less articulate and closer to an actual person with DS? Or how about not portraying her at all?

I like this show, it is a bit on the edge and cuts it close with a lot of topics. Having watched all 8 seasons so far, I can say that Seth McFarlane does slam Christians and those on the right very much. I'm ok with that since I understand it is satire. But, he never pokes fun or has satire towards Muslims like he does with Christians. Many episodes show a "hip" Jesus and God, but never has he done one with Muhammad.

On the Palin comments, I saw the show in question and though it is in bad taste (first of all, Palin's baby son is the one with Down's syndrome) he was trying to stretch it a bit too far to make a joke. I wonder will he make the derisive comments and portray Obama in a negative sterotype as he has the previous (including Clinton) presidents?

But if he had used the N word in his show you'd all be all over him for using it and calling this show Low Class like it truly is. At least South Park shows hypocrisy. Family Guy shows nothing. It's cheap politically incorrect slapstick comedy.

I never thought Liberals spent their time watching cartoons myself.

You never thought? Well...when it comes to it, thinking is ALWAYS a good place to start.

Taka

Yeah, I can see the angle that they're trying to show a girl with DS as having a somewhat "normal" life, but....I dunno. When they talked about a specific person they crossed the line. He's just a baby. They shouldn't have referenced him.

Anyone who thinks this "joke" is a good thing is insensitive, to say the least.

You must be referring to Palin, surely?

You never thought? Well...when it comes to it, thinking is ALWAYS a good place to start.

Actually Taka,

I think that people deriding Palin's so called lack of intelligence by defending a pretty silly cartoon that they watch is pretty darn ironic myself. Just my thoughts on this one.

“All they proved is that they’re heartless jerks.”

Why does sarah palin think it's ok to insinuate that all people with pacemakers are jerks? How insensitive of her!

She should be fired from her job at fox over this.

I'm going to post about this on Facebook.

Taka

Sarah Palin. Sooooooo irrelevant. The smart set, the "edgy" and "transgressive" artsy crowd has had to resort to attacking her handicapped infant. This is how they demonstrate their moral superiority, not to mention their hipness.

Anyone who'd watched the show would be aware that the girl's having Downs Syndrome did not preclude her from being eligible for a loving relationship, attending school, or taking part in society in any way.

It did make jokes at the expense of people's bigotry regarding the issue. But the right-wingers among us would apparently prefer disability to remain a taboo topic, off-limits for the public forum.

I did not take offence at the episode at all. Nor am I a stranger to disability.

I do take offence at a Bible-thumping, incoherent malignancy setting herself up as some kind of authority on what people may and may not make jokes about.

I do take offence at a Bible-thumping, incoherent malignancy setting herself up as some kind of authority on what people may and may not make jokes about.

Can you vote in US elections? Why the concern? It's not like TV commentator Sarah Palin is going to anytime soon limit your right to have unwanted progeny destroyed...

I do take offence at a Bible-thumping, incoherent malignancy setting herself up as some kind of authority on what people may and may not make jokes about.

I think any mother has that kind of authority to speak up when someone verbally attacks their children. That means I include leftie, tye dye t-shirt wearing, pot smoking, incoherent mumbling kumbaya mothers also and would support them 100 percent in speaking up if this so called 'joke' was directed at one of their siblings.

I think any mother has that kind of authority to speak up when someone verbally attacks their children.

As a great man once said: "There you go again".

Watch the show. The character is not mocked for having Down Syndrome. The bigotry of other characters surrounding Down Syndrome was attacked and rightly made to look ridiculous, but the girl was shown to be as entitled to a "normal" life as anyone else.

I repeat: the girl's Down Syndrome was not attacked. Palin's daughter was not attacked. Peter Griffin was the butt of many jokes, as was his son, as were several other recurring characters, for their intolerance and other failings (such as obesity, homophobia, and gullibility). But the character's having Down Syndrome was treated with surprising maturity.

Palin, however, was ridiculous and remains so. She is very worthy of mockery, and should get used to it if she's planning on sticking around the public arena. I thought she was supposed to be tough and feisty?

IvanCoughalot,

I repeat: the girl's Down Syndrome was not attacked. Palin's daughter was not attacked.

Thanks, I get it now. There is no way one could ever link this 'joke' to Palin's son Trig with downs syndrome.

The episode features the character Chris falling for a girl with Down syndrome. On a date, he asks what her parents do.

She replies: “My dad’s an accountant, and my mom is the former governor of Alaska.”

That former Governor of Alaska reference was just 'filler' to keep the script rolling.

And in what way does that "attack" the girl? Unless linking someone with Palin is a form of slander?

Remember a few years ago, when Islamic fundamentalists were going berserk about cartoons? They looked ridiculous then. Palin looks ridiculous now. That's nothing new.

But the fact remains, Palin is being a blowhard buffoon, trying to set limits on what people may or may not make jokes about.

