Letterman: When I joked about Palin’s daughter having sex, I meant Bristol, not Willow
posted at 8:41 pm on June 10, 2009 by Allahpundit
A sneak preview of tonight’s monologue from EW. He wasn’t joking about her 14-year-old daughter being a prostitute, silly. He was joking about her 18-year-old daughter being a prostitute. Perfectly legal. Whew!
“We were, as we often do, making jokes about people in the news and we made some jokes about Sarah Palin and her daughter [Bristol]… and now they’re upset with me…” Letterman says on tonight’s show. “These are not jokes made about her 14-year-old daughter. I would never, never make jokes about raping or having sex of any description with a 14-year-old girl…. Am I guilty of poor taste? Yes. Did I suggest that it was okay for her 14-year-old daughter to be having promiscuous sex? No.” Saying he hopes he’s “cleared part of this up,” Letterman extended an invitation to Palin to come on the show as a guest.
Don’t you see? He’d never condone statutorily raping a girl who’s underage. All he meant to do was goof on the idea that Palin’s eldest daughter, a single mother with a baby, is a whore. Everything cool now? Let’s move on.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 4 … 11 Next »
That would only help if he had a penis and tesicles.
theenforser on June 10, 2009 at 9:01 PM
yep.
petunia on June 10, 2009 at 9:02 PM
An Indian respects a brave man but he despises a coward.
Hinmahtooyahlatkek on June 10, 2009 at 9:02 PM
This is what Democrats mean by a policy wonk.
rob verdi on June 10, 2009 at 9:02 PM
Is he sure he isn’t talking about his own wife? You know, since evidently having a baby out of wedlock makes you a big old trollop, whom people can feel free to demean and ridicule and all. Or does that only work if it’s a teen-age girl and you hate her icky Mommy?
Well, at least I can take pride in the fact that I haven’t watched him in well over a decade.
Lori_Z on June 10, 2009 at 9:02 PM
When his own son is old enough to make mistakes, I will feel the same way about his being held to national ridicule just because of who his father is. I thought liberal are suppose to big on empathy. Miserable old fart.
Cindy Munford on June 10, 2009 at 9:02 PM
crr6 is just a little confused
this is not the Obama message
he should check out http://www.barackobama.com/
all kids have too many hormones
g0tmylifeback on June 10, 2009 at 9:03 PM
perpetual outrage…..
ccr6 on June 10,2009 at 8:50PM.
ccr6: You mean,the Liberal politics of Perpetual
Manufactured Outrage!
canopfor on June 10, 2009 at 9:03 PM
In my house, we watch a few current shows, (like the CSI series, and some of the few remaining comedies.) I don’t think we hate everything.
But, it hard to find shows that showcase American Exceptionalism, or good old-fashioned patriotism, or even present both sided of a controversial issue with any sense of fairness. That makes it tough to watch a steady diet of unfiltered liberalism on the large or small screen.
Good topic for a thread, though; what do conservatives watch and enjoy?
massrighty on June 10, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Palin’s daughter should sue.
Ronnie on June 10, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Letterman is a creep, a has been who really never was funny.
He’s nothing but a mysoginistic cretin. One of many intolerant bigots from the Hollyword left. No conservative person with values should engage in any commerce that supports jerks like him.
exceller on June 10, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Palin would never go on his show, not now anyway. And if I were her, I wouldn’t say anything else about the matter, including his non-apology. Just let the guy self-destruct.
Erich66 on June 10, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Scum… he’s still SCUM.
Lower than whale shidt.
SOB still going after POL kids.
Despicable.
Should be horsewhipped.
Better ignored as a has been.
