I think he was talking about bristol palin.

To be clear: Glenn Reynolds and Ace have both noted that the daughter in question, the one who accompanied Governor Palin to the Yankee game, was Willow Palin, born 1995. 14-years old.

I used to work on drilling rigs, all the different shifts. When Letterman had his morning show, I'd get up early before my evening shift so I could watch him. Later, when he moved to nights, I'd hurry home to catch most of his show.

I've not watched him for years and years now. He's become bitter, unfunny, hateful and mean. Dave, have another pork rind and STFU.

Yeah, Rob, except Willow is 14. He's basically joking about rape.

Gosh Rob, guess we're just being hypersensitive and hyperconservative. But something tells me jokes about Janet Napolitano ramming her pecker into Malia Obama's a$$ aren't going to find their way onto Dave's cue cards any time soon. Gosh, wouldn't that be a hoot and a half!!

Isn't bitter old Dave babydaddy to some bastard himself?!

As he did not specify, I also assumed he was referring to Bristol Palin. So, John I am not sure I agree with your headline.

In the end though, it really doesn't matter. That wasn't a joke. That was a disgusting personal attack on a politician's child. The fact that he can make that joke and his audience laughed heartily is pretty sad.

Something tells me a certain anonymous troll is sharing an affliction common with disgusting little weasels like him: confusing the word "hypocrisy" with "hey, you're not matching the caricature!"

Wouldn’t it be funny if Dave would be gang raped by a slobbering pack of leftist pervs, hahahaha…

In fact, even to this day, SNL has censored out all references to Chelsea Clinton. They decided not to include her in any skits after Chris Farley portrayed her. (Farley also portrayed Guiliani's son and i believe that skit has been censored too.)

Yeah, see, here's the difference between normal, emotionally healthy people and Rob. Normal people would find such a joke about Malia Obama offensive in the extreme, no matter what her parents' political views. The same goes for Chelsea Clinton. Calling Chelsea unattractive–which is the worst I ever heard about her from conservatives–is a far cry from making her the subject of sex jokes.

But in the world of Rob, sex jokes about innocent kids are funny.

As for Letterman possibly being mistaken about which kid it was:

A) it doesn't matter. Bristol Palin didn't run for any office. She doesn't deserve this crap either, and
B) no conservative would ever get away with that excuse in a million years, even if it were true. I'll be damned if I'm going to give that smarmy p.o.s. Lettercarrier a pass on it.

P.S. I just want to say, I' m not a big Palin fan, nor did I vote for her and McCain. But this Palin-bashing is so far over the line I just have to take up for her. It's completely uncalled for and undeserved.

That seems fair. It's wrong to bring innocents into the fray. But I think it's important not to overread comedic routines. First, I think it's pretty clear that Letterman was referring to Bristol, mistakenly or not, who is not a child (or at least doesn't behave like one!). Second, everyone–democrat or republican, left-winger or right-winger–is vulnerable to comedians. (Just look at SNL–they're merciless toward Hillary and Bill, and now to Nancy Pelosi.) Anyone who behaves badly, or weirdly, or ridiculously has a target on his or her back. Comedy is not a partisan sport!

typical democrap elitism..

nice try at spin though

NAMBLA = RAT party voters and contributors…. i'd say that qualifies..

Bull.. I,personally, had at least 10 minutes of material on Michael Jackson back when he was busted.. SNL DID NOTHING..

I still think he meant Bristol. Not because I don't think he's slimy enough to attack a 14 year-old (I'm sure he is), but just because the joke makes more sense if he's talking about the one who's already had a baby. My money is on the fact that he and his staff are so poorly informed that when someone said Palin was there with her daughter, they assumed it must be Bristol (or didn't even know there was another one). If he didn't mean Willow, it'll be interesting to watch him try to walk back the joke once things get too hot (assuming anyone actually pressures him about it).

Sadly, I'm guessing no women's groups will even be remotely upset by the concept of a comedian one of the original three networks joking about the statutory rape of a Governor's child. Welcome to modern feminism.

Yet as John pointed out, Bristol wasn't at the game, so the daughter he was talking about was 14 year-old Willow (even if it was out of his own ignorance). If the best Letterman can do now is joke about underage children, then I'm glad he got shut out of the Tonight Show gig (then had Leno kick his ass for a decade).

I keep saying these mad dog animals are all the same. Letterman was never funny, I never like his show or him. Now he is just a scumbag with a TV show. No matter what these leftist malcontents say we are going to take our country back.

Wow are you kidding me? First off.. John McCain DID make a joke about Chelsea Clinton when Bill Clinton was in office. Big deal. Second… you're citing Johnny Carson as some arbiter of class? He treated Ed McMahon like dirt for 30 years… the guy got pounded by a mobster whose girlfriend he ogled.. he was married 5 times… he had sons he didn't give a care about. He was a private guy but not exactly a sweetheart. Letterman is pounding Palin for the same reason ALL sensible people do. Because this is a 45 year old woman who can't put together a sentence a 2 year old would be proud to speak! As for a her daughter getting knocked up outside of marriage.. that's SO last August!!!!

Get over it… if your website is linking to a scum mistress like Tammy Bruce.. who btw messed around with Bill Bixby's wife during their divorce and then mocks Michelle Obama for encouraging children to pursue excellent in education like the little racist simp we all KNEW she was 15 years ago.. then you need look no further for objects of your moral disdain.

not only scared but to the point of downright vile hatred of women. It's scary. Verbal attacks on these innocent women are getting out of hand..theyve attacked the baby, so I guess this shouldnt be surprising.

Not only is Letterman not walking back the joke, but he made another one tonight: "The toughest part of Palin's visit was keeping Eliot Spitzer away from her daughter." If he hadn't made the "knocked up" joke the night before, I might buy that he's not calling Willow Palin a whore.

