The TV Zone

is there some reason why letterman's self esteem is so low he has to drag down young girls and their families? he is such a dumb (and you can fill in the rest)

Who cares if it was Bristol or Willow? Neither of them can help it if their mom is governor or a member of a political party David Letterman doesn't like. Tina Fey admitted to feeling a twinge of guilt for making a joke about Bristol Palin last October, but felt it was not *quite* over the line. But the joke opened the floodgates that is was acceptable to mock Palin's children. SNL recycled the joke in another bit two weeks later, and it seems Dave and his writers have become just as callous on this issue as other left-leaning comedians. I'm glad it came back to bite someone. Dave should see this as an opportunity to retire his 20 year writing staff and stop phoning in his show as he has for the last 10 years.

She's using her daughter to get her face in front of the cameras again, because she's fading from the spotlight. She's the one that put herself out there making her family fair game, as was Chelsea Clinton. And when you're preaching "Family Values," "morals," and all the rest, it's gonna come up if you can't stand up to what you say!

Why is everyone compelled to make this trash ok because every body does it in music, rap, MTV and "thousands of cultural touch stones"-- carry on the same trash. If that is the important standard then Mr. Letterman should practice gay sex and beat his wife and----! Equally lame to blame his time with Howard Stern as diminishing his judgement. Neither of them can be accused of good judgement. We should use them as a "How not to be or act" example every day. They are mentally lame and stupid. CBS is blocked on my TV.

David, what were you thinking? Why give Palin one more opportunity to grandstand in public? Leave kids alone by the way. I loathe Palin but her kids can't help having her as a mother.

That's the old Dave I know and love! He's a comedian. Yes, I bet he didn't
pay attention like he should have to who was with Palin at the time.
But he's Dave. Whether he is in his sixties or thirties. That's just his style.
Get over it people.

Doesn't it strike anyone out there as disgusting that Palin keeps fanning the flames of this each and every day through the media? If she was really interested in protecting her daughters, rather than furthering her political career, would it make any sense to keep bringing the subject up and having media commentators repeat the "offending" joke ad nauseam? I'd say Palin's just as guilty of degrading teen girls at this point, as well as using her kids to score political points -- yet again!

I find it unfortunate that an attempt is being made by the Palin political machine to falsely create a controversy here. And just to make something clear here: I voted for McCain/Palin (as the least offensive of the two non- choices in the National election). The "righteous indignation" is ludicrous. The 18 year old DID allow herself to become an unwed, underage mother. No amount of rhetoric will ever change that. She, nor her family, are as pure as the driven snow (by the "Christian" standards that Dave's detractors are trying to apply here). Dave Letterman is a comedian. The Palin's became "public figures" when Sarah Palin ran for public office. Perhaps when she decided to participate in beauty pageants. It is a reality of public life: everyone gets scrutinized, even ex-boyfriends, ex-spouses, any angle that the media can mine for a story. President Lincoln was assassinated. So was Kennedy. It is known now that Henry Kissinger decided to abandon the US POW's remaining in Vietnam, rather than pay the ransom money demanded for their release, dooming those American soldiers to spending their lives in work camps until they died. A couple of years ago, E. Howard Hunt's sons released a tape of their own Father's confession to having participated in John F. Kennedy's assassination. This absolute proof received almost no coverage in the National media. Time to grow a conscience and a little bit of integrity. That is supposed to be part of the "Republican ethic". The absence of that in this "pretend" indignation over making jokes about the obvious truth of the Palin daughter is sad.

She's using her daughters to get her face in front of the cameras? Her face was in front of the cameras in NY last weekend and tha'ts what inspired the jokes. If Palin wants camera time, all she needs to do is show up somewhere.

Joking that anyone is a pedophile without a conviction for such is also amazingly stupid and inappropriate.

I ask what is the difference between David Letterman and Pedophile concerning Sarah Palin's daughter Willow? My god Letterman is 62 years old and talking about a 14 year old girl, let alone his meager apology saying he was speaking of the older daughter with a baby. This is not funny, doesn't come close to Johnny Carson's humor. Johnny would not lowered himself to that level. With all of this said do you believe sponsors will pull their support for Letterman and will he be fired?