44Magnum on June 10, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Sigh. Now for another round of emails. I emailed all the CBS people this afternoon. They are just too stupid to get it the first time apparently.
juliesa on June 10, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Jot a quick note to CBS and tell them nicely what you think about Dave.
http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php
katy on June 10, 2009 at 9:06 PM
Random thought:
He better watch his “p”s and “q”s when he comes back here to Montana. Salt of the earth people like those in Montana hear about these stories and would NOT be impressed by his “joke” about Willow.
mjk on June 10, 2009 at 9:07 PM
the baseball player (A-Rod) should sue for libel and defamation – seems like the logical thing to do. then donate funds to sarah pac
Ris4victory on June 10, 2009 at 9:08 PM
Keep squirming like the slimy worm you are, David.
pannw on June 10, 2009 at 9:08 PM
Yeah, but it’s only joking about the Palins, you see…fair game and all…the left’s favorite pastime…takes less brainpower than defending Obamanomics…
ddrintn on June 10, 2009 at 9:09 PM
Cher had him pegged 23 years ago. (Start about 3 minutes in.)
photom on June 10, 2009 at 9:10 PM
Palin should go on the Tonight Show.
Kensington on June 10, 2009 at 9:11 PM
What is it with these liberal hollywood dillweeds? Can’t they just figure out how to stand there and humbly ask forgiveness? Nope, because they aren’t really sorry, they just don’t want the punishment. Too bad.
Fighton03 on June 10, 2009 at 9:11 PM
not only was she ugly in the 90′s, she’s still ugly
Fed45 on June 10, 2009 at 9:11 PM
Someone asked where the real feminists were…right here, pal. I hated it when that SOB went after Hillary Clinton night after night after night during the primary, then had her on for the ratings. Pulling the same sad crap with the good Govenor and I hate it just as much. Hate their policies? Go for it. But spare us the pathetic high school loser verbal ass grab, please. She’s still not going to go out with you, you jerk.
And Palin doesn’t need her husband to deal with this pice of work. She can handle it just fine herself.
kqb29 on June 10, 2009 at 9:11 PM
I had to laugh at that one. I mean if that’s all he meant…
xax on June 10, 2009 at 9:12 PM
Such an idiot !!! Keep putting your foot in your mouth.
Must be hanging around Joe (Gaffe) Biden.
rlongstrat on June 10, 2009 at 9:12 PM
ronsfi on June 10, 2009 at 8:55 PM
It was both. And classless, I know, but, this mysogyny makes me physically sick.
sybilll on June 10, 2009 at 9:13 PM
Did you read the post? If he had meant Willow it would have been far over the line. Everyone knew he meant Bristol. He clarified that he meant Bristol. It was a joke. Get over it.
crr6 on June 10, 2009 at 9:13 PM
There really is nothing funny about piling on insults just for the sake of it.
karlant on June 10, 2009 at 9:13 PM
You, my friend, are not a blogger-commenter, you are the poet laureate.
PaCadle on June 10, 2009 at 9:13 PM
Letterman can go get bent.
Hellrider on June 10, 2009 at 9:13 PM
i think shes turn out to be an attractive young woman. Maybe her mom wasn’t such a looker, but she raised her well.
g0tmylifeback on June 10, 2009 at 9:14 PM
HAHA! Anne Coulter! On Hannity!
“And now that everyone is open to this,” [attacking the families] “have you SEEN the wife?”
ahahahahaha!
Alana on June 10, 2009 at 9:14 PM
But it is fine to make a joke about raping or having sex of any description with a 18-year-old girl…
When does your kid turn 18?
F15Mech on June 10, 2009 at 9:15 PM
What a nice gesture for Dave to invite the Palin family to their own Roast.
karlant on June 10, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Bristol wasnt there in NY CRR it was Willow at the game.
Letterman did suggest a 14 year old.
William Amos on June 10, 2009 at 9:15 PM
.
Only if Sarahcuda gets to bring a sidearm.
I mean Todd on her side and on her arm, sillies.
What were you thinking?
Branch Rickey on June 10, 2009 at 9:15 PM
never make fun of kids. In my book even an 18 year old is a kid.
g0tmylifeback on June 10, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Letterman’s statements about the Palin family are beyond rude. As a father and husband, Mr. Letterman would be asked to take a walk outside and find out what it’s like to have a woman’s honor defended. Mr. Letterman is free to say what he would like, however, he is not free to avoid the consequences. This shtick is proof-positive that no good judgment or discretion exists in the writers, producers or the stars of the Letterman show.
ted c on June 10, 2009 at 9:15 PM
Whoa. The comment thread at EW has gone full retard.
