I mostly like David Letterman's humor. I give great leeway to comedians when they are skewering public figures. Most of them have it coming, Politicians being the subjects of jokes on late-night talk shows comes with the territory.
But Letterman went way over the line on his joke about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter. He compounded it by taking forever to apologize.
Letterman's early defense was he thought he was making a joke about Palin's 18-year-old daughter instead of the 14-year-old daughter. That's supposed to make it better? Suggesting that Yankee player Alex Rodriguez knocked up either daughter is not appropriate. In fact, it's sick humor. Are Letterman, and his writers, tone deaf?
Finally a week later, Letterman offered an apology during his monologue on Monday's show.
Here's a video of the apology.
Agreed too little way to late. It is not funny to attack Palin or her daughters. As a parent himself he should know better. He would not like someone talking like that about his child young or as an adult. I do not and have rearely found him funny anyway.
Letterman’s apology is all part of the liberal con. I doubt he was genuinely sorry; he just sorry he got caught.
There is a greater issue here. Andrea Tantaros a GOP Commentator for FOXNews.com put it this way: "A growing trend seems to be emerging. From Perez Hilton to Playboy’s 'Conservative Women Hate List' to David Letterman’s lewd comments about Sarah Palin, it appears that attacking women –– specifically conservative women –– is not only all the rage, but oddly, acceptable. .... a party (Democrat) that once used to claim to own the violence against women issue has embraced it and let their politics run them when it comes to the issue of misogyny ... when it comes to the most serious and sensitive attacks against women the National Organization for Women spokeswoman warrants a missing person’s report .....Violence against women is wrong, no matter what party affiliation, not to mention it’s just not funny. The more acceptable it becomes to express violent, crass language against women in the public arena the more you can expect our country to fray at the seams."
It’s a liberal thing!
Crystal clear assessment of the underlying liberal trend.
You are correct in suspecting the state of Letterman's heart behind the apology. I say call them on it every time until the only women left in that party are the ones still trying to marry each other.
I was always taught to believe that humor was a sign of higher brain function, Letterman is demonstrating an exception to the rule. Anyway it is not that difficult to make viewers who work all day, or all night, to laugh at that hour. Then there are the couch potatoes, they're loaded and laughing autonomically whether or not the tv is on, and the digital converter has been removed from its box.
It feeds into TC's delusions of a "liberal con", that's where the humor is, lol.
And what "delusions" would that be? That it’s wrong to mistreat women? That it is wrong for a 62 year old man to suggestively and obscenely joke about a 14 year old girl advocating violence and rape? I plead guilty to saying that those things are wicked, evil and wrong, wrong, wrong! If that’s a "delusion" then I plead guilty.
Perhaps the greater question is: Don’t libs and the so-called feminists, those supposedly concerned about women realize those things are evil? And BTW, I’ve noticed ONLY conservative groups advocating on the side of women and have not heard one so-called feminist group say anything negative about Letterman. What does this say to us about the REAL beliefs of liberalism?
And what "delusions" would that be? That it’s wrong to mistreat women?
The delusion is that mistreating women is somehow a "liberal" thing, or that conservatives care more about women's issues. Where were conservatives when Lilly Ledbetter tried to get justice for being paid less than her male counterparts for decades at Goodyear? (If you don't know who I'm talking about, that says a lot.) Do you stand up for women when actual rights are involved (as opposed to tasteless jokes)?
This is neither a conservative or a liberal issue. It is a judgement issue and a mistake on Letterman's part that he handled poorly. Either he or his writers should have caught this goof. They didn't. When it was made an issue he should have been a man and admitted he errored. When he did not he made it worse. People make mistakes. Sometimes when they do they handle it poorly rather then stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility for it. Letterman screwed up several times on this issue and that does not put him in a favorable light as a person.
It is kind of a "liberal thing."
Think about what happened. Think about the process. It just wasn’t a spur of the moment, off-the-cuff remark:
1. Letterman’s jokes were pre-written by his writers - they could have, at any point drawn the line, but they didn’t!
2. The jokes were put on cue cards - another chance to think through what was being said - they could have, at any point drawn the line, but they didn’t!
3. Everything said had to be gone over by network brass, producers and censors - they could have, at any point drawn the line, but they didn’t!
4. The women on Letterman’s staff should have said something - they could have, at any point drawn the line, but they didn’t!
5. The show was pre-taped; at any time someone, anyone could have said, "enough!" - they could have, at any point drawn the line, but they didn’t!
6. Networks have many advisors, editors, producers, and staffing that probably numbered 100 or more - they could have, at any point drawn the line, but they didn’t!
7. All networks have legal advisors standing by to "keep them out of trouble" - they could have, at any point drawn the line, but they didn’t!
I think that it is obvious that David Letterman and his network co-conspirators (possibly with the underhanded help of the Obama administration), deliberately, knowingly, with malice and much forethought, meticulously set out to construct a scenario where they could attempt to destroy, discredit, and mock someone (a conservative) that might be a threat to their power base.
