Posted by: Jane | February 13, 2009, 9:19 am 9:19 am
when did self pity become in vogue?
between obama,patterson, geitner, and daschle,you’d think they’d relize they are in power, not victims
Posted by: verdinet | February 13, 2009, 9:53 am 9:53 am
Geez, get a life governor!
Posted by: a reader in ga | February 13, 2009, 9:56 am 9:56 am
Are you people serious? You are all condoning making fun of a disability and you dont think the disbaled man has any right to be angry? This is not “all in good fun”. Maybe one day one of you will lose a leg and you mind if I come around asking “hey, who wants to go for a jog” or “feel like playing some baseball gimpy”. I am sure none of you would mind that now would you? Pffft!
Posted by: Dan | February 13, 2009, 10:10 am 10:10 am
When did pity become in vogue?
when did self pity become in vogue?
****************************************
When did insensitivity, self righteousness, in maturity and ignorance become vogue?
Posted by: Thinking | February 13, 2009, 10:16 am 10:16 am
“You are all condoning making fun of a disability”
I’m encouraging growing up. The man is the governor of a state – he should be touting that accomplishment not crying over Saturday Night Live. He needs to find his inner Sarah Palin.
Posted by: Jane | February 13, 2009, 10:34 am 10:34 am
I am disable ambulatory we should not make fun of or be laughed at as a human being.can we all just get along and respect one another feelings
Posted by: renee smalls | February 13, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
No one seemed to complain when SNL made fun of McCain’s age. In fact he mocked himself. No one seemed to mind when Bush intelligence was made fun of. SNL has over the years mocked anyone and everyone. Do I need to remind people of Eddie Murphy doing Stevie Wonder? In fact Stevie came on and did a skit with Eddie while he was doing a Stevie impression. The point is this…if you are in the public eye(No pun intended), you are open to ridicule, scrutiny and yes even mockery. SNL isn’t making fun of his blindness as much as the Gov himself. How can they mock him without bringing his disability in to character? Does this mean that anyone who has anything wrong with them can’t be made fun of? I’ve lost my hair and it hurts my feelings when people make fun of me. But if I was in a satire skit about me, I wouldn’t expect the actor playing my character to wear a wig. I’d expect to see him bald. How else would anyone know it’s me? People need to get over this politically correct issue. This is in jest…not malicious.
Posted by: Chuck S | February 13, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
I really miss Phil Hartman…
Posted by: Jazz | February 13, 2009, 10:41 am 10:41 am
They’re not making fun of his blindness, they’re making fun of him – the fact that he’s blind is only incidental. Watch the other parodies of famous people – each of them has personality traits or quirks which are shown in caricature.
Oh – and you should never let on that you’re upset with something a comedian says about you – it just encourages them.
Posted by: JimW | February 13, 2009, 10:44 am 10:44 am
Comedy is in the eye of the beholder… I know that was bad but I couldn’t help myself.
Posted by: Chuck S | February 13, 2009, 10:46 am 10:46 am
Is he angry about the blind jokes or angry that they’re poking fun at him for being a lousy governor?
Posted by: Dave | February 13, 2009, 10:53 am 10:53 am
I live in New York state and believe me we think that is a dead on impersonation. Gov. Patterson should not be worried about his disablity but how the people of NY are upset about all the taxes he is purposing. That $13 we will get will not make up for the $3300 in purposed taxes by the Gov.
Keep them coming.I agree no one is upset about SNL making fun of Stevie Wonder, Sen McCains’age, Sara Palin’s stupidity.
Posted by: cissy55 | February 13, 2009, 10:55 am 10:55 am
simple…..respect the view and position of the DISABLED. It’s easy for us to sit back and just..laugh or judge the offended.
Posted by: watching | February 13, 2009, 10:57 am 10:57 am
Funny, it’s the ABLED who speak so loudly about how the DISABLED ‘should’ feel about being ridiculed! It’ll take an autopsy to make my disabilities obvious and I am NOT ready for you to get your greedy hands on my innards just yet but they do make me unable to do the same things I used to do and that you can still do. Guess I would not mind so much if one of those things didn’t include paying my bills!
When did charity leave us? I don’t mean the dole either. I can’t wait for the sky to fall on some people’s lives, really! Let them personally KNOW what it’s like. Pity? I don’t want your stinkin pity, I want some of the money I paid into this nation BACK in my pocket so I can live like a human in a house, and not under a bridge somewhere just because my innards don’t work right anymore!! Is that TOO MUCH to ask?! If it is, then build better bridges.
Posted by: Terry | February 13, 2009, 11:04 am 11:04 am
Gov. Paterson is only justifying SNL by speaking out. They are making fun of him in jest, and by focusing his attention on a TV show rather than governing his state is only empowering and justifying these satires. On another point: the moment one lets a “joke get to him/her” is the moment that exposes personal insecurities. Don’t go on a tirade against freedom of speech, no matter how offensive it may personally seem… if one can’t laugh with, then a shrink may be in order
Posted by: Dave | February 13, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am
The good Governor wants SNL to pick on someone else. I say, “Man up, Gov.” SNL is disgusting and pathetic, but it’s here because people have accepted uninspiring living and have an appetite for unimaginative, bottom-of-the-barrel humor.
If Governor Patterson is half the man he wants Americans to think he is he should fight the overall attitude that SNL propegates and focus his efforts on inspiring people – not just direct them to attack others besides himself.
-NPage
Posted by: NPage | February 13, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am
SNL did not mock the blind – they mocked (rather, parodied) Governor Patterson.