Purple Fury on June 10, 2009 at 9:16 PM
You’d think that someone whose own son was the target of a kidnap plot would be more careful about how he speaks about other people’s children.
Buy Danish on June 10, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Beyond the despicable nature of his recent comments about Sarah, and her family, remember this; it continues the pattern of intentionaly damaging the Palins. Thus, in the future, some less than stalwart faux republican will claim that we shouldn’t support Governor Palin because “the media has damaged her too greatly.”
massrighty on June 10, 2009 at 9:16 PM
He shouldn’t worry if Palin comes on the show, but he better be sure that the First Dude doesn’t end up on the show. Letterman is a big pussy.
EMD on June 10, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Full on Palin hatrid there. They suggest that the Palins deserve it any any other nasty comments made about them.
William Amos on June 10, 2009 at 9:17 PM
An 18 year old who has made numerous media appearances including ones without her mother. She’s a public figure.
crr6 on June 10, 2009 at 9:18 PM
Nope; the kids are off limits. Period. Bristol is one of Sarah and Todd’s children. Off limits.
Do you not get this, or are you being obtuse just to be controversial?
massrighty on June 10, 2009 at 9:18 PM
buydanish—yeah, great point. For it seems that Letterman lives in a glass house. I distinctly remember the woe and lamentations of Mr. Letterman following that episode… you would think he would have better judgment. Apparently he lacks both judgment and a memory…
ted c on June 10, 2009 at 9:19 PM
What gets me is this: He has a kid because he had unprotected sex with a loose woman…
djl130 on June 10, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Letterman’s lame explanation, and apology (if it is coming) would not and should be accepted by any person who has any sense of decency. For myself, a person in the demographic group the ad rating agency is panting over, Letterman lost me as a viewer a long time ago.
bayview on June 10, 2009 at 9:19 PM
crr6: get over it? you don’t have daughters do you? do you speak austrian?
Ris4victory on June 10, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Blah blah blah
crass jokes are appropriate
blah blah blah
blatantblue on June 10, 2009 at 9:19 PM
I am sure Governor Palin will do something gracious, and I support her in that
runner on June 10, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Clown nose: Off
ScottMcC on June 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM
Is Letterman an over-rated prick?
Yes.
Has he been funny since he switched networks, 16 years ago? No.
I hope this clears things up and I invite Letterman to retire.
uptight on June 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM
If someone would be so kind as to post a list of Letterman’s sponsors and advertisers, I would gladly BOYCOTT them…
Khun Joe on June 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM
Part of the ongoing Branding of all things conservative. If you can Brand them as crack pots you dont have to listen to their ideas.
Grunt on June 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM
Didnt you and the other lefties go apecrap crazy when Joe Biden’s 27 year old daughter was accused of Cocaine use ?
William Amos on June 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM
So, rape jokes are OK, when it’s a public figure?
Still no sale.
massrighty on June 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM
You’d think…
Buy Danish on June 10,2009 at 9:16PM.
Buy Danish: Thats an excellent point!:)
canopfor on June 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM
So you think its OK to make fun of Meghan McCain
She was just trying to be real. she was a public figure to.
ah if I you cons make another fat joke about her… well.
well that’s what I think
g0tmylifeback on June 10, 2009 at 9:20 PM
From May 2005:
A man who allegedly plotted to kidnap David Letterman’s son Harry and his nanny was arrested and arraigned in Montana, authorities said Thursday.
cue laughter….
ted c on June 10, 2009 at 9:21 PM
I’m even more outraged at DL’s bullcrap logic. Gee, I guess it’s ok to joke about raping an 18 year old vs. a 14 year old. Where is the outrage from feminist groups? Oh, wait, what am I thinking, I’m assuming they don’t all have their heads up their a**.
8starsnorth on June 10, 2009 at 9:21 PM
no, you brainless fool; people who affect policy are public figures
runner on June 10, 2009 at 9:21 PM
So instead of just being a man and apologizing for calling Sarah Palin a slut and calling her daughter a prostitute, Dave is trying to portray himself as a good guy because he was talking about Sarah’s 18 year old daughter and not her 14 year old daughter. Dave is such an ass.
