Friday, February 13, 2009

NY Gov. Paterson tells town meeting "SNL" parody of him "promotes insensitivity" toward disabled people

From The AP. You can watch Gov. Paterson's complete remarks at cnycentral.com.


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 Feb. 12 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.