Just as they have mocked or parodied an endless number of other politicians.
I did not laugh at blindness while watching the show. I did, however, laugh at the skewering of Governor Patterson – the governor of the state of in which I live.
Posted by: Seneca | February 13, 2009, 11:15 am 11:15 am
That’s O.K. Gov. Patterson, your are mocking the ability of your own state’s taxpayers with your new budget and tax increases…you know, the state with the highest taxes in the country…the one in which all of its judges just gave themselves a raise…You may be one of the biggest disasters this state has ever experienced.
Posted by: disgusted | February 13, 2009, 11:29 am 11:29 am
I think many of you will have a day of reckoning on your cold hearted way of thinking someday. It is wrong, and so are you to condone it. Have we devolved so much that this can be acceptable? The comments here seem to indicate that we are moving backward to a medieval callous disregard for those with disabilities. People – wake up – this could just as easily be you!
Posted by: disgusted by it | February 13, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am
I honestly can’t believe he is even giving SNL the benefit of taking notice. As some before have said, it is just going to encourage SNL.
Besides which, he is a public figure, and as such, he has no right to get his panties in a bunch about parodies.
Does anyone remember how brutal they used to be to Janet Reno? But even she took it in stride.
He should just go on the show, take his licks, and show he has a sense of humor.
Posted by: Aaron | February 13, 2009, 11:42 am 11:42 am
I thought that SNL demonstrated its degeneracy when it implied that there was incest in Sarah Palin’s family. Odd that the Gov missed that one.
Posted by: Dina | February 13, 2009, 11:44 am 11:44 am
If you are going to be in public office, then any sarcasim goes. If you don’t like it, stay home and go into private enterprise. the PC crap is just that … crap.
SNL gets way to much press. Are their skits really funny? After watching most of them I feel dirty. I agreed with Paterson until he made the Sarah Palin comment… basically stop picking on the black, blind governor and go pick on the white girl. I guess he’s right though, its ok to pick on the white people in our culture. Just not anyone else.
So, ive read through most of the comments on here regarding SNL’s skit, i have a feeling there are two types of people that watch SNL, the first are youth and the second are people that still have their sense of humor. If its a big to you that SNL made fun of ANOTHER celebrity/politician/person in the public light, write to them to express your indignation. I am sure that they will read your drivel, write a skit to commemorate it, and continue to make LOTS of money. For the love of GOD! Relax, develop a sense of humor! Unless of course your disabilaty involves the inability to laugh, thats just sad…
For every disabled person that SNL finds humor in, there are a jillion “abled” people that are made fun of.
In fact, the things that SNL is making fun of with the “abled” politicians are pretty condemning.
Are they accusing Patterson of sleeping with interns, embezzling money from the treasury, selling senatorial seats to the highest bidder….
I guess the best thing to do is pretend Patterson is invisible, and isn’t worthy of any mention at all.
Oddly enough, I’d bet that some people didn’t even know who Patterson was until after they watched SNL. I’m not saying that is the best way to get your current events info, but he probably has a better approval rating after the SNL skits.
Perhaps SNL is for:
Silly Nonsensical Losers…..
Anyone who makes fun of the disabled should really check themselves….
This is a low thing to do, SNL……
Posted by: t | February 13, 2009, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
Janet Reno was a champ about SNL.
She was played by Will Farrell for years and never once complained.
Hours after she finished her last day in office, she joined him in the last sketch of “Janet Reno’s Dance Party”.
That’s how you do it.
The governor needs to stop being so thin skinned. SNL is not doing one thing to “enable blind prejudice.” They are simply doing an accurate impersonation- just as they do accurate impersonations of everyone they satire. Being the subject of satire can make people uncomfortable. But the governor needs to stop being so thin skinned. And he needs to stop using his blindness as an excuse for his discomfort with being roasted. Michael Scott on The Office handled his roasting better than this.
Only the white anglo saxon male who is employed should be ridiculed and made fun of. Everyone else is just too pituful and sensitive.
Posted by: frank blourtango | February 13, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
I agree – they didn’t mock the blind, they mocked Governor Patterson. And you know what? Suck it up – it’s humor. If you’re going to police SNL, then you’ll have to police every comic in the US – and we all know Lisa Lampinelli would be the first to go. Gov. Patterson is using this as a ‘pity me’ party – he would fare much better if he shrugged it off. Without comedy, this world would be much harder to bear. And let me pose a question: if he can’t see the episode, how does he know for sure they’re making fun of him? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA See? It’s funny. Get over it.
Paterson: Spoiled, self-centered, tantrum-taking VICTIM!! Paterson is more judgement impaired than sight-impaired. His choice of what’s-her-face for US Senate proved that. He makes sight-impaired people sound like helpless babies. Victim, Victim, VICTIM!!!
i think that this govener Patterson need not take this so personaly. On one hand we have one very offended govener, as well as many others who just cannot take a joke becouse they feel like they have been robbed of something in their lives. On the Otherhand we have the SNL team of cast members who cannot help but find everything funny, because if you put bounds on humor then what good is it going to be? Do you get anoyed with the same old jokes over and over? I do. Real commedy is great because it offends at least somone, and that is part of the joke.
Posted by: Sam Dougherty | February 13, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
Funny they haven’t even started on the new president yet. Probably won’t either just go for the disabled. It is wrong. Put yourself in their shoes- bet you wouldn’t like it either. What is funny is they have to read off the teleprompter while this gov. memorizes his hour long speeches.
