After being criticized by Sarah Palin for making what she called "sexually-perverted comments" about one of her teenage daughters, David Letterman clarified himself Wednesday but made no apology. (Watch video clip)
The controversy started with a joke Letterman cracked in Monday's monologue about Sarah Palin attending a Yankee game during her visit to New York:
"One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game," Letterman said. "During the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez."
To anyone but the most knee-jerk right-wing partisan, it was apparent that he was referring to Palin's daughter Bristol, who was famously knocked up by her boyfriend. Indeed, that is what makes the joke funny and why the audience laughed. Letterman has told repeated jokes about Bristol in a similar vein, most recently when she launched her widely mocked abstinence campaign.
But Palin took it as an inappropriate remark about her 14-year-old daughter, Willow, who was with her at the game.
"Laughter incited by sexually-perverted comments made by a 62-year-old male celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl is...disgusting," Palin said in a statement.Todd Palin also chimed in:
"Any 'jokes' about raping my 14-year-old are despicable. Alaskans know it, and I believe the rest of the world knows it, too."Letterman was compelled to respond on Wednesday night's show. Here are excerpts released by CBS:
"We were, as we often do, making jokes about people in the news and we made some jokes about Sarah Palin and her daughter, the 18-year-old girl, who is – her name is Bristol, that's right, and so, then, now they're upset with me…"
"These are not jokes made about her 14-year-old daughter. I would never, never make jokes about raping or having sex of any description with a 14-year-old girl. I mean, look at my record. It has never happened. I don’t think it’s funny. I would never think it was funny. I wouldn’t put it in a joke…"
"…Governor Palin, if you're watching, I would like you to consider coming to New York City – you and Todd as my guests, or leave Todd at home – I'd love to have you on the show. It'd be exciting…"
"All right, so there, I hope I've cleared part of this up. Am I guilty of poor taste? Yes. Did I suggest that it was okay for her 14-year-old daughter to be having promiscuous sex? No." (Watch video clip)
She's also smarting over Letterman's Top Ten List that mocked her "slutty flight attendant" look. Not to mention the fact that she's probably still bitter about the merciless smackdown Letterman administered to John McCain after he canceled his appearance on the show last September, which was the moment the wheels officially came off the McCain-Palin campaign bus.
What do you think of the controversy? Take our poll or weigh in by posting in the comments section below.
Update: Sarah Palin intensified her war of words with Letterman during an appearance on The Today Show Friday, saying that Letterman's joke had contributed to the "acceptance of abuse of young women" and calling on people to "start really rising up."
Update 2: Levi Johnston is taking Letterman's side in the feud.
Update 3: David Letterman apologized to Sarah Palin for the joke about her daughter, calling it "beyond flawed."
Update 4: Letterman pokes fun at "Fire David Letterman" protesters
See Also:
Top 10 Late-Night Jokes About Bristol Palin
David Letterman, the Right's New Public Enemy
Latest Late-Night Jokes
Best Sarah Palin Jokes
Letterman Lampoons Sarah Palin
Get Political Humor on Facebook and Twitter
Comments
Just the latest example of ‘Lefty leaning’ Letterman’s sick attempt at humor at the expense of a family member of a public figure…His lame ‘excuse’ about directing the joke at Gov. Palen’s 18 year old daughter, not her 14 year old daughter that was at the game with her…was just plain weak!
Letterman just plain sucks – his leftist political
rhetoric on his show in recent years will prove to be his undoing…thank goodness for TV remote controls!
It was obvious Letterman wasn’t talking about the 14-year-old. It is the 18-year-old who was actually “knocked up” (Not raped.) in real life. And Dave is a decent guy with a midwestern sensibility. And I believe Palin and her husband know that. But they also know very well that by putting this distortion out there, it will become part of the false folklore of the misinformed. This distortion will be spread far and wide. And many misinformed Americans will believe that David Letterman made a joke about the Palins’ 14- year-old daughter being raped. And the great mass of misinformed Americans is Palin’s base. It will garner sympathy and loyalty.
“Those horrible, liberal, indecent Hollywood slash New York entertainers! You can count on Sarah Palin to stand up for decency and American Values!”
