It Might Not Be the Best Idea for David Letterman to Joke About Underage Girls Being Raped
posted at 5:01 pm on June 9, 2009 by Jim Treacher
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Look out, Guy Cimbalo. There’s a new thuglike misogynist creep in town:
Before I continue, I’ll pause for a moment so you can catch your breath and ease that stitch in your side.
Ready?
Okay. Most of the attention is going toward Letterman’s “slutty flight attendant” crack, but this one is actually worse.
At first I thought “her daughter” referred to Bristol. Which would be a pretty crappy joke to make about somebody’s kid, no matter how much you disagree with the parents’ politics (or mere existence, apparently). But it’d still be fair game. After all, Bristol did what she did. That’s not to say she should be happy about over-the-hill comedians getting cheap laughs from her mistakes, but hey, that’s comedy.
The thing is, that joke isn’t about Bristol: Palin brought her 14-year-old daughter Willow to the Yankees game with her.
That’s right: A state governor went to a baseball game with her underage daughter, and a national talk show host made a joke about the girl being sexually assaulted by one of the players.
I realize I’m just an inbred backwoods moron who can’t abide by any criticism of Sarah Palin whatsoever, but is this really the precedent we want to set for our politicians and their families?
After all, Samson Obama, one of the president’s many half-brothers, isn’t allowed in the UK because he tried to assault a 13-year-old girl. Are we to impose the Letterman standard there? Is it okay to make a joke like this?
“How come the First Family never invites Uncle Samson to visit? Because whenever Sasha and Malia sit on his knee, it takes six Secret Service guys to pry them off!”
Or how about this?
“Joe Biden keeps saying he’s not really sure where all that stimulus money is going. In other news, Ashley Biden’s coke dealer just bought Luxembourg.”
Hey, I didn’t say they were good jokes. But are they really worse than what Letterman just got away with on national TV? If so, why?
P.S. If you’re still not quivering with rage at my effrontery, Ace should make you mad.
P.P.S. The NYT posted a transcript of Letterman’s monologue, but one of the jokes was left out. Can you guess which one?
P.P.P.S. As a special treat for Roy Edroso and friends: Lettermanku!
P.P.P.P.S. Letterman doubles down.
(Crossposted to jimtreacher.com)
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With all his money that’s the best baby mama he can nail? No wonder Letterman is such an angry a-hole.
Disturb the Universe on June 9, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Cue Debbie Schtrooddle.
redrock on June 9, 2009 at 5:44 PM
Letterman will claim he thought it was Bristol. And the lefties will yell about how that makes it all okay.
MamaAJ on June 9, 2009 at 5:49 PM
I’ve always suspected Letterman “thank[ed] heaven for little girls”. I wonder if any of the families living near him know he has these tendancies.
fronclynne on June 9, 2009 at 5:54 PM
He became an offensive tool as soon as they made him stop wearing sneakers.
warden on June 9, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Letterman is a coward. He tells jokes like these to his greek chorus, yet he still can’t find anything Obama has done to goof on.
He and his writers don’t even have to work very hard. Just lift material from Ed’s Obamatuerisms every day and work it into a joke.
Letterman is a lazy, unfunny loser. He probably has a gazillion dollars by now. He should retire and spare us all the drama of his decline.
Mallard T. Drake on June 9, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Dear Jim, I’m glad you’re not “funny” like Letterman.
Loxodonta on June 9, 2009 at 6:04 PM
So your strategy is to exploit other politicians’ children to show how wrong it was to exploit the Palin 14 year old. I would have preferred some homework on your part to display list of the sponsors to last night’s show, and solicit readers to pressure them to drop their sponsorship.
Mark30339 on June 9, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Who’s stopping you?
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Letterman’s bypass went hideously awry.
When they were putting him back together, instead of wiring his mouth back to his brain, they wired it straight to his ass.
-Dave
Dave R. on June 9, 2009 at 6:38 PM
The only thing I can find is that Rudy, Sarah, and spouses attended the game. That Newsday link doesn’t actually say that Willow was at the game. Are you sure about that? Not that it was a nice thing to say about anyone’s daughter.
Dave E. on June 9, 2009 at 6:50 PM
So when did Letterman hire Roman Polanski as a joke writer?
Remember when John Kerry’s daughter was at the Cans film festival? It’s misspelled for a reason
DaveC on June 9, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Dave E.
Dave R. and
Dave C.
going to get confusing soon.
DaveC on June 9, 2009 at 6:51 PM
I don’t see Bristol in there anywhere.