I was a fan of Letterman's from the start of his late night show. being a night owl, it was slim pickings till he came along. I watched for years. then in 1996 when Bob Dole was running for pres., he got mean. He would hit Dole with the cheapest shots , but be very respectful when he was a guest on his show. hee took shots at clinton too, how could he not, but the shots at Dole were just to low and to often… i had enough… over the years i watch only when he has a guest on i truly like. but even then it is a rare thing for me to watch 7 minutes in a month…

Somebody needs to compile a list of CBS sponsors so we can let them know what we think of misogynistic talk show hosts who like to make sex jokes about children. Considering CBS' place in the ratings, it's hard to believe they are TRYING to eliminate viewers. That's an interesting corporate strategy.

Her daughter was known for an out of wedlock pregnancy (I know, Bristol not Willow) , ball players are known for impregnating people and Palin was at the ball game. It's fair game for a joke…it's a joke, if you analyzed the logic behind every joke almost every joke could evoke horrible outrage. We as conservatives can not stop the world every time somebody makes a crack. Let's analyze South Park ( a show most of us love) and then see if it's fair to come down on Letterman. (Who by the way has turned from a genius into a bitter old socialist)

you are simply wrong! The left wing operatives like Letterman will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, yet are silent on Obama's daughters or on Clinton's daughter.

Thanks for posting that. I don't watch his show.. but would like to let the sponsors know why. Any idea on how to find out who they are……………. without watching that old fool

I hope not. No child derserves that!

Especailly for the sins of the father. Totally crossing the line.

A distenction without a difference. It crossed a line.

IT DOESN'T MATTER! You are bringing innnocent children into a politcal battle! For time immortal, we were told we couldn't involve children of LIBERAL Politicos. But according to you, attacking conservatives is just hunky-dorey!

Have we also forgotten that Letterman also called Palin a slut in the top 10 list? Is that OK?

What about the fact that he is using -a racist stereotype-the sex obsessed Hispanic male- as his perpetrator of the rape. Liberal outrage anyone?

David Letterman, just another brownshirt.

I love the faulty rationale people have for saying its an ok joke to make. Makes ya wonder about their brain function.

dave who? I gave up on late night tv when it became the less pleasant mouth of the DNC.

I think it's time for us to write CBS and tell them that we want this angry, insulting leftist off the air. Letterman hasn't been funny since the mid-90s anyway.

Lettermans a Mean-Spirited Creep. Where Sara Palin and her family put their feet Letterman couldn't put his face. We'll see his jokes come 2010.

Doesn't matter which daughter you discuss. It's disgusting. Would you like it if the joke were about BO's daughters getting "knocked up" by A-Rod?

I suppose the next thing out of your mouth is to say that women who are raped were actually "asking for it" you sir, disgust me.

I have a thirteen year old daughter and if he made a joke about her like that, I'd track his lame a** down and beat him to a pulp.

I think Des_ is probably right. I doubt Letterman knew or cared which daughter was in town with Palin. I can imagine the thought process in his little mind: "Palin daughter with baby = sick joke material."

But whichever daughter it was, it was still wrong.

Aharris, send your friend these:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election200...

http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MT...

And tell her it's amazing what you can find out when you do your research.

Remember how they crucified the I-Man?

I think the real issue here is the complete absence of a level playing field. I could live with it if an "outrageous" comedian truly risked societal backlash when he crossed the line with something as offensive as Letterman's "joke" — you take your shots, but then you take your lumps (if warranted).

But it's real easy being "edgy" when The Establishment has deemed certain people, classes of people, and institutions as fair game.

(I was also going to say something in defense of A-Rod, but he went 0-for-4 last night, so #@%& him.)

Nice try, Gina, but I'm betting Aharris's friend can't read, and even if she can, liberals are "useful idiots" and don't believe anything the propaganda media doesn't tell them.

I hope Bill Sammon reads BH because he, or someone like him, should write a book on the lynching of Sarah Palin by a cadre of Entertainment Leftists (Saturday Night Live, Letterman, etc.) and Propaganda Media (NY Times, WA Post, Newsweek, ABC etc)

"Digging for vile motives that probably aren't there"?

Where have you been recently? Mars? I hear it's heating up, just like good old planet Earth — of course, OUR heating up is the fault of mankind and Mars's is — oh, never mind.

Since your ideology is no doubt the same as Letterman's, you took no offense at the joke. I wonder what you'd have thought had good old Dave made a joke about Al Gore's son's drug problems. That probably wouldn't have been so funny now, would it.

[...] the next kerfuffle … and this is probably not unrelated. People need thicker [...]

"and I really hope I don't have to explain to you the difference. "

Nope, you don't have to. One is an attack on a Republican, the other is an attack on a Democrat. Same difference existed in the USSR – you could say whatever you wanted (or do to) a counterrevolutionary but God help you if you said anything against the Politburo.

If you had a teenager and/or ever were a teenager (which is questionable) you'd understand that what the parents believe probably doesn't have much to do with rational judgment when the hormones are raging.
Besides what the hell does Palin's believing in abstinence have to do with either of her daughters, statutory rape or not? Furthermore, since Palin's sin happens to be preaching teenage abstinence, am I to suppose you and Letterman take the opposite approach, that the more teenage girls knocked up the better?

You guys with your lame arguments give new meaning to "useful idiots".

Would I love it if every humorist was nice to everybody and nobody was ever mocked? Certainly. I'd also love it if all families who promoted abstinence would not have out-of-wedlock children. I'd also love it if fantastic baseball players and high-level politicians were also models of courtesy and restraint off-the-playing field. Instead, we have attempts at humor from non-inspired talk-show hosts, who wouldn't have made the daughters of Sarah Palin a target had one of them not erred in this manner.

Let's see what happens when Obama's children publicly misstep what Letterman does.

[...] inappropriately bashing on poor David are John Nolte and Moe Lane. Posted by Dan Collins @ 5:14 am | Trackback SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Letterman [...]

Everyone pay attention to Letterman, this is our leftist and playing nice simply will not work. These are ‘60s radicals and their offspring they believe winning is everything, be damned gentlemen’s decorum. We play by Markus of Queensbury rules and have our a$$es handed to us. These creeps deserve nothing but our disdain and firm condemnation. They’ve called us out we either fight or perish. We are a powerful constituency boycott his sponsors, call CBS, jerk on the purse strings.

