Bristol Responds

"Here is her conscientious reply, which is a much more restrained and gracious statement than I want to make..."

Translation: "Get down on your knees and thank Heaven that Bristol is going to speak for me on this, because Mama Grizzly would rip you a new one."
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Sarah Palin: Fox Hollywood - What A Disappointment

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

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A couple of observations. First off, it doesn't matter if you're a public figure or not, an attack involving your child does indeed feel like a "kick in the gut." The show was obviously attacking Sarah Palin in all of this. I wasn't sure if Sarah would respond or not, but clearly she has.

She didn't say anything about Stephen Colbert, I believe, because of the Rush Limbaugh controversy. But this apparently went too far. Palin has said over and over again that she doesn't care if you attack her, but if you touch her kids, even if to merely use them as a tool against her, she will respond.

I keep remembering the look on her face in Media Malpractice the moment after John showed her the SNL clip about the "two unwilling teenagers." She looked like someone had punched her square in the stomach. It took her a few seconds to recoup, and when she first responded her voice was small, like she'd had the wind knocked out of her.

As for Bristol, I concur: "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."

After the 2008 election, a company started making dolls named after the Obama's two daughters. Michelle Obama demanded that they stop. There was nothing malicious about the dolls, at least to my mind. But they're her children, therefore she sets the rules. People backed off, and rightly so. Respect what the mom wants.

When it comes to Sarah Palin, those rules don't apply.

As for whether or not the cartoon really was mocking Trig, it appears that Sarah herself is unsure, quote: "Show that mocked her baby brother, Trig (and/or others with special needs)." But when it comes to these things, emotion is more prevalent than reason. It feels like a kick in the gut, whether it was meant to mock Trig or not.