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 6:54 PM
I would like to introduce David Letterman to one or two of my clients. They would treat him nice. They would make him shave his legs. They would paint tits on his back. They would send him down the cellblock telling him, “Bring me back a pack of cigarettes”. When he came back, they would say “Now go and bring me a dollar”. When he came back, “Now go and bring me another dollar”. Etc., but you get the picture. I don’t know that I would call it a hate-____, though. They are all Obama supporters, after all.
nk on June 9, 2009 at 7:06 PM
At least Kerry’s daughter was legal.
*sigh* Condemnation from CBS in 1,000… 999…
The_Livewire on June 9, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Jim-I think that paragraph is saying that Willow joined her at the event, after the game. I could be wrong though. The thing is the only other detail I found didn’t mention Willow:
Just saying.
Dave E. on June 9, 2009 at 7:15 PM
I should have added: I don’t think either daughter was at the game.
Dave E. on June 9, 2009 at 7:16 PM
If it walks like a duck…
Let Letterman explain himself. I do not assume good faith on his part.
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Fair enough, it was a crappy thing for him to say no matter which daughter he meant. Claiming it was Willow may be a daughter too far though, that’s all I’m saying.
Dave E. on June 9, 2009 at 7:31 PM
Why do you think that? And why would Letterman make a joke about “Palin’s daughter” being there if neither one was? And why should I bend over backwards to assume he didn’t really say what he said?
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Actually, there are three daughters, aren’t there? So I’m giving Letterman the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t mean Piper. There, my good deed for the day.
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 7:35 PM
If Imus got canned over “nappy headed ho’s”, shouldn’t Lettermen get the same treatment? Imus is a shock jock on radio, Letterman has a national audience on tv, a far greater impact.
parke on June 9, 2009 at 7:35 PM
The only pics I see show Sarah Palin and Guiliani and his wife. The article I linked says Sarah, Rudy, and spouses. And
Letterman would say that just to make a cheap and tasteless joke. Maybe she was there, but I see no evidence other than a poorly worded article you linked to that seems to me to say that Willow was at the later event, not the game. All I’m saying is you might want to double check.
Dave E. on June 9, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle:
Politico:
Newsday:
Associated Press:
But I’m sure you’re right, Dave E., they went everywhere together except the Yankees game. And then Letterman made that joke for no particular reason. Yours is a much more plausible explanation, and it really changes everything.
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 7:52 PM
Jim,
.
Not trying to sound like a lawyer but should someone who is underage be protected from any slander/inuendo given by a late night talk show host and/or a blogger who does same.
I know you are retaliating but what is fair game.
.
Dave is where your sights should be aimed at. Aim small miss small. I’m on your side but chose your target wisely.
Perhaps Dave should be contacting his attorny because Willow is not fair game. Do I mean punitive lawsuit?
Yes. Keep Obama’s kids out of this. I am a Sarah Palin fan
and she would never condone the present task you’ve taken upon yourself in regards to O’s kids.
Americannodash on June 9, 2009 at 7:53 PM
I think you are parsing the subject a bit too much.
This posting is in respect (as much as you can) to what Letterman said.
Even if Willow wasn’t at the game, Letterman made his joke. The aging pervert needs to own it.
DaveC on June 9, 2009 at 7:53 PM
What about John Kerry’s daughter?
DaveC on June 9, 2009 at 7:55 PM
Don’t worry.
Making a joke about their pervy Uncle Samson? I’m not sure that’s a “task,” exactly, but I’ll take it under advisement.
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM
DaveC,
.
What are you talking about?
.
Your off topic.
Americannodash on June 9, 2009 at 8:03 PM
And here’s the comments section for the Top Ten List. (It just takes a half-a-minute for comments to go through. And you might want to adjust your sound first in case the video plays automatically.)
andycanuck on June 9, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Making a joke about their pervy Uncle Samson? I’m not sure that’s a “task,” exactly, but I’ll take it under advisement.
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Not worried about you. Inferrences via Uncle Samson and who is on his lap (O’s kids) goes the way “knocked up” sexually assault of Willow. Molestation is molestation.
.I also read your work. You got me to explore the wonderful world of twitter. I am a big fan of yours really.
Americannodash on June 9, 2009 at 8:17 PM
I… see.
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 8:29 PM
Your irony knows no bounds.
Americannodash on June 9, 2009 at 8:35 PM
I certainly appreciate your perspective. Well said.
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 8:40 PM
You seem to really get around. I noticed they’re praising your work over @ C4P. OT, Now if you get McCain to drill here, drill now @ ANWAR. That would be astonishing.
Americannodash on June 9, 2009 at 8:41 PM
In the gladitorial world of politics, we leave the kids out.