IvanCoughalot,

It is obvious that any rational response to you about this will only result in yet another opportunity for you just to insult Sarah Palin. The joke was cruel, lame and spiteful and 'inspired' by a child with downs syndrome named Trig who's mother is the ex-Governor of Alaska.

There is nothing funny about that or the continued "bashing" of a Mother protecting her son and speaking up about it.

Sailwind - It's equally obvious to me that any rational response to you will wind up with your repeating the canard that Sarah Palin's child was abused by the writers of family guy.

Once again: the Down Syndrome of the character (who did make a comment about the Governor of Alaska, but not to her own or Palin's detriment) was treated with more respect than any of the so-called "normal" characters on the show. The other characters were mocked for bigotry, sexaholism, lack of personal freshness, flatulence, childishness and outright stupidity. The Down syndrome character was not. If such a term can be used about Family Guy, the moral of the story was that people should not "feel weird" about people with Down Syndrome.

Palin wants to manipulate this into yet another "oh, look at my poor family, aren't I a caring mother, vote for me but leave me alone" bandstand, and you're playing right along.

Bottom line: if you didn't watch the show, you're not qualified to comment on whether or not it was funny. If you want to be told by an ignoramus what you should watch, help yourself. I prefer to make up my own mind.

Once again: the Down Syndrome of the character (who did make a comment about the Governor of Alaska, but not to her own or Palin's detriment) was treated with more respect than any of the so-called "normal" characters on the show.

Agreed, one should never make fun of the handicapped and treated with respect.......Even those that have a mother who was an Ex-Governor of Alaska.......Oops, seems that one doesn't apply here after all.

I don't think I've ever said a flattering word about Palin, but that's not the point. If any of us saw our kids being used like that on TV, especially one with special needs, we'd be outraged.

Agreed, one should never make fun of the handicapped and treated with respect.......Even those that have a mother who was an Ex-Governor of Alaska.......Oops, seems that one doesn't apply here after all.

How did you reach that conclusion? The programme did not make fun of the handicapped. The programme referenced Palin, but did not make fun of or disrespect people with Down Syndrome. There was a Down Syndrome character - is that your problem? That people with Down Syndrome shouldn't be on TV?

Ivan,

You are playing a game with a group holding nothing but victim cards. You may think logic and common sense would trump that, but I've been around here long enough to know, when someone is going to claim victimhood, no amount of logic is going to get in their way.

Taka

Taka,

Please, the joke sucked, I agree I was victim hearing it though. Logic and common sense tells me that.

Sail, No one will EVER doubt your victim status. You've gone out of your way to let us all know how victimized you are by sarah not getting to be your VP. Ad nauseum, in fact. It may be time to let it go. Food for thought.

Taka

Taka,

Obama is President now. Get over it.

Allow me to deter from Sailwind's victimhood pronouncement and angst to provide a little perspective to this story:

Andrea Fay Friedman, the actress who herself has Down syndrome, said the scene was merely meant to be sarcastic.

"I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor," she said in an e-mail to the New York Times. "I thought the line 'I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska' was very funny. I think the word is 'sarcasm.' In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life."

palin=concern troll who likes to take potshots at people with pacemakers.

Taka

Oh I say! Well played, sir.

"my mom is the former governor of Alaska"

Trig Palin is a boy, not a girl. Dumb joke.

Seth McFarlane, creator of Family Guy: "The show is an equal-opportunity offender."

You betcha it is.

Allow me to deter from Sailwind's victimhood pronouncement and angst to provide a little perspective to this story:

Andrea Fay Friedman, the actress who herself has Down syndrome, said the scene was merely meant to be sarcastic.

"I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor," she said in an e-mail to the New York Times. "I thought the line 'I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska' was very funny. I think the word is 'sarcasm.' In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life."

Allow me to add the part you left out that Ms. Freidman said at the end of the quote.

In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes.

No agenda by Mrs. Freidman or her backers here at all, just a harmless little joke.

So, I see Sail. Ms. Friedman isn't allowed a voice in your world. We must protect sarah and her family at all costs.

Seriously, how many posts away are you from a "liberal media conspiracy" rant?

Your reaction is comical. Seriously. I have a cousin who is handicapped so I think of myself as somewhat sensitive to the subject. Your reaction is so over the top, it honestly makes me want to see how far you'll go. Are we going to see one of those YouTube "leave Paris alone" videos out of you?

Both you and sarah need to put on your big boy and big girl pants and realize that just because you don't think something is funny, you don't have to turn it into a cause. You can keep your pie hole shut and turn the channel.

Here endeth the lesson.

Taka

You either get the joke or you don't. I thought it was funny and Palin got off easy compared to a lot of people parodied on Family Guy.