When SNL first came on the scene, it was witty & funny in every way. It is sad that it has come to this. Sadly, going by the clip, SNL actually, really, truly, thinks they are being funny. Now that’s a disability, if there ever was one: they can’t see the mindless cruelty under their very noses.
Although I didn’t see the skits, IMHO what SNL did was in bad taste. There is a big difference between making fun of a person’s disabilities than a political position, eccentric looks, mannerisms, bushisms, etc. If SNL has run out of material, let them start focusing on the political figure lawbreakers, rather than upstanding, law abiding political figures.
Posted by: Paula | February 13, 2009, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
The Governor better develop a little thicker skin. or go back to private life. it’s very funny stuff, everyone is fair game
Patterson has a point . if you’re going to poke at the blind you need to be all inclusive in your objects of satire .
SNL has been way boring for a long time and people are way tired of PC …let er rip but rip every special interest equally . SPARE NO ONE !!!
Posted by: jim | February 13, 2009, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
David Patterson needs to realize that SNL’s writers are making fun of HIM en toto, not his disability; and to that, they are actually treating him equally, and not discriminating (ignoring his political and social relevance) by parodying him. He’s being a crybaby for not just playing along.
And now, he has the nerve to call back for Sarah Palin to get the heat off him? So being stupid and rabidly conservative is attack-worthy, but not having a physical distinction?
What about when they parodied Bob Dole’s paralysis, or Bill Clinton’s plethora of physical distinctions? Or when Chevy Chase made President Ford into a clumsy joke (based on nothing, by the way) and changed how Americans view Ford until this very day? No, I suppose that because Patterson is legally blind, we should put him on a little velvet pillow and put a crown on his head and a lolly pop in is hand and show him re-runs of Blue’s Clues until he’s convinced that the world is going to always treat him like the special little boy he is.
The SNL bits on Patterson that I have seen have been quite tasteless.
There are foibles and scandals you can embellish about him why the focus on his blindness?
Posted by: Ryan C | February 13, 2009, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm
“I agree – they didn’t mock the blind, they mocked Governor Patterson.”
They mocked his blindness.
He’s got plenty to make fun of including mistresses and past drug use.
“each of them has personality traits or quirks which are shown in caricature.”
How is being blind a personality trait?
Posted by: Ryan C | February 13, 2009, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
There’s CLEARLY a trend in New York… they like to elect the handicapped, apparently because they’re fun to watch. Paterson… Clinton… who’s next?
I don’t agree with Gov. Paterson: SNL is Enabling Prejudice Against the Disabled. How first public person in NY Gov. no matter whay is blind or blindness doesn’t have sence of humor? It’s comedy. SNL didn’t mock the blind man, but made your jobs fun a little.
I have seen it, and it’s definitely very poor to have to stoop that low to get a laugh.
SNL needs Tina and a few others back to do the writing, it’s been terrible since they left, however when Tina did Sarah Palin that was FANTASTIC!
They are mocking him for finding himself Governor of NY even though he has no business being within a mile of the governor’s mansion based on his qualifications. They are mocking him for making such an embarrassing mess of the Senate appointment. They are also mocking him because of his self-confessed drug use and extramarital affairs. (Why they portray him as obsessed with New Jersey, I am not sure). He also happens to be blind. What are they supposed to do, portray him as if he can see??
Posted by: Charles | February 13, 2009, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
What a whiner.
That skit is hilarious!
It’s only discrimination if one group Isn’t poked fun at.
get over it blind-guy!
Posted by: Notorious kelly | February 13, 2009, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
No drugs at SNL…All Jonas Brothers,,,new world crappy clean shaven nazi society…obsessed with superficial looks over content.
No crazy people allowed…Just kids bop stuff…a vision some freak had of america…We wont buy it.
What SNL did to Patterson is low-brow satire. What Patterson did to Caroline Kennedy is character assassination. SNL has not harmed Patterson. Patterson HAS harmed Kennedy.
After his selection to fill Obama’s senatorial seat, I think he’s more like Mr. Magoo than he knows—with or without sight.
Posted by: Elisabeth | February 13, 2009, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
As somebody who is disabled (my whole life not one of these Ooo my back people) I think the Gov needs to grow a sense of humor. I’m not blind or deaf I simply have used crutches my entire life and I and my friends tease each other all the time, people are just too damn sensitive…ITS SATIRE! Also I don’t understand the point of commenting about the horrendous unemployment for disabled people.As a Governor of one of the largest states (population wise) you’d think he may want to address that issue and perhaps attempt to DO SOMETHING about it instead of using it to attack a comedy show.
Governor: as a reformed adulterer and admitted drug user, do you really have the moral standing to criticize professional comedians?
Posted by: Steve from Danville | February 13, 2009, 9:57 pm 9:57 pm
Forget about SNL and Patterson as an issue. The real issue is just how bad and uncreative SNL really is. “D**k in a box?” “Jizz in my pants?” I guess it’s funny if you’re 13..but then I might be insulting 13 year olds. It really takes no thought or creative effort to produce what SNL tries to pass off as humor. Of course, people in this country rarely use their brains anymore anyway, so I guess we’ll continue to see more of it.
Posted by: MickeyJ | February 14, 2009, 12:07 am 12:07 am
Liberals are so thin-skinned. Those who are condemning SNL were on these blogs either posting or laughing at comments about McCain’s age that referenced “Depends”, or a birth certificate chiseled on a stone tablet, or his inability to use the computer (which by the way, is due to a physical disability sustained as a POW). I specifically remember a pro-Obama ad that focused on pop culture as it relates to McCain’s age.