Can you imagine such a thin skinned president?
Forchristsake if McCain/Palin had won we probably would have nuked half the world over some minor offenses already.
Thank GOD Obama won!
Letterman the guy who knocked up his own lady is trying to make humor using a 14 yr. old. What a miserable DIRTY OLD MAN. He’s the one who had a little bastard before any of the Palin’s. Look who’s calling the pot black. He’s pathetic. Since when are stewardess slutty?? I think he has a problem with powerful pretty women. He can’t get one.
I’ll believe Letterman was innocently making humor at Palin’s 18 year old daughter just as soon as he makes off color jokes about Obama’s children. Letterman apparently feels the competition from a younger, fresher, more creative Conan O’Brien, and is trying to hold on to his waning crowd with cheap, news provoking comments about easy targets.
Next, the right wing terrorists will start threatening, harassing and murdering comedians like they do with abortion doctors.
They certainly don’t like it when their moral hypocrisy is held up for the majority of Americans to laugh at.
No politics – no agenda, If Letterman had said this about my daughter or grandaughters he would have recieved a serious ass-kicking.
Dave Carr-Dorchester,MA
Mr. Kurtzman should rename this blog “Liberal Political Humor” as it is clear that he is editorializing and judging what should and shouldn’t offend Palin or conservatives. He makes his disdain for Palin quite clear. Like Letterman, Mr. Kurtzman apparently thinks children of politicians are fair game for sick and suggestive jokes. Thanks for letting us know which side you are on Daniel (like we had any doubts).
it’s kinda frigtening that she took it to mean her fourteen year old. i mean, has she forgotten that her 18 year old got pregnant under her own ‘abstenance only’ views and now has a ‘wait to get married’ campaign. ???? wait, remember, she must have been dealing with russians just north of her house giving her all of that experience…. thank whatever spiritual essence you believe in that this woman is not our v.p. those poor, poor alaskans….
Letterman’s father was a florist. Isn’t that kind of gay for a man. His mother was a church secretary. Is she one of those religious right-winged wackos as well as a boring guess on his show? Letterman is a very old man with a young son. Kind a like Michael Jackson.
Funny stuff…huh Dave!
Letterman only married his wife because he knocked her up and now he has to tell his son someday that he was a mistake and that he never really wanted a kid in the first place. Talk about one whose private life, and opinions, belie his public mask and “jokes”. He is just a sad old man who is seeing is life has just been one big joke. He has never really done anything for anyone but cause pain. What a man.
Political satire about public figures is nothing new, except perhaps to people who might be unaware of the history of political satire. Bristol Palin is a public figure. A satirical joke about a public figure is constitutionally protected speech under the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. That doesn’t mean that one has to like the joke or appreciate the comedian who made the joke. However, the comedian is within his rights to make that joke. Which is why Bristol Palin has not filed a libel suit—she has no legal basis to do so.
Any joke like that about any age woman is pretty sick. The people who laughed at it showed little morality.
Palin attended a NY baseball game with her 14 year old daughter and Letterman’s joke was about what happened during the 7th inning of the NY game they attended. The joke wasn’t about the 14 yr old who attended the game. The joke was really about the 18 year old who didn’t attend the game.
Dave’s next joke can be the one about the one of the Obama girls having sex with an adult and getting knocked up while in Paris. If Obama or others complain the joke is in poor taste because his daughter is a minor Dave can just explain the butt of his joke wasn’t the minor Obama girl .. the butt of his joke was really Michelle Obama! Michelle is an adult who also got knocked up a couple of times in the past so clearly, Michelle is also fair game to be the butt of a joke about having sex with adult guys in Paris.
Dave is too funny!
said:
(It was obvious Letterman wasn’t talking about the 14-year-old. It is the 18-year-old who was actually “knocked up”)
How is this obvious when the 14 year attended the game he joked about? Maybe obvious to an angry Liberal. If it was obvious, he would have said her name I think. That’s “obvious” right?
devanate says:
(Can you imagine such a thin skinned president?)
Wow, take note, don’t object about sex jokes about your your teenagers with grown men and slutty jokes about yourself. Irascible goes on to assure us McCain would have “Nuked half the world” Makes sense, not.
