AN OPEN LETTER TO GOV. PALIN

Governor Palin:

You are in a unique position. As the mother of a special needs child you have the ability to bring attention to the needs of the disabled in ways most people cannot. As the Father of a special needs child, I lack a national platform and despite how great my family may think I am, my presence alone does not command the attention of thousands of people plus the media. The need of the disabled isn’t a liberal or conservative cause. So, why do you make it such a political issue?

Last week you criticized White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel for using the term “f-ing retarded” to describe a plan for liberal activists to buy ads criticizing fellow Democrats on health care reform. In your statement to the press you demanded that President Obama fire Emmanuel. You wrote “just as we’d be appalled if any public figure of Rahm’s stature ever used the “N-word” or other such inappropriate language, Rahm’s slur on all God’s children with cognitive and developmental disabilities – and the people who love them – is unacceptable, and it’s heartbreaking.”

Emmanuels use of the word was not offensive to me. Nor was Rush Limbaugh’s use of the word even though he seemed to put the word on a float and march it down a parade route (see the full transcript of his remarks here: http://emptysuit.wordpress.com/2010/02/06/rush-limbaugh-transcript-rahm-emanuel-retards/ ) You dismissed Limbaugh’s remarks as “satire.” I certainly hope as a former Governor and someone who came close to being our Vice President that you know what satire is. Satire would be the Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, Letterman, etc. Rush Limbaugh isn’t satire; he provides commentary, in particular, conservative commentary. Mrs. Palin, if you are going to display faux outrage at the use of the word “retarded” then it’s really best to make sure that you apply that standard to all people, not just democrats, lest you look like a political opportunist.

Stop using your child as a prop and as an applause line. Stop looking for ways to be offended and actually use your status (such as it is right now) for good. Draw attention by testifying to senate committees, starting massive fundraisers or awareness campaigns. Advocate on behalf of your child for a better future instead of seeking new ways to be offended by a word that wasn’t being directed to handicapped people in the first place. Your act is growing old, your partisan outrage is pathetic, and the way you are using your child isn’t fair to him and it doesn’t do justice to the good parent you probably are. Honestly, it’s a little retarded.

Best,
Geoffrey Hunt
Father