I guess this kind of humor is okay, so long as liberals are making the jokes.
Posted by: marylou | February 14, 2009, 4:50 am 4:50 am
I am deaf. I know nothing about Gov. Patterson’s life, but that’s not the issue. It’s unfair to prejudice people against those with disabilities, period. There have to be funnier things to laugh at than a disability.
Posted by: Lou Anne | February 14, 2009, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
I rarely agree with a Democrat, but the govenor is right on regarding this one. Poking fun at someone’s disability should be off-limits, for it is beyond one’s control. Kudos to the govenor and others like him for rising above arrogant attitudes.
Posted by: Kristin | February 16, 2009, 9:28 am 9:28 am
everyone hates you patterson…
Posted by: david patterson | February 16, 2009, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
What people don’t seem to remotely understand is that Paterson pokes fun at his own disability quite often. He’s always done it. What SNL seems to get is that it’s part of Paterson’s personality. Paterson has always used quips and jokes about his blindness to cope, compensate and break the ice with people’s discomfort around disabilities. Which is perfectly normal. But now he’s on the big stage and on thin ice when he starts to express displeasure over SNL’s quite accurate portrayal of him. The character you see on SNL, while obviously ramped up for comedic effect, is, in essence, really David Paterson. Paterson created that caricature. And he knows full-well the political advantages to be had in feigning outrage over SNL’s portrayal.
Posted by: Frank | February 16, 2009, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
I am deaf. I know nothing about Gov. Patterson’s life, but that’s not the issue. It’s unfair to prejudice people against those with disabilities, period. There have to be funnier things to laugh at than a disability.
Posted by: Lou Anne | Feb 14, 2009 2:47:44 PM
************************************8
I am deaf too! I personally find that funny! Patterson has disappointed a lot of people and it’s ok to laugh, ha ha ha ha ha. Works for me!
Do what most sensible americans have done with SNL! Switch the channel to Fox and watch MadTV.
Posted by: James | February 16, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
Most my family are NYers. None of us thought that the show of SNL mocked the Disabled people, but it just described Gov. Paterson’s contradictory his jobs; cut budgets,raise taxes, with fun. He is first public man in NY. We love the joke.
I stopped watching that show back in the Belushi and Akyroid days because, contrary to popular belief, that show is stupid and unfunny.
Posted by: orangutan | February 17, 2009, 1:34 am 1:34 am
- Was Julia Child (or any Brit) offended by Akroyd’s skit?
- Were the greeks offended at the old Cheeburger/Cheeburger skit (heck, this is now a FRANCHISE)?
- Were Latino-american’s offended at the Chico Escuela skit?
Should I go on? Chill out people; laugh a little.. even at yourself.
This whiner needs to get over himself and his self-pity. The whole show (SNL) is parodies and skits. They have made fun of just about every famous person with a personal quirk of some sort. Just shut up Paterson and enjoy your short ride at the top. Mid-term elections are coming soon and your day in the sunshine will be over.
Posted by: Machod | February 18, 2009, 2:33 am 2:33 am
while theyre at it, they should make fun of barack because hes black. making fun of people who are handicapped is hillaaariouss
Posted by: jack | February 18, 2009, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
Wow dude you did say a mouthful!
Posted by: John Jonas | February 18, 2009, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
I dated a blind guy in College.(He was great.)
You just haven’t lived till you have played poker with a blind man and 3 guys in wheelchairs. (you soooo had to be there.Hilarious dudes)
Thankfully, there are more handicapped people with a sense of humor than without.
The Governor needs to learn to laugh at himself.
This is a man who does not want to be in his position. He never asked to be, he is not qualified in times of crisis. He is feeling sorry for himself as peoples lives are being turned upside down. He should be happy he has a job.
Governor Patterson makes a point about unemployment within the disabled community being very high despite our academic accomplishments. ANd it’s important to point this out. It’s a big issue.
My question is this:
Are you going hire someone that you can’t make fun of?
Seriously, if you feel so sensitive about someone because of their disability, then you’re much less inclined to hire them because you’ll feel self conscience or worried that you’ll say something that would appear insensitive or cruel.
Posted by: Jim L | February 19, 2009, 1:50 am 1:50 am
Geez, get a life governor!!
Posted by: Erik | February 19, 2009, 5:49 am 5:49 am
I think many of you will have a day of reckoning on your cold hearted way of thinking someday. It is wrong, and so are you to condone it. Have we devolved so much that this can be acceptable? The comments here seem to indicate that we are moving backward to a medieval callous disregard for those with disabilities. People – wake up – this could just as easily be you!!
Posted by: covax | February 20, 2009, 8:42 am 8:42 am
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When did pity become in vogue?
Posted by: Jane | February 13, 2009, 9:19 am 9:19 am
when did self pity become in vogue?
between obama,patterson, geitner, and daschle,you’d think they’d relize they are in power, not victims
Posted by: verdinet | February 13, 2009, 9:53 am 9:53 am
Geez, get a life governor!
Posted by: a reader in ga | February 13, 2009, 9:56 am 9:56 am
Are you people serious? You are all condoning making fun of a disability and you dont think the disbaled man has any right to be angry? This is not “all in good fun”. Maybe one day one of you will lose a leg and you mind if I come around asking “hey, who wants to go for a jog” or “feel like playing some baseball gimpy”. I am sure none of you would mind that now would you? Pffft!
Posted by: Dan | February 13, 2009, 10:10 am 10:10 am
When did pity become in vogue?
when did self pity become in vogue?