Independent1 says:
(Next, the right wing terrorists will start threatening, harassing and murdering comedians like they do with abortion doctors.)
Typical crazy leftie logic. You heard it here, Terrorist Palin will Murder Lettermen next! Independent1 sounds smart and stable. Is he from the future?
Kelly Bartels said:
(it’s kinda frigtening that she took it to mean her fourteen year old.)
frightening she took him to mean the daughter that was with her at the game? This was my favorite idiocy. Good Thinking Kelly. Maybe you could be Governor some day. Any Bets? And by the way, those poor, poor Alaskans love her.
Are the Palins serious? They took the bait when she ran with McCain, she trotted out those kids, made a wreck of Bristol’s life and still to this day puts them on display. Who are they kidding other than the intellectual rejects that make up the far right. Keep the kids home and stop putting your dysfunctional family life on display.
So the Palins are upset at Dave because they misread his joke as being about their 14 year-old, which it wasn’t, and in the process of expressing their outrage, her spokesperson specifically makes a joke about their fourteen year-old. These people are idiots. Interesting how easily these people are outraged about everything.
Letterman has sunk to a new low by his comments about Palin and her daugther. But, not to worry, he will not even get a slap on the wrist by CBS, just a lot of mean-spirited, malicious snickers from rabid left wing TV hosts and commentators, who have nothing better to do with their wretched lives.
The joke about the Obama girls having sex with an adult in Paris is funnier than the Letterman joke about one of Palin’s daughters (either the 14 yr old who attended the game or the 18 yr old who didn’t attend the game?) getting knocked up during the game.
The Joke WAS about the 14 year old. SHE WAS THE ONE AT THE GAME YOU STUPID LIBERAL IDIOTS. She didn’t “missread” the joke, they read the Joke. Why is it so hard for these angry posters to understand. Until you clarify, like it or not, thats the facts. If it was about the older daughter, they would have stated it. If it was an a mistake, THEN THEY SHOULD APOLOGIZE! Either way, get over it. I am so sick of mean-spirited liberal doofaces. What are so pissed about? Can’t you ever be fair when you are dead wrong? I’m sure post of these intolerant posters get their news from BSNBC. As much as they want people to think “its obvious it was about Bristol” IT WAS NOT – SHE WAS NOT THERE STUPID. Why would we assume that Lettermen doesn’t do his homework. And if he didn’t, he shoulders the burden for it. Are these people that dumb? Talk about manufactured outrage.
Oh yeah. Instead of apologizing for yet, another, not-funny joke on his show, Dave attempts to use Palin more for his own gain by inviting her on the show.
Mr. Kurtzman’s words condemn him: “To anyone but the most knee-jerk right-wing partisan, it was apparent that he was referring to Palin’s daughter Bristol, who was famously knocked up by her boyfriend. Indeed, that is what makes the joke funny.” Mr. Kurtzman is an embarrassment to about.com.
Were Letterman and his staff were so ignorant or slipshod that they confused 14-yer-old Willow, who accompanied Gov. Palin to New York City, with Bristol? I doubt they were. Even if the alleged “joke” was about Bristol, what’s funny about hurting an 18-year-old with a “joke” about her being raped? As David Carr pointed out, what if he had said that about YOUR daughter or granddaughters–or sister or friend?
This former newspaper reporter knows well that the press propagandized during the campaign, in a display of shameful disregard for journalistic ethics. They continue to distort and ignore reality in order to support the odious Obama program to remake our society. (I am tempted to make appropriate, but incautious, historical allusions about the President pro tempore and the press.)
There’s no way David Letterman could have been talking about the 14 year old Palin daughter, Willow Palin. There’s no evidence at all that Willow Palin was AT the ballgame in question, that Letterman jokes about.
I’ve been going back and forth on this “Was Willow at the Yankee game? Was that really Willow, or was it someone else?” question, over and over again.
I’ve looked AGAIN at the Keith Olbermann “Countdown” video from Tuesday, which is the only documentation I can find anywhere that someone other than Sarah Palin and Todd Palin attended that Yankee game as the guests of Rudy Giuliani — all three of them were readily identified in the video.