Why does everyone assume that what Palin said about keeping Willow away from Letterman was a bad joke? I took it as Willow is upset and it would be best to keep her away as she might either say something out of anger or hurt? I didn't see it as keeping him away from her as much as she (Willow) doesn't want to be anywhere near him.

Hey joe d would it be okay with you if Letterman said the same thing about Obama's children? That's what I thought you wouldn' t like that and yes he would be considered a pedophile and throught. Lets put some more gas on the fire it would be considered a HATE CRIME. All I ask is lets' be fair on all sides.

I can't imagine how anybody could think the joke was about Palin's younger daughter. I didn't even really know that she had a daughter of that age. Palin has one daughter who last year got pregnant, entered into a seemingly fake engagement, and has been at the center of tons of talk and jokes about abstinence. I can't imagine why anybody hearing the joke would think he was talking about anybody but her.

Guy, or whoever you are, you don't have any decency defending a pervert as Letterman. I am curious if you went this distance defending Imus. It seems to me you are another media hypocrite that defends liberals at any cost. Look how much credibility media has now a days. Much, much lower that even our beloved Congress.

As a father, if anyone made a joke about any of my daughters I would not be happy--and they wouldn't be either after I discussed it with them. It shouldn't matter who the parents are--got a beef with the parents, take it up with them. Going after kids--14 or 18 or even 20 is low. Half ass apologies don't cut it either--that just shows what kind of character you don't have.

I agree the joke was in very poor taste and that Letterman was rightly rebuked. My opinion of him is not as high as it used to be. That being said, he did apologize. Palin should have been gracious and accepted the apology.

Instead, Palin refused the apology and continues promoting the issue. I find it rather tacky and hypocritical. If she doesn't want people talking about her children, then she should stop talking about them too. Doesn't she have anything more important to discuss? She'll never be a Republican leader if this is the only type of attention she can get.

If this is really tearing Letterman up and he is loosing sleep - why the lame appology? A simple "I'm sorry that what I said was misinterperated as me somehow thinking that the raping of a 14-year old was OK" Further, "I would like to take that joke back - if I could - I'm sorry if I caused any pain to Willow or her family, or anyone else for that matter." Period. Keep appologies simple - anything else just adds fuel to the fire. Then, talk to the writers - be SURE that jokes are off-limits when it comes to kids.

It's frustrating. Common sense screams that Palin and the right are being deliberately misleading. They know what Letterman said, and he was talking about the daughter who got "knocked up." I knew it, most people who watched knew it. The Palins KNEW it. But ... they need attention.

Dave said it wasn't about the 14 year old. That should end it. He said it wasn't about the 14 year old, nobody can prove it WAS, so take his word for it.

Calling Dave a pedophile, for gods sake. That's BETTER than what he said? God, these people are sick.

Well said Gay..

But I disagree on one point.
You give the impression that this is not as serious as Imus' gaffe.
That because it's not racist, it's should not be "judged" in the same way as Imus.

I contend that Sexism and Racism are equally evil.
Combine sexism with youth predation, and you have a heinous sin.

And like Mike says above....Letterman could have/should have handled this a whole lot better initially.
That 1st apology was flippant at best.

With that said, my greater outrage over this incident has been the way the bullk of the media has handled it.
From initially misrepresenting the story (reporting the story as the "slutty flight attendant" comment being the center of Palin's outrage), followed up with the theme of "What does Palin expect?" and "Well, it's her fault for putting the kids in that position", it's painfully clear to me that the Main Stream Media has demonstrated again that there are more powerful forces at work within the system which trump the one time nobility of professional journalism.

Just my opinion.....from two time zones away.

Dave told a tasteless joke about Bristol.

The Palins, without a shred of proof, called Dave a pedophile.

When are the Palins going to apologize? I think they should apologize for such an awful comment. I think Sarah should apologize or resign as governor of Alaska.

I'm waiting for the flight attendant's apology.

We're waiting for Sarah's apology.

Come on, Sarah, be a big girl. Say you're sorry.