****************************************
When did insensitivity, self righteousness, in maturity and ignorance become vogue?
Posted by: Thinking | February 13, 2009, 10:16 am 10:16 am
“You are all condoning making fun of a disability”
I’m encouraging growing up. The man is the governor of a state – he should be touting that accomplishment not crying over Saturday Night Live. He needs to find his inner Sarah Palin.
Posted by: Jane | February 13, 2009, 10:34 am 10:34 am
I am disable ambulatory we should not make fun of or be laughed at as a human being.can we all just get along and respect one another feelings
Posted by: renee smalls | February 13, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
No one seemed to complain when SNL made fun of McCain’s age. In fact he mocked himself. No one seemed to mind when Bush intelligence was made fun of. SNL has over the years mocked anyone and everyone. Do I need to remind people of Eddie Murphy doing Stevie Wonder? In fact Stevie came on and did a skit with Eddie while he was doing a Stevie impression. The point is this…if you are in the public eye(No pun intended), you are open to ridicule, scrutiny and yes even mockery. SNL isn’t making fun of his blindness as much as the Gov himself. How can they mock him without bringing his disability in to character? Does this mean that anyone who has anything wrong with them can’t be made fun of? I’ve lost my hair and it hurts my feelings when people make fun of me. But if I was in a satire skit about me, I wouldn’t expect the actor playing my character to wear a wig. I’d expect to see him bald. How else would anyone know it’s me? People need to get over this politically correct issue. This is in jest…not malicious.
Posted by: Chuck S | February 13, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
I really miss Phil Hartman…
Posted by: Jazz | February 13, 2009, 10:41 am 10:41 am
They’re not making fun of his blindness, they’re making fun of him – the fact that he’s blind is only incidental. Watch the other parodies of famous people – each of them has personality traits or quirks which are shown in caricature.
Oh – and you should never let on that you’re upset with something a comedian says about you – it just encourages them.
Posted by: JimW | February 13, 2009, 10:44 am 10:44 am
Comedy is in the eye of the beholder… I know that was bad but I couldn’t help myself.
Posted by: Chuck S | February 13, 2009, 10:46 am 10:46 am
Is he angry about the blind jokes or angry that they’re poking fun at him for being a lousy governor?
Posted by: Dave | February 13, 2009, 10:53 am 10:53 am
I live in New York state and believe me we think that is a dead on impersonation. Gov. Patterson should not be worried about his disablity but how the people of NY are upset about all the taxes he is purposing. That $13 we will get will not make up for the $3300 in purposed taxes by the Gov.
Keep them coming.I agree no one is upset about SNL making fun of Stevie Wonder, Sen McCains’age, Sara Palin’s stupidity.
Posted by: cissy55 | February 13, 2009, 10:55 am 10:55 am
simple…..respect the view and position of the DISABLED. It’s easy for us to sit back and just..laugh or judge the offended.
Posted by: watching | February 13, 2009, 10:57 am 10:57 am
Funny, it’s the ABLED who speak so loudly about how the DISABLED ‘should’ feel about being ridiculed! It’ll take an autopsy to make my disabilities obvious and I am NOT ready for you to get your greedy hands on my innards just yet but they do make me unable to do the same things I used to do and that you can still do. Guess I would not mind so much if one of those things didn’t include paying my bills!
When did charity leave us? I don’t mean the dole either. I can’t wait for the sky to fall on some people’s lives, really! Let them personally KNOW what it’s like. Pity? I don’t want your stinkin pity, I want some of the money I paid into this nation BACK in my pocket so I can live like a human in a house, and not under a bridge somewhere just because my innards don’t work right anymore!! Is that TOO MUCH to ask?! If it is, then build better bridges.
Posted by: Terry | February 13, 2009, 11:04 am 11:04 am
Gov. Paterson is only justifying SNL by speaking out. They are making fun of him in jest, and by focusing his attention on a TV show rather than governing his state is only empowering and justifying these satires. On another point: the moment one lets a “joke get to him/her” is the moment that exposes personal insecurities. Don’t go on a tirade against freedom of speech, no matter how offensive it may personally seem… if one can’t laugh with, then a shrink may be in order
Posted by: Dave | February 13, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am
The good Governor wants SNL to pick on someone else. I say, “Man up, Gov.” SNL is disgusting and pathetic, but it’s here because people have accepted uninspiring living and have an appetite for unimaginative, bottom-of-the-barrel humor.
If Governor Patterson is half the man he wants Americans to think he is he should fight the overall attitude that SNL propegates and focus his efforts on inspiring people – not just direct them to attack others besides himself.
-NPage
Posted by: NPage | February 13, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am
SNL did not mock the blind – they mocked (rather, parodied) Governor Patterson.
Just as they have mocked or parodied an endless number of other politicians.
I did not laugh at blindness while watching the show. I did, however, laugh at the skewering of Governor Patterson – the governor of the state of in which I live.
Posted by: Seneca | February 13, 2009, 11:15 am 11:15 am
That’s O.K. Gov. Patterson, your are mocking the ability of your own state’s taxpayers with your new budget and tax increases…you know, the state with the highest taxes in the country…the one in which all of its judges just gave themselves a raise…You may be one of the biggest disasters this state has ever experienced.
Posted by: disgusted | February 13, 2009, 11:29 am 11:29 am
I think many of you will have a day of reckoning on your cold hearted way of thinking someday. It is wrong, and so are you to condone it. Have we devolved so much that this can be acceptable? The comments here seem to indicate that we are moving backward to a medieval callous disregard for those with disabilities. People – wake up – this could just as easily be you!
