David Letterman Should Not Have Apologized To Sarah Palin

Posted by: Amelia McDonell-Parry Filed in: news, video
11:00AM, Tuesday June 16th 2009

Comments (21)

You may have heard that David Letterman and the governor of Alaska are in a bit of a tiff over jokes he made in reference to her family—particularly jokes he directed at one of her daughters. After much back and forth, Letterman apologized for the second time last night—this time, without sarcasm. Personally, I don’t think that he should have.

Sure, Letterman’s jokes were vaguely crude. Yes, they were televised and, you’re right, the jokes used Palin’s daughter Bristol (not Willow, despite what the Palins say) for laughs. But Bristol has made herself a public citizen, which was never more obvious than when she appeared on the cover of People, clutching Baby Tripp, clad in a cap and gown. There are two sides to being the dual poster child for teen pregnancy and abstinence—Bristol will be celebrated for her “choices” and she’ll be made fun of by late night comedians, perhaps in crude ways. This girl was old enough to have sex and have a baby—shouldn’t she be old enough to take the heat without mommy and daddy demanding an apology from the biggest mainstream comedian to tell a joke at her expense?

When David Letterman apologizes to a hyper “moral” high profile moron like Sarah Palin, it sets a precedent where other comedians will be expected to do the same every time they say something that offends someone. Which they do—often. What does this mean for comedians like Sarah Silverman, Denis Leary, or Dave Chapelle? What would it have meant for George Carlin, who made a brilliant career out of crude humor directed at famous people? It’s Sarah Palin’s right to demand an apology on behalf of herself and her family. But David Letterman wimped out by giving her one.

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Tags: sarah palin, david letterman, bristol palin

Comments (21)

comments

Jessica Wakeman
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 11:10 am: [report]

His “slutty flight attendant” joke was sexist. But by apologizing yet AGAIN for something he already addressed last week, Letterman just showed Sarah Palin her bullying works.

Riley
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 11:21 am: [report]

Comedy is irreverent. I’d die if comedians had to walk on the politically-correct eggshells that the rest of the world seems to think we have to.

He should have made no more of an apology than the one issued last week, which I viewed as sarcasm rather than an official “I’m sorry.”

TCU1793
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 11:22 am: [report]

I completely agree with this article. Yes, his jokes may have been inappropriate, but at the end of the day, he’s a comedian. Are we really gonna demand every high-profile comedian apologize for their jokes about politicos and their personal lives? People can take things a little too seriously… But in Palin’s case, she especially should have understood that there can be incredibly invasive lowness from the media when you accept the opportunity to become not only a politician, but a United States Vice Presidential Nominee.

writergirl
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 11:35 am: [report]

I’m in two minds on this issue.

The first being….he should apologize to A-Rod for implying that he likes to have sex with girls who are either under age or barely legal. That’s not something someone wants the stigma of.

The second…Willow, who is 14 was, at least according to what I’ve read, the one at the game. Letterman saying he was referring to Bristol and not Willow when Bristol wasn’t even there sounds like “CYA” to me. Additionally, Wilow does not deserve to be made the butt of jokes by comedians as she is NOT the public figure, her mother, and sister are.

In making that particular joke in regards to a 14 year old—it is inappropriate. Even Jeff Foxworthy said as much last night on Larry King.

I don’t know if he got bullied into apologizing or not, but I don’t think it was necessarily a bad PR move on his part. I do agree though that public figures are targets—as well they should be. The chose the life, they have to live with the consequences. But in this case I do think there was a line that was crossed.

Kathls
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 11:36 am: [report]

Thank you!

I think it’s time for everyone to pull the sticks out of their butts and move on. These were nothing but Jokes—they are told all the time. I wouldn’t even go as far as to say they were offensive, and I’m a woman.

They are no more offensive than jokes made at the expense of men (think of all the caveman, slovenly, man-whore, emotionally-inept man jokes you’ve ever heard). While there may be an imbalance of jokes made at women’s v. men’s expense, it still happens to both groups. This just goes to reflect the prevailing attitude our society has developed: “Everyone’s a winner. Everyone gets a trophy. No one keeps score.” (guess what, Life keeps score.)

Why is no one up in arms that Palin SLANDERED Letterman by implying he is some type of child molester or rapist? The joke was clearly about Bristol—the 18 year old who has put herself out in the media doing interviews, selling pictures, etc. If she didn’t want to subject to media mockery, then she should have told the media to take their cameras and microphones and bug off.

No there’s nothing wrong with supporting causes, but she put herself out there for ego reasons with the pictures, People magazine, etc. That is no different than any other ‘celebrity’. Why isn’t there a movement to stop the constant ‘name calling’ of all other public figures out there? The only twisted part of this whole debacle is that Palin drug her innocent 14-year old Child into a fight that obviously has nothing to do with her. The joke was made about two adult ‘public’ figures. If she wants to spin it to earn a little more air time, then she’s the one that will have to sleep with that.

I mean with all honesty, when you first heard that joke, did you think it was about her younger daughter? Not even for a modicum of time did I think it was. In fact I half-way forgot she has another daughter. Bristol, an adult, has been the one paraded around or parading herself around: Pregnancy this, abstinence that, my baby daddy and I don’t get along, blah blah blah.

I think we all just need to loosen up, we all make fun of each other. Do you think I bust a gut every time someone makes a dumb blonde joke? Yeah I’m a natural blonde with a Masters, and I’m Polish to boot! Brush it off and move on!

Riley
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 11:40 am: [report]

Blonde and Polish, you never had a chance…hahah.