As far as the word Retard? It doesn't offend me. Why? Because when I hear the word Retard I don't think of mentally challenged people. I think of people who are considered "Normal" who show poor judgment. The English language changes. Fags are no longer bits of kindling for the fire, but cigarettes (UK definition). Saying someone is Gay in 2010 doesn't mean the same thing it meant in 1940.

Add to that Palin is an obvious opportunistic victim. Retard is okay when a "satirist" like Limbaugh uses it to describe liberals. But when Liberals use it's time to hit the talk show circuit. Wah.

So, I see Sail. Ms. Friedman isn't allowed a voice in your world. We must protect sarah and her family at all costs.

Of course she is allowed a voice, I posted her entire quote for all to see so they could form their own judgment as to what really motivated the 'joke'.

Your reaction is comical. Seriously. I have a cousin who is handicapped so I think of myself as somewhat sensitive to the subject. Your reaction is so over the top, it honestly makes me want to see how far you'll go

I have a co-worker whose son has down syndrome, he's a pretty cool little guy. I'd never make a 'joke' about his Daddy to score political points or further a personal agenda, that is just flat out wrong in my book.

If this was directed at a liberal mother public figure who had a child also with down syndrome I would feel exactly the same way. It was low mean and spiteful.

Defending it is truly trying "to put lipstick on a pig".

Respectfully

Sailwind.

Palin is easily offended...

Well,my many friends, I don't know about other people,but hating on palin helps fill the void in my online life which was created around the end of January 2009,when I could no longer hate on bush, who was the worst president,EVER,had finally left the office of president, which he destroyed.

"hating on palin helps fill the void in my online life"

And there, ladies and gentlemen, you have it.

Yeah I dont know why liberals in America have to attack people's families. It seems like they cant talk about her ideas because most people in America like her ideas so they trash her family. Thats kind of low class, and it doesnt work. It does not keep people form entering public life in America that oppose liberal/socialist types.

That being as it may family guy pretty much makes fun of everyone though.

Sarge - I think he was being ironic. Gombei's on your side.

As far as I know Palin doesn't have much in the way of ideas. Her Ideas typically consist of one line zingers that have no substance. Not to mention most of her criticism of liberals lean towards personal attacks since she can't debate substance. As far as I am concerned she reaps what she sows.

As far as I know Palin doesn't have much in the way of ideas. Her Ideas typically consist of one line zingers that have no substance.

As far as you know? Have you read her bestseller? Are you familiar with her ideas on energy independence? Care to provide a few of these one-line zingers that supposedly characterise her?

the joke on family guy was more a dig at the way palin uses her son for sympathy points more than it was any kind of "attack".

i am an actual card-carrying member of the disabled community, with an actual obvious and visible disability (as well as a few less visible ones).

any time people with disabilities are treated like real people is a GOOD thing. yes, people with disabilities date and engage in relationships. yes, people with disabilities can be jerks.

we are not special magical beings, or 'angels'... we're not something that should be either on a pedestal or feared. we are just people. and yes, many of us can actually take a joke.

I think your post will be appreciated, corinnajune. But let's not forget that the disabled person being mocked in this cartoon is still a child, an infant no less. That is what I find to be so offensive.If they poked fun at Palin's husband for say, a speech impediment, that would be one thing, but going after a woman's baby is a bit much.

my point is that the episode didn't mock palin's baby. at all.

the character was a high school student, and was voiced by an actual person with down's syndrome. i hate to overanalyze a show as unserious as family guy, but i must say the character in question was also bossy, ballsy, in charge of her relationship, and picky about what she wanted in a boyfriend. we need more shows to portray people with disabilities as real actual fleshed out complete human beings. we are not here to be inspirational flowers that must be kept on an emotional pedestal at all times. nor should we be used to gain cheap political sympathy points.

the only way it related to palin at all was that at one point she mentions offhandedly that her mother was the 'former governor of alaska'.

Odogma said: But let's not forget that the disabled person being mocked in this cartoon is still a child, an infant no less.

No, no. I assure you the disabled person in this joke is full grown! She was once the governor of Alaska! At least that is the way I see it. The one-liner here implies that Sarah Palin tends to have handicapped children. At least that is what I see. Its too much. Its over the line. The trouble with my joke is that I have insulted the handicapped by associating them with Sarah Palin!

Anyway, I thought it was funny for about half a second, then I went cold. Its far more rude than funny. Rudeness can also be funny, but this is too much to claim to have any taste at all.

No, I think the conservatives actually do have a case to claim insensitivity this time, and I think we should let them have it or we may never hear the end of it. But, this time, they would be justified to take this over 500 posts. The writer's of Family Guy should apologize. They really are second rate anyway. And their work should never be mentioned together with South Park and David Letterman ever again. Everyone who mentioned them together should also apologize.

I am going to watch some South Park now (for free!) just to be reminded of how great Matt and Trey are. Later folks!