Posted by: disgusted by it | February 13, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am
I honestly can’t believe he is even giving SNL the benefit of taking notice. As some before have said, it is just going to encourage SNL.
Besides which, he is a public figure, and as such, he has no right to get his panties in a bunch about parodies.
Does anyone remember how brutal they used to be to Janet Reno? But even she took it in stride.
He should just go on the show, take his licks, and show he has a sense of humor.
Posted by: Aaron | February 13, 2009, 11:42 am 11:42 am
I thought that SNL demonstrated its degeneracy when it implied that there was incest in Sarah Palin’s family. Odd that the Gov missed that one.
Posted by: Dina | February 13, 2009, 11:44 am 11:44 am
If you are going to be in public office, then any sarcasim goes. If you don’t like it, stay home and go into private enterprise. the PC crap is just that … crap.
Posted by: yoda | February 13, 2009, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm
SNL gets way to much press. Are their skits really funny? After watching most of them I feel dirty. I agreed with Paterson until he made the Sarah Palin comment… basically stop picking on the black, blind governor and go pick on the white girl. I guess he’s right though, its ok to pick on the white people in our culture. Just not anyone else.
Posted by: ghanson | February 13, 2009, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm
So, ive read through most of the comments on here regarding SNL’s skit, i have a feeling there are two types of people that watch SNL, the first are youth and the second are people that still have their sense of humor. If its a big to you that SNL made fun of ANOTHER celebrity/politician/person in the public light, write to them to express your indignation. I am sure that they will read your drivel, write a skit to commemorate it, and continue to make LOTS of money. For the love of GOD! Relax, develop a sense of humor! Unless of course your disabilaty involves the inability to laugh, thats just sad…
Posted by: ashly | February 13, 2009, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
SNL has always had a “frat boy” sense of humor, and one of those frat boys, Al Franken, is about to be a senator from Minnesota.
Posted by: Ricky | February 13, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
For every disabled person that SNL finds humor in, there are a jillion “abled” people that are made fun of.
In fact, the things that SNL is making fun of with the “abled” politicians are pretty condemning.
Are they accusing Patterson of sleeping with interns, embezzling money from the treasury, selling senatorial seats to the highest bidder….
I guess the best thing to do is pretend Patterson is invisible, and isn’t worthy of any mention at all.
Oddly enough, I’d bet that some people didn’t even know who Patterson was until after they watched SNL. I’m not saying that is the best way to get your current events info, but he probably has a better approval rating after the SNL skits.
Posted by: Debbie | February 13, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
Perhaps SNL is for:
Silly Nonsensical Losers…..
Anyone who makes fun of the disabled should really check themselves….
This is a low thing to do, SNL……
Posted by: t | February 13, 2009, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
Janet Reno was a champ about SNL.
She was played by Will Farrell for years and never once complained.
Hours after she finished her last day in office, she joined him in the last sketch of “Janet Reno’s Dance Party”.
That’s how you do it.
Posted by: MayBee | February 13, 2009, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
The governor needs to stop being so thin skinned. SNL is not doing one thing to “enable blind prejudice.” They are simply doing an accurate impersonation- just as they do accurate impersonations of everyone they satire. Being the subject of satire can make people uncomfortable. But the governor needs to stop being so thin skinned. And he needs to stop using his blindness as an excuse for his discomfort with being roasted. Michael Scott on The Office handled his roasting better than this.
Posted by: ElodieStClair | February 13, 2009, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
Only the white anglo saxon male who is employed should be ridiculed and made fun of. Everyone else is just too pituful and sensitive.
Posted by: frank blourtango | February 13, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
I agree – they didn’t mock the blind, they mocked Governor Patterson. And you know what? Suck it up – it’s humor. If you’re going to police SNL, then you’ll have to police every comic in the US – and we all know Lisa Lampinelli would be the first to go. Gov. Patterson is using this as a ‘pity me’ party – he would fare much better if he shrugged it off. Without comedy, this world would be much harder to bear. And let me pose a question: if he can’t see the episode, how does he know for sure they’re making fun of him? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA See? It’s funny. Get over it.
Posted by: Kristi | February 13, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
Paterson: Spoiled, self-centered, tantrum-taking VICTIM!! Paterson is more judgement impaired than sight-impaired. His choice of what’s-her-face for US Senate proved that. He makes sight-impaired people sound like helpless babies. Victim, Victim, VICTIM!!!
Posted by: bob10001 | February 13, 2009, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
P.S. Outa sight SNL!!
Posted by: bob10001 | February 13, 2009, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
i think that this govener Patterson need not take this so personaly. On one hand we have one very offended govener, as well as many others who just cannot take a joke becouse they feel like they have been robbed of something in their lives. On the Otherhand we have the SNL team of cast members who cannot help but find everything funny, because if you put bounds on humor then what good is it going to be? Do you get anoyed with the same old jokes over and over? I do. Real commedy is great because it offends at least somone, and that is part of the joke.
Posted by: Sam Dougherty | February 13, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
Funny they haven’t even started on the new president yet. Probably won’t either just go for the disabled. It is wrong. Put yourself in their shoes- bet you wouldn’t like it either. What is funny is they have to read off the teleprompter while this gov. memorizes his hour long speeches.