SoulGlo on June 10, 2009 at 9:22 PM
For many years, Letterman was targeted by a stalker, who called herself “Mrs. David Letterman” and broke into his Connecticut house at least seven times. Margaret Ray eventually pleaded guilty to breaking and entering. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, she served 10 months in prison and 14 months in a mental institution. In 1998, she committed suicide at age 46 by kneeling in front of a train.
Tonight on Letterman’s Top Ten
“Top Ten things Mrs. David Letterman would like to do to Dave…”
–cue laughter now….
ted c on June 10, 2009 at 9:22 PM
Letterman has slandered a fourteen year old child in a predatory fashion. This is no longer a joking matter it should be a law enforcement matter.
viking01 on June 10, 2009 at 9:22 PM
I love how this goes. He submits to a minor “infraction” to then deem himself innocent of a more serious “infraction”. In other words, he absolved himself of any wrong doing.
BTW, I still don’t see the apology. If we accept that he didn’t know it was Willow instead of Bristol, then he should apologize for his mistake at the LEAST.
Geministorm on June 10, 2009 at 9:22 PM
I’m sure you were outraged, just outraged when Limbaugh called Chelsea Clinton the “white house dog” when she was 13 years old. At least Letterman openly admits he’s just a comedian.
crr6 on June 10, 2009 at 9:23 PM
She didn’t ask to be a “public figure”. So that’s carte blanche to say whatever vile things the lefties can come up with. You people are going to disgust the public faster than the GOP can mount an opposition. Thanks.
ddrintn on June 10, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Multi-line posts.
Disjointed syntax.
Referrence to “cons.”
Is this what I think it is?
massrighty on June 10, 2009 at 9:23 PM
Rather than have Sarah on his show, I’d like to see him go to Alaska and have a private meeting with Todd.
Star20 on June 10, 2009 at 9:23 PM
In his media avail, Obama just responded to reporters’ questions about the Bristol Palin story. Noting that his mother had him when she was 18 years old, Obama said families are “off limits” in campaigns. He was very impassioned.
crr6, this is not Obamas message
g0tmylifeback on June 10, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Yes it’s fine to make fun of Meghan McCain. In fact I think most of the posters here would heartily agree with me.
crr6 on June 10, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Bristol didn’t go on the trip. Which means either Letterman is a moron for not fact checking, or is so partisan he didn’t care. Either way it doesn’t matter – he’s still scum for making the comment anyway.
Think about it. You’re defending someone joking about a girl/woman (age doesn’t really matter) being a prostitute or getting raped.
That speaks volumes about the kind of ideals you have, or seem to find lacking.
MightyConservative on June 10, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Holy hell, I thought I would NEVER be on Getalife’s side, but crr6……I give you Chelsea Clinton.
28 years old, doing public appearances for her mother’s campaign and David Teabagger Shuster says she is being pimped out by her parents…..
Teabagger got suspended and the media went apesh*t.
Point here:
It depends on the political affiliation…the amount of outrage by the state run media.
HornetSting on June 10, 2009 at 9:24 PM
How about if Letterman makes the same kind of “joke” about the Obama’s youngest daughter and then says latter that he really meant their oldest daughter?
He would not even be on what used to be his program the next night.
BTW, nothing much happened between his “joke” and his “clarification”, so stop pretending to be so ignorant.
MB4 on June 10, 2009 at 9:24 PM
Heh… well i am not your average poster
i dont think its ok and neither does Barack
g0tmylifeback on June 10, 2009 at 9:25 PM
“I was only calling Palin’s older, legal daughter a whore and I’m sorry some people were offended!” Do you really think that’s going to make it all okay, Dave?
All you’re going to do is bring down upon your head the wrath of the leftards who make up your entire audience; they’re going to be out of their minds with rage over the fact that you “apologized” and they’re going to let you have it for being a spineless little weasel. They all got off on the idea of statutory rape involving one of Sarah palin’s daughters.
And do you really think that Sarah Palin would even consider for a moment appearing on your crappy, unfunny show? LOL at your idiocy.
Epic FAIL on all counts.
