Letterman support thread

[Autonomy]

I am getting a bit annoyed at the narrative being developed that Letterman's "Palin Jokes" were in bad taste, bad jokes, poor judgment, and worst of all, offensive to women. I thought the jokes were funny and hit the mark. It seems to me that Letterman calling the jokes "in poor taste" is just doing his usual self-deprecating shtick, and everyone else is jumping on the "Don't offend Sarah Palin" bandwagon.

The daughter who got knocked up at 17 and whose mom is running on an abstinence-only education platform got knocked up by A-Rod during the Seventh Inning STRETCH!!! HAHAHA!!!

I DO NOT believe the 18-year-old daughter should be protected by the media the way the minor children of presidents are. Chelsea Clinton was shielded because she was under age, the Bush twins were not because they were of age...

Personally, I want more like those jokes. Keep 'em coming, Dave. Kick and/or recommend if you feel in any way the same about this made up "issue".

(Btw, way to look presidential, Sarah :p)

[FarPoint]

1. "Sarah the Medusa" is getting way too much face time.

She uses the skill of a snake to get publicity. The voice of hate under the slime of false victimization.

[Enthusiast]

45. +1, FarPoint. nt

[L. Coyote]

66. Snakes everywhere are very disturbed by this post.

The snake as an iconographic image has long associations with wisdom, healing, power, etc.
Zeus' shield, the aegis, was decorated with snakes.

Your point is far off base, and the snakes of the world are coming to get you

[ashling]

116. You forgot Hippocates Cadusus

but the A.M.A, not so much

[Riley18]

2. I agree. Personally, I did not want my teenage daughter to see Palin's

daughter in a phony cap and gown holding her baby on the cover of People. I believe that picture is offensive to young women. Her daughter can afford to play mommy, but it is a whole different story for most kids. I have tried to teach my daughter to see past the bullshit and think for herself. Once Palin used her kids onstage for her own agenda, she relinquished the right to legitimately claim offense at any remarks made pertaining to them. To make it worse, she now has the new mommy going around telling other kids to abstain from sex. While at the same time that Sarah is going around in her slutty outfits. Dave Letterman is right on target. I just wish he would no longer refer to her at all. She is more of a danger to our rights in this country than she is a joke. There is nothing funny about the ignorance she is spouting.

[oldnslo]

3. I would like to see Letterman nip, gouge and gore Palin every

damned night for the rest of the year.....what a lousy, rotten, hypocritical bitch she is.

[kath]

8. +100

[lpbk2713]

4. Don't worry about those kneejerk assholes, Dave.

They represent the fringe minority of what is left of the rethuglican party and they probably never watched your show anyway.
You have material that requires thinking now and then and that gives them migraines. Keep up the good work.




WAAAH!! No fair!!

[hwmnbn]

5. When Palin introduced the term "statutory rape"...

she lost the argument. The only statutory rape that occurred was to Bristol while she was under Sarah's watch.

Sarah didn't publicly show any outrage at Levi, so why does Dave deserve any comment for a far less serious offense?

[Blue_In_AK]

6. Not to defend Sarah in any way,

but Levi and Bristol were the same age and she was over 16. Had she been 13, 14 or 15 and Levi had been over 19, then there might have been an issue.

[hwmnbn]

10. I stand corrected...

but still, SOMEONE knocked up Bristol Palin... and it wasn't Alex Rodriguez or David Letterman.

Sarah should aim her outrage where it belongs.

[RedCloud]

56. But Alaska is the leader in rapes. Just ask Palin.

She so defends woman. NOT! Even a trooper seeking federal assistance to do something about this might get shoved out of the way.

[howmad1]

108. Yea, someone on that hocky team: done knocked her up.

She probably put out for the whole team and poor Levi drew the short straw. What a joke that whole friggin family is. Can you imagine Sarah as our VP.

[Apollo11]

84. Are you Letterman's lawyer?

No?

So why defend him? Gov. Palin attended the game with her 14 year-old daughter. Then Letterman says that her daughter was impregnated by one of the players during half-time.

I do not buy the excuse that the joke was "about" a different daughter who was not even on the trip to New York.

Letterman should make an unreserved apology. Until know he has failed to do so.

[baldguy]

101. Are you Palin's media consultant?

Or just a donor to SarahPAC?

[TahitiNut]

94. "Sarah & Tawd Pimp Their Kids" ... and Letterman must pay.