Oh give me a break. Sarah Palin was fading and she is using this to
to get any type of publicity that she can. She really doesn't care
if she has to use her children to get back in the papers. She didn't
seem to mind parading her unmarried daughter around during the
campaign. And, even though she said they were getting married, well
guess what the Johnson boy didn't go for her crap. She probably
split them apart. If Todd had any back bone he would tell her to just
cool it for awhile, but then again he likes the media also.

Letterman made the same mistake that Imus made and if you are pretending not to see it that way it is really hard to take your opinion seriously. I mean really, give me a break! Both comments were about young women/girls. Just because Imus' comment was "racially charged" does not make it worse than a sexually charged comment about a minor. The fact that the Rutgers girls were mostly black, does not make respecting their honor any more important than respecting the honor of another young person who did not ask to be in the public eye. To say that it was supposed to be directed at the 18 year old doesn't work either. The Rutgers girls were all over 18. If Letterman is not fired it will be just another bit of proof that the media and t.v. is run by the lunatic left. That being said, I don't think Imus should have been fired and I don't think Letterman should be either. If you don't want to watch him turn the channel. If enough people do that then he will lose his job that way. I think these comedians today need to remember/learn how to be clever and funny not resort to simply making fun of people like a middleschool bully would do. The left hates Palin because she is conservative and they know that if people see what real conservatism is they will vote for it almost every time. Liberalism, as it is today, takes the control away from the people and gives it to the government under the guise of "help".

Wally and Jean, I'm sure what you have said is because of your personal opinion of Ms.Palin and not that you would condone jokes about the pregnancy of a 14-year old girl. It really doesn't matter that he now says that it was about the 18-year old. By the way, when she became pregnant she was 17. My question is what would you have Ms. Palin do? Would it be appropriate to not defend her 14-year old? What would that say not only about her as a person but as a mom? That is what it seems that Palin is try to say here - I'm her mom and you crossed the line buddy. She came prepared to answer questions about it when she spoke to the Today show about the pipeline and now you say that it was a further attempt for publicity. I guess for some you would say that was why she did the events in New York for charity too? If she would have not come prepared would you then compare this interview to the Katie Couric interview? As I already said above, I think the same thing could be said for Ms. Palin - When asked about this issue by the Today show she should have kept it simple and said, "I think Mr. Letterman has received enough publicity on this issue and I really don't want to see his ratings increase anymore from this." "I would hope he would appologize to make things right for young women through-out the US as well as my own daughter Willow, but that is ultimatly his choice."

OK, I've had fun with this stuff because the Palins themselves are so much fun to mock, so silly in their unimportance, so blinded by their own sense of worth.

The Palins are the most recent in a long list of people who thought they were more valuable to the planet than they are. The list is long and includes politicians of both stripes. If the Palins are funnier, it's only because they wear so well the Jed and Granny and Jethro costumes. They're not funnier, they just look funnier.

But calling a man a pedophile, no matter what you think, is beyond the pale.

"Ignorant and biased reporting has its counterpart in ignorant and biased reading and listening; we do not speak into an intellectual or emotional void."
Eric Sevareid, 11-30-77

The Palins and their loyalists can pretend Letterman said something he didn't. It just makes them look stupid. And isn't looking stupid their problem?

What is the big deal?
After all, Bill Maher laughed quite loudly and clearly about little girls that are raped by their own fathers and got applause for it:

http://atheismisdead.blogspot.com/2009/03/bill-mahers-sad-anniversary.html

What is the big deal?
After all, Bill Maher laughed quite loudly and clearly about little girls that are raped by their own fathers and got applause for it:

http://atheismisdead.blogspot.com/2009/03/bill-mahers-sad-anniversary.html

Wally....

"Ignorant and biased reporting has its counterpart in ignorant and biased reading and listening; we do not speak into an intellectual or emotional void."
Eric Sevareid, 11-30-77

"Stupid is as stupid does"
Forrest Gump, 1994.
Perhaps Letterman should have Tom Hanks on his show to clean the mess up.