Now I ask you, isn’t that about as liberal as it gets? Remember the great father of liberalism, FDR (that is, aside from Lenin) once said, "In politics, if it happens, it was planned that way."
TC the humor is you think David Letterman speaks for liberals. David letterman pokes fun at Democrats as well as Republicans.
Your not thinking rationally, or with common sense on this issue.
Look at the age group for David Letterman's viewers sadly most of them probobly don't vote.
I stopped watching Late Night TV 20 years ago.
Jim is right this is not a partisan attack from liberals.
T.C....Some raise the possibility it may have been as simple as a ploy to jack up the ratings to offset the buzz over the Conan-Leno transition.The washed up perverts' ratings are in the tank and it may have been a calculated risk that "Dirty Dave" and his network were willing to take...after all, when the pathetic,barrel bottom rated, Katie Couric manipulated the interview with Gov.Palin...her ratings jumped and the slobbering "State Run Media" even gave her an award for it."Degenerate Dave" probably looked at as a two-fer getting to trash the lefts' favorite target and getting a nice little bump from brain-dead viewers...such a deal.
Brian is probably right and it worked for apology night anyway -- his ratings took a big jump.
All I want to know is when Letterman became the spokesman for the Democratic Party? Did I miss the newsletter? He does not speak for me nor the Democratic Party so you conservatives might want to stop smearing the blame to those who are not responsible for his words. It's juvenile.
Kim,
When did Rush Limbaugh become s spokesman for the Republican Party? Same answer as above. He isn't, and Letterman isn't a spokeman for Democrats. But like most entertainers, he regularly attacks conservatives, like he did Palin. Doesn't make him a spokesperson for a Party. He appears to me to be angry, classless and past his prime. That's why is ratings are in the dumper until now.
Rating ploy? If fame fails notoriety may do. 2012 is a long way off for Sarah who?
With Barney and Chris's elephant in the living room it just isn't a good time for regularly televised liberals to tell jokes. Under the circumstances they have blended in with the rest of the liberal propaganda machine hoping that the capital afforded the average comedian does not go goes bankrupt like it apparently has. I believe Sen. Boxer (D) was expecting a few giggles yesterday when she redirected an Army brigadier general to drop established military etiquette when reporting in uniform. If the senator knew that the expression Ma'm is acceptable to Queen Elizabeth by her military subjects, then maybe she would not have tarried so far off such an important discussion about post Katrina recontruction.
When did Rush Limbaugh become s spokesman for the Republican Party? Same answer as above.
Only if you can cite one example of a Democratic politician getting in hot water for criticizing Letterman.
I think letterman should apologize to Alex Rodriguez. You know for insinuating that he is a pedophile in all. It takes two to tango.
not a pedophile with an 18 year old.
Jim's right...this is not a partisan thing. It's about comedy and comedy has it's good jokes and bad jokes. This was a bad joke that Dave went a little too long to apologize for.
Palin, unfortunately for her, makes a good target in the world of comedy. So does Brittany Spears, Michael Jackson, George Bush, Bill Clinton, Paris Hilton and most any politician in the news...the list goes on and on. Nancy Reagan, not funny. Sarah Palin or Hilary Clinton....usually funny.
In this case the joke was about Alex Rodriguez's ability to seemingly get any woman he wants and Dave happened to get Palin's daughters mixed up. And dragging someone's kids into the joke is in poor taste and doesn't usually make for good comedy.
And for the record, there was no violence or rape mentioned. That wasn't the joke. Try not to make it something it's not to fit your distorted inculcation.
anti stupidos wrote. not a pedophile with an 18 year old. The daughter that was in new York with plain was her 14 year old daughter therefore the comment most likely was aimed at her. when a adult has sexual relations with a 14 year old they are commonly labeled as a pedophile.
Letterman claimed he was talking about the 18 year old. Even that is not acceptable. But he would not be not stupid enough to pick on a 14 year old child before millions of viewers.
The apparently self loathing anti_stupidos wrote, “Letterman claimed he was talking about the 18 year old.” Key word here is claimed. that is called damage control. Do you believe everything he says. If you replace Bristol (who was not in new York) with willow (who was) the joke makes no sense. Letterman’s public retraction and attempt to change the subject of the joke after the fact doesn’t really change anything. What tried to point out and for some reason you want to argue with me about is that possibly a-rod could have been affected by this joke not just the palins.
After listening to the 'lack of funnybone' right make fun of Chelsea Clinton for 8 years. The hysterical 'right' jumps in perfect 'time' to the 'wedge politics' division of the 'conservative movement' ringmasters.
Ms palin 'forces' her family to deal with its 'dysfunctions' on a public stage and 'exploits' every opportunity to submerge them into any cesspool that will put her 'mug-shot' on the frontpage....enjoying every minute, a typical 'media-_____......'Hangman', anyone?
Exchange of views is thought-provoking. sean; Letterman/Palin/Rodriguez moved beyond [our] debate. Distortion of meaning, name-calling are lacking thought-validity. Explain how impatience with stupidity equates self loathing.