Apparently mendacious creeps like Andrew Sullivan and now David Letterman do not get that. We do not joke about children. It was wrong to do it about Chelsey Clinton. It is wrong to do it about Barack and Michelle Obama’s daughters. And it is wrong to do it to Sarah Palin’s family.
Mr. Joe on June 9, 2009 at 8:55 PM
Letterman is a coward. He takes cheap shots at Alaska’s Governor and her 14 year old daughter, but he continues to treat Obama with kid gloves. He’s a spineless prick of the highest order and a horrible comedian. I’ve heard people tell me about when Letterman was funny 20+ years ago … I have to yawn since I was just starting out in grade school.
Stickeehands on June 9, 2009 at 8:56 PM
If Sarah doesn’t go on Letterman, maybe Todd would like to show up one night. Does Dave have insurance?
Kissmygrits on June 9, 2009 at 9:08 PM
David Letterman should be fired IMMEDIATELY!!
Khun Joe on June 9, 2009 at 9:28 PM
I completely agree with your first statement; however; who has made any sick jokes – any jokes at all – about Obama’s daughters? Just curious.
(Where did my other comment go; I don’t see it for some reason.)
bitsy on June 9, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Jim-I’m on your side that Letterman is a complete ass here, no matter what. You raised the ante by saying he was talking about a 14-year-old getting knocked up, instead of the 18-year-old Bristol. That’s even worse, as you have noted, and I agree, if it’s true. Just show me that it’s true, beyond a poorly worded paragraph. And that the entourage has been at many different other sites together doesn’t cut it.
I respect you and have read your writing often. I’ve thought you have integrity and credibility. I respectfully ask that you show those to me now.
Dave E. on June 9, 2009 at 9:37 PM
If this type language spoken by David L. isn’t shunned by his peers (Conan, Stewart, Colbert and whoever…) our descent into darkness will only be exasorobated. If David wants to pull theses kind of antics on national television,
then I think perhaps the FCC should be getting some scorching letters and/or phone calls. Isn’t there a standard of decorum even for late nite talk host? What does the POTUS think about this. If no admonishment is given then is not this a passive confirmation on his part for that kind of behavior. He has (2) daughters and BHO should relate to Sarah & Todd. MLK junior said that it is all about a persons charactor. Let us see what kind of charactor this POTUS has. I want someone from the WH press corps to ask R. Gibbs what is the POTUS take on David Lettermans remarks in regards to Willow Palin.
What are your thoughts Jim.
Americannodash on June 9, 2009 at 9:39 PM
I don’t think Letterman knows or cares which daughter he was talking about; he was taking a cheep shot. Thus, he deserves to be mocked ruthlessly in return.
bitsy on June 9, 2009 at 9:49 PM
*cheap? Maybe I deserve a little ruthless mocking… teehe.
*giggle*
bitsy on June 9, 2009 at 9:51 PM
I’ve already jumped through your hoops. Either get new ones or get used to the idea that I’m done.
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 10:03 PM
I don’t know if Willow was at the game for the six innings or not, but she’s the only daughter on the trip. And as Governor Palin was wearing the same white sweat-top sweater at the game as at the walk that she left the game to attend, and that Willow definitely attended, what’s the stretch in ascribing Letterman’s comment to her and not (as if it were somehow okay) to Bristol?
andycanuck on June 9, 2009 at 10:11 PM
That’s just lame, Jim. My trust was misplaced.
Dave E. on June 9, 2009 at 10:25 PM
I’m sure I’ll get over it eventually.
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Already, you hack.
Dave E. on June 9, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Nope, I’m still crushed. I didn’t realize how much you meant to me until I lost you.
Jim Treacher on June 9, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Jim,
This on topic and OT possibly. I remember when SNL stole your idea for a skit last year. Knowing the NBC meltdown over Palin and all it wouldn’t surprise me to see another skit from them on Letterman’s take on the 7th inning stretch routine. Why do I think that way? Remember the stunt they pulled about Todd having sex with his daughter in a skit last fall. Keep a look out. That is no beneath them either. Some thing is very wrong with NBC.
Americannodash on June 9, 2009 at 11:26 PM
DaveC on June 9, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Just went to twitter, you are on fire. Don’t put this out.
Americannodash on June 10, 2009 at 12:04 AM
Bullshit, DaveC:
Where did you get that from? I was thrilled to see Palin nominated as VP, and I was even more thrilled to hear her “beyond the beltway” rhetoric.
My beef with Jim is strictly a point of honor and integrity, not anything to do with Palin herself.
And what’s with that “McCain made a mistake in choosing a nobody as his running mate”, and associating that with my name? That’s bullshit, DaveC. Total bullshit.
Dave E. on June 10, 2009 at 12:08 AM
We understand that this is your assertion, yes.
