Family Guy joke a kick in the gut: Palin

ABC ^ | 12-17-10 | Reuters

[wardaddy]

Family Guy joke a kick in the gut: Palin Updated 1 hour 55 minutes ago

Disappointed: Sarah Palin said the Family Guy spoof was "another kick in the gut" (AFP Photo: Robyn Beck, file photo)

RELATED STORY: Critics see writing on the hand for Palin RELATED STORY: Palin tells Obama to 'play the war card' Sarah Palin, the former US vice-presidential candidate, is used to finding herself the brunt of jokes but her humour snapped when animated TV show Family Guy appeared to mock her son who has Down syndrome.

The Palin family have called the creators of the show "heartless jerks" after an episode in which a female character with Down syndrome said she was the daughter of an accountant and "my mum's the former governor of Alaska". Ms Palin resigned as Republican governor of Alaska last year.

Ms Palin, who was recently hired by Fox News as a commentator, wrote in a posting on Facebook that the show, also aired on News Corp's Fox network, was a disappointment and "another kick in the gut".

Her post has received thousands of supportive messages.

Instead of elaborating on her views of the show that appeared to mock her 22-month-old son Trig, Ms Palin asked the oldest of her five children, daughter Bristol, to comment, as her reply would be "more restrained and gracious".

Bristol, 19, wrote she had to develop a thick skin as the child of a public figure but insults at her youngest brother hurt too much 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," Bristol wrote in a statement on her mother's Facebook page.

"Why could anyone want to make their lives more difficult by mocking them? ... If the writers of a particularly pathetic cartoon show thought they were being clever in mocking my brother and my family yesterday, they failed."

However, not everyone has been sympathetic towards the Palins.

Some Family Guy fans say the show is all about mocking people.

"It's their job to make fun of everyone. Get over it," said Tweeter @Little_Siren.

No-one could be immediately reached at Fox to comment.

[Condor51]

I watched Family Guy a couple times when it was first on (Fox?). I thought it was insipid then.

Apparently its now insipid, sophomoric, and crude.
Way to go guys!

[Behind Liberal Lines]

McFarlane, the Family Guy creator, is a perfect example of the idea that liberals are the real bigots. Not only because of this but because he tends to make race jokes that would make Archie Bunker blush.

[Tribune7]

but I've never seen them make fun of Muslims..

Do you really think this guy has balls?

[MadIsh32]

Are you serious?

Did you not see the episode with “Omar” the kid in the spelling bee that is asked terrorist based words?

“Omar, your word is suicide bomber”

Don’t be an asshat and play the victim

[MadIsh32]

Again, did you see the episode with Omar and the spelling bee?

Stop talking out of your ass

[Dilbert56]

The "Omar" kid was from India - they were mocking the newscaster who couldn't tell the difference between a Middle Easterner and an Indian.

I'm not watching the show any more. This is as good an excuse as any.

[Future Snake Eater]

Wow, one joke, you got me there. I can think of two entire episodes off the top of my head: 1) Meg converts to Christianity and is talked out of it at the end by a mushy-headed speech by Brian. Lesson: There is nothing different about Christianity—it’s all in your head. 2) Stewie goes to an alternate reality where Christianity never existed. Everything is super advanced and everyone is perfectly content. Lesson: Christianity causes the world’s problems.

But you can think of a single joke about a spelling bee. Man, you win, asshat.

[MadIsh32]

That entire episode was about Omar the Lebaneese terorist

Peter thought Omar’s father was a terrorist ready to blow up the shopping mall when it turned out he was just an engineer hired to demolish the shopping mall

Omar’s friend was named “Bashir Bin Ladin”

So no, its not one joke, but an entire episode to equating Muslims with terrorism. And it was quite funny too

So don’t spout off on something when you are clearly ignorant about it. Don’t be a liberal and start whining about things “but that group over there wasn’t made fun of boo hoo”

Thats what I expect to read on DU, not here on FR

[MadIsh32]

No, Omar was the Lebanese terrorist with the friend named “Bashir Bin Laden”

Its one of the funnier episodes I have seen

[Teacher317]

I haven't seen the episode... but I still fail to see where the insult lies. As I read it, the older son, Chris, falls for a girl with Downs Syndrome... no insult there, to have one fall in love with you. She introduces herself and tells who her parents are... with a reference to Sarah. Sarah does have a child with Downs Syndrome. Again, no insult there. Are the Palins afraid that someone will fall in love with their child in the future? Is it offensive to see those with Downs Syndrome portrayed in public? Where is the insult?