Hey Rob, you are defending a multi-millionaire joke reader who has bad material. Is there anything ELSE you could be doing with your time?

Oh wow!!! So a person that actually learns during life can't change their mind on something? How is that being hypocritical? Do you mean the fact that she couldn't control her 17 year old daugher from having sex with her boyfriend? Hmmm… Maybe she is letting her child make their own mistakes when they are young adults…. I figure that is what a WISE parent would do… especially since Bristol is old enough to know what is right and wrong and she CLEARLY learned from the experience…

But then I guess that doesn't even matter does it?

By the way, I don't know of ANY parents that can control their teenagers….

Nick, a couple problems, from the coverage I've seen before hand it was clear Palin was traveling with Willow and not Bristol, so ignorance of which daughter the joke was about isn't a credible defense.

Secondly, this isn't the first time people have gone after Palin's minor children. Bristol was a minor during the election and she was savaged by not just comedians but by the news media.

Third, ANY time someone jokes about sex between an adult and a minor it is about rape, there is no other type of sex between the two. That'd be like joking about sex between a father and daughter and say you aren't telling a joke about incest.

Lastly, the left has long ago lost the right to the benefit of the doubt about questionable things they say. I can appreciate a comedian who attacks everyone, if Letterman or any of the other comedians had a history of going after both sides I might cut them some slack. But I have NEVER seen the children of leftist politicians gone after with the exception of the ONE time on SNL and the joke was about how ugly she was.

David Letterman has turned into Veruca Salt: A sad pathetic angry spoiled child.

Worse, Letterman has a staff of writers & he comes up with this uninspired crap? The writers should be fired ASAP or else given notice. Letterman is a useless old bag of bitter tricks.

When the Clinton's were in office they demanded the press leave Chelsea Alone.

One episode of Saturday Night Live had a member of the crew look in the camera and apologize to president Clinton in advance, hoping he understood poking fun at the office was part of their job and it was nothing personal. Gee, I can't recall them doing that for Ford, Reagan, GHW Bush or GW BUSH.

From Wikipedia: "February 13, 1993 host: Alec Baldwin — Jane Pauley (Julia Sweeney) and Stone Phillips (Mike Myers) apologize for recent NBC mishaps, such as the Olympics Triplecast, letting David Letterman go to CBS, and a recent skit in which Mike Myers and Dana Carvey made fun of Chelsea Clinton." Then there's a video of them in a car with "Toonces, the Driving Cat" going over a cliff. Which was to say, "see Mr. Clinton we didn't really mean it and we can make fun of ourselves too", which, again, I can't recall them ever going out of their way to appease a Republican politician.

Likewise, Saul. Letterman was a nightly must see back in college. The last Letterman I remember watching was somewhere around 90-91. I think. I just grew to dislike his smarmy bitterness.

3) I'm most certainly not in favor of underage sexual activity, but the fact of the manner is that it is a reality, and it is a hairy subject. If two 17 year olds are sexually active, and then one of them turns 18, is this the same thing as rape? Nobody is for rape, however it is defined; but look throughout the canons of standup comedy, and you'll find that every time a media circus surrounds some sort of sexual scandal, no stone is left unturned. But this is neither here nor there, because the issue isn't about the reality, it's about the joke–and the joke was crafted so as to not mention the term "statutory rape", nor which of Palin's daughters was present, nor her age. As I wrote, dig, and it's pathetic. But comedy lines are of the moment, and in that moment he earned that laughter from the audience, because of good timing and a reference that most people there were familiar with.
4) Elliot Spitzer isa DEMOCRAT. A-Rod's affiliation is unknown, but is likely to share the same political opinions as that of Madonna, DEMOCRAT. The joke was equally offensive to Democrats as they were to Republicans.

Seeing as how Letterman himself "knocked up" his girlfriend, not marrying her until his son was what, 5 years old, this seems like a strange line of attack. He doesn't even have the excuse of youth.

Only women who are liberals must not be mocked in a misogynistic way. Conservative women, however, can be mocked in misogynistic ways. Letterman also referred to Palin as a slutty-looking stewardess. Where is the outrage from NOW and other feminist groups?

Considering that Letterman hasn't touched any of dad's missteps as fodder for the monologue, I'd say it's a safe bet that unless Obama turns Republican, neither of his daughters will ever be a joke target on "The Late Show".

You probably won't find many John McCain fans around here. And making jokes about kids whose parents happen to be in the limelight should be off limits.

Yes, Johnny Carson did have many faults. He could be a thinned skinned bully. Wayne Newton had to threaten to kick Carson's butt to stop the Tonight Show gay jokes on Newton. But, Carson displayed public class more often than not. I doubt that he made any jokes about statutory rape of a public figure's daughter.

If you have pictures of Tammy Bruce and Bill Bixby's ex-wife, well you must be acquainted with Anthony Pellicano. As for Tammy mocking Michelle Obama…never mind that. Tell me more about Tammy Bruce and Bill Bixby's ex-wife. You seem to be most knowledgable about this subject.

Anyhow…Making a joke about a 14 year old getting "Knocked Up" is wrong. It is particularly sick that a man in a very public forum felt comfortable making the joke. There was a time that a man knew not to speak in such a dishonest way. He knew that soon afterwards a male relative of the young lady would be looking him up to defend her honor.

I'm sure Dave would be alright with it..

I sent a message. We should all do the same.

Parents can't and don't (it's impossible) to control all their kids' actions. Palin's daughter disobeyed her mother and did her own thing and faced the consequences. How does that make Sarah Palin a hypocrite?

She would have been a hypocrite if she had gotten Bristol an abortion. She didn't.

You can maybe find something legitimate to criticize Sarah Pail for, but hypocrisy on this issue isn't one of them.

