There Goes Patronizin' Palin

[vovat]

Why are we still hearing things about Sarah Palin? If I were in her shoes...well, she probably wears heels, so I wouldn't be able to walk. But that aside, I'd want to keep a low profile, and try to live down the embarrassment of her Vice Presidential run. The problem is, I'm not even sure she REALIZES how embarrassing that was, and that's the truly sad part.

Anyway, Palin was in the news again for her comment on Obama's Special Olympics joke, which she called a "degrading remark about our world's most precious and unique people." Even if it weren't for the fact that Obama had already apologized for this, isn't this comment incredibly patronizing? Seriously, what person, disabled or not, wants to be referred to as "precious"? Isn't that what crazy old ladies call their cats, and weird hissing halflings call their magic rings? Seriously, if I were a Special Olympics contestant, I think I'd be offended at the governor (or is that "governess"? :P) talking down to everyone with disabilities.

bethje made a comment a few days ago about how she thought Palin might have started wearing her Tina Fey glasses to look bookish. My objection to this was that, if she wanted people to think of her as an intellectual, why did she say so much stupid stuff? I think our conclusion was that smart people were supposed to watch her on TV without the sound on, and stupid people were supposed to listen to her on the radio.

Comments

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

I don't think she realizes how embarrassing it was. Or maybe just doesn't care, and hopes that America will have a short enough attention span to take her seriously in 2012? I dunno.

But I'm soooo sick of this freakin' Special Olympics thing. I seriously don't think he meant anything detrimental to those who compete in the Special Olympics. Geez, a date of mine told me one time that I threw darts as if I was in the Special Olympics. Granted, we weren't on national TV, but I still went on a second date with the guy.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I don't think she realizes how embarrassing it was. Or maybe just doesn't care, and hopes that America will have a short enough attention span to take her seriously in 2012?

Yeah, but she might have a better chance of that if people forget who she is before then.

I have to wonder if the outcry over Obama's comment was supposed to be a backlash to how heavily many of Bush's callous gaffes were publicized. You know, kind of a "Hey, this new guy says thoughtless things sometimes, too!" thing. If so, the critics would be ignoring context, but what else is new?

[leolapyre.livejournal.com]

Seriously, what person, disabled or not, wants to be referred to as "precious"?

I totally agree with that. Yeah, Obama's remark was insensitive, but her remark wasn't much better.

[dragonxbait.livejournal.com]

In her defense she does have a small infant with down syndrome, so she was probably thinking of him when she said precious. But yeah, I am done with her, I hope we don't ever have to hear from her in the context of national politics again.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

In her defense she does have a small infant with down syndrome, so she was probably thinking of him when she said precious.

Probably so, although it could be argued that she has no idea what Trig will be like by the time he's old enough for the Special Olympics. And even failing that, he might also not want to be called "precious" after his first few years.

[dragonxbait.livejournal.com]

Probably true. Poor kid, growing up with a mother like that. I guess I just read it more as the kind of inanity that starts to come out of your mouth when you spend too much time with little kids. I have definitely caught myself saying "potty" around adults :-P

[poisonyoulove.livejournal.com]

No offense to the disabled, but wouldn't the world's most precious citizens be super-smart scientists who can find cures for cancer? Or develop self-renewing fuel sources?

[vovat.livejournal.com]

You'd think so. Of course, some of those scientists might BE disabled, but they wouldn't be precious simply BECAUSE they were.

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

Or prevent autosomy 21?

[vilajunkie.livejournal.com]

You know what the Church Lady would have to say to Palin? "Well, isn't that special." (g)