OK. But there IS a third person sitting between Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani who LOOKS like Willow Palin.
But she’s not. I believe that person is Judi Giuliani, who looks remarkably LIKE Willow Palin, even though she’s much older.
I’ve collected screen captures from the video, along with several news-media still pix of the group at the game, as well as two comparison photos of Judi Giuliani. Take a look (the link will take you to my PhotoBucket album describing this).
That is NOT Willow Palin at that game. No widow’s peak. “Old” hands. She’d never wear a blazer.
So there. David Letterman’s joke was about a Palin daughter who wasn’t even at the game! Which describes Bristol Palin to a T!!!
Everyone that is attacking Letterman keeps making the same argument – that he intentionally made this joke about an innocent 14 year old girl. But lets be real about it. Who on earth knew that A) Palin went to a Yankees game, and B) what members of her family were with her?
The truth is that you only know that “willow” was at the game because Sarah Palin told you so. When Letterman told that joke, everyone assumed it was about Bristol. Most people in the country didn’t even know what her 14 year old’s name was, let alone that she was at a Yankees game the other day. Palin is the one making this an issue.
And all of you that are attacking Letterman are just regurgitating the Palin camp talking points – “14 year old + rape.” Who on earth thought of rape when they heard that joke? This is the usual alarmist, fear-mongering, irrational, and disconnected rhetoric that the majority of America is tired of.
If you want to make the argument that the jokes are sexist and in bad humor, go ahead!! Letterman already admitted that. But to say that David Letterman made a rape joke about a 14 year old is the most preposterous thing I have ever heard. And then to insinuate that Letterman is himself a sexual offender of some kind? THAT is offensive. Sarah Palin should stop using her family to remain in the political spotlight. It is shameful.
Just more of the Tolerant Liberal Fallacy.
Remember when Saturday Night Live suggested Todd Palin had incestuous sex with his daughters?
I wonder if the left would be so tolerant to think rape and incest was funny if the tables were reversed and Obama and his daughters were the subject?
The only thing funny here is the hypocrisy of the left.
The joke about one of the Obama girls having sex with an adult in Paris cracks me up. Can’t wait to see it on Dave’s top ten list the next time Obama trots his wife and daughters out for their next photo op. Maybe SNL can also include a skit about Obama having sex with his daughters? Do you think Dave and his old men lib ped pals can get off with that visual or is it only the Palin girls that get them off?
Is anyone worried 63 yr old Dave is the father of a 5 year old?
I saw nothing wrong with his joke about Palin herself, but making reference to her daughter, whether it was the 18 or 14 year old – is outright slanderous and he owes them an aploogy. There is a reason I will not watch him or support his advertisers.
I’ve been following this issue in various forums. It’s amazing to what lengths leftist apologists will go to justify Letterman’s unacceptable behavior. The anger, the vitrol, it is truly frightening. Gov Palin may be a public figure but to say that Bristol is fair game (even accepting Letterman’s lame explanation that his joke writers were so incompetent they did not know which daughter was at the game) is just wrong. If Letterman had any class he’d apologize like a man. He won’t and he’s not. Besides I think he’s got the hots for the governor. You know, like when you pulled the cute girl’s hair in first grade. He’s trying to get her to notice him. What a pathetic old man.
David Letterman’s utterly sleazy attempt to pretend that the joke he told about Sarah Palin’s daughter at the baseball game WASN’T about the daughter who was at the baseball game was worthy of the sleaziest politicians he’s ever tried to mock.
And he calls his mealy-mouthed attempt to squirm out of it an “apology” (now THAT’S funny!). Some apology: “If my gross, crude remark obviously about your 14-year-old offended you, then let’s just say I was talking about your 18-year-old. Doesn’t that make it all better?”
As long as we’re on the subject of children, and as Letterman seems to feel that’s fair territory, then alright, picture this scenario….
Mr. David Letterman comes home at night, and his son comes running to greet him. His son asks, “Daddy, what kind of work do you do?” Letterman replies, “Well, sonny dear, I take gratuitous, scurrilous and depraved shots at people who’ve never done me harm – yes, lad, even at their children – in order to get cheap laughs from an audience of mindless sycophants who’ll laugh at anything I say because I’m famous and they think it makes them really cool. (They’re so dumb they don’t even know when they’re not supposed to laugh.) Wouldn’t you like to be just like your ol’ pop when you grow up, sonny boy? Sonny? … Sonny?”