(Note: I'm not denying the possibility, nay probability, that Family Guy would insult Sarah or Trig... I just fail to see it in any of the descriptions of the episode. I think the real joke is on those who are a bit hyper-sensitive where Sarah is concerned. I admire her, and want her to be elected in 2012... but that doesn't mean that there is magically an insult here.)

[NCC-1701]

“...What kind of person attacks a mentally disabled infant?...”

“...an ethically disabled adult...”

Oh, come on, Enchante, you can do better than that.

I prefer to call that type of creature a low life piece of s$#t.

[NCC-1701]

How long do you think those two freaks would last with Todd Palin in a foul mood?

[Future Snake Eater]

Peter thought Omar’s father was a terrorist ready to blow up the shopping mall when it turned out he was just an engineer hired to demolish the shopping mall

So no, its not one joke, but an entire episode to equating Muslims with terrorism.

So the lesson learned from this episode is....what? Muslims are generally good people and we shouldn't knee-jerk react that they're terrorists? Would you say that was the theme of that episode?

[MadIsh32]

The theme of the episode is there are some hilarious Muslim jokes to be made

Relax man, the world isn’t out to get you.

Its only out to get liberals, communists and union members :)

[Teacher317]

Okay, just found the clip on Hulu... and again, there's no insult to Trig. The girl is a tough date, demanding to be treated with respect (hold out my chair, ask me about myself) and is even a bit forward (now give me a shoulder rub)... there's NOTHING insulting to Sarah Palin or Trig Palin or those with Down's Syndrome in that clip at all. They merely make a connection between a person with DS and Sarah Palin... as would most Americans, since Trig is probably the only person they know with DS. I reiterate my stance: this is being far over-blown by the hyper-sensitive. In Sarah's case, she has a right to be... she has been under full media assault for about a year now. The rest of us should be more insightful on her behalf. As her advisor, I would have suggested that she embrace the clip, and talk about how nice it would be to see more portrayals of DS people in sitcoms and other shows. It was also nice to see a DS person being shown as someone who could look forward to a normal dating life, and being the sincere object of affection.

But that's just me.

[SmokingJoe]

“Again, did you see the episode with Omar and the spelling bee?”

Again what?
I don't remember talking to you about Islamic terrorists or Family Guy at any time before.
Back on point, I never saw any episode about “Omar”, whoever the heck he is, because I stopped watching Family Guy long ago, because it was too vulgar and obscene. I made my statement because the Hollyweirdos almost always take pot shots at Christians, while tiptoeing around the far more insidious Islamic crazies
As for this episode you are talking about, did they specifically come out and insult or ridicule the prophet Mohammed(which was what I asked in my post), like the far braver Dutch cartoonist did?
I doubt it.

[SmokingJoe]

there's NOTHING insulting to Sarah Palin or Trig Palin or those with Down’s Syndrome in that clip at all. They merely make a connection between a person with DS and Sarah Palin... as would most Americans, since Trig is probably the only person they know with DS.

You gotta be kidding.
You are spinning so hard, it's a wonder you haven't spun right off the face of the planet.

[keats5]

Remind me again why we cannot compare these people to NAZIs?

[Future Snake Eater]

Uh-huh. Look, I can take a joke, even one at my expense, even one at the expense of my beliefs. I don’t take myself that seriously. However when I have some obviously leftist clown thoroughly insulting me and then telling me that he makes fun of everyone, when that is in fact not true—it pisses me off.

You want to insult me? You want to talk $#-+ about me? Fine, do it. But do it to my face and be honest that you’re doing it. And if you really want to be “edgy” don’t go after the same tired B.S. Make fun of the pedophilia inherent in Islam. There’s a wealth of jokes right there (say with Herbert converting to Islam and trying to get Chris to convert so he can finally get some action).

Make fun of how hypersensitive they are about anything said/shown of Mohammed. “South Park” already did it, but why not add to it? I’ve fought those POSes. I’ve seen how they live. Their entire culture is a joke.

Christianity has done so much for this world, it’s ludicrous to think otherwise (and, no, I don’t think he’s just joking).

But I’m supposed to lay down and take it b/c Seth McFarlane says I should. Because some fans of his say I should. I don’t think so.

[Teacher317]

Then point out the insult. Don't just claim "spin" and stay silent... lay it out! WHERE is the insult? Is it an insult to have a DS child? Is it an insult to show a DS child with a dating life? Is it an insult to show a DS girl on a date asking for a shoulder rub?

You made an assertion... now back it up!!