Palin's Facebook note had over 10,000 comments last time I checked. I'd browse through a few if I didn't think it would crash my browser.Sarah Palin recently rebuked the writers of Family Guy for their recent episode involving a teenage girl with down syndrome. In the episode, Chris works up the courage to ask out Ellen, a classmate with down syndrome, after a near death experience in the woods. While on a date, Chris asks Ellen about her family. She replies, saying her dad is an accountant and her mom is "the former governor of Alaska."

Palin responded with the following in a Facebook note:

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

Before I get too far, note that Ellen's voice was provided by Andrea Friedman, an actress who actually has down syndrome. Seth MacFarlane appeared on Real Time With Bill Maher last Friday and defended his show. Maher plays a video of Palin's response on Bill O'Reilly along with a clip of the actual joke:

Check out more Real Time with Bill Maher on Fridays at 10pm ET/PT on HBO.

Friedman responded to Palin's criticism in an email to the New York Times:

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.

She also spoke by phone with ArtsBeat and went into further depth regarding her career and role on the show. If you would like to watch the episode in its entirety, check out the video below. Hulu doesn't keep recent episodes up more than a few weeks so try and watch it while its available.

So, now you're caught up. I'm issuing a spoiler warning for the commentary below, as I'll be referencing bits from the show. If you want your first viewing untainted, check out the episode above and return once you've finished.

[SPOILER ALERT]

After watching the episode, I didn't think the satire was all that harsh. Mind you, I don't know anyone with down syndrome. This isn't a condition that I have any proximity to (I'd be curious to hear the opinions of those who do have someone with down syndrome in their life, preferably after they watch the episode in its entirety). Most of the episode's bite came in the form of a song and dance routine prior to Chris's date with Ellen; however, the writers poked more fun at Chris's inadequacies than Ellen's. If anything, she was placed on a pedestal in that sort of "Disney hero getting ready for the ball while fawning over Prince[ess] Charming" way.

Ellen's scenes appeared surprisingly natural. Family Guy pulled quite a few punches while incorporating her character. During her scenes, there were no jokes made at her expense or any South Park style "cripple-fights." Instead of the writers focusing on her condition, they made her out to be like a normal teenage girl. She was really bossy and ultimately Chris called it off with her, not because of her condition, but because she was too bitchy. Despite a few low-blows, Family Guy writers should be credited with incorporating a character with disabilities onto the show without being condescending or overtly rude. The Sarah Palin joke was a one-liner (it wasn't all that funny, to be honest, and felt like an afterthought). After the gag, there was no mention or allusion to her family at all. Ellen wasn't meant to depict Trig in the least, and I don't think this episode is going to make life any tougher for him in the future. Down syndrome got a light jab by Family Guy standards. There are numerous people/demographics that have been hit far worse.

[END SPOILERS]

If you ask me, I don't think Sarah Palin is giving those with down syndrome sufficient credit. Let's be honest, if Andrea Friedman is putting you on blast then it may be time to re-evaluate your level of offense. I'm not saying Palin doesn't have the right to be offended. But everyday, people encounter images, behavior or speech they may find abrasive or contrary to their modus operandi. Then we choose how we react. So, you can get upset with a cartoon show that MacFarlane himself admits is "an equal opportunity offender" (emphasis on equal, Bill Clinton, James Carville and other liberals have been the butt of jokes as well) or you can just consider them jerks and move on with your life.

I invite you to watch the episode and judge for yourself. Here's my final verdict: I credit Family Guy for incorporating a child with disabilities into a comedy show without pointing and laughing at them. Those with disabilities are under-represented in the media because people are too afraid to tackle the issue and I think Family Guy did a satisfactory job. The Palin bit fell flat and it was likely inserted as an after-thought to shore up controversy/ratings/money. I don't think the episode made fun of Trig. He was referenced in that he has down syndrome and is Palin's child, but he was not represented as a character or ridiculed. Should Palin or those with down syndrome be offended? I hate coping-out, but I don't have down syndrome or closely know anybody who does. So, I won't speak for them. It's really up to Palin and how she thinks those with down syndrome should be depicted in the media. I think she and others should consider the broader implications of having a character with down syndrome voiced by an actress with down syndrome in a comedy show. She should also consider Friedman's thoughts on the matter. Palin also shouldn't excuse Rush Limbaugh for saying "retarded" and actually making fun of those with disabilities (read: Matthew Fox). In the end, I'm sitting here, drafting this article with no love lost for one of my favorite shows.