letterman and palin

[Lula]

so there is a lot going on here. there is a group, along with fox news channel, calling for letterman to be fired. i think he was out of line with his 'joke' regarding palin's daughter(s), but to be fired? i think that is a bit much. he has apologized profusely. he messed up big time, but time to move on.

[Jana]

To me it's over with. He apologized. Letterman will never be fired. What's funny, Lula, is they've showed a joke Leno did on the pregnant daughter and John Edwards a while back. Nobody is mentioning that and Palin didn't complain about that.

Letterman rocks. (Well, plus Craig Ferguson also.)

"Alan Colmes (former co-host of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes) makes a great a catch regarding the current feud between David Letterman and Governor Sarah Palin. While Palin has been blasting Letterman all over the airwaves for joking about Yankees star Alex Rodriguez "knocking up" her daughter, Jay Leno told an extremely similar joke during the presidential campaign that resulted in no such uproar:

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
Is there a double standard being applied to Letterman? Let us know your thoughts in the comments."

Where was the uproar over Leno joking about her underage pregnant daughter with John Edwards, a 50 something year old man? I don't hear Palin talking about that.

This will probably actually boost Letterman's ratings temporarily: People tuning in to see what he says as the saga continues.

[stevew2]

She is a hillbilly, and her daughters cant cant keep their pants on,what else is there to do in "the upper 48"

[Lula]

so who voted yes? let's hear why.

[Deacon]

so there is a lot going on here. there is a group, along with fox news channel, calling for letterman to be fired. i think he was out of line with his 'joke' regarding palin's daughter(s), but to be fired? i think that is a bit much. he has apologized profusely. he messed up big time, but time to move on.

I'd just like to know, where has the news body, FOX NEWS, officially endorsed Letterman's firing?

[weatherman90]

Letterman couldn't compete with Leno reruns, so if anything he should have been canned for low ratings.

[Lula]

oh i don't know that there has been an official endorsement by the entire channel per se, but hannity seemed to be advocating for it. you know how fox goes... they all get on board, remember the tea bagging lol

[Deacon]

oh i don't know that there has been an official endorsement by the entire channel per se, but hannity seemed to be advocating for it. you know how fox goes... they all get on board, remember the tea bagging lol

Oh, so Sean Hannity "seemed" to be advocating for it, yet there hasn't been any official endorsement from any Fox News representative...

I see.

I understand that you're trying to be cute, or funny, or nonchalant in your presentation, but you're not fulfilling either of the three. You're pretty much condemning a news organization to sociopolitical hackery, which is unacceptable if unfounded.

Now, don't mistake me for a Fox News zealot, either. I would confront you if you unfairly labeled any of the news organizations out there: CBS, ABC, NBC, etc.

[note: ETC is NOT a news organization. ]

[Jana]

Letterman couldn't compete with Leno reruns, so if anything he should have been canned for low ratings.

Low ratings? He never has low ratings. They are never far apart in ratings. Leno just always wins. Big difference compared to "low ratings." Letterman is a moneymaker for them.

[Glenn]

I think Letterman's writers really blew it on this one.

I love Letterman, but I cool with Palin and her stance.

I heard Dave's first apology and it was half assed.


But whatever...It's done, who cares, the world will continue to go about its business.



I'm wondering though, will Malia Ann and Sasha Obama be spared from late-night talk show jokes? I bet they are.

Those 2 won't be touched.

[StoneCold]

If Palins had been black, Letterman would have Willie and Wailon, I mean Jessie and Al (the Revrunts) on his show begging for forgiveness (and from all America too).

But her luck, she's a whitey so they don't care about her. Lucky him too, beins he and NOprah are best friends now.

Kramer and Imus should take some notes from the Davester.

And no, he shouldn't be fired. Free speech, bad comedy and all that jazz. But it WAS intentional, he needed it to battle Conan's first week.

[StoneCold]

I'm wondering though, will Malia Ann and Sasha Obama be spared from late-night talk show jokes? I bet they are.

Those 2 won't be touched.

Missed this last line. I thought the exact same thing when this came out.

I so wished he'd have made a joke about the Obama kids just to see the upROAR that would've blitzed the news media. Palin's small potatoes and that's why he picked on her/them. No power and white folks.

Letterman would've not only had the Wailons on there but the Sullivan theatre would be host to a New York riot.

[Vladan]

Hahah Letterman rules

Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X6FUwBmclo

This should clear it all up.

[treetopovskaya]

i vote no.

i feel people are more outraged with the lack of outrage to what letterman said.

instead people are trying to defend letterman. children should be off limits... ESPECIALLY those underage.

[Voyager]

All this did was help Letterman beat Conan in the ratings war. I wonder if they paid Palin to play the drama queen? If so, it was money well paid.

LOS ANGELES -- Julia Roberts and the Black Eyed Peas helped David Letterman overtake Conan O'Brien in the late-night ratings competition Tuesday night.