I have been arguing about Palin/ letterman/ Rodriguez the whole time in all of my posts I mention them. you started the name calling by posting as anti stupidos. I have not distorted anything. Go look up how the original joke was told before his retraction. even though he retracted the joke the fact remains the joke, even for that night, could have offended more than just willow or Sara Palin. I was merely pointing out that their could perhaps be third party. You for some reason took issue with this and posted as anti_stupidos. I agree with you exchange of ideas is thought provoking. However the subject at hand here is an instance. What we are arguing is perspective. As for me saying that you are disgusted with yourself because you ironically call your self anti stupidos I apologize. So there is my retraction actually I wasn’t even talking about you. I was talking about someone else. According to your logic I have successfully changed the whole structure of the joke, and I am in the clear.
"Lack of funny bone" because we don't buy into your perverted sense of humor...and we are supposed to swallow your lie about the treatment of Chelsea Clinton...sounds like your affliction is pathological.
MDM only difference is Rush's survival is in minute by minute partisan attack, Letterman does not.
Thinking Letterman attacks Libs more the Conservatives or vis-versa is childish.
Palin relishes the National spotlight, especially when She protrays herself as being attacked. Palin loves it. It gets more Conservatives to support her.
I hope She does run for President again, just as the Republicans wanted Clinton to run.
Good luck.
yea, lack of funny bone, have you seen 'redeye'....puleeeze,
And the treatment of Chelsea by John McSame was disgusting. the pathology of 'conservatism' is the 'mental imbalance' exploited in the Milgram Studies after WW2. That's how Jim Jones eploited his 'kool-aid drinkers' and why you are referred to as 'lock-steppers' and Rush Limbaugh has become your 'face'.read 'Conservatives Without Conscience' and get educated on your 'well known' "conservative pathology".
My penname anti-stupidos, according to sean equals name calling. An obvious inability to take criticism while criticizing others is stupid because it exposes to being called on it. How's that saying about staying out of the kitchen if not being able to stand the heat? Respect is the foundation for successful debate. I could find sean to be an excellent debater, were it not for a thin skin getting in the way of clinical objectivity , the reason for lashing out against criticism. My chosen name anti-stupidos was to convey my dislike of stupidity but not to addressing any particular debater or disputant. Yet I feel it wise to change the name to anti-estupidez. Probably to have chosen a nonexistent (but cute) word for my name was stupid on my part.
Mr murray, David Letterman's 'joke' was 'stupid' but to try to 'conflate' it into some kind of 'moral highground' war, is infinitely ‘dumber’ than the joke. Letterman making John McCain look like a fool during the election obviously, got stuck in Sara’s ‘craw’…and
Watch Sara’s ‘reaction’ with the sound turned down and pay attention because you will be looking right in the eye of the ‘Authoritarian Conservative Leader’ MANIPULATING ‘her’”AC Followers’. Track down the ‘video’ of Bishop Mahoney of L.A., at the press conference announcing the $650million ‘settlement’ to the ‘abused’ kids and you will see the SAME little ‘grin’ that pushes the ‘buttons’ of ‘AC Followers’ and ‘directs’ the ‘herd’. That little voice in your head that ‘screams’ its everybody else’s fault is the ‘reptilian’ response that is putty in their hands.
Listen to 2 minutes of Michael ‘the weiner’ Savage and try to tell me about how we should ‘clean up’ our act. This ‘hate-mongerer’ has been banned from a country.
Progressive Liberal Democrats have been yelled at and demonized by the ‘Heritage Foundation Gameplan’ since the early 70’s. The ‘contract for America’ and the K Rove ‘permanent majority’ project was supposed to have made the last 2 elections an impossibility but We the People CHANGED that.
Didn’t your parents read you the story ‘The Little Boy that Cried Wolf’. The ‘Conservative Movent’ has been ‘crying wolf’ for ‘decades’ and its all coming home to ‘roost’.
I think, the 25% republicans are the ‘people’ that can still be ‘mesmerized’ by their ‘hysterical political theatre’.
This is a guest appearance . I used to listen to Rush Limbaugh at noon. To make a long story a short post, when Limbaugh made malicious, déclassé fun of the adolescent Chelsea Clinton's hair, from that moment, Limbaugh was kept off my Radio and TV. Having raised an fm child, I know how deeply it cuts a young girl's feelings to make fun of her appearance. Limbaugh did it for millions of Americans to hear.
Since you have ran out of steam on the letterman issue a couple of posts ago. I figure you have nothing left to say on the issue so nethier do I. By the way it if you cant handle the heat stay out of the kitchen (belive me i know). Also calling yourself anti-estupidez dosent help you out you are not fooling anyone this is california comprehension of spanish is not limited to a small minority. You should use anti-dallintinneach
the galic term for stupid or dim witted will help ysince a ton of people know spanish
No connection to the Irish. sean, respondeme directamento y note andes por las ramos. Stick to the point.