I'm sorry, but as a mother of a little girl, if they dared to say anything like that about her, I would literally fly off the handle and probably book the next flight to New York so I could confront Letterman in person. As a parent, those jokes are out of the realm of comedy. I'm sorry if you don't see that.

That might be a very funny video. What am I sayin'….it would be hilarious.

Nothing is more sad than watching a comedian trying too hard. Reaching so far for a punch line that he's willing to insult people in a shotgun blast of off-color humor. Who's the butt of his quip? A-Rod, Palin, or Palin's daughter? The man is just sad. If he's attacking A-Rod, which wouldn't be logical if Rodriguez doesn't have a rep for romancing teenagers, that's one thing. If he's attacking Palin that's not gentlemanly. (I know, what was I thinkin?) And if he's disparaging Palin's daughter, that's just sick. Does an septagenarian past comedian really need to be picking on a teenage girl? The man is just sad.

Wouldn't blame "Stud" Palin for dropping Dave Letterman!

Oh really? Then perhaps he could use the following joke then.. "I wonder how long we've got until Obama becomes a grandfather.. I mean.. those two girls of his are just about ripe.. you know how those black girls love to grunt out babies at 11 or 12.."

Using your logic.. Young girls are known for getting knocked up.. black girls especially are having kids at a younger age ( I know an ex-coworker that was a TWENTY-FIVE YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER) and his girls are getting older.. so they're fair game for jokes..

You know you'd lose your mind and the phone calls to CBS would be relentless..

Actually I do see that (and I, too, am a Daddy of a little girl). And EVERYBODY who has ever been mocked by a late night television host was once a little girl or a little boy of some other parent. In a perfect world, nobody would ever be mocked, for nobody would ever have a reason for being mocked. And if Bristol Palin had shown some self-restraint, Letterman would not have any hook to hang his joke upon. Lesson to be learned: choices have consequences.

My letter in two parts:

Did I understand David Letterman correctly? He made jokes on two consecutive nights about the sexual assault of the 14 year old daughter of a public figure?

Regardless of David Letterman's feelings of ill regard for Sarah Palin, for Letterman to publicly display his sick pathology is so wrong at every level. I do not believe that words can fully describe my contempt for this.
I have a daughter near Willow Palin's age. Is this something that I must explain to my daughter of which the executives of CBS approve? Does it give you pause if you have a daughter that you could subsitute for his target in these jokes? Do we, the public, need to wallpaper every public outlet with our contempt for CBS in providing a forum for this?

Dave is sadly disintegrating emotionally and spiritually with age. Starting to see the signs. It's only a matter of time before he completely loses it. He's had a good run. Maybe it's just time for some fresh blood.

Oh, Yeah.

And Rush wasn't trying to mock McNabb or be "funny" — he was making a valid — and certainly debatable point — about sports and society and whether or not McNabb was an elite QB or merely a good one. Unfortunately, nobody wanted to debate the point. Instead of give-and-take, Rush got "you CAN'T say that."

Sigh. You're completely missing the point. COMPLETELY. Are you serious with this statement? "And EVERYBODY who has ever been mocked by a late night television host was once a little girl or a little boy of some other parent." Can't you see the difference? ADULT vs. CHILD. There. I said it.

And I think we all know that choices have consequences, and from what I've read, Bristol is solely responsible for her baby. Sarah Palin didn't hire a nanny to come in and help out. She knows that her daughter has to be responsible for her actions. Instead, comedians are mocking her for it. Is she REALLY fair game? REALLY? Actually, you're just using HER to get to the MOTHER. That's what this is all about – hating Sarah Palin.

Let me ask you this – what did Willow Palin ever do to deserve this? They weren't mocking Bristol Palin, despite what you think.

Children should NOT, I repeat, NOT, be fodder for late night comedians to slander, no matter WHO there parents are.

Someone already did…Johnny Carson made the right decision and didn't trust his show to Letterman. Leno consistently beat Letterman in the ratings and now young upstart Conan is ruining The Tonight Show but still kicking his butt in the ratings.

No wonder Letterman is a bitter old man.

In other words, if Palin had ADVOCATED sex out of wedlock it would NOT be ok to humiliate her teenage daughter?

Your logic is as hollow as your head, you stinking moron.

U.K. Press Can't Bring Itself To Call Michelle Obama Fat – check it out at http://www.therexreport.com .

Not funny, but it could be described as a kind of immediate karmic retribution. You know… he had it coming.

Wow. How self-deluded Nick and Rob are.

Eight years of Clinton and Gore and no comic ever went after their kids. Even after Al's son was arrested for pot possession and drunk driving. Wasn't Al Gore against pot possession and drunk driving as much as Sarah Palin is for abstinence?

Nick & Rob have not a single bit of empirical evidence to prove their points but they really, really want them to be true (because it excuses the behavior of slimeball liberal Letterman) so they post them here repeatedly and argue not with facts but with fables.

Why…they're perfect Liberals!! Keep it up boys, maybe if Obama get's wind of you good works he'll let you restructure the economy.

What's next Letterman? Crude desgusting jokes about Governor Palin's autistic infant son?

This is supposed to be funny?

I think it's neat that newly minted citizens (like Craig) love this country more than citizens who were born here.

I'm not even a huge Palin fan. I believe she's alright, but I would never hate on her. Letterman is a sick perv. Haven't watched him since maybe 1992 or 1993. Surprised he is still on tv actually.

Don't give the guy any ideas man. I don't think there's any low that Letterman wouldn't stoop to just so people would like him and think he's "edgy" still.

14 is still a child the last time I checked, that's a ridiculous argument.

Fourteen is adolescence. Teenager. Past puberty. In the Middle Ages, if you were 14, you already had a family to support.

True, true, and true, but fortunately we're past the Middle Ages. Legally she's still a child, emotionally she's still a child, therefore: child.

