Letterman Apologizes

[BubberMiley]

...t to attack the children repeatedly is something that the left does when it can gain advantage.

While I find such generalizations about both right and left to be profoundly stupid, I agree it is fun (and easy!) to engage in them. As a generalization, I think most of the people “outraged” over the lame joke (especially Palin herself) are only in it for the political currency they feel they can generate. There are even posters on this board who have made similar (far worse) “jokes” about Obama’s daughters who are self-righteously feigning outrage on this very thread.

There were even a few such blowhards outside Letterman’s studio yesterday. Judging from their signs, they clearly have no idea what “moral high ground” means.

Maybe that’s why the right is also so in favour of torture.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/16/l...m_n_216566.html

[Oleg Bach]

While I find such generalizations about both right and left to be profoundly stupid, I agree it is fun (and easy!) to engage in them. As a generalization, I think most of the people “outraged” over the lame joke (especially Palin herself) are only in it for the political currency they feel they can generate. There are even posters on this board who have made similar (far worse) “jokes” about Obama’s daughters who are self-righteously feigning outrage on this very thread.

There were even a few such blowhards outside Letterman’s studio yesterday. Judging from their signs, they clearly have no idea what “moral high ground” means.

Maybe that’s why the right is also so in favour of torture.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/16/l...m_n_216566.html

Moral high ground is a contradiction in terms. The term "high ground" is usually used to describe an advantageous point duing a battle - a war - morality and war can not be mixed - those that wage "moral wars" are hypocrites - there is nothing moral about conflict.

[jdobbin]

Letterman Rises in the Ratings

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009...?ref=television

Monday night, when Mr. Letterman offered his extended apology to Governor Palin and her family, he had his best night yet in the continuing late-night competition against NBC’s new “Tonight” show star, Conan O’Brien. In preliminary national ratings, Mr. Letterman pulled in 700,000 more viewers than Mr. O’Brien Monday night, 3.9 million to 3.2 million, his biggest margin yet over his new competitor. Mr. Letterman routinely trailed the former “Tonight” host Jay Leno by a million viewers or more.

The protests against Letterman were shown on Entertainment Tonight. It was about 12 people.

The apology is doing what years of Bush couldn't: Put Letterman in number 1.

[Oleg Bach]

Letterman Rises in the Ratings

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009...?ref=television

The protests against Letterman were shown on Entertainment Tonight. It was about 12 people.

The apology is doing what years of Bush couldn't: Put Letterman in number 1.

God just loves a man that submits -- to goodness - making him even greater ..Letterman has always been glib and arrogant - and put himself above being human - apparently the public likes human - and "I regret' shows character - but I doubt if he meant it - He's to stupid to be good - and that is why he is number 2 and not ONE!

[sharkman]

While I find such generalizations about both right and left to be profoundly stupid, I agree it is fun (and easy!) to engage in them. As a generalization, I think most of the people “outraged” over the lame joke (especially Palin herself) are only in it for the political currency they feel they can generate. There are even posters on this board who have made similar (far worse) “jokes” about Obama’s daughters who are self-righteously feigning outrage on this very thread.

There were even a few such blowhards outside Letterman’s studio yesterday. Judging from their signs, they clearly have no idea what “moral high ground” means.

Maybe that’s why the right is also so in favour of torture.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/16/l...m_n_216566.html

Could you show us these 'blowhards'? I haven't seen anything like that, and it's besides the point. It's the MSM and those like Dave who have their own shows who have the power to do real damage, not some anonymous blowhards on a random forum.

As for Palin only being in it for the politics, spoken like a liberal hack. She has nothing to gain politically, no election to campaign for. It's Dave who took the cheap shots in an attempt to gain ratings, and by the look of the ever helpful dobbin, he's receiving a ratings bounce.

[KrustyKidd]

Ever see Dave's frumpy pig of a wife? That's humor!

Oooops. Sorry for that.

No, really sorry.

[kimmy]

Statuatory rape is a bit of a joke given we used to call 14 year olds "mom", but in any event he was talking about the older daughter not the younger, so it doesn't apply.

There was only one Palin daughter who was at the Yankees game, and it wasn't the older one. Late Show could have saved themselves a lot of embarrassment if they'd just come out from the start and admitted they'd got the facts wrong, instead of trying to rationalize it away or saying it was the fault of others who "misunderstood" the joke.

The girl was not attacked.

The joke posits either that the unnamed Palin daughter is promiscuous, or that Alex Rodriguez is a rapist. It was either an attack on the girl, or on Alex Rodriguez, or both.

Letterman Rises in the Ratings

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009...?ref=television

The protests against Letterman were shown on Entertainment Tonight. It was about 12 people.

The apology is doing what years of Bush couldn't: Put Letterman in number 1.

Well, they say there's no such thing as bad publicity. "They can write whatever they like about me... just make sure they spell my name right."

I doubt it, in this case, though. He may have gained some short-term viewers from people who tuned in to see what all the ruckus is about (more evidence of the magnetic power Sarah Palin still has, I would suggest...) but I suspect that the black eye Letterman has suffered from this controversy will last much longer than the rise in ratings.

