From the “in case you missed it” file, last night the design conservative had the honor of co-hosting a radio show with Rachelle Friberg, founder of the popular blog Conservative Girl With a Voice!
As the newly-appointed steward of the online radio show started by Join Team Sarah, Rachelle graciously invited tdc to join her in the virtual studio as a co-host. Last night’s debut show proved to be very enjoyable and we have only our guests to thank. Their collective enthusiasm, passion, and humor made for a fast hour-and-a-half!
Our guests included:
- Sheya - founder of PalinTV.com
- Robert Stacy McCain - blogger at The Other McCain
- Eddie Burke - Alaska’s #1 Talk Radio host at KBYR in Anchorage
- Jason Cline - candidate for Alaska’s State House District 22
Listen to the entire show at Blog Talk Radio!
- tdc
It is being reported this morning that Governor Palin’s longtime friend and aide, Meghan Stapleton, is stepping down from her official duties with SarahPAC. In relaying her decision to her fellow SarahPAC staff, Stapleton wrote:
While I had hoped to work together on so many more projects, time with my precious 2-year-old has been further minimized with the whirlwind commitments of all things Palin…I have done my best to scale back, but Isabella is now resorting to hiding my BlackBerry, and she shouldn’t grow up begging for a mother to start acting like a mother.”
Meghan Stapleton has been a tireless and dedicated aide to the governor, and it is certain that her absence will be felt by all. She is to be commended, though, for focusing on what really matters: her role as a mother to a 2-year-old toddler. After all, it’s never too early to start grooming the next generation of strong Palin-esque women!
The last two years of American politics have been fascinating and invigorating to watch from the outside in - much of that due to the presence of Governor Sarah Palin in the public square. Indeed, what a “whirlwind” it must have been on the inside! That said, none of it would have been possible without the efforts of many people behind the scenes, and Ms. Stapleton has been a key member of the team.
So, Meghan, I (we) send you best wishes for the future, and you have our gratitude for all that you have done to support the whirlwind that is Sarah Palin.
Thank you, Meghan Stapleton!
- tdc
*Thanks to Palin TV for the link to the story
I wasn’t going to write about this issue anymore this week.
I was going to let it go after I said my piece about the Family Guy “incident”. After all, if I wanted to, it would be possible to spend all day every day tracking down tasteless comments in the media that belittle one Palin or another; and frankly, I am not inclined to risk my blood pressure or sanity in that effort. Unfortunately, though, the following quote brought me back into the fray:
“…while we were off, Sarah Palin agreed to do commentary at Fox News. Which is actually very similar to her day job - talking to a baby with Down Syndrome.”
- Bill Maher, in an “Exclusive Rant” for The Huffington Post
When I heard this comment on the radio yesterday, I felt compelled to address it as a matter of humor, taste, and simple decency. You see, for Bill Maher and countless others with oversized soap boxes, there is neither humor, nor taste, nor decency in what they do.
As illustrated by the events that have taken place over the last few days, it seems all sense of decorum goes out the window where the Palins are concerned. Not only is there a constant barrage of vitriol aimed at Sarah Palin, but her husband and children seem to be acceptable targets as well.
Even the youngest - her toddler, Trig.
If The Family Guy writers or Bill Maher provide any clues, it seems Trig’s only crime is that he was born into a well-known family that happens to adore him just as he is. Rather than celebrating the Palins, and others like them, as examples of the unconditional love and strength required of families with a special needs child, Maher and his ilk have chosen to poke fun at something that really isn’t funny.
Trig has Down Syndrome. Why is it necessary to draw attention to him as the butt of your sadistic “comedy” - whether implied or overt? What’s humorous about that?
Apparently, those in Hollywood are still mired in the social graces of a grade school. If I remember correctly, it was about that time when my parents taught me that it was rude and unbecoming to make light of a person’s physical or mental challenges. I was brought up to know that, if you wouldn’t say something to a person’s face, you probably shouldn’t be saying it.
To Bill Maher, Seth MacFarlane, and all those who will most certainly be making their own crass comments, today and in the future, I say: Grow up already.
The jokes have got to stop. Period.
- tdc
*MORE:
- VIDEO (in all its tasteless glory) is here: the “joke” comes at the 1:28 mark
- Family Guy actress defends the joke - via The Daily Caller
**UPDATE I - response from Sarah and Bristol Palin**
**UPDATE II - list of Family Guy Sponsors**
**UPDATE III - Contact FOX CEO, Rupert Murdoch!**
I’m typically not one to get in a snit about television show content that I may not agree with. We live in a country where free speech and creative license are the law of the land, so if I can’t handle what’s happening on the tube, I turn the channel.
In light of this, I have been known to enjoy episodes of the Family Guy on quite a number of occasions. The producers of the show seem to be equal-opportunity taunters who poke fun at Christianity, Islam, most minority groups, and just about everyone else with comparable aplomb. Have they made me wince with some of their dialogue? Yes. Do I find the humor to be mean-spirited? No, I usually don’t.
Tonight, though, I think the show crossed the line when they made a direct reference to Governor Sarah Palin.
If you are unfamiliar with Family Guy, the main characters are a married couple (Peter and Lois), their two high school-aged children (Chris and Meg), and baby (Stewie). In the episode that aired this evening, Chris has a crush on a girl at school who happens to have Down Syndrome. When he gains the courage to ask her out, Chris and his date (Ellen) end up at dinner, and during the conversation Chris asks Ellen about her family. In her answer she says:
“My mother is the former governor of Alaska.”