Aharris
Liberal women are afraid Conservative women, especially Sarah Palin. Sarah is what the left calls a "Gun-Toting, Bible Thumping, Hick". The problem is that she doesn't quite fit what there image of the aforementioned should be. Sarah is supposed to be 5' 5", 180lbs, missing most of her teeth, and incapable of completing a coherent sentence.
Many of my Liberal friends where "Shocked" the first time they saw her. She didn't fit the stereotype and they had no clue how to react.
But being "Good Lefties" they soon regained there composure and did what they do best,,,,,,,,,,,,That is……Try to destroy what you don't know or understand!

The most biggoted people that I personally know are Democrats………………..

I didn't find the joke funny, if that's what you mean. I also didn't find the joke worth getting agitated about. If BigHollywood hadn't posted it, I wouldn't have even heard it. If I had watched the show, I wouldn't have even remembered it. But seeing the joke performed, I can see why the writers chose to run with the joke, and how Letterman tweaked it so as to get that particular audience to laugh, despite all the (well-stated)objections here. And as a student of comedy, I can appreciate that.

I do take exception to the term "emotionally she's still a child." We don't know that. There are 14 year olds who have accomplished great things in their youth. There are 14 year olds who are strong and solid and brilliant moral pillars of awesomeness. Believe me, I know. And once one passes puberty, biologically, she is an adult.

If I were Todd Palin I'd be waiting for this a-hole scumbag in the parking lot.

Fire Letterman now. Imus made comment and all hell broke loose! Fire Letterman, inexcusible crude perverted remark.

Don't crack on kids. Don't matter who their parents are. Don't do it.

If we follow your premise that the identity of the daughter was deliberately left unclear then we have to run under the premise that Letterman went a very long way just so he could call mother and daughter ,(either daughter), sluts/slutty in the same monologue. That makes it just as indefensible and I'm not willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he wasn't targeting the 14 year old.

Off the top of your head how much do you know about Al Gore's children when they were minors, or even beyond? Can you even tell me their names? Don't Google.
What can you tell me about Chelsa Clinton's life as a child, or Amy Carter's? Were they paragons of virtue or just ordinary kids? Maybe they got in trouble with drugs and the law? Do you know?
How many sex jokes have been made about them on national television, as kids or adults? Better yet, how many of their actions, as children or as adults have been used as weapons to beat their parents over the head with for political gain? The despicable double standard is disgusting as both groups of people should be left alone.

I agree, if it's consenual then if a kid who just turned 18 sleeps with a 17 year old girl I wouldn't likely call it rape,but I also WOULDN'T tell a joke about it, however if the girl was 14 or 15 and he's 18 that's rape.

A-Rod and Spitzer are adults, not teenage girls. That poor girl now has to face her peers after a celebrity declared on national televison that she was assaulted/ knocked up by a man in his 30s. There is nothing funny about bullying a teenage girl in attempts to silent her mother.

Letterman hasn't been funny for at least a decade. He's pretty pathetic with these comments. It's also amusing to see that people actually laughed (or is that canned laughter?). I mean, really, how immature and cruel?

Makes me kinda glad to be an "adult."

It is amazing to me that whatever these people say – no matter how vile and repulsive – will be excused or explained away by people such as yourself.

Yet if it was a conservative person making such ugly remarks about a Democrat/liberal, there would be headlines.

Truly disgusting.

Defending "jokes" about the raping of a child. Wow.

And yeah, it's up to us to decide what is normal. Normal people do not think raping a child is anything funny or cute or acceptable to be joked about.

"And once one passes puberty, biologically, she is an adult."

So the fact that she has a functioning womb makes it okay to encourage people to use it? That's a bit of a stretch. What if she was an early bloomer and hit puberty at 11, would that make it fine? How about those strange cases where girls as young as 8 have become functionally women, would it be okay then? There has to be a line drawn by society, that line is 18. Physically yeah she may be a woman, but legally she is not, if you don't have those lines drawn then you wind up with all sorts of problems. Bad jokes, being the least of them.

As for the emotional statement, I stand by it. No matter how advanced someone may be intellectually, at 14 there are things that you are are not capable of handling emotionally. Take Willow specifically, when she heard this and figured out it was about her do you think she said,"Well you know, since physically I am an adult then that's a valid point, not very nice but valid." I doubt it, I'm willing to bet she reacted like most 14 year old girls I know, she probably threw a conniption. And if so, justifiably.

Oh, all of a sudden you object to "personal attacks?" Earlier you were defending them — as long as they're attacks on people you don't like. Or the children of people you don't like.

And when any network TV comic makes a joke like this about the Obamas I will personally kiss Rosie O'Donnell on the lips.

Yeah, tasteless, But perhaps Palin, should devote her time DRESSING her 14 year old daughter appropriately, instead of crying to tabloids. Willow, showed up at Yankee Stadium in cut off Daisy Dukes with her butt cheeks showing. There was an entire herd of guys oggling her while Palin, just posed and smiled.

One of the things I love about this board is that it does hold late-night comedians to a bipartisan standard. And Obama jokes ARE few and far between (Biden and Pelosi, not to mention Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, and yes, Elliot Spitzer and both Clintons and Gov Paterson and many others… they're not so lucky).

But that is not the argument here. The argument is that Palin came to NY, and that was news. And A-Rod is a Yankee, and he's had a history. And one of Palin's daughters, sad to say, also has had a history. Connect the dots, add timing and a generous-to-be-there crowd, and shazam… a forgettable punch. Friends, that's all it is.

I see you allowed for a consensual 18-17-year old hookup as not rape, but from a legal standpoint, it is. That's the hairiness of the situation.

I do notice that both Palins have responded, and good for them. This is their battle, and I support them in it, as far as it goes. But let's not look at this any more deeply than it has merit. Sometimes a forgettable joke is just that.

Thankfully no one watches cBS tv to begin with.
But is as typical with the Left they can say anything because they are always beyond reproach.
Not sure why anyone watches that trash to begin with.

I have heard that David Letterman goes to Cental American countires and far east countries to have sex with 12,year old girls, 13 year old girls and 14 year old girls. When you purchase products that advertise on his show , you are paying his salary so he can have have sex with minors . I hear he like young boys as well.
maybe this a joke?

