David Paterson: SNL Insensitive To Disabled

MORRISVILLE, N.Y. — The legally blind governor of New York says a second parody of him on the television show "Saturday Night Live" promotes insensitivity against the disabled.

Democratic Gov. David Paterson said Thursday that the show's continued parodies hurt disabled people not in a position to fight back.

A segment on Paterson aired last week featured "SNL" cast member Fred Armisen _ with one eye closed most of the time, the other focused on his own nose _ unable to see fellow cast member Seth Meyers or a prop. Armisen portrayed the governor as a clueless blind man with a past of youthful drug use and womanizing.

NBC spokeswoman Sharon Pannozzo says neither the network nor the show would comment on Paterson's remarks.

Comments

[RGKahn]

"David Paterson: SNL Insensitive To Disabled." I hate to break your bubble, but SNL has been, is and will be insensitive to a lot of people and groups of people as long as they are on the air.

[steveinohio]

What if Patterson had gone the other way with it, and made it a joke of his own? How much more would that help his public perception than saying SNL is insensitive? Picture Gov. Patterson going on the show and saying

"You know, this is just the sort of thing we have come to expect from SNL. I mean, who likes this stuff? Frankly, for me it's hard to watch. I just don't see it. And the impression of me? Are you kidding? It doesn't pass the eye test. He just doesn't look right to me..." etc. etc. Wouldn't that have killed? He'd look like a real winner, and it's a total layup! Politicians should never miss the chance to take someone else's joke and turn it into a funny, self-deprecating moment.

[impatient]

Exactly.

The Democrats are supposed to be humble and not take themselves so seriously. The Republicans are the ones with the rods up their butts.

I actually think that making handicapped people off limits is actually more insulting than accepting a handicap as just another characteristic or personal feature. If Paterson wants to have blindness be the ultimate hands-off characteristic of a political candidate, doesn't that suggest the need for pity? Obligatory respect and pity are awfully close to one another...­...

[tploomis]

I agree completely. If you're not strong enough to take a joke, the disability is in the head.

[Ares1]

Well you can't accuse SNL if just mean to Republicans, they lampoon Democrats just the same if not more.

[bronceye]

Why the need for special treatment? You are lampooned as a politician, not as a legally blind man. They made fun of hillary's laugh, palin's everything, biden's hair and gaffes. They dress up and make up to look like the people that they are portraying, for God sakes. You sir, are a politician first. You want to pretend that your visual impediment doesn't prevent you from doing your job, you have to realise that it doesn't prevent a comedian from doing his. You don't get special attention. Besides, you are a funny looking dude, anyway. I think that you are a loser and a token. You certainly sound like one, trying to define yourself with pity and not pride.

[tamsam07]

They're not making fun of his disability. They are making fun of HIM! How else are they supposed to portray him, as a person that has sight? That wouldn't be an actual portrayal of him now would it. Honestly, this guy has so many skeletons in his closet and now he wants to play the disability card. Get over it Mayor!

[glorialovelace]

He's not the Mayor.

So much for what YOU know about alleged "skeletons in his closet."

[dct1999]

They always prove their ignorance, don't they?

[Pleneras]

You had me there until you said skeletons in his closet. He revealed what he had to reveal. In fact what he reveal was no of our business since it did not occur while in office. Bonceye is correct. There is no disrespect to the disable by SNL. I'm surprised I thought the Gov was going to have a great sense of humor about this. I like him and I don't like him for being too afraid to announce his selection for senator cause of political pressure. One does what is right to them in such a case not moved by the media or friends.

[Wilson201]

I agree and "Bonceye" is a funny Freudian typo slip!

[bellabeach]

Get over it is right...do­n't take yourself so seriously!!

[pj1fwb]

HELLO,Comedy Show!! Please don't take it so seriously! Laugh, it is not an insult. humor is supposed to make you feel good,not insecure!

[nighthawk808]

This is why no one takes the left seriously in the US. It's quite unfortunate, too, because liberal ideas are exactly what the country needs, yet bozos like this make the average person simply chortle at everyone on the left, as if we're all nothing more than a bunch of whining crybabies that have nothing more important to do than to be offended at anything and everything.

[TheBrizz]

"no one takes the left seriously in the US"

It's hard for me to take you seriously after that comment, considering the state and national election results of last November.

[jdmba]

I'm convinced that the more intelligent people with any social awareness have stopped even reading these types of articles. The tro//s can have it this time, with the same, tired old arguments that parody magically erases lack of taste or respect.

[steveinohio]

Actually, parody DOES magically erase lack of taste or respect. That's kind of the point. The great thing about comedy is everyone can suspend their self-righteousness for the duration of the show and just laugh.

[STG 44]

I think the whole idea of many SNL skits is to ape insensitivity, don't you, Gov.?
Oops, is the above insensitive to primates?

[Quilter]

Arminson plays a great Patterson.­..Just STOP playing Obama. Now, that's the real atrocity.

[tora]

He is too sensitive and paranoid.

[BlueZoo]

Get a grip! SNL has made fun of Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder and BOTH have appeared on SNL. The list goes on and on... Life is far too serious these days and we need to laugh a lot more. If you don't want to be made fun of, don't go into public service or have a public profile! Good grief!

[TheBrizz]

The first thing I thought of when I read this was all the times I've seen Stevie Wonder joke about his own blindness.­.. when he presents awards, he opens the envelope and pretends to read the name of the winner. During the "We Are the World" recording sessions, he joked about Ray Charles and him driving everyone home.

This is what SNL does: they make fun of people's notable qualities. If you have a distinct diction, they mock that. If you're known for having a very quick temper, they're going to mock that. Patterson is blind, so when they characterize him, that's going to be the prominent feature of the impression.

[DontselltheUS]

When I began watching the parody of Paterson, I thought SNL had gone too far on this one. Maybe it's because I am not too familiar with Gov. Paterson, but it didn't seem that funny either. I thought the skits during the campaigns were very funny.

[ElBruce]

Armisen's Paterson impression is the funniest thing they got going on right now. I actually laugh out loud when he comes on.

They're just parodying HIM. Not all blind people. If the introduction was "and now a spokesperson for disabled people," followed by that parody, then it would be insulting. But Paterson is not a representative of everybody who has disabilities, much less everybody who is blind.

[bujeeboo]

That whole show two weeks ago was amazingly unfunny. Who was writing that garbage that weekend?

Last weekend was MUCH better.