Palin wants Emanuel axed for 'retard' line

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Sarah Palin says she wants U.S. President Barack Obama to fire his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, for calling some staff members and other liberals "retarded."

The former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican presidential candidate posted on her FaceBook page Monday that Obama can do without Emanuel as he discusses issues with his inner circle of advisers.

"I would ask the president to show decency in this process by eliminating one member of that inner circle, Mr. Rahm Emanuel, and not allow Rahm's continued indecent tactics to cloud efforts," Palin wrote.

Emanuel is drawing fire after The Wall Street Journal reported recently he had called some administration staff and other liberals "(expletive) retarded" last August for their perceived squeamishness in pressuring more conservative Democrats who didn't support healthcare reform being pushed by the administration.

Disability Scoop, an online news organization serving the developmental disability, reported last week Special Olympics Chief Executive Officer Tim Shriver said he was dismayed by Emanuel's comment and asked Emanuel to join his organization's campaign to end use of the word "retarded" as a derogatory term.

Emanuel called Shriver last Wednesday to apologize, Disability Scoop said.

"The White House remains committed to addressing the concerns and needs of Americans living with disabilities and recognizes that derogatory remarks demean us all," a White House official later told Disability Scoop.

But Palin, who has a child with Down syndrome, was not mollified.

"Just as we'd be appalled if any public figure of Rahm's stature ever used the 'N-word' or other such inappropriate language, Rahm's slur on all God's children with cognitive and developmental disabilities -- and the people who love them -- is unacceptable, and it's heartbreaking," she said.