"declared on national television"? I'm sorry, but it was a joke. A bad joke, in terrible taste, stretched to fit the conventions of logic, saved by timely delivery and an empathetic audience. WIllow has had to face her peers anyway, because of her mother's/sister's fast ascendance to worldwide recognition and fandom/notoriety. I'm pretty sure fourteen year olds understand the difference.

If that were true — and you've provided no proof — does that make it any more acceptable for a 62-year-old man to make sex jokes about her on national TV?

Father Todd should make sure Mr. Letterman's nose is broken and eyes are both blackened for his next show….! This dad would have the respect of the nation standing up for his family and holding to account this foul mouthed despicable liberal biased comedian. Give him a good woopin!

That's a great quote! I'm going to have to use it sometime. The Democrats have always struck me as kind of odd when they talk about hypocrisy. I don't quite understand how it's worse to have moral standards you can't live up than it is to have no moral standards whatsoever.

Now, now, Golani. Please quote me where I said that it is okay for one to be sexually active the moment one hits puberty. That's right, nowhere.

There was a time in society, not too long ago, that the moment one turns thirteen, they are now an adult, and can work full time. In Jewish tradition, a boy turns thirteen, they are now a man. In the days before the industrial revolution, those in their teenage years were already starting families and fighting wars. The term "adolescence" wasn't even a word until the fifties came around, and then a new counter-culture rose up and created this new world, that had never existed before.

I also don't care if Willow is 80 years old. Being mocked, unfairly, is cause for any sort of conniption. Interesting that Sarah Palin and Todd waited two days to attack back, because apparently inspiration has dried up in David Letterman's writing staff, and they chose to repeat the same joke two nights in a row. Just goes to show that even that first night, they just let it by, recognizing it for the lame joke that it was.

I guess I make a distinction between "horrible personal attack" and "lame attempt at humor." That said, if you call my daughter a whore, and mean it as a horrible personal attack, and you do so in a way that truly carries weight that others take you seriously, I would be most offended, obviously, for it reflects badly on my own child. Consequentially, if you call my daughter a whore, and it is simply a lame attempt at humor, and everybody can see it for the lame attempt that it obviously is, then I would not be offended, for it reflects badly on you.

Does this explain how I see Letterman?

Davie might be a Carridine…check his records at closest video/porn store. Sounds as if the hillybilly from Indiana has gone off the rails…Age does that to immoral people, they know the end is near and that it is ALL over for them…wonder what he will wear in HELL.

This was a tasteless joke not based in reality but really, Palin, crying RAPE, he did not say RAPE. Does Palin, really want to revisit RAPE KITS?

Palin, can spend time admonishing Dave, yet when she was right there, "Looking through the window", of her 10 year old autistic nephew & sister in the path of a maniac with a loaded gun, she says she did not call 911 or try to intervene cause she had a mayors meeting to go to.

What is worse, a stupid joke or abandoning your family in time of crisis.
Official Transcripts…READ FOR YOURSELVES WHAT KINDOF PETTY, ALL ABOUT ME, SELF INDULGENT, creep, Palin is. That is if you can read past all of Palin's…UMMMMMM's.

http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/18/13/071607-...

http://media.adn.com/smedia/2008/07/18/13/071607-...

Then watch what kind of, meeting, was so important, Palin, bailed on her sister & young autistic nephew, in a life or death situation to get to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMocEINn-E8

Poll: Even Republicans Say Limbaugh, Gingrich And Cheney Speak For GOP — But No One Names Palin!
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/wp-content/uplo...

No you never said that, but the inference is there. And from that it's easy for some to say, well if she's a woman, she's fair game even if for jokes about sexuality. Here I'm not even specifically talking about you, so don't take it as me meaning that, you just got the train of thought moving and to many; especially on the left they probably would make that leap in logic.

Believe me I know all about that whole "becoming a man" thing too, but it's a lot different today than when we were wandering around pestering Moses about "Are we there yet?"

My favorite movie of all time. Young Frankenstein. I've been Abby Normal for years.

Hey! Let's trot out all the lame-brained, oft-rebutted attacks on Palin that we can think of! Maybe one'll stick!

Sorry Nick. Letterman gets no slack from me. He did not have to use the word "rape". The average person would automatically interpret that he meant rape.

This man is pathetic on many levels. He's in his sixties and should be enjoying life. But yet he finds time to make salacious comments about a married woman and her female children.

He's a nasty piece of business!

What does any of your rhetoric have to do with Letterman's sick comments? The average individual does not make rape jokes (or make the insinuation) concerning females or anyone else nor do they tolerate them!!!

Letterman does not require a therapist. He needs a team of therapists to look in on him 24/7, to protect society from him!

Letterman's kid is a bastard born out of wedlock.

Don Imus and Rush Limbaugh calls B.S. on you.

It has only been in recent times that defending the honor of your wife or daughter is frowned upon and prosecuted. Still, put Todd Palin up to a jury trial, I think a return of "Not Guilty" would be very likely in this case.

Is Letterman still on TV?
How irrelevant, Conan O'Brien stinks and Letterman has always stunk.
His Top 10 is not even funny.
He's really reachin' and it should show everyone how deathly afraid they are of Sarah Palin.
See our site to read more..

And yet he's beating Conan O'Brien in the ratings…

This string caught my eyes. Nick,you keep mentioning that Letterman's punchline was directed at Bristol, as if to defend him. He clearly refers to the daughter that was with her at the baseball game. That would be Willow. Whether or not he was misinformed and/or is a sick bastard is irrelevant. The "joke" was awful. Bristol is only relevant in that the media have attacked her in the past, so here we have YET AGAIN another media attack on the Palin's involving sex, especially with their children. This is not only disturbing, especially from Letterman since he's an old man, but disgusting as well.

Mike, it doesn't matter who the joke was aimed at…he STILL made a joke about a 14 year old kid. Kids shouldn't be fair game.

