Sarah Palin, Have You Met Andrea Friedman Yet?

This is just too awesome to pass up.

My name is Andrea Fay Friedman. I was born with Down syndrome. I played the role of Ellen on the "Extra Large Medium" episode of Family Guy that was broadcast on Valentine's day. Although they gave me red hair on the show, I am really a blonde. I also wore a red wig for my role in " Smudge" but I was a blonde in "Life Goes On". I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. 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. 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.

Here's Andrea.



When I saw this episode of Family Guy, I knew there had to be a catch, and Seth Macfarlane and Adrea Friedman pulled it off brilliantly. Palin took the bait, it simmered in her belly for a few days and then the coup de gras. Good on you Andrea for not letting others dictate what you should do. I don't think anyone has burned Palin like you have.

So, will Palin respond to this or will she be too stunned? I'm thinking that, if anything, she'll likely talk about how using a person with Downs is wrong and..........oh, wait, she won't be able to use that excuse, will she.

But I Thought Satire Was Alright?

And to Facebook she runs.

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?”

I'm not going to spend too much time defending the rights of Seth Macfarlane to make the programs he wants that satirize whomever is in the media spotlight at one particular time. But, what I will say is this - in light of Palin's continuing bouts of hypocritical blathering, I will offer this caveat that the episode in question wasn't too terribly impressive. However, it seems clear to me that this was done not just as a storyline for the show, but to see how Palin would respond.

And she responded as predicted - with rank, hypocrisy that is unmatched in the conservative realm.

Pushing The Envelope

Family guy apparently takes a jab at the Palin family during last night's episode.

...one of the show's characters dates a woman who apparently suffers from Down syndrome. The woman makes comparisons to Palin's 22-month-old son, Trig.

"My dad's an accountant, and my mom's the former governor of Alaska," the mentally disabled character said, without mentioning any names.

Family Guy is noted for being not only irreverent, but excruciatingly controversial on a variety of issues ranging from race-relations to abortion. So it's not surprising that the show would take this topic on.

And while the NY Daily News writer thinks that this episode was tasteless and beyond-the-pale, one has to look at Palin's own statements regarding satire and the use of the word "retard". While not once in the episode was the word "retard" used, the entire series is known for it's satirical standpoint on virtually everything imaginable.

The question now stands - is THIS brand of satire unacceptable? We're waiting Sarah.

Nooooooooooooooooooooo

O'Reilly Hypocrisy : Stewie, Nazis, And Bill's Infalted Sense Of Self

Last night on The O'Reilly Factor, Bill did a quick segment on the Family Guy episode where Stewie and Brian steal some Nazi uniforms and one of them has a McCain/Palin pin on it.

O'Reilly was less than pleased. But, you should have already known that.

While most people can easily recognize blatant satire, O'Reilly is not "most people". O'Reilly seems to think that "Family Guy" is calling John McCain, Sarah Palin, and all their followers Nazis.

Though this could almost be seen as a reasonable assumption, considering the behavior of many people at McCain / Palin rallies, shows such as Family Guy are designed to "take the piss" out of people, no matter who they are.

On the other hand, when O'Reilly calls someone a Nazi, he means it.

Reason #6243 That Family Guy Rocks

Satire, when done effectively, is alwasy over-the-top and very tongue-in-cheek.

That being said, people like Rush Limbaugh attempt to convince their detractors that they are "satirist" when called-out for things such as blatant racism.

Family Guy has a long tradition of satire. This clip is a classic example.



And now, we sit and wait for the "holier-than-thou" Right to start shreiking.