Jim Treacher on June 10, 2009 at 12:14 AM
sure it’s BS.
DaveC on June 10, 2009 at 12:24 AM
If Letterman were an asian with a penis, Does make him a cockasian. Won’t mention it again
Americannodash on June 10, 2009 at 12:30 AM
Dave with the ‘E’
as a lowly commenter here, I went back and followed what you are saying. I think you are off a bit. Everything in Jim’s post has been in reaction to what Letterman said. I don’t have the itinerary of Gov. Palins stops. But I think it’s safe to assume that her daughter was with her for most of them. If Willow wasn’t at the game, what would that change?
Letterman’s joke?
I said what I said because I can be an ass at times. get use to it.
DaveC on June 10, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Oh, who gives a crap. Does anyone really give a shit about the truth anymore? I know the left doesn’t, why the f*** should anyone else? It’s all just a freakin’ game now, isn’t it?
Dave E. on June 10, 2009 at 12:36 AM
I noticed what you’ve done Jim. It has gone viral.
Good work, well done. Maybe we’ll be treated with an Obama
prime time speech on American family values. Which of course is why this country needs universal healthcare/ NOT.
Americannodash on June 10, 2009 at 12:59 AM
It’s open season on Conservatives even if you are a woman, black, hispanic or belong to any other protected group. So Letterman being part of the elite liberal Hollywood crowd will get more leeway than Imus did. He will catch some heat for this though and rightfully so.
sarahpalinfan99 on June 10, 2009 at 1:15 AM
It’s open season on Conservatives even if you are a woman, black, hispanic or belong to any other protected group. So Letterman being part of the elite liberal Hollywood crowd will get more leeway than Imus did. He will catch some heat for this though and rightfully so.
sarahpalinfan99 on June 10, 2009 at 1:15 AM
.
Don’t get me wrong but I disagree with your premise. We’re not to be saddled with a defeatist attitude. Stand back up, brush yourself off, and hit them harder the next time. We the people still have a voice and it should be put forth honorably in order to defeat and overwhelm those that are dishonorable. Peace and strength be with you.
Americannodash on June 10, 2009 at 1:46 AM
Sounds like David Letterman is a sleeze and should be taken off the air.
maggieo on June 10, 2009 at 2:07 AM
Letterman jokes about A-rod impregnating 14 year old girl.
liontooth on June 10, 2009 at 2:15 AM
Just stopped by to look in on Ace. Those comments over there…
Henny Youngman would be proud…. Take my wife…. PLEASE …..comedy gold.
Americannodash on June 10, 2009 at 2:20 AM
http://www.conservatives4palin.com/2009/06/letterman-makes-another-sex-joke-about.html
That’s the second night in a row Letterman made a joke about Gov. Palin’s child, Willow.
He knows what he is doing.. He doesn’t care.
effing bastard dirty old man.
DaveC on June 10, 2009 at 7:15 AM
It was a crappy joke, but I didn’t hear anything about sexual assault there. That’s more Sandra Bernhardt territory.
forgetfulmuse on June 10, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Oh, and it’s hardly newsworthy when Letterman makes a lousy joke – par for the course ain’t it?
forgetfulmuse on June 10, 2009 at 8:02 AM
forgetfulmuse on June 10, 2009 at 8:02 AM
.
Rumor has it that you want be lawyer but you just can’t get pass the bar. AA has a 12 step program for you, Sober up.
This joke was over the line.
Americannodash on June 10, 2009 at 8:54 AM
There are too many Daves in this thread. I suggest Thunderdome.
TheUnrepentantGeek on June 10, 2009 at 9:59 AM
Akon.
Woody Allen.
It’s a cultural trend.
itsnotaboutme on June 10, 2009 at 10:00 AM
For those that want to rattle the CBS cage, go to http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgb/fcc475B.cfm and file a complaint online.
I used this language to describe the offense:
.
David Letterman jokingly announced an awkward moment at the NY Yankess game when Alex Rodriquez “knocked up” the Palin daughter attending the game with her parents. Since the daughter is 14, Letterman was joking at the prospect of a statutory rape. This was indecent, obscene and a profane violation of the 14 year old’s privacy and good name. A copy is located at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5g8kE_g-YA
Mark30339 on June 10, 2009 at 10:04 AM
I blame Ed and his ‘Open Registration’..
DaveC on June 10, 2009 at 10:14 AM
OK for those who are not sure which daughter was in New York. Here is the quote and link to the press release.
Palin is being accompanied by her husband, Todd, and daughter Willow, 14. Also along are her sister Heather Bruce and Bruce’s son, Karcher, 14.
barnone on June 10, 2009 at 5:23 PM