[LiberalFighter]

98. And if I understood Levi it was her Palin's roof.

[Contrary1]

7. Dave didn't mention the incident on Friday's show...

At least in the first half I watched. I had really hoped he would keep it going, but I've come to believe that the best way to take the wind out of her sails is to not argue about it with her.

Palin demanded an apology, Letterman gave her one (sort of), and then she refuses to accept it. The more she wants to yammer on about it, the worse it makes her look.

[kath]

9. But Friday shows are usually taped in advance. It will be interesting to see what he does on Monday.

[K8-EEE]

11. She is the one who seems like she is using the kids!

Not only the kids but the baby daddy too, dressed up and forced in front of cameras at tax payer expense ever since she was named veep nom.

And she seems intent on making sure that everyone has heard about this bogus "joke about a 14 year old getting raped" when it was not about a 14 y/o or rape! But about her abstinence-only teenager getting knocked up. Anything for a fresh dose of "persecution." She's such an asshole.

[tex-wyo-dem]

14. I totally agree with you...

As far as I'm concerned, the moment palin decided to pimp her kid out in public, in front of a camera and on the cover of People, it's open season for the media. What I find dispicable is the way cabibou barbie has used her kids as props for her own delusions of celebrity.

[blueamy66]

18. I agree...

open season.

[K8-EEE]

15. Someone ask her if she forgives McLame for the Chelsea joke

I'm sure nobody in the lib-rul media wants to bring that up......

[blossomstar]

28. Exactly. Publicity at any expense, even her children.

[jberryhill]

12. Two Great Future Letterman Guests - Trooper Wooten and Levi Johnston

The three of them could compare notes on Palin family feuds and vendettas.

[customerserviceguy]

13. Not with you on this

I like Letterman, but even if we buy the excuse that the joke was about Bristol and not about Willow, why is it necessary to run a teenager into the ground, anyway?

I was actually quite ashamed to see the drubbing given to the Palin daughter last year, that situation happens in hundreds of thousands of American families every year. It has nothing to do with Caribou Barbie's governing abilities, unless we're talking about abstinence-only sex education. And Bristol made our point better than anyone else could.

Give her a break.

[smoogatz]

58. Yeah, but it's funny.

It's actually funny as hell that the slutty wingnut stewardess governor of Alaska's abstinence-only teenage daughter got knocked up underage and out of wedlock. It's also funny (and predictable) that the promised shotgun wedding fell apart. The girl was just on the cover of freaking People magazine, fer chrissakes--she's obviously made a decision to live as a public figure, and a political figure ("If girls knew they could get pregnant by having unprotected sex, they'd NEVER have sex!"). As a public figure, she's fair game just as Paris Hilton is fair game. As a political figure, she makes a particularly enticing target, given that she continues to advocate abstinence despite not having been, you know, abstinent.

[customerserviceguy]

63. Well, I guess I'll call on you to ask if it's funny

if at the end of President Obama's second term, one of his daughters gets in trouble like this. I already know what I'll be thinking about this.

I grant that by appearing on People magazine, she made herself vulnerable to attack for being so stupid as to come to the party a little too late on the subject of contraception, if she's even gotten there at all. But why that entitles someone to make a joke about Alex Rodriguez getting her pregnant is beyond me. And when all of this went down last fall, she had not done anything more stupid than a lot of young people have done.

Oddly enough, she is a walking endorsement for abstinence. She's shown young women and girls what happens when you let some brainless jock have his way with you. You might be able to dress him up in a suit, and parade him around on the stage at the Republican National Convention, but in the end, he'll still be a self-serving little boy who merely wanted to get his rocks off. I hope a lot of young women remember that before they give their hearts away to be broken by this type of player.

If someone were to make jokes about that aspect of her life, then she's earned it. Even the Eliot Spitzer joke did not bother me, it was about him being a perv, and not about anything she's done or is doing to attract older men. The ARod joke implied consensual sexual relations, and as such, went over the line.

[smoogatz]

106. I doubt that the Obama girls are dumb enough

or poorly parented enough to get themselves knocked up on the White House sofa, underage and out of wedlock. Na ga happen. If anything, Bristol Palin is a walking advertisement for comprehensive sex education, including the correct and conscientious use of contraception. To argue that she's a victim of anything other than ignorance and parental inattention is absurd, and misses the point entirely.

[customerserviceguy]

123. I certainly hope you are right

and that momma Michele is doing a perfect job of supervising them. But Sarah Palin proves that even if you are from a 'perfect' fundie family, shit still happens. I hope that if such shit indeed happens, that our enemies will remember Bristol and refrain from making callous remarks, but I doubt that will happen.

Especially considering how wonderful David Letterman was about it back in 2009.