You couldn't be more wrong! The outrage expressed when the Clinton's "pimped out" 20+ year old Chelsea was insurmountable. She received, as she should have, privacy and respect as the first daughter, and political non-combatant. When she voluntarily started campaigning she was given a free pass, which was unacceptable.

Dave has gone too far, it's a shame because he was edgy and funny, but that was a long long time ago.

Let's take note of the fact that your very first post was a bald faced lie. You have NO credibility. None.

Correct Vince – you are both an a–hole and a moron also, because you agree with Rob's moronic comment. Anyone who thinks making a joke about statutory rape at the expense of a 14 year old girl, is fine – is by definition both an a–hole and a moron. So since the shoes fit, it's nice that you're at least willing to wear them.

Visit 'howobamagotelected.com' John zeigler has made a film about it.

oh he's edgy alright (to borrow a phrase from foghorn leghorn), "that boy's about as sharp as a sack of wet mice."

Why are the Palin's even in the news anymore? Good work Letterman, angering the retards is always funny.

How has Sarah Palin behaved "hypocritically" on the issue of premarital sex? Because Bristol got pregnant, against her mother's wishes, at a premature age – how does that make Sarah Palin "hypocritical" on the issue? It doesn't – and if you weren't a moron I wouldn't have to explain this to you. She most certainly did not "invite" these attacks on her family..

What I like about this comment board is the way that the Liberals sit here and defend a 62 year old man joking about the rape of a 14 year old girl. LOL….this is on the internet, your comment will be saved forever. You love Obama soooo much that you will stoop to defending this behavior which doesn't even involve Obama !! That is the best part. You think that you are defending Obama but he is not even the issue. Look at yourselves, pathetic, brainless, sheeple. Personally I hope Dave keeps this stuff up, he is so bitter and hatefully partisan that it would be nice to see the twilight of his career & lasting memories of him to be the hate & bile that he spews. He sure earned it !!!!

I can't wait till he starts attacking palins down syndrome baby. If he thinks child rape is ok then whats next

He didn't say a thing about rape you hacks.

Hey rick ross, there is no such thing as consensual sex between a 14 year girl and a grown man…..he joked about statutory rape….rape dude. Go ahead …. Defend that.

The 'Ol Hypocrite card!! Pulled out like a transient with an "I am blind" card.

"Is Willow an innocent in this? Sure. Is Bristol an innocent in this? She is, too, to some degree." To SOME degree? So, if your daughter was savaged by the media every day because they hated YOU, you would be just fine with it right? I am guessing you wouldn't. Doesn't that make YOU a hypocrite? I hope that your answer to the first question would be Yes, because if you wouldn't be horrified by your daughters treatment, you don't deserve a daugher. Also, I am guessing that you believe yourself "tolerant" and "caring" but this is a perfect example of the true lunacy of leftist thought. Totalitarian and as stigmafying and discriminating a movement as there ever was.

" It was a mistake to make a joke about the wrong daughter (though, mind you, this was Letterman's writers' mistake– Ah, so here you say it was only mistake to make a joke about the "wrong" daughter.. But didn't you just imply that it was wrong to make fun of either? Which is it? Oh, you only SAID that the young daughter was "innocent". I am confused, is "innocent" mean that it IS okay to be smeared or not? So, it is okay to make fun of a daughter based on what criterion? Age? which age is okay? I am guessing however that it isn't age that makes it okay in your mind but actually the fact that she had either sex out of wedlock, or that she had a baby, this directly implies that you find something wrong with that, by virtue of those things making her fair game for late night tv. therefore, you are implying that underage sex is wrong, or having a baby is wrong, since you have established a criteria for WHEN a girl not running for PUBLIC ANYTHING is considered fair game, and NEWSWORTHY. It wouldn't be newsworthy if you didn't consider it salacious, and its not salacious unless it is considered WRONG (or at the very least wouldn't be used as a TOOL to SMEAR someone). So again, are YOU A HYPOCRITE?????

"You're absolutely correct that a sex joke about Malia Obama would be inappropriate–and I really hope I don't have to explain to you the difference." Yes, you do. Because I am still trying to figure out when it is okay to go after a child in the media, and as you have implied "innocence" is no excuse! Is Malia "innocent"? I am guessing that by your criteria, the minute that we hear that Malia Obama has sex out of wedlock or a baby, she should be smeared publicly. Or is it when she turns 17? Or is it when she is caught having a lesbian affair, after all her DAD does not believe in Gay marriage, so that would fit the liberal standard of smear worthy hypocrisy right? I expect that the press should make sure to follow dear little Malia, as they did the Bush daughters and the Palins, and go through her trash and set up shop outside their house(s) to MAKE SURE that she never drinks, has sex, has drugs, has economy lightbulbs in her room, accepts no gifts from anyone but family, goes to church every week, only watches CNN and reads the NY times, only goes to Public school (whoops), watches her carbon footprint, and does not allow guns around her EVER, and then makes SURE that the PUBLIC knows if she ever trespasses!

Has it ever occured to you that you are hopelessly contradictory, that you are a cornfed card carrying member of the DEMOCRATIC SHEEPLE'S COMMONWEALTH ? Brainwashed and managed and Usefully Utilitarian for the Democrat Party of Power?

Nope, didn't think so..

F/Off Punk.

It's called "Statutory rape", hack. And it applies to 14 year old girls.

Now go back to making fun of "retards", like a good liberal.

I have defended jokes far worse than statutory rape. In the world of comedy, there is only one rule–is it funny

To be honest, I dunno if there is one that would qualify worse than rape… heck, one of the great all-time insult comics, Don Rickles, ripped his audiences to shreds, but I have serious doubts that he went that far?

"Just because it's "funny" doesn't make it "right." Why should comedy have a "pass" when it comes to morality?"
G-R-E-A-T question, one that deserves its own post.

In this particular case, the joke is not funny, because it is not based on reality, (Willow is not Bristol). But supposing it were, it's still not funny, because it targets Sarah Palin for standing for abstinence, where her daughter had erred. The crux of the joke is the perceived hypocrisy, (which is why Elliot Spitzer is a target). But the conclusion of this is untrue, (abstinence education doesn't work, and vice is to be tolerated/celebrated).