A 62-year-old man still cracking junior-high-school jokes for a living…. yeah, that’s really something to look up to. Something for his son to be “proud of”.
Palin was right: PATHETIC.
Geez, it’s like attending a Sarah Palin rally in here. You people need to put down the pitchforks and lighten up. For anyone looking for a perfect illustration of irrational right-wing anger and why dwindling numbers of Americans identify themselves as Republicans, see above.
After reading these comments I am saddened. This country is as partisan as it has ever been. I am a registered Republican but I like David Letterman and I like Obama. I don’t think the joke was targeting his 14 year old daughter and I think that Palin’s daughter getting pregnant opens the door for ANY comedian to make a comment about it. If it was wrong then Palin would sue for slander but she can’t because the law states that if you are in the public eye then comedians are allowed to use you as material.
Besides, you have to feel sorry for comedians these days since George W. has left office there is very little material.
Palin needs to grow a sense of humor. She also needs to get a life, outside of politics.
She is so busy releasing statements to the press, always on a personal level. She needs to get to Alaska’s buisness. You know, like helping the people in rural Alaska who are either freezing, starving or both. It took a bunch of bloggers to bring that issue into the MSM. Palin knew about it the whole time. She just didn’t care. It wouldn’t have given her the attention and drama that she can’t seem to live without.
Fourteen, eighteen, thirty five, if Letterman made such a lame joke against one of my three daughters I’d kick his ass.
Letterman is out of bounds here. You do not make jokes about a politician’s family, no matter if they are 14 or 18. Jokes about Chelsea Clinton, Bush’s daughters, President Obama’s daughters, or any other politician’s children are in very poor taste. My respect for Letterman has gone way way down.
Sarah Palin is a loser…
You are Right most of you for all the wrong reasons. It should not matter if you are a celebrity or celebrity relations. You should not slander period. If you laugh at such jokes you support the slander. To join Dave or to join Sarah is to Join the same slander support from two fronts.
Dave does not write Dave’s jokes, a team does. They likely did not remember that there were two daughters to Sarah, and that it was the youngest who had attended Sarah to the game. That is what happens when you open your mouth without knowing what you are talking about.
Sarah out of concern for her daughter has a right to be upset over this one. But Sarah does not play fair either in the Political light and most of you can not see this yet, or you don’t care because it’s a right / left wing thing. Sarah and John stood by while the nation made slandered of Obama for the comment about “Big with lipstick”. They John and Sarah supported a lie because it benefited them. That comment was first raised from John’s lips speaking about an economic plan, and Obama was only drawing reference to John’s comment about this policy perspective, John had just only recently announced his running mate. Don’t be fooled, they both are seeking ratings.
Let’s all calm down. First, Dave doesn’t write his own jokes. Does no one know that? If anything, the staffer that came up with the joke without confirming which daughter attended the game should be disciplined.
I’m a loyal liberal (a mother to 2 daughters), and I think the joke was bad taste… no matter which daughter he was referring to. But, the joke was OBVIOUSLY about Bristol, which makes it slightly amusing, and the word RAPE was never mentioned. Like I said… CALM DOWN!
i find Letterman more funny than Conan, i thought the joke was hilarious!!!!!!!!! Palin just wants the free publicity is all
Your audience is sinking with the defamation of people David. Perhaps you can work a deal with Larry Flyn and get more into the Hustler style humor! That seems the direction you are going.
“I am so sick of mean-spirited liberal doofaces. What are so pissed about?”
Irony!
way out of line. she is an easy mark, high school dropout, druggie and baby out of wedlock but her mother was showing off everywhere while she was running. telling the real, real rights at least she didn’t have an abottion and then had her going around to tv show saying abstinence is the answer. neither party is innocent but letterman should have known better
I have to say I preferred the times when the children of politicians and celebrities were allowed to be children, not targets. David Letterman is showing a distinct lack of class in taking pot shots at this teenager. How would you like someone to show this kind of class toward your child, Dave? I don’t think you would appreciate it.