[smoogatz]

124. I'm guessing "momma Michelle" is educating them.

Unlike the Palins and their abstinence-only nonsense. I mean seriously, how many teenage daughters of high-profile politicians can you think of who got publicly knocked up while daddy (or mommy) was in office? I can only think of one--Bristol Palin. That ought to tell us something not very flattering about her and her family, IMO.

[robinlynne]

97. I believe we are talking about abstinence only sex education. That's the whole point.

hypocrisy.
otherwise there would be nothing funny about teen pregnancy.
It's only funny because the MOther's entire stance on sex is so ridiculous. and so public.

[Baikonour]

16. The comedy police need to chill out. n/t

[KT2000]

17. Kick for Dave!

[Kickin_Donkey]

19. You go, Dave ...

For all the poutragers: It's called humor.

Secondly, Bristol is a legal adult and a self-proclaimed public figure.

[glinda]

20. Love Dave. Want Palin to STFU.

[emdee]

21. Letterman should eat Palin alive....

now that she has ignored his apology.

[Bette Noir]

76. Basically, Palin is using her daughters as human shields.

Daren't say anything bad about Palin, because her daughters will be affected.

Fail.

[mitchum]

22. Kick for comedy and truth

[Raine]

23. For Dave!!! nt

[sarcasmo]

24. A kick for Dave.

[pacalo]

25. A kick for Dave!

As for the Palins, why are you always feuding with people?

Give it up -- it's over. Listen to the lady...

[Hissyspit]

26. Sarah Palin's sense of humor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_23HhsKOQQ

[roody]

27. It is a silly late-night show.

Who cares? I don't even have tv reception.

[rhymeandreason]

29. I'd like to know who is paying Palin's press agents and handlers.

I'd like to know who is governing Alaska while she continues to tirelessly seek publicity. And I would like to know why the media continues to indulge this hopeless loser.

[girl_interrupted]

30. K&R For Dave!

[Wednesdays]

31. LEAVE SARAH PALIN ALONE!

[bridgit]

32. hahahahahaha!

[troubledamerican]

33. Nobody mentions McCain's joke about Chelsea Clinton.

Wonder why I hate most Democrats. Never make the airtight argument.

[bridgit]

34. No they don't now do they?

McCain...what a glorious old American fuddy-duddy, yes?. And that comes from the heart I love that guy what a story hands-fucking-down no-fucking-doubt! Though do *I* wonder why *you* hate Dems? No I don't. Specially if you think that being "airtight" is the end-all position to affirm; especially-further in that it is my thought that one needs their shit so tight a mother fucking ghost can't slip past and into our swanky parlor, no?

[troubledamerican]

38. We chose to be the Party of Harry Reid instead of the Party of Howard Dean.

Howard Dean is a pariah for mainstream Democrats and even some on DU.

Questioning whether an argument should be airtight in the face of war criminals & rabid fascist Neocons?

That's proof positive:

The Party of Ghosts, indeed.

[bridgit]

89. Nice try, thanks for playing

[Control-Z]

74. You're in the wrong place if

you hate most democrats. There are a lot of us hanging out on this board.

[bridgit]

35. Letterman? Dave Letterman? Meh, I guess, he's Dave Letterman so who am I?

[Initech]

36. I stand by Dave and the 1st amendment.

[REP]

37. I'm SO offended! Oh wait. I'm not at all offended, except by Palin

Palin would campaign in Saran wrap if she thought she could get away with it; she'd dress her daughter up the same way - but in pink Saran wrap - if it would get her an extra vote.

[Warren DeMontague]

39. Kick.

[Warren DeMontague]

40. I guess I didn't get the memo that I was obligated to be outraged.

Or, I did, and I'm still not.

[renate]

41. I thought the joke wasn't funny at all.

I mean, it just wasn't funny. I'm not saying it was tasteless, I just thought it was a pretty boring joke. Dave can do much better than "A-Rod knocked someone up." YAWN.

I also think Sarah needs to get over herself. Some politicians have made a deliberate effort to keep their kids' lives private, and others parade them around at every opportunity. Someone who foists not only herself but her family too into the public eye ought to be ready to deal with the consequences.

[6000eliot]

42. I've watched Letterman since his morning show.

There have been times in the last 30 or so years in which he has been the only intelligent thing on television. Sure he's sexist and offensive sometimes. He's a comedian. If people don't get offended, I don't think he's doing his job. The Palins are trying to do to him what they tried to do to Obama during the phony "Lipstick on a pig" controversy, deliberately misconstruing what he said to produce fake outrage. Fuck them!

