Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and her daughter Bristol have issued a statement on Facebook blasting Fox's TV network for running a show that makes fun of individuals living with Down's Syndrome.
On Sunday's Family Guy, the character Chris Griffin dates a woman suffering from Down's Syndrome. The woman says her mother was the former governor of Alaska, suggesting she's making fun of Palin's youngest son, Trig, who has the condition.
"My dad's an accountant, and my mom's the former governor of Alaska," the mentally challenged character quipped.
In a Facebook statement, Sarah Palin called "yesterday’s Fox show" "another kick in the gut," and asked, "when is enough, enough?"
She posted a statement allegedly written by her daughter, Bristol.
“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.”
The show also involves an extended song about a "Down Syndrome" girl.
The clip from Family Guy appears below.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/v/taIo35sHkNQ&hl=en_US&fs=1& expand=1]