And Wally?
Your allusions to the "hickness" of the Palin family are really wearisome and indicative of a snooty hypocritical east coaster.
I'm someone who was raised in the strip mall/deli/bagel shop barrio of what is Long Island (and most of the metro area, save Manhattan), and spent many years in Alaska and Palin's part of the world and you are kind of embarassing LI'ers with your misplaced characterizations about people who live up in Alaska.
And before you rationalize your idiocy by stating that your comments were only about the Palin's and not a reflection of all Alaskans, please remember who elected Sarah Palin, and gives her 80-90% approval ratings.

Alaskans are just like you and I for the most part.
Although I will admit that Alaskans are much more friendlier and not near as condescending to things they don't know or understand....unlike you sir.

Article was interesting; however, one inaccuracy: "He did sort of apologize the other night." Let's be clear: Letterman in NO WAY apologized, and his remarks since Monday have been snide and sarcastic rather than remorseful.

At least Imus admitted his mistake and tried to fix it...

Of course, Imus leaned to the right, so his remarks got him fired. Since Letterman these days is nothing but Obama's lap dog, he will suffer no consequences from CBS.

(And people wonder why the ratings for Couric and Letterman have fallen off a cliff?)

Has anyone read any posts from "Wally" ? I'm sorry but Wally...you're scaring me... you really put the loon in lunatic left

I'm hearing more comments about David Letterman's illegitmate son. That's a nice way for me to put it considered the other words I have heard him called. He would not want his son addressed in that manner. I agree with Sarah Palin-there is a double standard when it comes to which family can be ridiculed and which ones are off limits. Letterman's and Obama's names come to mind.

Hi Verne,
Interesting self-interview that touched all the bases!
To me, Sarah Palin is using this controversy to get back in the spotlight and to grab the family values market for her next run. And Letterman and CBS are basking in all the hoopla (there's no bad publicity, right?) to eat into Conan's audience.
Palin wasn't opposed to using her daughters after being chosen as McCain's VP, going so far as to showcasing the young unwed and pregnant couple -- the not-so-happy couple, as it turned out -- at the GOP convention.
All that said, Dave definitely stepped in it with that super-tasteless joke -- and an unfunny one at that. One of Leno's famous lines comes to mind -- spoken to Hugh Grant years ago: "What the hell were you thinking?"
He gave Palin an opportunity and she seized it. "Priceless," as MasterCard might say.
Jim

You are so right Jim, both Palin and Letterman are turning this into a win win situation. Unfortunately, it is lose lose for Willow and Bristol, and Sarah and Dave are equally responsible for that as well.

I have been watching Dave a long time, too, and I feel as though your analysis of what he's going through right now is pretty much dead on, with one exception: I agree that her appearing on Conan would be a major coup, but have you ever watched Conan's show? I did make a habit of switching over to NBC after Dave to watch the old one, and I can assure you that Conan O'Brien has taken PLENTY of shots at Sarah Palin. And, more to the point, the daughters, particularly how the oldest one got knocked up. If Conan O'Brien is doing his same old show now at 11:35 PM--and from what I've seen and heard, he is--an appearance by Sarah Palin on The Tonight Show could be seen as nothing more than an opportunistic stunt. For crude, tasteless humor at Palin's expense, one only needs to dig up Triumph the Comic Insult Dog's broadcast from the RNC last year, and I would be extremely surprised if no one could find anything where the daughters are exploited for a cheap laugh.

Conan O'Brien is not Elizabeth Hasselbeck.

What the anti-Palinists (media included) seem to keep leaving out is the fact that the 14 year old daughter was the one at the game not the 18 year old. Watch for this fact in reports. It is indeed a "red flag".

Letterman's excuse/explanation is just a typical leftist style routine lie and spin. He is genuinely sorry... that he got caught.

Integrity is only a minor virtue (and an annoying one at that) amongst liberals. But of course that depends on the definition of the word "is", right?

Rex, they are leaving out because it doesn't matter, just like the fact that Sarah Palin never went to Bloomingdales to "update her slutty" look doesn't matter.

Jokes and comedy are not factual and joke writers do not fact check or employ fact checkers. Jokes are not facts, never have been and never will be.