[meowomon]

43. You're a man, right?

Palin made some good points, but she lost them in her inarticulate bumbling way. As a woman and feminist, I am tired of being the butt of men's sexist "jokes". They are in poor taste and why pick on the unmarried mom? Why not pick on the baby daddy? Letterman is a creepy nasty dude any way.

[jamesatemple]

61. I'm a man, right!

Well, I'm what's left of one. Anyway, as a man who supports feminists, I'm tired of being the butt of women's pronouncements of the meaning of what they term as "sexist jokes". Where is your outrage for Letterman's vicious attack upon poor millionaire A-Rod? Why, how can he continue to appear in public after being the butt of this vile joke? His life is ruined; his family may disown him. And, not a word from anybody in his defense. Strangers may point him out not as a premier player in America's game but as a sexual pervert who would have relations with a Palin. My god, what a stigma!

Heh, heh!

[LiberalFighter]

103. I would go with picking on the daddy. But not alone.

They both made the decision to have sex. Can't blame just the daddy cause I didn't hear her crying rape about it.

As it is now, the Palins won't let him see the baby anymore.

[Enthusiast]

44. K&R

[applejuice]

46. On what planet was Chealsea Clinton "shielded"?

'Cause I didn't see much shielding going on. Everyone from Rush Limbaugh, to my High School English teacher to JOHN MCCAIN called her an ugly dog as far as I can remember.

I think the Republicans who are up in arms about this are mostly the totally hypocritcal ones who used to rage on Chelsea. And that wasn't even about something that was a behavior (ie choosing to have sex when your mom is vocally for abstinence) it was about her looks. The LOOKS of a youg girl (and later teenager). That was about the lowest of the low as far as I am concerned. She wasn't even ugly like they were saying - It was just so hurtful and mean spirited.

I don't even know if I am getting my point across here... Just always made me angry that they would be so hurtful to a young girl about something that she had no control. Whereas the whole palin thing - she is older, the joke was about something directly relating to her mothers platform - I think the two are totally different and not really comparable. Basically I think the Palin thing is far more exceptable than ragging on a young girls looks in public.

[applejuice]

47. I should say that my comment above was assuming that the joke was indeed meant to be about Britstol

Although I am actually personally not that bothered if was meant to be about the 16 year old or whatever either...

I think the basis of the joke was making fun of how ridiculous her stand on "abstinence only" is.

[Tx4obama]

48. Letterman did nothing that Leno and Conan did also there - You Betcha!

Where was Sarah Palin's outrage when others told jokes about her daughters?

This from Conan O'Brien:

"Sarah Palin is going to drop the first puck at the Philadelphia Flyers hockey game. Then Palin will spend the rest of the game trying to keep the hockey players out of her daughter's penalty box."--Conan O"Brien



And this from Jay Leno during the presidential campaign:

Gov. Palin announced over the weekend that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant. And you thought John Edwards was in trouble before! Now he has really done it. -- "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," 9/2/08

http://www.demconwatchblog.com/diary/1707/sarah-palins-...

p.s. The only difference now is that Sarah Palin needs the extra free media coverage that she didn't need in the past during the campaign when Leno and Conan told their jokes. We are on to You Sarah, now go home and be quiet!!!

[LiberalFighter]

105. She must be trying to get back at Letterman for what he did to McCain??

[brettdale]

49. I support Letterman

Hope he stands up to the GOP Bullies.

[The Wizard]

50. Dave kicks the dumbass element

that is a drain on the rest of us. Why should our tax dollars go to Alaska and its strumpet governor?

[baldguy]

51. Dave told a joke, Palin put on a show of being offended, Dave apologized.

What does it say about Palin that she won't accept - or rather ignore - a heartfelt apology? That she would try to confuse the issue by conflating her 18-yr old daughter with her 14-yr old daughter? That she would then go on to accuse Dave of pedophilia?

Dave Letterman is a gentleman who happens to tell bad jokes for a living.

Sarah Palin is a crass opportunist who sacrifices her & her family's dignity for the sake of political expediency.

[Apollo11]

73. Apology my A$$

If that was a heartfelt apology, then I am the Governor of Alaska!

[baldguy]

78. And by allowing Palin to drag her minor daughter into this without criticism

When its clear that was never Letterman's intent, you do the RWs work for them.


For the last 9 months Palin poured gravy all over her children & tossed them to the wolves. Now she's Shocked! Shocked, I say! when they get ripped apart. If you're so concerned about the treatment of her children, why don't you complain about that?

