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Politics | 12/15/2008 9:40 am

Paterson, Blind Advocates Don't See Humor in 'SNL' Skit (Video)

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
Gov. Paterson didn't find 'SNL' skit funny

Gov. David Paterson of New York isn’t the only one who didn’t see the humor in the "Saturday Night Live" skit that poked fun at his blindness. Advocates for the disabled are slamming the skit, too.

Some fear the mocking could leave viewers with the impression that blind Americans are incompetent employers. "When you have a perception problem like we have, you take these things a little more seriously," said Chris Danielsen, spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind. "We have 70-percent unemployment — and it’s not because we can’t work. Obviously, the governor of New York is blind and he’s doing the job. Whenever you have a portrayal that calls the basic capacity of [blind people] into question, that’s a potential problem."

Carl Jacobsen, president of the National Federation of the Blind of New York said to the local press, AM New York, that the show would likely never use the racist humor in connection with the governor, who is black. "’Saturday Night Live’ was reaching for a cheap laugh at the expense of a whole class of people," Jacobsen said. "They have to find someone to pick on so we’re down to blind guys."

Paterson — who is known for his sense of humor — called the irreverent comedy skit "third-grade" humor. A spokesman at the governor’s office said, "This particular ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit unfortunately chose to ridicule people with physical disabilities and imply that disabled people are incapable of having jobs with serious responsibilities."

During the "Weekend Update" segment, comedian Fred Armisen imitates the blind governor’s wandering eye, harsh voice and blunt demeanor as he mocked the gov’s admitted drug use. He goes on to explain how he plans to fill Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat with someone who holds economic experience and a person from upstate New York … Also during the skit, the "governor" holds an unemployment sign upside down.

This was a little out of line. We know it’s post-election season, but c’mon Peacocks … Watch:

 

18 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

georgia fatwood
I’m OK with poor taste..I just don’t do it in public……. I think it’s called the “shock of non- recognition”……Like when you turn the corner in the grocery store and somebody who’s a little bit younger, or older, than you are is in a costume that you would never wear in a million years because she is..what?…and I am not/ am not … What?…….And for a split second, we have to confront the road less taken and also, “there but for the grace of god go I….” .
By georgia fatwood on 12/19/2008 1:29 am
georgia fatwood
I’m OK with poor taste..I just don’t do it in public……. I think it’s called the “shock of non- recognition”……Like when you turn the corner in the grocery store and somebody who’s a little bit younger, or older, than you are is in a costume that you would never wear in a million years because she is..what?…and I am not/ am not … What?…….And for a split second, we have to confront the road less taken and also, “there but for the grace of god go I….” .
By georgia fatwood on 12/19/2008 1:29 am
georgia fatwood
Sorry…happens to the best of us…..Sticky fingers and an occasional ooopps………
By georgia fatwood on 12/19/2008 1:31 am