Letterman made a statement on the issue and that's the only information there is to go on as to who the joke was about.

Respecting the honor and dignity of an underage white girl is not as important as an over 18 black girl. Don Imus was a completely different case because he's a jerk. Palin's defense of her daughter is wrong because she "had it coming" for being stupid and evil and parading her family around at the national convention like every other politician since the dawn of televised broadcasts. This is America and Dave can say whatever he wants, even if he is on the job with a major tv network being paid by corporate sponsors. The sponsors don't care about customers and will support Dave because Palin is a washed-up hypocrite. She preaches abstinence yet she is a complete failure as a mother because her unwed teenage daughter became pregnant. Its only a matter of time before the 14 year old has the same fate because she is the product of white trash.

Yeah that makes a lot of sense. What is wrong with that argument?

lw,

Of course it matters, it is a very relevant and incriminating fact the the only daughter at the very public event that was there to get knoced up" as Dave put it, was the 14 year old. This is why the Letterman supporters are leaving it out.

If you don't believe me, just google out the latest reports and look at the slant of those that include this fact vs those that don't/

If indeed it was just a "joke" why don't Dave just man up and admit he is wrong instead of trying to pull a Slick Willy and weasle out?

I guess it's that integrity thing again. Never admit anything if you can just lie your way out, huh?

Sorry Rex, just because people are choosing not to believe Letterman's statement doesn't mean he is a liar. Again, jokes are not facts.

Sorry Rex, just because people are choosing not to believe Letterman's statement doesn't mean he is a liar. Again, jokes are not facts and neither are opinions.

If this moron had said the same about one of the Obama girls, what would have happened to his career and multimillion dollar salary? Didn't some old white guy (that would be Don Imus) make a comment about Rutgers' black female basketball players that cost him his job? Wasn't there a lot of righteous indignation from the media about that? Where is it now?

He's a bottom feeder. And so are his buddies.

LW,

I think you are missing the point. It seems that some of the media is selectively leaving out the fact that only Palin's daughter Willow was at the game. This omission appears to be related to the bias of the reporting agency.

I personally believe, as most other American's, according to the few polls I v'e seen, that Letterman is indeed a liar.

It is a shame that the media and mainstream culture in this nation apparently condones not only bad behavior, but also condones Clintonesque falsehoods in the denial of such.

Rex choosing to believe Sarah Palin's opinion over Letterman's statement puts your post in the realm of opinion as well. Only David Letterman can tell us who that joke was about. Media outlets may be leaving out the detail that Willow attended the ball game because Letterman released a statement on the issue and no responsible journalist is going to call him a liar after such a statement. Why whould they? Calling him a liar is refusing his apology, refusing to get to the bottom of the issue, refusing to resolve it and choosing to make an already bad situation a lot worse for everybody involved including the Palin girls.

Sarah Palin's choice to present her opinion as fact tells me that she wants war, she wants to bury David Letterman and she's hoping this is her chance. With her well known penchant for revenge, she is one I'm having trouble believing in this situation.

David Letterman made the joke and he's the only one who knows the truth. Sarah Palin's opinion is not the truth.

LW,

How about the novel idea of presenting the facts, all the facts that is, and let the public decide for itself.

My complaint of incomplete reporting is not an opinion. It is a provable fact. What one makes of these incidents of incomplete and apparently selective reporting might be opinion, but the manner in which the information is presented is not.

Intentional and habitual omission of an important detail that can be used by the general public to formulate an opinion contrary to those of the reporting body, is irresponsable journalism and an obvious attempt of putting a spin on the incident and trivialize a dispicable act, and can be honestly interpeted no other way,

It is no matter what you or I personally think. Opinion is not a factor in this case.

LW,

How about the novel idea of presenting the facts, all the facts that is, and let the public decide for itself.

My complaint of incomplete reporting is not an opinion. It is a provable fact. What one makes of these incidents of incomplete and apparently selective reporting might be opinion, but the manner in which the information is presented is not.