Gator Country on June 10, 2009 at 9:25 PM
It’s just a joke, right? Right? Besides, no, I didn’t hear that.
ddrintn on June 10, 2009 at 9:25 PM
David Letterman, Clearly you were talking about Willow Palin, she was the only Palin daughter at the Yankees game.
Time for Letterman to come up with another face saving lie.
RJL on June 10, 2009 at 9:26 PM
What crrr doesn’t understand is that it has always been off limits to ridicule the children of politicians, regardless of their age.
It doesn’t matter how old, for example, Amy Carter is. She’s not a public servant, and thus you don’t go after her to get to her father.
Ditto Chelsea. Unless and until she becomes a politician in her own right, it is considered below the belt to go after her to get at the Clintons.
Can’t you see that? Can’t you see how wrong it would be to make comments about Chelsea’s sex life? If you can see that, you can hopefully manage to make the leap even unto the children of politicians you don’t like.
Even OBAMA, your God, said that the children of politicians should be off limits. (Which was only reiterating what everyone already knew.)
Alana on June 10, 2009 at 9:26 PM
A lot of people thought that she was a fetching young lady. (sorry, I couldn’t resist)
thomasaur on June 10, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Meghan was just trying to make the gop more accessable to people like you and me.
you should be on her side
g0tmylifeback on June 10, 2009 at 9:26 PM
I just like how Governor Palin in her official response to Letterman’s remarks essentially called the guy a Pedophile.
Hellrider on June 10, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Letterman Still Blows!
sonnyspats1 on June 10, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Yes, I was; I am a father, first.
This is wrong.
It’s always been wrong.
It would be wrong if it were done to anyone’s children.
Nice try though, deflect the topic by challenging my consistency.
massrighty on June 10, 2009 at 9:27 PM
The only joke here is you.
Fighton03 on June 10, 2009 at 9:27 PM
So what he is saying is he is a classless jerk, just not as big of a classless jerk as everyone thinks he is. BS. To joke in that manner about anyone’s daughter as part of his “comedy” routine is despicable. You’re a has been, Dave…step aside and let a real man have a shot at celebrity.
scalleywag on June 10, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Good for you and Barack. I don’t think the joke was in good taste. It wasn’t even particularly funny. But the outrage here is over the top to the point of being self-parody. Once again, how do these posters feel about the jokes regarding Chelsea Clinton and Meghan McCain?
crr6 on June 10, 2009 at 9:27 PM
I’m sure he’s angry about being linked to the palins, but I doubt it’s grounds for a lawsuit.
benny shakar on June 10, 2009 at 9:28 PM
I’m outraged!
crr6 on June 10, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Strange, isn’t it? Liberal or conservative, I have always been uncomfortable with jokes about a politician’s children. As much as I like Rush most of the time, I stopped listening to him for a long while after the Chelsea comments. Then again, I am a father of daughters, and that does color my viewpoint.
coyoterex on June 10, 2009 at 9:28 PM
And because she got pregnant out of wedlock, she’s a whore, getting a quickie with A-Rod, and selling herself to Elliot Spitzer (the joke the next night.)
Now THAT’s some funny stuff….
Here’s James Lilek’s response:
and
And I guess we’ll hear Biden’s daughter doing coke jokes on Letterman any day now, since she’s an adult.
notropis on June 10, 2009 at 9:29 PM
cant speak for them
you could say they are full
of lots and lots of hot air
g0tmylifeback on June 10, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Has anyone said they should be raped or are whores?
MightyConservative on June 10, 2009 at 9:29 PM
The only way David can think to “apologize” is to invite Palin onto his show for higher ratings for him and more abuse for her.
Then they’ll be even, right? Oprah tried that same sort of thing and got snitty when the invitation was refused.
ROCnPhilly on June 10, 2009 at 9:30 PM
That’s what this whole thing is about anyways, he just wants her to say no so he can rip on her and her family some more.
And I don’t care one bit if he meant her 14 yr old daughter or 18 yr old one. Still not ok.
4shoes on June 10, 2009 at 9:30 PM
And for the record, children should be off limits. That’s a basic human decency thing.
MightyConservative on June 10, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Oh my LOL!
Czarina on June 10, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 4 … 11 Next »