Culture of Cruelty: When Hollywood Attacks Mentally Disabled Children

Last year, President Obama attempted a self-deprecating joke on The Tonight Show, when he compared his notoriously bad bowling skills to the Special Olympics.  The disability community demanded an apology and the President delivered one to Tim Shriver, Chairman of the Special Olympics Committee.  A few weeks ago, Rahm Emanuel had to repeat the apology when he referred to a group of liberal activists as “f-ing retarded.” Sarah Palin called for Emanuel to be fired and again became a target for shows like The Colbert Report, and Bill Maher. 

Whether you believe Sarah Palin’s outrage is sincere or think she is capitalizing on a media opportunity, the fact remains our political leaders are speaking like playground bullies.  Why wouldn’t they when it’s perfectly acceptable on prime time television?  I find it incredibly disturbing for pop culture to launch what seems like an all out assault on the mentally challenged when what they really want to do is hurt Sarah Palin.  Recently, Family Guy aired an episode where a character with Down syndrome suggests she is the daughter of Sarah Palin.  Palin blasted the show’s creator Seth MacFarlane and received no apology.   (more…)

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Tags: "The Colbert Report", Bill Maher, Down Syndrome, Family Guy, sarah palin
Posted Mar 1st 2010 at 5:03 am in Celebrity News, Culture, Featured Story, Politics | 312598226 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/dcommandatore/2010/03/01/culture-of-cruelty-when-hollywood-attacks-mentally-disabled-children/Culture+of+Cruelty%3A+When+Hollywood+Attacks+Mentally+Disabled+Children2010-03-01+13%3A03%3A39Dana+Commandatore

Lonewolf Diaries: Republicans Need to Grow a Sense of Humor

Yes, you’ve read correctly. To all of you GOP types playing the “offended” card on a daily basis… Prepare to have your feelings hurt, because according to my carefully calculated research… Republicans need to shut up and laugh a little.

Never has the GOP’s lack of funnybone been on sharper display than the last 5 months. For a party that claims to “shun political correctness,” we’ve certainly done a good job of embracing it. Over the past 150 days there have been three “media-worthy” politically incorrect moments related to this administration and Republicans have managed to jump on each one of them for political gain. All to no avail. Let us examine:

Exhibit A

Barack Obama’s Special Olympics comment on Leno. – On air, President B. Hussein Obama made a self-deprecating joke in regards to his bowling abilities. He made the implication that he was so bad at bowling that his skill level resembled that of a mentally challenged athlete. Twas a surprisingly funny, off-handed moment for a generally very unfunny president.

Republicans, however, decided to act as though they were appalled by this and ran with the “you can’t make fun of retards” theme. (I’m paraphrasing here of course, but you get the picture.) I believe that somewhere in the middle, Sarah Palin and her son Trigg were tied into the whole fiasco. The media took little notice and sharp comedians like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert managed to successfully lampoon Conservatives for being humorless old bags. That’s one for you, Democrats… (more…)

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Bristol Palin, Colbert, David Letterman, jon stewart
Posted Jun 16th 2009 at 5:58 pm in Featured Story, Lone Wolf Diaries | 162890321 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/scrowder/2009/06/16/lonewolf-diaries-hey-republicans-grow-a-sense-of-humor/Lonewolf+Diaries%3A+Republicans+Need+to+Grow+a+Sense+of+Humor2009-06-17+00%3A58%3A34Steven+Crowder

Carrie Prejean Kept Out of Special Olympics Ceremonies by Miss California Pageant Director

I have volunteered at the Special Olympics for the past several years; it is a cause very close to my heart. I was so excited to be invited as an honored guest and presenter of medals at the Special Olympics summer games this June. I fully intended to go and volunteer once again in my private capacity. However, when I learned that Keith Lewis had called the event asking that a new Miss California USA attend in my place, I reluctantly decided for the good of the Olympians I should not be there at this time. The Special Olympics should be all about these amazing athletes. I hope the generous people of California volunteer, cheer, and donate this weekend in Long Beach. I thank the Special Olympics for their ongoing support and I promise them and the athletes: I look forward to volunteering with them soon. (more…)