Yes - really. When I heard that, I couldn’t believe my ears and was not the least bit amused! My immediate thought was “not again…“ One more time, we see it demonstrated that the Palin family - specifically, Trig Palin and his mother - are fair game in the public arena when it comes to taking cheap shots for the sake of “comedy”.
Enough is ENOUGH already! It’s not funny. It’s not cool. And, most of all, it’s utterly disrespectful! Attention Hollywood: It’s OK to have a conscious and keep some things on the edit room floor!
The Family Guy producers owe the Palins an apology. What you did tonight crossed the line and you should have the courage to admit as much. Free speech is all well and good. But have enough decency to know that a toddler with Down Syndrome is really not the best choice to be fodder for the amusement of your audience.
- tdc
*UPDATE I - THE PALINS RESPOND (via Facebook):
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?”:
“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. 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. Their lives are difficult enough as it is, so why would anyone want to make their lives more difficult by mocking them? As a culture, shouldn’t we be more compassionate to innocent people – especially those who are less fortunate? Shouldn’t we be willing to say that some things just are not funny? Are there any limits to what some people will do or say in regards to my little brother or others in the special needs community? 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. - Bristol Palin”
- Sarah Palin
*UPDATE II - LIST OF SHOW SPONSORS for February 14, 2010 episode:
Contact the sponsors below to let them know how you feel about the decision of Family Guy producers to make light of the challenges facing Trig Palin and his loving family. Encourage these companies to stand up for the Palins and the thousands of families like them. Tell them that enough is enough! - tdc
-
Fox News - Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and CEO
News Corporation - 212-852-7000
- Fox Broadcasting Company - 310-369-1000
- YUM! Brands (Pizza Hut) - 502-874-8300
- Red Bull North America Inc. - 310-393-4647
- Mars, Inc. - 703-821-4900
- Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. - 800-331-4331
- Bally Total Fitness Holdings Corp. - 773-399-1300
- Pfizer, Inc. - 212-573-2323
- Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company - 312-644-2121
- Universal Pictures - 818-777-1000
*READ MORE:
- Read Adrienne Ross’ passionate response at Motivation: Truth
- Rachelle Friberg on “the kindest among us” at Conservative Girl With a Voice
- See the offending video clip at Mediaite
*Image credit - mediabistro.com
*Note: this post was bumped up from original publish date of February 14, 2010
Governor Palin responds to the disrespect shown to her son, Trig, and others in the special needs community by the producers of Family Guy. As evident in this clip, the governor continues to demonstrate remarkable strength - and restraint - in the face of the unrelenting attacks on her family.
- tdc
Governor Palin at the Daytona 500 - February 14, 2010 - via Facebook
On a day when the Family Guy takes a pot shot at the governor and her son, Trig, she spends her time doing what really matters - enjoying the company of the world’s greatest drivers, sports fans, and of course, those serving in our military. It looks like a great time was had by all! Governor Palin continues to be a class act…
- tdc
*Photo credit by the supremely-talented Shealah Craighead (I wonder if she does weddings…hmmmm…)
Dear Governor Palin,
As the design conservative, I feel somewhat obligated to offer an appropriately design-related gift to you on your birthday. I thought long and hard about this because I wanted to get you something that would be useful, yet fun. Creative, yet functional. And, alas, maybe something you could even pass on to the kids.
After much soul- (and Google-) searching, I think I’ve found the perfect item to express my gratitude for the things you’ve accomplished this past year. It’s something you currently use with great, shall we say, flair? And, as a bonus, it’s a gift that we - your very appreciative and amused supporters - can only hope will keep on giving in the years to come.
Yes…I think I found just the right thing for you:
*
*
*
*
…now, don’t say I never gave you nothin’…
**HAVE A HAPPY (AND CREATIVE) BIRTHDAY, GOVERNOR PALIN!**
- tdc
PS: Readers - consider a donation to SarahPAC. Ya know…more Sharpies…
*BONUS: Bob and Mark, Alaskan radio hosts, give Governor Palin a birthday call
So Andree McLeod and Zane Henning, serial complainants who cost the state thousands of tax payer dollars while they played out their hellish vendetta against Governor Palin, somehow are credible sources of information? These two Palin anklebiters, whose complaints were thrown out one after another, are taken seriously, but the legislature doesn’t want to hear from the administration itself regarding how these ethics abuses can be solved? What sense does that make?
Clearly, these two can’t spot a real ethics violation if it smacked them in the face, so how does their one-sided testimony equate to anything remotely helpful in bringing about true ethics reform? And why can’t the legislators see what is so apparent? Allowing these two characters to have a say in ethics rules is like allowing children to decide their own punishment. Don’t tell me the legislators don’t recognize this. They make it hard to take them or these hearings seriously. It seems, instead, to be more of the same Juneau dog and pony show.
What’s that saying about the squeaky wheel…? Giving these (pardon the phrase) yahoos more time in the public square to spout their lies amounts to dereliction of duty on behalf of Alaska’s legislators. Shouldn’t it be required that at least one of the many complaints filed by these folks be proven true before they’re asked to opine about ethics? It appears not.
Click the link for the full story at Motivation: Truth.
- tdc