[Apollo11]

85. Are you delusional?

"For the last 9 months Palin poured gravy all over her children & tossed them to the wolves."

On what planet?

[baldguy]

95. This one - or have you been asleep?

All the interviews, all the campaign stops, all the rallys, the convention, all appearances on the Today Show, GMA, CNN, Fox News, 60 Min, SNL...

And there's all authorized the magazine covers:

etc, etc, etc...

etc, etc, etc...

And all the other pics of the perfect, happy, Republican family:









etc, etc, etc...



Her VP nom gave Palin the chance to get what she's craved all her life & what her history as a beauty pageant contestant, TV reporter & small-time politician did not give her - and her media-consultant crafted image as "The Hockey Mom" with her family in full display did: wealth and fame. The fact that she had to sacrifice privacy & a normal life for that family isn't part of her thought process.

Sarah Palin has built up a good head of phony poutrage, needs to lie about what Letterman actually said, ignores all of the similar late-night jokes in a similar vein that were told without the RW media circus taking notice, ignores the near universal criticism of Lettermans actual comments, ignores his apology, and needs to create imaginary slights against her precious little snowflakes to keep the "story" going. It all goes to prove her own insincerity. "The lady doth protest too much," and all that.

It's just another variation of the standard RW bullshit. The fact that anyone who claims to be a Democrat, a liberal or a feminist - and who should know better - is taken in by it is just sad.

[smoogatz]

117. Game. Set.

Match. Well played, sir!

[Rebubula]

52. Yeah Dave...

...Celebrate sexism.

[a la izquierda]

54. Oh lord, give me a break.

He. is. a. comedian. The joke, to this woman, wasn't sexist. Jeez, the joke just wouldn't have been funny if it had been about the oldest son, now would it have?

[Rebubula]

69. Jokes...

...good for you - you were not offended.

This site can defend him all they want - the fact is that when Letterman makes a joke about Sasha or Malia where will we stand? What if he starts joking about Michelle Obama's dresses?

Someone downthread pointed out the joke (not really a joke, just a cruel comment) about Chelsea Clinton. She was on the cover of magazines and she was trotted around the world by her parents - but still no one rushed to say 'Oh...they used her as a prop so any jokes are fairgame' .

Children should be off limits.

But...I guess as long as they are the children of people that we hate.....it is OK.

[Bette Noir]

79. Just for a moment, can we *not* feed the stereotype

that feminists have no sense of humor? Really, we gain nothing by *not* being able to take a joke.

Can't type before coffee.

[a la izquierda]

122. +1

[a la izquierda]

121. Actually, you don't get to tell me...

what is okay and not okay in my life.
I've already wasted way too many brain cells with the poutrage brigade. This feminist doesn't care.

[Mad_Dem_X]

53. Sarah will do anything to keep herself in the media

Plain and simple.

[Joey Liberal]

55. I stand by Dave and Palin is a jerk nt

[lunatica]

57. It was a joke and Sarah is an idiot

One must never underestimate the value of stating the obvious. Not everyone gets it right away because they're busy letting others do their thinking for them.

[smoogatz]

59. Bristol Palin was on the cover of People magazine, for Christ's sake.

She's a public figure with a clear (and clearly hypocritical) political agenda. If Paris Hilton is fair game, so is Bristol Palin.

[Apollo11]

77. So her two sisters deserve everything that comes their way?

I mean - Bristol wasn't even on the trip to New York. So saying that the joke was "about Bristol Palin" makes no sense at all.

In any case - I don't get what makes Bristol such an evil person. So she got intimate with her steady boyfriend. At the time - they thought it was a long-term relationship. How is she different from any other mother who no longer lives together with the father of one of her children?

Letterman's "joke" implies that ALL the Palin girls are equally promiscuous and available and basically unable to keep their legs closed.

Paris Hilton made a porno movie. Bristol Palin had sex with her steady boyfriend. See the difference?

[Bette Noir]

83. David implied no such thing.

You inferred it. That you did so demonstrates that you have a dirty mind. Why is David responsible for your dirty mind, or Palin's?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

102. Bristol was the only one knocked up, genius.

The joke is referring to her.

[smoogatz]

113. Who said she was evil?

What you're suggesting is that she ought to be off-limits to late-night comedy. Why? Is she underage? Is she or is she not a public figure?

"How is she different from any other mother who no longer lives together with the father of one of her children?"

She's a public figure, actively seeking publicity for herself and her political viewpoint.

"Letterman's "joke" implies that ALL the Palin girls are equally promiscuous and available and basically unable to keep their legs closed."

