(Lou Harry is now twittering the arts at IBJarts. Follow along...)
After a few days of back-and-forthing, David Letterman has offered an on-air apology to Sarah Palin for a joke he made referencing her daughter. In case you missed it, here's the comment in question.
See the apology here.
So did our boy Dave go over the line? Should a comedian apologize for his jokes? Is this too little/too late or an honorable act?
And, ultimately, how does her concern with such matters influence your thoughts about the Alaskan governor?
Your thoughts?
After a few days of back-and-forthing, David Letterman has offered an on-air apology to Sarah Palin for a joke he made referencing her daughter. In case you missed it, here's the comment in question.
See the apology here.
So did our boy Dave go over the line? Should a comedian apologize for his jokes? Is this too little/too late or an honorable act?
And, ultimately, how does her concern with such matters influence your thoughts about the Alaskan governor?
Your thoughts?
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Sarah, your daughter got knocked up by some Clown who was pressured into saying and doing all the right things during the campaign and then jumped ship after the loss. That's kind of joke-worthy material. Put on a sham facade that he's a good kid taking care of his child despite being a redneck turd who immediately cut ties with the Palins.
It appears there is a little bit of a ploy worked in to take a stab at the Left-Leaning CBS and Dave who is often mildly critical of certain politicos.
Leave Dave alone. He's a likable legend who just cracked a late night joke on the Palins, who are pretty much a joke of their own. She had no problem airing all her dirty laundry to anyone with a camera post election. Further, you named your kids Track and Tripp and Tron and Brick. That's the real joke.
Sorry Sarah... your 15 minutes are up. Back to Alaska. This was a wedge to get back in the news and diminish an icon who doesn't like her.
If you thought that was harsh, have you ever seen Bill Maher, Stewart, or Colbert? They rip on Politicos for a living and do a fine job of it.
What a JERK he is.
And we can.
If you, Mr. Cream and Crimson, with all of your piousness wants to make fun of the Palin names, would you do the same of Black culture that comes up with so many name variations and misspellings? Would you do the same for the Phoenix children or the Zappas? Likely not, only for the conservative that you have so much scorn for.
Obama asked for appropriate decorum for his children and rightfully so. Should not the same degree of respect be given to the Palins? Would Letterman ever be caught making jokes of the O's kiddos? I think not.
And then you say Letterman is an Icon. Hardly, he's a tired, mean grinch who is seldom ever funny anymore. He told so many jokes about Cheney and his heart that they weren't funny anymore and sadly, neither he nor his writers had a clue. The mindless audience laughed on cue.
The fact is Letterman did apologize. And rightfully so. Shows at least he has a little more class than you and can see when he's painted himself into a corner.
A suggestion for Dave - next time target Rush Limbaugh when you're picking on the uber Right Wing. He's fair game for any sort of tasteless humor.
Sarah Palin made the decision to accept the VP nomination - knowing the spotlight would then turn to her and her family. They seemed to love the jokes when SNL was paying her attention. They were all smiles when People magazine came to take photos - even Bristol was on the cover of People. It seems like to pick and choose when to be friendly to media attention and coverage.
Enough is enough. Go back to Alaska and keep an eye on Russia! [And yes, that was a joke... and no, I'm not going to apologize]
Chelsea Clinton was left alone as were the Bush twins and would hope the Obama girls will be treated the same. Lets afford the Palin children the same.
Politics and political parties should have nothing to do with the decision
Since it became an issue, I think that Mr. Letterman did the right thing. What is so damning about an apology? I think it shows character and accountability to apologize when someone has been offended. We can argue over whether the situation warranted an apology, but most people are forgiving and will move on when someone is genuinely remorseful.
How many of us have said things that have been misinterpreted? I know I have had my share. A little humility can go a long way.
As a side note, even if you have a political disagreement with a particular candidate, is it EVER appropriate to say they dress like slutty stewardesses? Unfortunately, these types of crude comments are always reserved for female politicians. Men don't have to face these types of personal insults, so it must be hard for them to relate.
Yes, any stab at someone who gets knocked up is tasteless, but it is a joke. Since it was pointed as offensive, He retracted his joke and now we need to stop looking back. Lets move forward.
If you're in the spotlight (which politicians are), and you and/or your family do something that can be seen as wrong (a child having a child)... then you're going to get made fun of... plain and simple. Doesn't matter if you're male or not... let's look at some recent politicians, since some of you only have short-term memory... Spitzer, Blogojavich (sorry, spelling) just to name a couple.
And if I remember something my grandmother always told me... let's see, can I remember... sticks and stones..., I'm sure you all know the rest. And to even say this was sexual exploitation?... give me a break. This was a joke people!!... if you don't like it, change the channel and don't watch Letterman anymore... simple enough!! You're not required to watch Letterman... plenty of other channels to choose from!!
And Palin is the one who used this situation to put herself back into the spotlight.
I disagree completely about it being nothing more than that. Lots of interesting issues wrapped around this one, which I think is why it struck many chords.
Lou
She’s a populist, like Obama. The difference is that she does it better. She does it with joy and authenticity. Obama always seems to be playing the part of someone he isn’t. Hiding his past. Feigning confidence and competence. Palin wears her past on her sleeve, her heart on her other sleeve, and radiates competence, confidence and ability.
Her performance as a VP candidate was almost enough to turn the election. Everyone knows this, and the radical left knows that if she enters the next Presidential election, governor of a successful, prosperous Alaska in a country where most states will be bankrupt and most Americans will be living in poverty, pitting her personality and record against what is increasingly looking like a failed Obama presidency, she will destroy him at the polls and probably destroy the Democratic party in the process.
That is why even today, half a year after the end of the election, she is routinely viciously attacked at every opportunity. It’s part fear, part a sense of the danger she poses to Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress, and partly, I think, envy. Obama is a fraud, and even his supporters know it in his heart. She is the real thing, and her enemies know that.
May I ask WTF have you been smokin' lately? is it maybe some o' that AWESOME meth Bible Spice and her in-laws been cooking up in der Alaska? Fer gawd's sake the woman and her husband are in the Alaska SECCESSIONIST PARTY! Why do they hate America, and the troops (and old people and kids and Mexicans and rape victims) so much?!!!
'Radiates competence' does she? as mayor of a piece o' crap little Alaska town, she bankrupted them and then went on to hire her own lobbyist to get GOVT. WELFARE!!! Are you freakin' kiddin' me...what a JOKE!!!! hahahahahahahahahahaahhahaah......
Can you possibly keep these posts to a thread of civility and decency. Joe and his evil alter ego are way over the top.