Posted by: emw511 | February 13, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
When SNL first came on the scene, it was witty & funny in every way. It is sad that it has come to this. Sadly, going by the clip, SNL actually, really, truly, thinks they are being funny. Now that’s a disability, if there ever was one: they can’t see the mindless cruelty under their very noses.
Posted by: JoeOvercoat | February 13, 2009, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm
Although I didn’t see the skits, IMHO what SNL did was in bad taste. There is a big difference between making fun of a person’s disabilities than a political position, eccentric looks, mannerisms, bushisms, etc. If SNL has run out of material, let them start focusing on the political figure lawbreakers, rather than upstanding, law abiding political figures.
Posted by: Paula | February 13, 2009, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
The Governor better develop a little thicker skin. or go back to private life. it’s very funny stuff, everyone is fair game
Posted by: MB | February 13, 2009, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm
What Bull!
Posted by: sevresblue | February 13, 2009, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
Patterson has a point . if you’re going to poke at the blind you need to be all inclusive in your objects of satire .
SNL has been way boring for a long time and people are way tired of PC …let er rip but rip every special interest equally . SPARE NO ONE !!!
Posted by: jim | February 13, 2009, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
David Patterson needs to realize that SNL’s writers are making fun of HIM en toto, not his disability; and to that, they are actually treating him equally, and not discriminating (ignoring his political and social relevance) by parodying him. He’s being a crybaby for not just playing along.
And now, he has the nerve to call back for Sarah Palin to get the heat off him? So being stupid and rabidly conservative is attack-worthy, but not having a physical distinction?
What about when they parodied Bob Dole’s paralysis, or Bill Clinton’s plethora of physical distinctions? Or when Chevy Chase made President Ford into a clumsy joke (based on nothing, by the way) and changed how Americans view Ford until this very day? No, I suppose that because Patterson is legally blind, we should put him on a little velvet pillow and put a crown on his head and a lolly pop in is hand and show him re-runs of Blue’s Clues until he’s convinced that the world is going to always treat him like the special little boy he is.
Posted by: wordgirl | February 13, 2009, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
The SNL bits on Patterson that I have seen have been quite tasteless.
There are foibles and scandals you can embellish about him why the focus on his blindness?
Posted by: Ryan C | February 13, 2009, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm
“I agree – they didn’t mock the blind, they mocked Governor Patterson.”
They mocked his blindness.
He’s got plenty to make fun of including mistresses and past drug use.
“each of them has personality traits or quirks which are shown in caricature.”
How is being blind a personality trait?
Posted by: Ryan C | February 13, 2009, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
There’s CLEARLY a trend in New York… they like to elect the handicapped, apparently because they’re fun to watch. Paterson… Clinton… who’s next?
Posted by: Fiercely_Independent | February 13, 2009, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm
I don’t agree with Gov. Paterson: SNL is Enabling Prejudice Against the Disabled. How first public person in NY Gov. no matter whay is blind or blindness doesn’t have sence of humor? It’s comedy. SNL didn’t mock the blind man, but made your jobs fun a little.
Posted by: Janet-NY | February 13, 2009, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
I have seen it, and it’s definitely very poor to have to stoop that low to get a laugh.
SNL needs Tina and a few others back to do the writing, it’s been terrible since they left, however when Tina did Sarah Palin that was FANTASTIC!
Posted by: TSmith | February 13, 2009, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
They are mocking him for finding himself Governor of NY even though he has no business being within a mile of the governor’s mansion based on his qualifications. They are mocking him for making such an embarrassing mess of the Senate appointment. They are also mocking him because of his self-confessed drug use and extramarital affairs. (Why they portray him as obsessed with New Jersey, I am not sure). He also happens to be blind. What are they supposed to do, portray him as if he can see??
Posted by: Charles | February 13, 2009, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
What a whiner.
That skit is hilarious!
It’s only discrimination if one group Isn’t poked fun at.
get over it blind-guy!
Posted by: Notorious kelly | February 13, 2009, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
No drugs at SNL…All Jonas Brothers,,,new world crappy clean shaven nazi society…obsessed with superficial looks over content.
No crazy people allowed…Just kids bop stuff…a vision some freak had of america…We wont buy it.
Posted by: SNL lame | February 13, 2009, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm
What SNL did to Patterson is low-brow satire. What Patterson did to Caroline Kennedy is character assassination. SNL has not harmed Patterson. Patterson HAS harmed Kennedy.
Posted by: LESD | February 13, 2009, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
After his selection to fill Obama’s senatorial seat, I think he’s more like Mr. Magoo than he knows—with or without sight.
Posted by: Elisabeth | February 13, 2009, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
As somebody who is disabled (my whole life not one of these Ooo my back people) I think the Gov needs to grow a sense of humor. I’m not blind or deaf I simply have used crutches my entire life and I and my friends tease each other all the time, people are just too damn sensitive…ITS SATIRE! Also I don’t understand the point of commenting about the horrendous unemployment for disabled people.As a Governor of one of the largest states (population wise) you’d think he may want to address that issue and perhaps attempt to DO SOMETHING about it instead of using it to attack a comedy show.
Posted by: Jsin | February 13, 2009, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm
Governor: as a reformed adulterer and admitted drug user, do you really have the moral standing to criticize professional comedians?
Posted by: Steve from Danville | February 13, 2009, 9:57 pm 9:57 pm
Forget about SNL and Patterson as an issue. The real issue is just how bad and uncreative SNL really is. “D**k in a box?” “Jizz in my pants?” I guess it’s funny if you’re 13..but then I might be insulting 13 year olds. It really takes no thought or creative effort to produce what SNL tries to pass off as humor. Of course, people in this country rarely use their brains anymore anyway, so I guess we’ll continue to see more of it.