I take him at his word that he was referring to Bristol and not the younger girls. Those who harbor rape fantasies about fourteen-year-olds may want to stop blaming Letterman and take a look at their own psyches.

"Paris Hilton made a porno movie. Bristol Palin had sex with her steady boyfriend. See the difference?"

Paris Hilton claims that she made a private sex tape, with her then boyfriend, for her own amusement. Bristol Palin did a cover story for People magazine touting a lifestyle she doesn't lead. There's a difference there, but it's clearly not what you imagine it to be.

[TheCowsCameHome]

60. You rock, Dave.

1. What are you doing on Letterman's show, if not seeking attention?

2. Letterman does comedy - and you are the ultimate joke anyway.

3. Your family has more issues than a warehouse full of National Geographics - tend to them and leave the rest of normal America alone.

[NJmaverick]

62. The daughter has collected large sums of money with her interviews and appearances

this is just the down side of celebrity. Sorry repuke you don't get to have it better than everyone else.

[marshall]

64. Letterman's not on the ropes over this, is he?

I thought this was all much ado about nothing, and by this week the media would be on to flogging some other dead horse.

[BlueJazz]

65. Anybody remember this Joke from John McCain. >>>

“Do you know why Chelsea Clinton is so ugly?” he told a handful of big Republican funders. “Because Janet Reno is her father.”

.
.

[L. Coyote]

67. To even think about certain unworthy politicos is a waste of the mind.

And mine is wasting away by posting on this thread

But hey, if you are relaxing and watching Dave, unworthy politicos are grist to the comedy mill. So, who better?

[Celeborn Skywalker]

68. K&R!

I fully support Letterman.

[Apollo11]

70. Dave's so-called "joke" was disgusting and offensive

I watched all the YouTube clips of what Letterman said on his show and the reaction to it on various channels (including FOX & MSNBC).

I have been shocked (or at least - very dissappointed) to see:

1) David Letterman making such a disgusting and offensive joke directed against Governor Palin's daughters (I don't think the argument about which daughter he meant is particularly relevant, and I don't accept the idea that anyone over the age of 18 is "fair game").

2) Someone like Keith Olbermann making light of the situation and failing to come down clearly on the side of saying that politicians children are off limits (even if one of the Palins' three daughters is now 18 years of age).

3) Members of Democratic Underground lining up to applaud Olbermann, echo his pathetic excuses, and pour sexism and hatred all over Gov. Palin and her family.

Seeing that 79 DUers had recommended such a dumb thread made me so mad that I logged in for the first time in months just to express my disgust.

CAN'T YOU SEE that if the Palins' daughters are "fair game" - then how can we complain if one day a comedian decided to go after the Obamas' girls?

CAN'T YOU SEE that using sexist language against Governor Palin is the same as using those same words against Michelle Obama or Hillary Clinton or Sonia Sotomayor?

CAN'T YOU SEE that by supporting these disgusting attacks against Gov. Palin and her family - you reinforce the GOP talking points about what "the left" is like?

Sheesh! Sometimes I wonder if this place isn't turning into the Dummy Underground ...

[smoogatz]

112. You've got the Freeper talking points down pat.

I watched all the YouTube clips of what Letterman said on his show and the reaction to it on various channels (including FOX & MSNBC).

I have been shocked (or at least - very dissappointed) to see:

Shocked! Shocked, I tell you!

1) David Letterman making such a disgusting and offensive joke directed against Governor Palin's daughters (I don't think the argument about which daughter he meant is particularly relevant, and I don't accept the idea that anyone over the age of 18 is "fair game").

If Paris Hilton is fair game, why isn't Bristol Palin? She was just on the cover of People magazine, pushing her mother's ridiculously hypocritical abstinence-only agenda. That makes her a public figure, and that means she's fair game.

2) Someone like Keith Olbermann making light of the situation and failing to come down clearly on the side of saying that politicians children are off limits (even if one of the Palins' three daughters is now 18 years of age).

Adult children of politicians should NOT be off-limits unless they stay out of public life. Bristol Palin and Liz Cheney have chosen to be public figures with clear political agendas.

3) Members of Democratic Underground lining up to applaud Olbermann, echo his pathetic excuses, and pour sexism and hatred all over Gov. Palin and her family.

Accusations of sexism coming from the right are always hilarious.

Seeing that 79 DUers had recommended such a dumb thread made me so mad that I logged in for the first time in months just to express my disgust.

Ruh-roh!