Am I the only person that feels compelled to rise to the defense of poor A-Rod? Poor guy shouldn’t have to be associated with the likes of the Palin drama queens. Besides…
I’m sure Sarah is always glad to have the opportunity to get back into the national limelight. She’s probably thankful to Letterman, even at the expense of her confused and misguided daughter. Com’on you right-wingnuts! YOU KNOW ITS TRUE!!!
Sarah Palin is a has been bimbo with no brains and her husband is even dumber. She’s trying to salvage her pathetic political career by distorting a joke made by David letterman. Anyone except for someone of Palin’s or the “First Dude’s” inadequate intellect would know that the joke was about her 18 year old knocked up daughter. You got it, she’s trying to drum up media attention and of course the no scruples media will go for it. The only unfortunate thing about this is that Miss Bimbo of Nov 2008 is in the news again, hopefully it will be a short time as frankly she and the First Dude make me sick to my stomach and remind me of just how low American politics can sink.
I think A Rod would have just as valid of a complaint about the joke as the Palins.
Letterman is suggesting he would commit statutory rape.
Also, even as a strongly loyal Democrat I think the Palins complaint is valid. Only their younger daughter was with them at the baseball game and why wouldn’t they think Letterman was refering to her? I think Todd Palin would probably like to punch out Letterman’s lights, Sarah too.
Ha i think its funny about what is going on, and she’s still not accepting his apology look http://thecelebritycafe.com/features/28889.html
Should comedians start to vet their comments for inoffensive content? Joe McCarthy already tried to peg his entertainment industry critics as communists–it looks like similar intimidation is afoot. Gov. Palin is cynically manipulating her base and doing what she does best–creating a distortion of progessive issues in the right-wing echo chamber that loves her.
Don says: Only their younger daughter was with them at the baseball game and why wouldn’t they think Letterman was refering to her?
Because Letterman is a funny guy, and making the joke about a 14 yr. old would not be funny. There were 100s of jokes about the pregnant one and her boyfriend, and this is just one more. Anyway, with Palin constantly popping up in the media, we just need to give it time. Her childrearing techniques are somewhat questionable, so Willow will probably be in the news one day for some dumb reason or another.
The joke was bad, but Palin should have only issued one dignified press release objecting to it.
But then she wouldn’t have had yet another opportunity to shrilly moralize, beat her breast and play the victim all over the national media. Which appears to be what she’s best at.
Dave Letterman told a joke that was, at best, mediocre. He apologized for it, but Sarah Palin won’t let it go. This is not a mothers outrage. This is a media whore grabbing all the attention that she can, and using her children to get it. The woman is despicable in her shamelessness. In typical Neo-Con fashion, there is no real issue or issues here. There is only what they do best: Don’t offer any solutions, just keep everyone agitated about it, and tell them who is to blame for it.
What about poor A- Rod?
It was wrong, but no one has been stepping out to defend underage music artists when they are insulted on these same types of shows. If we want to stop it, then make it a law for everyone, not just Palin’s daughter.
When I first saw the joke on tape, I assumed Letterman was referring to Bristol Palin, who is 18. That said, it was probably still inappropriate.
However, the Palins have gone beyond reason with their reaction, using inflammatory language like “rape”, etc. in their comments. Where was that indignation when underaged Bristol Palin announced her pregnancy? Was Bristol’s boyfriend a rapist?
Photos were released of Bristol Palin drinking. Where did she get the alcohol? Should Sarah and Todd be investigated for contributing to the delinquency of a minor?
By continuing to beat this dead horse, Sarah Palin is illustrating why she is truly unfit for national office — she has no idea what is and isn’t worthy of attention.
Dave, dave, dave. You’re just not that funny any more. Take a cue from Leno. Hang up your hat, before you forget where you left it! I used to watch your morning variety show in the late 70’s religiously. You were young, brash, quirky and humorous (remember the potato chip suit… and the Velcro suit!). Now, you’re just an another angry old comic, complaining about ‘those damn neighborhood kids’ wrecking your lawn.
