Use of slur 'retarded' spills over into Texas governor's race

Palin made national news this week when she posted a note on Facebook calling for Emanuel to be replaced after he called colleagues in a closed-door meeting "retarded."

"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," Palin wrote.

Gov. Rick Perry's campaign confirmed Thursday that one of its consultants, David Carney, repeatedly used the same word in a conference call with KERA/Channel 13 before one of last month's Republican gubernatorial debates. The episode was reported soon after it happened by The Come and Take It Blog, an anonymous blog focused on the race.

Carney was White House political director under President George H.W. Bush and was an aide on Bob Dole's presidential campaign.

The story gained attention this week when U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's campaign brought it up ahead of Palin's scheduled campaign appearance with Perry at a Houston-area rally Sunday.

CNN reported Thursday morning that Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton said it was unclear whether the incident with Carney actually happened.

"While it seems few can comment on the veracity of the conversation, Gov. Palin believes crude and demeaning name calling at the expense of others is disrespectful," Stapleton told CNN in an e-mail.