Sarah Palin has hit out at the makers of the animated comedy Family Guy for "mocking" her baby son Trig, who has Down's syndrome
Family Guy's Chris on a date with Ellen, who has Down's syndrome
The former Republican vice presidential candidate said an episode
featuring a character who has the condition felt like a "kick in the
gut".
Mrs Palin, a pundit on the Fox News channel, attacked its sister network, which airs the series, in a post on
her Facebook page titled: "Fox Hollywood - What a Disappointment."
The episode in question shows the character Chris going on a date with a Ellen, a girl with Down's syndrome.
Ellen, who speaks with a slight speech impediment, wears glasses
similar to Mrs Palin's and tells him her mother is the former governor
of Alaska
The character is described in a musical number as being an "as of
Monday, shoelace-tying / stimulating, titillating / kitty-cat
impersonating / mega-rocking, pillow-talking / just a little crooked
walking / coyly pouting, booby-sprouting / for some reason always
shouting / fascinating, captivating / happiness and joy-creating / Down
syndrome girl!"
Mrs Palin, who resigned as Alaska's governor last summer, said it
was her daughter Bristol who asked her "what I thought of the show that
mocked her baby brother, Trig (and/or others with special needs)".
Rather than responding directly, Mrs Palin said she had asked
Bristol, 19, to give her thoughts, "which is a much more restrained and
gracious statement than I want to make"
The following message, credited to Bristol, read: "When you're the
son or daughter of a public figure, you have to develop thick skin.
"My siblings and I all have that, but insults directed at our youngest brother hurt too much for us to remain silent."
She added: "If the writers of a particularly pathetic cartoon show
thought they were being clever in mocking my brother and my family
yesterday, they failed.
"All they proved is that they're heartless jerks."
Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane argued that the show was an "equal-opportunity offender"
He said in a statement to the LA Times: "From its inception, 'Family
Guy' has used biting satire as the foundation of its humour."
Some commentators have argued that the character was not offensive
as it portrayed Ellen as being defined by more than just her condition.
One wrote:
"Her defining trait wasn't her Down syndrome, it was the fact that she
was bitchy and demanding and ultimately rejected Chris even though he
heeded her every command."
Down's syndrome, sometimes known as Down syndrome, is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in a baby's cells.
People with the condition have some degree of learning disability, and an increased risk of some health problems
Subject: Sarah Palin Attacks Family Guy Over Down's Son Joke. 
Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:06 pm