Posted by: MickeyJ | February 14, 2009, 12:07 am 12:07 am
Liberals are so thin-skinned. Those who are condemning SNL were on these blogs either posting or laughing at comments about McCain’s age that referenced “Depends”, or a birth certificate chiseled on a stone tablet, or his inability to use the computer (which by the way, is due to a physical disability sustained as a POW). I specifically remember a pro-Obama ad that focused on pop culture as it relates to McCain’s age.
I guess this kind of humor is okay, so long as liberals are making the jokes.
Posted by: marylou | February 14, 2009, 4:50 am 4:50 am
I am deaf. I know nothing about Gov. Patterson’s life, but that’s not the issue. It’s unfair to prejudice people against those with disabilities, period. There have to be funnier things to laugh at than a disability.
Posted by: Lou Anne | February 14, 2009, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
I rarely agree with a Democrat, but the govenor is right on regarding this one. Poking fun at someone’s disability should be off-limits, for it is beyond one’s control. Kudos to the govenor and others like him for rising above arrogant attitudes.
Posted by: Kristin | February 16, 2009, 9:28 am 9:28 am
everyone hates you patterson…
Posted by: david patterson | February 16, 2009, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
What people don’t seem to remotely understand is that Paterson pokes fun at his own disability quite often. He’s always done it. What SNL seems to get is that it’s part of Paterson’s personality. Paterson has always used quips and jokes about his blindness to cope, compensate and break the ice with people’s discomfort around disabilities. Which is perfectly normal. But now he’s on the big stage and on thin ice when he starts to express displeasure over SNL’s quite accurate portrayal of him. The character you see on SNL, while obviously ramped up for comedic effect, is, in essence, really David Paterson. Paterson created that caricature. And he knows full-well the political advantages to be had in feigning outrage over SNL’s portrayal.
Posted by: Frank | February 16, 2009, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
I am deaf. I know nothing about Gov. Patterson’s life, but that’s not the issue. It’s unfair to prejudice people against those with disabilities, period. There have to be funnier things to laugh at than a disability.
Posted by: Lou Anne | Feb 14, 2009 2:47:44 PM
************************************8
I am deaf too! I personally find that funny! Patterson has disappointed a lot of people and it’s ok to laugh, ha ha ha ha ha. Works for me!
Posted by: Yup! | February 16, 2009, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
Do what most sensible americans have done with SNL! Switch the channel to Fox and watch MadTV.
Posted by: James | February 16, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
Most my family are NYers. None of us thought that the show of SNL mocked the Disabled people, but it just described Gov. Paterson’s contradictory his jobs; cut budgets,raise taxes, with fun. He is first public man in NY. We love the joke.
Posted by: Janet-NY | February 16, 2009, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm
I stopped watching that show back in the Belushi and Akyroid days because, contrary to popular belief, that show is stupid and unfunny.
Posted by: orangutan | February 17, 2009, 1:34 am 1:34 am
- Was Julia Child (or any Brit) offended by Akroyd’s skit?
- Were the greeks offended at the old Cheeburger/Cheeburger skit (heck, this is now a FRANCHISE)?
- Were Latino-american’s offended at the Chico Escuela skit?
Should I go on? Chill out people; laugh a little.. even at yourself.
Posted by: KingOfLatePostings | February 17, 2009, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
This whiner needs to get over himself and his self-pity. The whole show (SNL) is parodies and skits. They have made fun of just about every famous person with a personal quirk of some sort. Just shut up Paterson and enjoy your short ride at the top. Mid-term elections are coming soon and your day in the sunshine will be over.
Posted by: Machod | February 18, 2009, 2:33 am 2:33 am
while theyre at it, they should make fun of barack because hes black. making fun of people who are handicapped is hillaaariouss
Posted by: jack | February 18, 2009, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
Wow dude you did say a mouthful!
Posted by: John Jonas | February 18, 2009, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
I dated a blind guy in College.(He was great.)
You just haven’t lived till you have played poker with a blind man and 3 guys in wheelchairs. (you soooo had to be there.Hilarious dudes)
Thankfully, there are more handicapped people with a sense of humor than without.
The Governor needs to learn to laugh at himself.
Posted by: Mrs. Jude Bourff | February 18, 2009, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
This is a man who does not want to be in his position. He never asked to be, he is not qualified in times of crisis. He is feeling sorry for himself as peoples lives are being turned upside down. He should be happy he has a job.
Posted by: ummmm..... | February 18, 2009, 10:17 pm 10:17 pm
Governor Patterson makes a point about unemployment within the disabled community being very high despite our academic accomplishments. ANd it’s important to point this out. It’s a big issue.
My question is this:
Are you going hire someone that you can’t make fun of?
Seriously, if you feel so sensitive about someone because of their disability, then you’re much less inclined to hire them because you’ll feel self conscience or worried that you’ll say something that would appear insensitive or cruel.
Posted by: Jim L | February 19, 2009, 1:50 am 1:50 am
Geez, get a life governor!!
Posted by: Erik | February 19, 2009, 5:49 am 5:49 am
I think many of you will have a day of reckoning on your cold hearted way of thinking someday. It is wrong, and so are you to condone it. Have we devolved so much that this can be acceptable? The comments here seem to indicate that we are moving backward to a medieval callous disregard for those with disabilities. People – wake up – this could just as easily be you!!
Posted by: covax | February 20, 2009, 8:42 am 8:42 am