Sarah, Sarah, Sarah.
This particular episode of Family Guy was watched by 6.4 million people. O’Reilly rebroadcast it to another 3.4 million people, many of whom didn’t see the original airing. Using a liberal [not the amoral kind] estimate of the overlap (and let’s be honest- these are very different demographics), your stint on The O’Reilly Factor likely exposed the offending video to some 2 million people who hadn’t seen it. And, as Bill sheepishly points out, not everyone in his audience “has a computer,” so they wouldn’t have otherwise viewed it online. You have, in essence, spread the virus to find the antibody. Pretty kinky.
Let’s move on to the next gem of public service you spit at us: the whole “R-word” thing where Rahm Emanuel should give up his job for saying it vs. Rush Limbaugh’s use of the word being acceptable because [not unlike Mark Twain] he’s a “satirist.”
First, let’s make one detail perfectly clear: Rahm Emanuel said ‘retard’ once in a private meeting that included perhaps a dozen people. Rush Limbaugh used the word over and over while intentionally speaking into a microphone that he’s well aware broadcasts to millions of people daily (I didn’t research the number, as it would only depress me). So, you were a dominant force in exposing someone’s bad manners to millions who would have otherwise never heard them.
Now we get to the part where you defend Limbaugh on the basis that he was using the word “satirically.” Both Seth MacFarland and Rush Limbaugh have used satire to entertain their audiences, one arguably more effectively than the other. By defending Rush and knocking Seth, you’ve reduced your argument to a matter of comedic taste.
So, I guess you’re on a crusade to rid the world of a prejudice by making sure that as many people as possible hear it, but then afterward see your shrewd, disappointed scowl over silent video feed. But you are being realistic here: you know you’ll never succeed, so you will settle for the slurs to only be used in satirical references that the American people can truly appreciate.
I guess that at least one solution that could relieve your anguish is to establish some sort of Federally-controlled Commission to ensure that broadcast Communications don’t offend the American public. Then, you could totally complain to them when something like this pisses you off.
But, I guess that would be a product of Big Government, wouldn’t it? And you’ve spent too much time at too many Holiday Inns riling up these Tea Party folks to combat superfluous, federally-funded agencies just like this.
Sarah Palin… what is it that you want? You’re consistantly hiding behind the very wall you’re trying tear down- and it makes you look like silly to anyone actually paying attention.
Sorry- thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
