W.H. Responds to Palin: Domestic Violence, Gun Violence and Addiction ‘Are Not a Joke’

[excerpt] 

EARNEST: "The reaction of some people, I think, is to make light of some of the rhetoric that we see on the campaign trail, particularly from Governor Palin. But, you know, the fact is domestic violence is not a joke, gun violence is not a joke, problems with addiction are not a joke. And the consequences -- or I should say the sacrifices that many of our men and women in uniform make for our safety and security are not a joke. And these are issues that this administration is quite focused on. We take them all very seriously, and there are many communities and families that are dealing with these very difficult challenges in a way that sometimes is difficult to talk about publicly."