UPDATE from the actress on Family Guy:
Did Palin know that the actor who provided the voice for Chris' date was Andrea Friedman, a relatively successful performer who happens to have Down Syndrome? Friedman has appeared on "Saving Grace," "Law & Order," "ER," and "Life Goes On," among other television shows.
Palingates.com, a Website devoted to exposing Sarah Palin (and, yes, engaging in rumor-mongering), published an e-mail sent to them by Andrea Friedman's father, who told the person he sent it to to "circulate it on the Web or in any manner that you choose," so I am doing my part to spread the word of what Andrea Friedman thinks of Sarah Palin's attack:
http://palingates.blogspot.com/...
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.
Whatever does she mean?
Friedman sent the letter to the New York Times. I am not sure whether it will be published, but it deserves to be.
Go Andrea! She is not the first person to call Palin out on her use of Trig as a prop.
As the daughter of a mentally challenged woman, I find it offensive the way that Sarah Palin presents it as though all people with mental challenges are dolls that we "brainy people" must think for, instead of as many are--people with drives, independent thoughts, capable of so many things, who just happen to be mentally challenged.
That is more insulting than Rahm's stupid comment.
I wonder if Palin will next attack Friedman on her Facebook machine.
UPDATE:
Andrea's e-mail was discussed in the New York Times, who printed an excerpt of an interview she did with ArtsBeat:
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/...
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.
I think Andrea makes it clear that one person (or character) with Down Syndrome does not equal ALL people with Down Syndrome anymore than any actor or character represents all people.
Palin sees Trig as a symbol of Down Syndrome, not a person. So any thing she sees as critical of Down Syndrome is an attack on Trig personally.