CAN'T YOU SEE that if the Palins' daughters are "fair game" - then how can we complain if one day a comedian decided to go after the Obamas' girls?

Se above. Adult public figures are fair game. Sorry.

CAN'T YOU SEE that using sexist language against Governor Palin is the same as using those same words against Michelle Obama or Hillary Clinton or Sonia Sotomayor?

Well, not really--neither Michelle Obama nor Sonia Sotomayor cultivate the slutty stewardess look.

CAN'T YOU SEE that by supporting these disgusting attacks against Gov. Palin and her family - you reinforce the GOP talking points about what "the left" is like?

Oh no!!!!11!!!1 We're dooooooooooomed!!11!

Sheesh! Sometimes I wonder if this place isn't turning into the Dummy Underground ...

Freeper talking points on parade!

[Bette Noir]

71. It was just a joke. I'm getting tired of the hypersensitivity on display.

So, how's Sarah going to whine if Vladimir Putin says something insensitive?

[opihimoimoi]

72. The Pubs are still mad about the McCaine / Dave incident last year WHEN DAVE CAUGHT JOHN IN A LIE

Finally, John came on to apologize with "I SCREWED UP"

They still smarting from something that was JOHN's own fault....so...they blame Dave...its so easy.

[newtothegame]

75. Gross and disturbing. n/t

[redqueen]

80. K&R

[WI_DEM]

81. You know, though, if Chelsea Clinton had been the butt of a joke like this we would all be crying

It was tasteless and it was stupid but it's not the big deal the right wing is making it.

[Necon-Be-Gone]

82. I'm waiting for Palin to apologize

There are many reasons for Sarah Palin to apologize but, the one's that come to mind are:

1) Endlessly lying to the American people during the election.

2) Inferring the President of the US is a terrorist.

3) Claiming large segments of Americans are un-American because they don't support Sarah's agenda.

4) Scaring children by butchering turkeys on the TV.

5) Wasting tax-payers money on the road-to-nowhere.

6) Embarrassing the US by being so unqualified for office.

[rhett o rick]

86. I support Letterman, but please keep you eyes on health care. nm

[CitizenPatriot]

87. let me freep this

"IT'S HIS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT! HE'S AN ENTERTAINER!!!! YOU FASCISTS!!!!!! PALIN IS TRYING TO CONTROL FREE SPEECH!!!"

whew. OK, I had to get that out, because that's what all of the freep say whenever Rush, Lielley, or one of their other "party leaders" says something outrageous.

And of course, Rush is not as much an entertainer as he is a party leader for the republicans.

whereas Dave is nothing but...an entertainer.

How come no one cares about his first amendment rights?

crickets from freepworld.

[Richd506]

88. K & R

[grahamhgreen]

90. Bristol put a bullseye on her own back when she started working as a political

advocate for a Abstinence only program - AFTER GETTING KNOCKED UP AS AN ABSTINENCE ONLY TEEN!!!! she's on her own.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

91. Love David!

Makes me Laugh Out Loud!

[jhain]

92. I'm with Dave

I'm with Dave. Think he could use these photos of the Sarah P. Mascot I made during President Obama's campaign?



The Make Over:











The Campaign:






Election Night:

[hiphopnation]

100. omgrofpimplmao

thanks for that

[Tarc]

93. Caribou Barbie is just using this to whip up donations to SarahPAC

Her kids are pawns on the board to her, nothing more.

[jimlup]

96. I have to partially agree...

I believe that the jokes were in "bad taste" but isn't that part of the point of comedy. If comedians could not resort to "bad taste" half their jokes would fall flat.

And yes, the Obama girls are fair game. I'm not saying that someone should make jokes about them. I'm just saying that in a free country political discourse has to pretty far and wide. Bad taste is allowed AND the Right has been taken for fools that they are if they accepted Obama's "children are off limits" and then say it (as Palin has) that there is a double standard. No double standard, people respect Obama because he is a leader. Thus people listen to what he says. Palin is confusing comedy and the media which is her right but talk about much ado about nothing!

[hiphopnation]

99. too late to "r"

so I'll

big

big big enthusiastic cuz I'm a huge fan of his and of off color comedy jokes in general. comedy's not meant to be passive and milquetoast - it's supposed to rile you. if not, ur doin' it rong!!11!!

[Mabus]

104. Same here

I really should check out DU more often.

[Just Saying]

107. Support Dave

HERE: [e-mail]

Send him some love because we all know he's getting plenty of hate right now.