Obviously, the questions about his character in wake of the tasteless joke are bad enough and were certainly upsetting to Letterman himself, as evidenced by how visibly agitated he became during his 8 minute non-apology.

But what probably burns him up more than that is that he got his ass kicked by a politician, and worse, by a politician who everybody thinks is a lightweight and not-too-bright. (and she did kick his ass... if this was a fight, it was as short and brutal a knockout as you could find in UFC.) That has to be humiliating for him.

-k

[KrustyKidd]

But what probably burns him up more than that is that he got his ass kicked by a politician, and worse, by a politician who everybody thinks is a lightweight and not-too-bright. (and she did kick his ass... if this was a fight, it was as short and brutal a knockout as you could find in UFC.) That has to be humiliating for him.

-k

Astute post Kimmy.

I believe that Dave's ego is doing the hurt right now as evidenced by his bullshit apology which was more similar to just a humor shtick rather than an apology and hence, had to redo the thing for something more convincing. That must have killed him inside as he is very self centered as he never lets anybody to be funnier than he.

The other thing that has the left and Letterman in a snit is that she has been easy pickings for so long, so long that it has been almost habitiual to make a joke about her. Fear of 2012 I suppose. One of the most respectful and human politicians around and they have to make her the continual but of jokes. Letting Biden and Edwards slide time after time. Ah well, this time, they can make all their excuses but Letterman's apology speaks volumes about how screwed up their hatred is for somebody that is refreshingly and actual human being and, a politician that they would stoop this low and break their own morals for defense of the underdog (children minorities etc.).

[Oleg Bach]

To create a mental image of some studish ball player mounting a young girl and "knocking her up" I just hate that term as if getting pregnant is dirty news....is un-called for and the Palin jokes will now soon be over..they did not like sweet and innocent - prepare now to meet the wicked and shrewd political who can lie and intimidate as well as the rest of them when NECESSARY.

[Guthrie]

it is a real glimpse inside the mind of the right wing extremist --- take a harmless (if stupid) joke and rail on and on about, not the joke, but a straw man joke never spoken by Letterman --- accusing Letterman of being a pedophile is, imo, an effort to shut up all other comedians -- because Sarah Palin has never been able to pass the giggle test and a bunch of comedians, using her for a punch line, could reduce her to a passed by politician of no consequence -- a position she deserves but is desperate to deny and the best defense is a quick offense - according to the Palin camp

[kimmy]

it is a real glimpse inside the mind of the right wing extremist --- take a harmless (if stupid) joke and rail on and on about, not the joke, but a straw man joke never spoken by Letterman

Sorry, but that *was* the joke he told. It might have not been the joke he *intended* to tell, but that his own fault and the fault of his writing team, for not checking their facts. He says that he specifically went to check that Bristol had turned 18 ... but he obviously never bothered to check which daughter actually attended the baseball game.

His efforts to shift the blame to angry listeners for "misunderstanding" the joke and try to play his earlier non-apology for laughs were simply foolish. Had he offered his 2nd statement, the real apology, on his next show, this would have not blown up the way it has.

--- accusing Letterman of being a pedophile is, imo, an effort to shut up all other comedians -- because Sarah Palin has never been able to pass the giggle test and a bunch of comedians, using her for a punch line, could reduce her to a passed by politician of no consequence -- a position she deserves but is desperate to deny and the best defense is a quick offense - according to the Palin camp

waaaaah. Media figures have used Palin to great advantage to their own careers. Are we supposed to feel sorry for them in this instance when the shoe is on the other foot?

-k

[Guthrie]

Sorry, but that *was* the joke he told. It might have not been the joke he *intended* to tell, but that his own fault and the fault of his writing team, for not checking their facts. He says that he specifically went to check that Bristol had turned 18 ... but he obviously never bothered to check which daughter actually attended the baseball game.

His efforts to shift the blame to angry listeners for "misunderstanding" the joke and try to play his earlier non-apology for laughs were simply foolish. Had he offered his 2nd statement, the real apology, on his next show, this would have not blown up the way it has.

waaaaah. Media figures have used Palin to great advantage to their own careers. Are we supposed to feel sorry for them in this instance when the shoe is on the other foot?

-k

I listened to the joke the first time, NO, he was not referring to a child but to an unwed mother

the fury that launched from the Palin camp was the lie in this matter

and no, not a single, "Media figure," has advanced a career at the expense of Palin --- the opposite, unfortunately, cannot be said

[Shady]

I listened to the joke the first time, NO, he was not referring to a child but to an unwed mother

No, he was not referring to an unwed mother, he was referring to a child. The 14 year old was the only daughter at the Yankee game, which the joke referenced. But regardless, whether he's joking about a 14 year old, or an 18 year old, their still kids, and kids should be off-limits for political attacks/jokes.

the fury that launched from the Palin camp was the lie in this matter

No, the only one lying in this matter is you. A solid case of Palin Derangement Syndrome.

