Family Guy v. Palin

Even as someone who despises Sarah Palin, I have to say that this joke does seem particularly harsh:

The episode of the animation featured Chris - the Griffin family's son - bringing home a girlfriend with Down's syndrome.

When quizzed by his parents about her family, she said that her mother used to be Alaskan governor.

Don't get me wrong, I also find it funny - but that has more to do with my own dark sense of humour than any genuine humour in the joke. However, I can also see why the terribly named Bristol Palin might say this:

Bristol Palin went on to say in the posting: "If the writers of a particularly pathetic cartoon show thought they were being clever in mocking my brother and my family yesterday, they failed.

"All they proved is that they're heartless jerks."

So what to do? What should be done about this unusually crass joke from Family Guy?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Because this is a perfect example of freedom of speech working. A TV show makes a tasteless crack about a controversial politician; member of said politician's family turns around and tells TV show to go fuck itself. That is how it should work in a society populated by adults - people can say whatever then want, even if it is offensive, and anyone who disagrees with what has been said can protest in the strongest possible terms.

In a nutshell, that's what free speech is all about.