CBS' Late Show earned a higher overnight number than NBC's Tonight Show for the first time since the NBC late-night franchise switched hosts from Jay Leno to Conan O'Brien last week. On the seventh day of Letterman vs. O'Brien, CBS earned a 3.4 metered-market household rating to NBC's 2.9.

[Glenn]

i vote no.

i feel people are more outraged with the lack of outrage to what letterman said.

instead people are trying to defend letterman. children should be off limits... ESPECIALLY those underage.

well said

[StoneCold]

Tuesday night and Letterman's still milking it. He's an ass, no question ... but he's always been one.

[JrnySuxBalls]

It's comedy folks, jeez. I thought it was funny, and I still do. Palin will continue her fake
outrage, cuz it gets folks riled up and keeps her in the news.

If she would take that energy and put it into something constructive, like reading a book,
it might serve her well in the future. Also.

[artist4perry]

It's comedy folks, jeez. I thought it was funny, and I still do. Palin will continue her fake
outrage, cuz it gets folks riled up and keeps her in the news.

If she would take that energy and put it into something constructive, like reading a book,
it might serve her well in the future. Also.

Speaking as a mom of a daughter it was not funny. If it was aimed at most people's own daughter it would not be funny either. 18, 14, does not matter. They are kids. The girl was young, made a mistake, and ended up with a baby. So because her mom ran for President and lost by the way, she deserves being treated like the town ho? Letterman is lucky it was palin and not me. The backlash would have been much worse. Think about this in your family. Would it be funny then? On national TV a famous man saying those things about your young daughter? But it is Letterman so it is fine huh? He made a mistake. No he should not be fired. And from what I read this morning, he finally gave a decent appology. That was what he needed to do all along. It was in poor taste.

[Jana]

I thought it was in extremely poor taste even though I know he meant the 18-year-old. I've never like any jokes made about the kids of politicians or jokes about their looks. Too hurtful and mean. He apologized. But why isn't anyone complaining about this distasteful joke by Leno about her underage 17-year-old pregnant daughter and the inference she had sex with John Edwards, a 50-something-year-old man upset or why isn't he being boycotted? Why wasn't Palin all over that or now all over that, too? That is what is bothering me about this whole boycotting and wanting him fired? Why not Leno too? Why isn't Palin addressing this joke by Leno now too? It's in all the media. Could it be b/c Leno is more conservative and she wants to be on his show someday and Letterman has been vocal about how he feels about Palin? All I'm saying is you can't pick and choose on a topic like this.

"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
Is there a double standard being applied to Letterman? Let us know your thoughts in the comments."

Pretty disgusting to make a joke about a young underage girl whose condition was just announced to the media and at the expense of her he made a joke that would be considered very perverted to connect a pregnant 17-year-old to a man in his middle fifties.
Shame on both of them, not just Letterman. So come on, where's the outrage on Leno?

[artist4perry]

I thought it was in extremely poor taste even though I know he meant the 18-year-old. I've never like any jokes made about the kids of politicians or jokes about their looks. Too hurtful and mean. He apologized. But why isn't anyone complaining about this distasteful joke by Leno about her underage 17-year-old pregnant daughter and the inference she had sex with John Edwards, a 50-something-year-old man upset or why isn't he being boycotted? Why wasn't Palin all over that or now all over that, too? That is what is bothering me about this whole boycotting and wanting him fired? Why not Leno too? Why isn't Palin addressing this joke by Leno now too? It's in all the media. Could it be b/c Leno is more conservative and she wants to be on his show someday and Letterman has been vocal about how he feels about Palin? All I'm saying is you can't pick and choose on a topic like this.

"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
Is there a double standard being applied to Letterman? Let us know your thoughts in the comments."

Pretty disgusting to make a joke about a young underage girl whose condition was just announced to the media and at the expense of her he made a joke that would be considered very pervy to connect her to a much older man.
Shame on both of them, not just Letterman.

Agreed. Maybe she was not aware of the other joke. I wasn't. Who knows. I just know no matter who tells it. It is tasteless.

[Jana]

I thought it was in extremely poor taste even though I know he meant the 18-year-old. I've never like any jokes made about the kids of politicians or jokes about their looks. Too hurtful and mean. He apologized. But why isn't anyone complaining about this distasteful joke by Leno about her underage 17-year-old pregnant daughter and the inference she had sex with John Edwards, a 50-something-year-old man upset or why isn't he being boycotted? Why wasn't Palin all over that or now all over that, too? That is what is bothering me about this whole boycotting and wanting him fired? Why not Leno too? Why isn't Palin addressing this joke by Leno now too? It's in all the media. Could it be b/c Leno is more conservative and she wants to be on his show someday and Letterman has been vocal about how he feels about Palin? All I'm saying is you can't pick and choose on a topic like this.