He's a COMEDIAN. If he were a news anchor it would be inappropriate, but as a late night host, it was a joke and funny. The worst is the faux outrage that he was talking about the 14 yo. Duh! Bristol was knocked up and that was the joke. Has nothing to do with rape. The "slutty" remark was a bit sexist and he apologized, but the stuff they're complaining about is BS.

edit for spelling...I must need more coffee. LOL

[redqueen]

110. Hi there, welcome to DU!

[omega minimo]

109. That band ROCKS!!

[Seldona]

111. Can't rec.

But here's a .

[Ken Burch]

114. Another Alaskan for Letterman!

Not that much support for her on the Last Frontier anymore...especially since she's usually somewhere else these days.

[Skip Intro]

115. Well, I can't R, but I can K!

[Warren DeMontague]

118. I haven't watched Dave in years.

All this is making me want to start, again.

[spanone]

119. just emailed this to dave

June 14, 2009
Top 10 Reasons Sarah Palin's Outrage is A Little Late...
By Shannyn Moore

10) Last September, a skit on Saturday Night Live suggested incest in the Palin family. "What about the husband?" asked a mock Times reporter. "You know he's doing those daughters. I mean, come on. It's Alaska!" No outrage. Sarah Palin appeared on the show one month later in late October.


(9) Days after the announcement of Bristol's pregnancy, Conan O'Brien joked, "It's true, John McCain's running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, has revealed that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. Palin said, ‘We should never have introduced her to John Edwards.'" Where was the outrage? Was Conan promoting infidelity with an underage girl?

8 ) "Governor Palin announced over the weekend that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant. Oh, boy, you thought John Edwards was in trouble before, now he's really done it!" –Jay Leno

7) "All the Republicans are heaping praise on Governor Palin. Fred Thompson said, as an actor, he could see them making a movie about Sarah Palin and her family. Didn't they already make that movie? I think it was called ‘Knocked Up!'"–Jay Leno

6) Craig Ferguson's skit of "Larry King vs Levi Johnston" asks about "kinky sex" with the drapes open. Craig Ferguson's honorary Alaska citizenship, granted by Governor Palin wasn't rescinded.

5) "According to expense reports, Sarah Palin charged the state of Alaska over $21,000 for her children to travel with her on official business. In fairness to Gov. Palin, when she leaves them home alone they get pregnant." – Seth Meyers (SNL) Sarah Palin was in a sketch with Seth a week earlier.

4) On October 8, 2008, Sarah Palin walked out on the ice with 6 year old Piper and 13 year old Willow, Conan O'Brien said, "Saturday night, Sarah Palin is going to drop the first puck at the Philadelphia Flyers' hockey game. Then Palin will spend the rest of the game trying to keep the hockey players out of her daughter's penalty box." Oh, yes he did. You get the outrage…but not a peep then. According to the new "logic", O'Brien was advocating for some sick stuff.

3) Rush Limbaugh, "Everyone knows the Clintons have a cat. Socks is the White House cat. But did you know there is a White House dog?" And he puts up a picture of Chelsea Clinton. Chelsea Clinton is 13 years old. Rush also says, "In last year's campaign, the most prominent, articulate voice for standard run-of-the-mill good old-fashioned American conservatism was Sarah Palin." Calling a young woman a "dog" can't be helpful to her "self esteem."

2) "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno." John McCain, Palin's running mate. Should McCain apologize to every young woman in America?

1) Palin's friend, political defender and informer of the David Letterman comments, John Ziegler was fired from his radio show for using the "n word" on line and on air in 1997. In 2000, he was fired for spelling the n-word on the air. How much does that word affect the psychological health of the youth of America, regardless of their race? Now he is pimping his film about how mean the "liberal media" was to Palin.

The "candidate who must be obeyed" was talking about Palin's family when he said "kids are off limits." Jake Tapper of ABC News interviewing then Candidate Obama asked, "Governor Palin and her husband issued a statement today saying their 17-year-old daughter Bristol, who is unmarried, is five months pregnant. Do you have any reaction?"

OBAMA: "I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people's families are off-limits. And people's children are especially off-limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Governor Palin's performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president. And so I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories. You know, my mother had me when she was 18. And, you know, how family deals with issues and — and, you know, teenaged children, that shouldn't be the topic of — of our politics."

The Palin children have been fodder for comedians since they were brought to the national stage. Incest isn't funny. Ugly kid jokes aren't funny. Many of the things said about public figures are just flat wrong. Being "knocked up" isn't much fun.

I understand being defensive; just wonder what took so long. Why now?

[Bobbie Jo]

120. Kick...and unofficial REC!