Brittany Harvey Media Law and Ethics April 29, 2010 Sarah Palin vs.

Family Guy Sitting at a fancy restaurant table with a white table cloth Family Guys Chris Griffin, the show's chunky, blonde teenager is dressed in a nice suit, while on a date with Ellen, a girl with Down syndrome. "So what do your parents do?" he simply asks. Ellens response, My dad's an accountant, and my mom is the former governor of Alaska."

Sarah Palin has decided to fight back against the Family Guy for the episode which she felt was targeting her son, Trig, who was unfortunately born with Down syndrome. In many recent interviews, she has repeatedly asked When is enough, enough? And when are we going to be willing to say, you know, some things just aren't really funny.'' After hearing of the episode Sarah Palins daughter, Bristol, wrote on her Facebook 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 fired back at Sarah Palin stating that she is looking for phony pity. The actress who is the voice of Helen is also taking aim at Palin. The shows creator, Seth MacFarlane, said on an interview with HBOs Real Time, that he thinks Sarah Palin is trying to stick up for the actress when really the actress loves her life and what she is doing. Thirty-nine year old Andrea Fay Friedman was born with Down syndrome and feels that Palin needs to relax. Freidman has been acting and doing voices for animated shows for many years. She
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wanted to make it clear that the parody was not poking fun at Palins son but at Sarah Palin herself. On an interview with ABC News, Friedman said that Sarah Palin did not even get the joke and "it would be nice if she did have a sense of humor. Come on Sarah, laugh a little. It is not just Sarah Palin who is disagreeing with the word retard on any broadcast media. Many people around the world are very much against using this word. Could it be considered defamatory if the word is used and someone, such as Palin, tries to take action? Defamation is basically defined as an injury to the reputation of people by exposing information that is not true and giving the public eyes a false view of this person. The Defamation Law could be defined as a way to protect citizens against harsh attacks by the media or any other source that is spreading negative reports. However, if someone takes legal action against something that was reported, yet is true, an opinion, or a type of information then with the appropriate evidence, reporters can then defend themselves by stating that the following is not a false report. Does this mean that Family Guy has a valid justification for winning this case?

Though it can be considered a harsh attack against those with Down syndrome, the writers of Family Guy are making a true statement. The character was created to have Down syndrome, yet she was portrayed in a way that many feel was in a good and positive way. So if a person who has the disease can poke fun at herself, then why is it so wrong? Considering the disease, many should be happy that a person diagnosed with Down syndrome has gained so much respect for her disability that television agencies and media outlets are looking to hire her as an actress. Though there has been criticism towards many shows using a Down syndrome character, many are happy that the character was portrayed so well. Friedmans mother said that she loved what they did with the rendering because it showed someone with Down syndrome

and made her look like an everyday teen. However, there have been cases where the word retard or references toward the disabled community have not been portrayed in a positive manner and have been used in harsher tones of manner.

It has happened twice in the White House during the current administration. Unsavory words were clearly spoken by both President Obama and Rahm Emanuel, the White House Chief of Staff referring to some sort of disability. In an interview with Jay Leno, President Obama was asked about the bowling alley in the White House and what was his bowling average. President Obama replied saying his score of 129 was like the Special Olympics or something. However, before the show aired, the White House had sent out an immediate apology to the public and to the Special Olympics program. Timothy Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman said Obama called him from Air Force One and apologized for making the comment. Mr. Shriver also added that President Obama was planning on inviting some Special Olympics players to the White House for a visit to bowl and play basketball. Rahm Emanuel also found himself in a sticky situation in August, 2009 when during a closed-door meeting he referred to some Liberal Activists as F**king Retarded. After his comment was leaked to the media, there were many complaints to include a call from Gov. Sarah Palin herself, about the possibility of Emanuel turning-in his resignation. Emanuel apologized to the public and especially to the disabled community. Many advocates have also suggested that Emanuel volunteer to become the head of a campaign that wants the end to the use of the R word. The R word has been used for many years as a medical term for those who have been pronounced disabled. The terms moron, idiot, and imbecile have also been used as medical terms to describe those who are mentally ill. Today, these words are not commonly

associated as terms used to describe medical conditions, but as terms more commonly used for insults. Campaigns such as the Special Olympics: Spread the Word to End the Word and many college campuses are determined to get the word out of the insulting world. One fraternity at Queens University of Charlotte is also trying to get the word to be stopped from being used in a derogatory, insulting fashion. Many students lined up to sign a paper stating that they will pledge to not use the word ever again and to wear a bracelet to make others aware of the Queens campus campaign.

Though all of these incidents are bad dealing with the derogatory and defamatory nature, one of them does not quite seem to fit under this umbrella. In my opinion, Family Guy should be a pardoned case because they are stating a fact that the character, Ellen, has Down syndrome and that her character was specifically created to have this disease. It is true that young Trig Palin does have Down syndrome; however they did not intentionally direct or point the joke towards him as an individual. Clearly, the object of their derogatory remark was for Sarah Palin who was Governor of Alaska and her husband who was an accountant at that time. The need for evidence is not necessary because the public can see that all of this information is true even though it hurts the Palin Family.

The two White House incidents, however, are hurtful, but they are in a way opinions. Yet, the Defamation Law can protect those who are hurt by the incidents, because there is that possibility that none of the activists are retarded and that the President is not a part of the Special Olympics because he is not disabled. Defamatory is defined as using harsh language against the public that are going to hurt their reputation. Defamation Law is defined as the

protection to those who are being sued against using defamation, as long as they have evidence that the information is true or it is an opinion.

What is there to sue against and are there reasonable and justifiable grounds? Yes, Sarah Palin was the Governor of Alaska and her husband was an accountant. Yes, the character was made to have Down syndrome and the actress who voices the character has the disease, but she is happy doing what she is doing. Are the Palins upset? Yes, but it is not going to ruin their reputation, whether the character was specifically or intentionally chosen to poke fun at Palin or not. Bad judgment aside, all the information is true and the evidence is out there in the open for all to see. Everyone knows the truth, so there is no reason for there to be a case. The R word is a true term that has historically been used to describe medically ill patients, and if the character in the show is made to be disabled then there is no wrong in using the word no matter what the true intention, because it is the truth.