Look people, this is ridiculous that anyone believes that it was a harmless joke meant for Gov. Palin’s 18 year old daughter. If you believe it then you are at the hands of the liberal media.
It is appalling to me that his joke is even viewed as “funny”. Actually, I think it’s rather absurd that people make jokes about others. It’s bullying and only sets bad examples to younger children and teens.
It’s rather obvious that the joke was made towards Gov. Palin’s daughter who was in New York at the baseball game – you know the 14 year old one.
David Letterman made this joke knowing full well how it was going to be perceived and he still made it anyway … because that was the intention!! He was only smart to try and cover up this terrible joke by saying it was Gov. Palin’s (now legal) daughter Bristol since he never distinguished which daughter he was referring to. Furthermore, the joke was meant to be interrupted as another one of her daughters were knocked up.
Let’s play devil’s advocate for all those people that still think this joke is funny. If someone like Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, or any other prominent Conservative figure made a “joke” about President Obama’s children, Sasha and Malia it would be an out-cry.
Let’s say this joke is about Bristol – it’s still disgusting. Just because she is know a ‘legal adult’ and has a child out of wedlock doesn’t make it appropriate joke. The only good thing that David Letterman did finally say was that his joke was of “poor taste”. Finally, whether you want to believe the joke was about Bristol or Willow Palin .. it all comes down to this question: if it was your daughter, sister, or friend, would what David Letterman said still be a joke to you? Most likely, no.
It appears that Mr. Kurtzman thinks Dave’s joke was funny. That’s rather sad. Gov. Palin reacted as any parent would if a joke in questionable taste was publicly made about their child. Dave’s joke writing staff did a sloppy job in targeting the 14 year old daughter, but what makes it right if it were the 18 year old? And why drag A-rod into the mix? He’s got his own problems, including a current batting slump. But I’m sorry if Mr. Kurtzman adapts Dave’s pretentiousness and smugness in making such tasteless jokes. It’s no surprise that in Dave’s monologues President Obama is never the butt of the jokes. Obama always looks like a hero.
I can’t understand why these holier than thou right wing so called “christians” can’t get over this joke. Governor Palin, when campaigning, marched her entire family out on national television including her knocked up unwed teenage daughter. In no way was Dave Letterman trying to be suggestive about a 14 year old kid. It was a dumb joke! God, we have more to worry about right now than comedy writers. Get over it.
Get over it. Have you seen Larry Flynt’s movie about you, Ms. Palin?
Here’s the link to Larry Flynt’s Palin film, “Nailin Palin”:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/sarahpalinvideos/youtube/nailin-palin.htm
Ok, the point of the joke is to slam Palin for being to self-involved to parent her children. Let’s face it, if you are a Palin the chances of you getting past your teen years without being knocked up are slim and none.
However, the Palins have gone beyond reason with their reaction, using inflammatory language like “rape”, etc. in their comments. Where was that indignation when underaged Bristol Palin announced her pregnancy? Was Bristol’s boyfriend a rapist?
WIN. Bristol’s choice to get pregnant is absolutely and irrevocably a signed permission slip sent directly to comedians to write jokes about it. Forget about arguing with this, no matter how bad a joke was.
And I don’t see A-Rod complaining about a slanderous implication that he is a child molester…
It’s simple deal people. Letterman is an entertainer. When you stop being “entertained” by him, STOP WATCHING THE SHOW. If enough people stop watching the show the network will take him off. If, however, people continue to enjoy his style of humor, then the networks will keep him on. There was a time I wouldn’t miss a Letterman show but I stopped watching the show years ago when he started becoming “political”. I don’t watch comedians for “politics and I don’t think politicians should do stand up either.
Sarah Palin is the most pompous narcacisstic politician in the world! She only attacked Letterman because she wanted to be another big headline in the news. I swear I wish I could smack her. If she becomes president of the US then we’re all screwed.
It became obvious to everyone that Letterman, God bless him, was talking about Bristol. How dare she slam him for such a thing. It was only a joke. How dare she call his viewers naive for believing him. I’ve only seen a few of his monolouges and I know he would never cause trouble.
Shoot, thank the Good Lord Obama won and he shall be president again. If you don’t like Obama or Letterman then screw you.