Kathls
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 11:53 am: [report]

@Riley: no #&@$%, eh? It’s amazing I can walk upright . But seriously I love a good pollack joke, I tell the good ones to my grandpa, lol. Bring it on: it’s those unassuming ones you have to watch out for. For all you know I could be part of an underground pollack revolution—gettin’ us are book smarts all the while keeping the classic ‘dumb’ facade. And then, Boom!—world domination.

I’m just saying, don’t be surprised if the Pollacks in your life start to get a little more uppity. :D

Bertram
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 12:00 pm: [report]

I have always like Dave, but the joke was beneath him. Fact is Palin wasn’t at the game with Bristol and as another poster stated using the excuse that that doesn’t matter is just “CYA”. How many Palin and Bristol Palin jokes has Dave told since this pregnancy was announced? The writers had to go pretty crude to get another joke out of the situation. He should have just come out with a sincere apology the first time and moved the issue along. 200 nights a year he goes out there and tells jokes and certainly each night someone is offended. But any comedian can cross the line and when one does they shouldn’t be viewed as cowering if they apologize.

Now Bill Maher on the Obama in the media the other night, that was funny and not offensive.

Rose
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 12:00 pm: [report]

I don’t think Letterman should have apologized, but only because this is turing into the non-issue that won’t die. If he shuts up about it, they may just go away.

Squidtermz
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 05:13 pm: [report]

David Letterman has brought more joy, happiness, and humor to peoples lives than the Palins EVER will. They are self centered self righteous, holier than now greedy money hungry lying, cheating, stealing politicians. Damn them all to Alaska… oh wait ; )

landesign
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 07:22 pm: [report]

I don’t care if Letterman apologizes. I don’t watch him anyways. I don’t think any other late night host would have said that joke. His staff knew who was at the game.
Got him a few more ratings points though, didnt it?

jillianlauren
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 07:38 pm: [report]

I love this website like a good cup of coffee but there’s one thing I hate about it - how (extremist left) democrat or die it is. Most times I skip over posts like this where people just whine about non-democrats (notice I did not say republicans). C’mon folks, there are MANY sides to every argument.

I don’t do censorship but I also don’t play #&@$% either. So let’s play devil’s advocate instead - Michelle Obama being called a “gorilla” is off limits but beating on the Palins is freedom of expression?

And don’t tell me they rip on Obama too. Teehee’ing about how much he plays with his crackberry doesn’t count.

When there’s only one viewpoint in this country, we will all lose. :(

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 08:28 pm: [report]

@jillianlauren : Just because ‘gorilla’ is off limits why is calling her an ice queen/polar bitch, or how about redneck sled god bud drinking wolf #&@$% homophobe a bad thing?

ChoJinn
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 08:33 pm: [report]

...Wow thefrisky, we finally hit rock bottom? “Vaguely crude?” Lol, you’ve got to be kidding. How does Palin responding to Letterman make her the bully, exactly? And for the record, Letterman is not a comedian, just like Jon Stewart isn’t a comedian. This applies more to Stewart, but they are both pseudo-political pundits who throw their two-cents around and then retreat behind this “I’m a comedian, why take me seriously” shield.

And what of Letterman’s own bastard kid? Is that fair game? He refuses to so much as discuss his family life, but it’s okay to make a joke (and it wasn’t a joke, he’s just piling on the hate-Palin bandwagon) about a Republican. What would happen if O’Reiley made a similarly themed remark about Biden’s kid? The wolves would still be howling.

Most depressing is the number of women commentators on this thread (and the author, *cough) who have no problem with his behavior. I know you girls want to be progressive and all, but you shouldn’t be neglecting common decency just because you didn’t like the woman-who-ran-against-Obama-but-lost-and-still-has-absolutely-no-impact-on-your-life-so-get-on-with-yours. The staggering female animosity towards her astounds me.

Letterman’s apology is a good move, as his annual runner-up status and Conan’s popularity probably have him on thin ice. He’s been a spiteful #2 for the last 17 years.

CheeeeEEEEse
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 08:41 pm: [report]

Nah, Stewart isn’t backed by a political machine like the other pundits. (Com cent despite its Viacom)

In previous posts I did point out Letterman’s kid, big whoop, she a politico and that kid is a legit target.

ChoJinn
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 08:52 pm: [report]

Stewart and his show, especially now that Colbert is off on his own, is exceptionally politically charged. The attenuated influence Viacom may have doesn’t preclude Stewart just using the show to advance his own ideology.

“Just because ‘gorilla’ is off limits why is calling her an ice queen/polar bitch, or how about redneck sled god bud drinking wolf #### homophobe a bad thing?”

If this isn’t sarcasm, I would recommend you drink stuff you can find under the kitchen sink.

dudette
wrote on June 16 2009 @ 10:19 pm: [report]

I also am not a huge fan of Palin, but I do believe that she and her family get very unfairly treated by the media. If one of obamas daughters were 14 (because the joke was about willow even if it was a mistake) and a “comedian” said this it would be unacceptable as I think it should be. I am disappointed in the frisky for allowing political beliefs to cloud their judgment so much.

jillianlauren
wrote on June 17 2009 @ 04:11 am: [report]

@CheeeeEEEEse: ...Wha? I think you missed the point.

@dudette: I agree.

I’m an obsessed, daily Friskier (though I don’t comment much); but if the Frisky ladies read this - please try to be a little more impartial - thanks!!

Amelia McDonell-Parry
wrote on June 17 2009 @ 04:33 am: [report]

The “Gorilla” comment isn’t the same because the guy who said it is a politician, not a comedian. Now, if the “gorilla” joke was made by, say, Jeff Foxworthy, I would think it was racist—and keep in mind, we did do a post about the Letterman thing earlier, calling out a couple of his comments for being sexist. But I wouldn’t want either of them to apologize.