[Oleg Bach]

Letterman really is not that funny and his writers are not that funny - as I mentioned before - Hilary Clinton was on his show and he had a side man sit eating a cream puff as if there was sperm spilling out of the corners of his yap..clearly showing and suggesting Monica Lewinsky....after she was done servicing her husband - Clinton was visually embarssed and frightfully angry with the display - how out of step for Letterman and his staff - and how cruel - I don't care for MS. Clinton much or her spouse - but still - this is worse than bad taste - it was an attack - Letterman and his people feel immune from punishement for being offensive - IF Letterman had been in most other less tolerant of evil nations - the SOB would have found himself in chains attempting to make a joke with a torturer holding a cattle prod.

[Sir Bandelot]

Letterman is a fool because, among many other things he thinks that an apology will matter somehow. We will now see the wrath of the vengeful right wing.

[BubberMiley]

But regardless, whether he's joking about a 14 year old, or an 18 year old, their still kids, and kids should be off-limits for political attacks/jokes.

I completely agree, although I find your level of hypocrisy incredible, given your previous posts "joking" about making porn with Obama's daughters.

But I guess if you're completely consumed with "Obama Derangement Syndrome," that wouldn't seem hypocritical at all.

[Drea]

No, he was not referring to an unwed mother, he was referring to a child. The 14 year old was the only daughter at the Yankee game, which the joke referenced. But regardless, whether he's joking about a 14 year old, or an 18 year old, their still kids, and kids should be off-limits for political attacks/jokes.

No, the only one lying in this matter is you. A solid case of Palin Derangement Syndrome.

What about FREE SPEECH!?!?

LOL

[Guthrie]

the unfortunate truth of this incident is: this time, 'pedophilia,' is in the eye of the beholder --- if someone wants to twist a joke around, it is their own doing, not, in this case, David Letterman's

[kimmy]

the unfortunate truth of this incident is: this time, 'pedophilia,' is in the eye of the beholder --- if someone wants to twist a joke around, it is their own doing, not, in this case, David Letterman's

Sorry, but

Thanks for playing, we do have some lovely parting gifts.

The text of the joke is public record. His joke did not specify "the unwed mother". The joke only identifies the one being "knocked up" as the one that was at the Yankees game with Sarah. Which was 14 year old Willow, not "the unwed mother".

Letterman has already admitted it was his mistake.

He claims first that he didn't think Palin actually had any of her daughters at the game, but later claims that he thought it was the 18 year old that was at the game. Whichever the case, he has concede that it was his error that made the joke appear to be about Willow. Whichever story he decides to stick with, he concedes it was his fault, not some wild right-wing conspiracy to frame him.

Personally, I'd suggest you give this one up, before you wind up looking as foolish as Letterman did.

-k

{"I meant to ridicule the 18 year old unwed mother, not the 14 year old." What a big man he is.}

[KrustyKidd]

Letterman has already admitted it was his mistake.

No biggie. He corrected it and it's done. I can understand how the Palin Derrangement Sydrome affected even he as she is fair game for her power and prestige that she exudes that threatens the left wing with. So much so that even 14 year old kids are fair to insult.

Ah well, more moose jokes to come forth as Hussein's popularity drops and Iran goes nuclear without a peep from him................yawn.

[BubberMiley]

Ultimately, it seems to me Palin is likely quite pleased with the whole thing. It keeps her name in the headlines, which is her ultimate goal. It's not like she's above exploiting her family to do that either, so for her it's all good.

[Shady]

I completely agree, although I find your level of hypocrisy incredible, given your previous posts "joking" about making porn with Obama's daughters. But I guess if you're completely consumed with "Obama Derangement Syndrome," that wouldn't seem hypocritical at all.

Nope. I was simply illustrating the obscene double standard when it comes to Palin and her family versus Obama's. And yet again, I've been validated. However, I'm sorry that point went completely over your head.

What about FREE SPEECH!?!?

What about it? Letterman has the right to say whatever he wants. But that doesn't mean CBS has to broadcast him, and it doesn't mean his advertisers have to advertise with him, and it doesn't mean viewers have to watch his program. It's common sense.

[BubberMiley]

Nope. I was simply illustrating the obscene double standard when it comes to Palin and her family versus Obama's. And yet again, I've been validated. However, I'm sorry that point went completely over your head.

Oh, so it's okay to attack someone's children if you have a victimization complex. You should have clarified that in your earlier post.

Besides, I don't recall any other poster on this board attacking anyone's children. Just you.

Edited June 20, 2009 by BubberMiley

[Oleg Bach]

Letterman is a fool because, among many other things he thinks that an apology will matter somehow. We will now see the wrath of the vengeful right wing.

He has already seen the wrath of the vengeful left wing - but was to dumb to notice...someone here says that the comparison between the Obamas and the Palins can be described in the term of what is obscene...I really don't believe that having children is an obsentity - in or out of wed lock - state approved or not..church apporved or not. Obamas obsenity is yet to come - wait untill he send of 10 thousand poor blacks to die in some unwarrented war - those that believed in him - trusted him - saw hope in him..now time will tell you is truely obscene.

[daniel]

.. - wait untill he send of 10 thousand poor blacks to die in some unwarrented war - those that believed in him - trusted him - saw hope in him..now time will tell you is truely obscene.

You are confusing him with somebody else. George Bush is no longer President.