An ultimate smackdown

A few days ago, I wrote about Sarah Palin's (as well as her daughter Bristol's) objection to an episode of "The Family Guy," in which a character with Down syndrome appeared. The Palins felt that the writers were ridiculing people with Down's, including their son/brother, Trig. They called out the show and its writers on Palin's Facebook page, and although Seth McFarlane has remained silent on the matter, a statement was issued by the actress who voiced the character with Down's on the show.

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.

[snicker]

There was more from an interview with Ms. Friedman:

Q. When did you find out about the reaction that the episode elicited from Sarah Palin and her family?

A. [laughs] That I did not even know about until my mom told me, “You’re on Channel 4!” And when I watched on Channel 4, on “Extra,” and I saw Sarah Palin with her son Trig. I’m like, “I’m not Trig. This is my life.” I was making fun of Sarah Palin, but not her son.

Q. Do you agree with what she and her daughter Bristol were saying, that the character and the jokes were insulting to people with Down syndrome?

A. It’s not really an insult. I was doing my role, I’m an actor. I’m entitled to say something. It was really funny. I was laughing at it. I had a nice time doing voiceover. It was my first time doing a voiceover, and I had fun.

Did you see that part about how the actress actually has Down syndrome? That's kind of pertinent here.

You see, Ms. Friedman is out there making a living as an actress. She and her family have not let her Down's syndrome keep her from leading a productive and happy life. She also apparently has quite a sense of humor (I love the line about the loaf of French bread), and flat-out says that she was making fun of Palin herself, not her son with Down's. I'm thinking Palin could learn a lesson from this young lady.

This really is the ultimate smackdown, because if Palin stuck with her usual modus operandi of flogging a dead horse, she'd fire back another retort and not let the issue die the quick death it deserves (think of her continued argument with David Letterman after he apologized for his remarks concerning her daughter--which were about the one that really was knocked up, not the younger one). However, if she does that, she'll be arguing with a person with Down's...a person who is standing up for herself and the comedy show on which she appeared, and is doing quite well for herself. Palin's outrage at the perceived disrespect shown to those with Down's is null and void after a person with Down's herself said that she (Palin) has no sense of humor, doesn't get sarcasm, and uses her own son as a prop for sympathy and political gain.

Friedman may have Down's, but her remarks are nothing short of brilliant in their sheer shut-the-fuck-upness. A toast to you, Ms. Friedman!

I'll be curious to see if Palin is able to let this one go. She's certainly not known for letting go of grudges, as McCain's campaign staff can attest to. There have been no further statements about the "issue" on her Facebook page. She did make an appearance on O'Reilly's show (I don't know if it happened before or after Friedman's statement), in which they engaged in an orgy of mutual masturbation, O'Reilly feeding her paranoia and showing that he shares the missing sense of humor gene by saying that the episode was "pretty nasty" and calling Seth McFarlane a "hater." Palin showed disdain for "Fox Hollywood," I guess because they fall into that category of coastal elitists (East coast, West coast, it doesn't matter...none of them are "real Americans," anyway).

I'm sure that in the near future, Sarah will find other things about which to generate some self-righteous and self-promoting outrage, but maybe this time Palin’s inner censor will make a rare appearance and it will