In the wake of last week’s Wonkette/Trig Palin controversy, people keep sending me updates, related stories, and new slights against the special needs population, the latest of these being a Los Angeles Times editorial that calls Sarah Palin a “special-needs case.”

This is as good a time as any to clarify a few things about the issue of special needs-bashing.

Yes, this is another “Retard-gate” post. Why? Because while I agree that Palin is right to condemn Rahm Emanuel’s use of the term “retard,” and I agree that Sarah Palin’s failure to call out Rush Limbaugh is hypocritical, I still think everybody is dropping the ball on this.

The Aughts

As the face of media evolves, it’s important to honor the figures who helped define, shape and set the standards in their industries. These are some of the most prominent members of the media who passed away over the past 10 years. Take a look back with some snippets from their respective New York Times obituaries.