"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
Is there a double standard being applied to Letterman? Let us know your thoughts in the comments."

Pretty disgusting to make a joke about a young underage girl whose condition was just announced to the media and at the expense of her he made a joke that would be considered very pervy to connect her to a much older man.
Shame on both of them, not just Letterman.

Agreed. Maybe she was not aware of the other joke. I wasn't. Who knows. I just know no matter who tells it. It is tasteless.

Please, I'm sure she was. But absolutely giving her the benefit of the doubt, she's aware of it now as it's being talked about a lot and compared and put all over internet and yet she's still raising hell about Letterman, but nary a word about Leno. Something doesn't sit well with me when she's being selective about her indignation over this.

[artist4perry]

I thought it was in extremely poor taste even though I know he meant the 18-year-old. I've never like any jokes made about the kids of politicians or jokes about their looks. Too hurtful and mean. He apologized. But why isn't anyone complaining about this distasteful joke by Leno about her underage 17-year-old pregnant daughter and the inference she had sex with John Edwards, a 50-something-year-old man upset or why isn't he being boycotted? Why wasn't Palin all over that or now all over that, too? That is what is bothering me about this whole boycotting and wanting him fired? Why not Leno too? Why isn't Palin addressing this joke by Leno now too? It's in all the media. Could it be b/c Leno is more conservative and she wants to be on his show someday and Letterman has been vocal about how he feels about Palin? All I'm saying is you can't pick and choose on a topic like this.

"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
Is there a double standard being applied to Letterman? Let us know your thoughts in the comments."

Pretty disgusting to make a joke about a young underage girl whose condition was just announced to the media and at the expense of her he made a joke that would be considered very pervy to connect her to a much older man.
Shame on both of them, not just Letterman.

Agreed. Maybe she was not aware of the other joke. I wasn't. Who knows. I just know no matter who tells it. It is tasteless.

Please, I'm sure she was. But absolutely giving her the benefit of the doubt, she's aware of it now as it's being talked about a lot and compared and put all over internet and yet she's still raising hell about Letterman, but nary a word about Leno. Something doesn't sit well with me when she's being selective about her indignation over this.

I don't know what her motives are. I just felt the joke regardless of the teller, was bad. I also don't get why after she looses an election, she is a walking target. I have also never seen such hatred for any man who looses an election. Double standards are par for the media.... Both sides.

[Behshad]

ForChrists sake,,, its a comedian making jokes,,,, have we lost our sense of humor where we have to shut down a comedian for a FUNNY joke??
He clearified the joke was aimed at the 18 year old daughter , so fucking give him a break. It was a funny joke and he shouldnt even have had to apologize to that c**t .
If anything Palin should apologize to the nation for being born.

Media always have to blow things way out of proportion,.,,,, Letterman is not a politician so it wasnt a remark or dig at Palin... He has made thousands of jokes about other politicans,musicians,actors,etc,,, its his job to make jokes,,,,

[Red13JoePa]

Oh, so Sean Hannity "seemed" to be advocating for it, yet there hasn't been any official endorsement from any Fox News representative...

I see.

Exactly, big difference here it wasn't FOX or FOX news per se but some hard right people who sometimes have a platform there. The sensible right knows it's folly to call for Dave's head over this.

[bluejeangirl76]

This is total b.s.

Jay Leno made the EXACT same joke back when the older daughter was still 17 and pregnant, and not only that, the joke was that it was John Edwards who got her pregnant. And Leno got away with that, so why is Letterman catching hell? This woman needs to worry about governing her state and nevermind about a stupid late night talk show monologue.

Jtfc.

[marco17]

It's all about the publicity. This story keeps BOTH of them in the headlines....unfortunately!!!

[artist4perry]

My point is why target the kids? 18 or not you insinuate my daughter is a c**t on national tv I am going to be in your face. So she fell in love with a boy and got pregnant. This makes her the town whore? As I said........put yourself in a moms shoes.......it ain't funny. I don't care what idol of tv you worship. I didn't like the way Chelsey Clinton was treated. Now can we expect the same for the daughters of Obama? Oh well, it is just comedy..............and if it is funny to some it must be fine! All I am saying is it was a joke in poor taste. No he should not be fired, and yes anyone Leno or Letterman should refrain from attacking people's kids. It must be a bad day for the writers when that is the best they can do.

[Red13JoePa]

Now can we expect the same for the daughters of Obama?

Fat f&*%n' chance of that.

[Tito]

oh i don't know that there has been an official endorsement by the entire channel per se, but hannity seemed to be advocating for it. you know how fox goes... they all get on board, remember the tea bagging lol

I happened to catch the end of O'Reily and part of Hannity's show last night on replay last night. And they both said he should NOT be fired.

Also, I voted no. I'm not offended by the joke and who it was/supposed to be attended. But, it was a dumb joke either way as 80% of the jokes are on late night monologues.