Intentional and habitual omission of an important detail that can be used by the general public to formulate an opinion contrary to those of the reporting body, is irresponsable journalism and an obvious attempt of putting a spin on the incident and trivialize a dispicable act, and can be honestly interpeted no other way,

It is no matter what you or I personally think. Opinion is not a factor in this case.

Letterman has become the joke. Obama has provided at least as much material as old W but Dave is so far up Oprahs ass that he is on a role that might last O's entire Presidency. Can you imagine the monologue Dave would have had if W had a plane buzzing Manhattten for a photo op? It would have outlasted Cheneys shotgunning his friend in terms of jokes. Or if W had given Chrysler 50 billion only to have them file bankruptcy weeks later anyway? We'd be laughing our ass off at that stupidity every night. There will be many more "laughes" to come and Dave can only pick on Sarah for so long before the real joke is all too obvious to all. Granted the Republicans have provided plenty of material but the new administration has provided as much or more........stay tuned.

Since factuality is such a big topic let's talk about the facts.

Fact 1: Letterman said that Sarah Palins' daughter was knocked up at the Yankee game.

Fact 2: The only daughter at the Yankee game was 14-year old Willow.

Fact 3: Anyone claiming that Letterman meant Bristol is either spinning the story, or is just plain stupid. It's much like a math problem: Knocked up at game + Willow at game = Bristol? It makes absolutely no sense.

It is possible that Letterman did not really know which one was at the game, and the writers just blew it. But either way he is ultimately responsible, and should have never tried to spin the obvious math.

To the people who claim Palin put her kids out there, and therefore they are fair game, does the same thing apply to Obama's daughters, and to his wife Michelle?

They have very much been in the public eye. If you cannot honestly say yes, then you are a hypocrite.

IMHO, I do not see why children of politicians have to be denigrated for cheap laughs.

If he's so tormented by it -- not that I'm questioning a 100% genuine Verne Gay guarantee to that effect -- then why can't he just apologize? And not like the "apology" he gave the other night. Something that's a little less angry, insincere, self-pitying, and self-justifying. How about a statement in which he actually utters the words: "I'm sorry." Preferably addressed to his target, Willow Palin. Who did nothing to deserve his insults except attend a baseball game with her parents.

Oh, I forgot, the millionaire TV star is the real victim, not the little girl he beat up. Never mind.

She wishes she could pull off slutty flight attendant.

You wish you could pull off legendary badass.

Interesting choice of photos. You picked one of Dave as happy and smiling and the one of Palin as dour. You know there is a pic of Palin smiling happily and there is a photo of Dave appearing grim that you could have chosen. Hmm.... Typical. Make the one you favor look the best. Those are the subtle decisions that the MSM always make for their biased agenda.

I had to stop reading at the point where the writer says he *knows* Letterman is a good guy because he has watched his show so many times. This is a joke, right?

We know nothing about any celebrity, heck, we don't know much about anybody else, do we? So many stories about folks acting 'out of character' in one way or another.

Who would have thought Woody Allen of all people would be schtupping Mia Farrow AND her 17-year old daughter at the same time? I remember thinking at the time it was so out of character.

Dave has acted very oddly to women in the past. Oprah, Madonna. He begs them to come on the show and then he makes fun of them in nasty ways. That has turned me off of him as much as anything. They can take care of themselves, but still distasteful to watch. Just his comedy schtick? Maybe, maybe he has a problem with women. Is he threatened by attractive, successful women? Is that why he married a she-male who appears to have some kind of personality problem?

For all the folks that want to some how to justify Letterman's
behavior and speech, please post YOUR young children's
name(s) and photo on a public website. I don't think YOU would then find it in the least bit amusing, acceptable or debatable to have this happen to you.
This is not about politics. This is about decency and morals.

A win-win situation: Palin gets her publicity and Letterman gets his ratings. I’m sure Letterman hopes Palin keeps this “feud” alive. By the way, doesn’t she look “presidential” milking this spat for all it’s worth?

How would you feel if he'd said that about your kid, tj?

What ratings, Letterman has been a loser from day one, Leno always beat Lertterman now Conan beats him, The guy's pathetic, A Loser and A Pedaphile, he should be fired

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