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Tags: Keith Lewis, Miss California, special olympics
Posted Jun 13th 2009 at 1:26 am in News | 15989482 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/cprejean/2009/06/13/carrie-prejean-kept-out-of-special-olympics-ceremonies-by-pageant-director/Carrie+Prejean+Kept+Out+of+Special+Olympics+Ceremonies+by+Miss+California+Pageant+Director2009-06-13+08%3A26%3A26Carrie+Prejean

Exclusive: Prejean Attorney Strikes Back: Carrie Has Fulfilled her Pageant Obligations

I am in shock that K2 Productions and the Miss California USA Pageant have taken the steps to fire Carrie Prejean today. The claim that she has an unauthorized book contract is false. She does not. The claim that she is refusing to appear is false. Carrie has been in constant contact with pageant officials seeking to fulfill her obligations. I have emails in my possession tied to the pageant organization as recently as last Friday citing future appearance requests for Carrie. She represented the Pageant in Las Vegas the weekend before last, and is scheduled to appear at a Special Olympics event this weekend in California, a cause dear to her heart. Everyone has been pleased with her appearances and excited to see her. (more…)

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Tags: Carrie Prejean, Chuck Limandri, Miss California, Miss California USA Pageant, special olympics
Posted Jun 10th 2009 at 7:04 pm in Entertainment, Featured Story, Politics | 157458171 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/cprejean/2009/06/10/from-chuck-limandri-carrie-prejeans-attorney-setting-the-record-straight/Exclusive%3A+Prejean+Attorney+Strikes+Back%3A+Carrie+Has+Fulfilled+her+Pageant+Obligations2009-06-11+02%3A04%3A43Carrie+Prejean

Remember When SNL Was Funny? (Obama Ushers in New Era of Comedic Irresponsibility)

Everyone knows the old axiom about comedy.  There’s always a grain of truth in that which an audience finds funny.  Done well, comedy can make you squirm with its raw honesty.  It has the power to inform our perspectives about politics and news just as any good journalist.  Comedy helps provide insight into human flaws just as any good psychologist.   Often self-deprecating and socially awkward, comedians themselves will deny their impact.  Most comedians and writers prefer to think of themselves as lovable class clowns – laughing on the outside, crying on the inside.  Just as former NBA star Charles Barkley once famously proclaimed he was no role model, many in the funny business will dismiss their impact in the hearts and minds of their audience.

Modesty, however, cannot dismiss a growing body of evidence that suggests comedians possess greater power than ever before when shaping the national debate.   Notably in the last decade, television comedy has amassed an influence in politics to such and extent; nary a high profile politician can ignore its impact and resist the pull to participate.   Numerous studies have been conducted through the years analyzing the staggering impact of comedy in the opinions and perceptions of its audience.  The power is particularly significant with the country’s attention-short youth.  (more…)

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Tags: " "The Daily Show, Family Guy, jay leno, jon stewart, Obama
Posted Mar 25th 2009 at 1:33 pm in Entertainment, Featured Story, Politics | 88386155 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/cstigall/2009/03/25/remember-when-snl-was-funny-obama-ushers-in-new-era-of-comedic-irresponsibility/Remember+When+SNL+Was+Funny%3F+%28Obama+Ushers+in+New+Era+of+Comedic+Irresponsibility%292009-03-25+20%3A33%3A38Chris+Stigall

Obama Apologizes to the Right People

From Politico.com:

After comparing his bowling to the Special Olympics on “The Tonight Show” Thursday, President Obama called Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver to apologize…[and] White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told reporters…that “[the remark] was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics.”

Well, Obama damn well SHOULD apologize. Just think of how many retards voted for him.

(The above remark was in no way intended to disparage people who are actually retarded.)

(Especially this guy, who was competent enough to not vote for him.)

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Tags: Barack Obama, bowling, handicapped, jay leno, julia gorin
Posted Mar 20th 2009 at 9:40 am in Entertainment, Political Humor | 85330125 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jgorin/2009/03/20/obama-apologizes-to-the-right-people/Obama+Apologizes+to+the+Right+People2009-03-20+16%3A40%3A03Julia+Gorin