But then, consider "The Hangover"–which, while showing every sort of ugly vice, does so as a cautionary tale. Other movie classics, especially "Animal House" (which has a statutory rape as one of its punchline), work as morality tales in disguise.

So I would say, it's very possible for something like this CAN be funny, w/o supporting statutory rape, or attacking public figures with flawed families.

Where I'm from 14 is the age of consent.

No. Not anyone who criticizes Sarah Palin is a leftist. But do we not have discernment beyond David Letterman's obvious loathing of Sarah Palin to gauge his likes and dislikes? To doubt that Letterman is leftist takes a lot of ignoring of a lot of examples of Letterman's public utterances.

And the topic is not about the like or dislike of Palin as a "paid public authority figure." Or her parenting skills. Or her skills as a politician. It is about a very public man, in a very public venue,joking about sexual assaults against the 14 year old daughter of a very public woman.

I may have given him the benefit of the doubt if it had been a single joke. Then he apparently did a similar joke the following night. That was not a mistake.

So, ask yourself again, who is out of touch? These are pretty simple things to examine and understand.

Oh, by the way, Sotomayor is racist. She decides things personally and professionally based on race. That's another easy item to examine and understand. No matter what anybody else may say.

Couldn't agree more. Haven't watched Letterman in years- just not funny anymore and waaay too effin' political….

NEWS FLASH: Comedians make jokes. And when you are so up in arms to defend one of the dumbest known familys in America , the jokes on you.

I would attempt to answer this, but I am afraid that I could not stand up to your intellectual prowess.

I think it's her nephew who is autistic. Her infant son has Down's syndrom.

But, we get the gist.

The Left fears Sarah Palin; therefore, the media wants to destroy her before she cannot be destroyed. Sarah Palin embodies everything in Middle America the elitists hate.

WAKE UP CALL RICK ROSS: The liberal left hate Rush Limbaugh's humor because of the truth you are missing here. For anything to be truly funny, it has to have an element of truth in it. That is why Mr. Letterman's comments are so inappropriate. It's not a surprise though how leftist and Marxists don't want to here other viewpoints besides their own. Their viewpoints can never withstand a truth test.

And Johnny would never make a joke at the expense of a 14 year old girl.

are the obama girls fair game? does he have any kind of lines drawn?

To be fully, 100% accurate, the joke was about "Sarah Palin's daughter." And since it was "Sarah Palin's daughter" that was tabloid fodder (as was A-Rod, as was Spitzer), then the joke was set up so to capitalize on being in the same vicinity as these other two. It isn't fair for her, and it doesn't stand to close scrutiny, but this is how they set up the joke.

I've seen jokes that link Jesse Jackson with Michael Jackson (and Reggie Jackson, and Joe Jackson, etc). But that was in the 80s.

The only jokes I would be concerned about are those that are funny, and do damage to conservative credibility. Tina Fey's Sarah Palin impersonation comes to mind.

Oh, really? So you condone referring to a teen age girl getting knocked up as humorous? This is supposed to comedy? Tasteless and boorish, and, by the way, never a crack by Letterman at Obama or his ilk. Never.

Imus got the big boot because of the race insinuations in his statements. Had he said something gross about Jenna Bush no biggie. Lettermen will get feted by that botoxed troll Babs Walters and have a joke telling contest with Whoopie. Its disgusting and I so want Lettermen to have a run in with Todd Palin. Todd wouldn't have to do anything…just do the alpha dog stare down.

OK Rob you go on believing its OK to make sexually abusive statements about a 14 year old girl..go and think that way. But remind the dads here that read this stuff taht you think its OK so they can stear the youngins clear. Had Lettermen said anything like that about myself or my sisters my Dad would have had his head mounted on our wall.

Can you imagine the outrage from liberals and feminists if Letterman had called a dem female politician a slutty stewardess as he did Palin? Can you imagine the outrage if he had directed a trashy joke at the daughter of a dem politician? Like I said before you can be misogynist against conservative and repub women, that's okay with the libs and feminists. The hypocristy is stunning. The double standard breathtaking. The media will continue to give Obama a mandible-straining b.j. while engaging in hate speech against repub women. Way to go, libs–piss off half the country and use outrageous double standards.

South Park goes after everyone, and they actually go against the rape of children, NAMBLA episode, anyone? In all honesy, you can't compare Letterman and South Park.

Disregarding your asinine thesis, I have to ask: how did Sarah Palin "ask for it and get it"?

I realize that to small-minded leftists the whole "her mom supports abstinence but OMGWTFBBQ THE DAUGHTER IS PREGNANT LOLZER!!" is eminently delightful. But in reality it's not a contradiction. It's not hypocrisy. It's not 'asking for it'. It's the classic case of a moral standard (remember those) meeting real-world problems.

Conceptually what you are arguing is the same as mocking a woman who is against drunk driving when her child is killed … drunk driving. Or laughing at a woman who is entirely against drugs because her son is a drug addict.

The fact that kids have sex and get pregnant does not reflect poorly on any stance regarding pre-marital sex. The very essence of juvenile behavior is mindless rebellion (it's what you leftists base your popularity on, remember).

but my point remains–sometimes cringeworthy material can be outlandishly funny

That I can agree with… But I'm guessing that would lead into another tangent about whether or not someone's intentionally aiming a personal attack, or if it was just a joke that bombed…

A sixty-two year old man who makes sex jokes about a 14 year old girl is a perv. Period.

On this particular night Letterman told:
One joke about Rush Limbaugh's oxi addiction – a five year old story.
A video joke in which Laura Bush is showing a statue of a naked Dick Chaney.
Ten tasteless jokes about Sarah Palin on his top ten list.
And a perverted sex joke about Palin's 14 year old daughter Willow.

Jokes about Omama…………? Nope.

It's both.

Hey Rob. You've taken your shots, and done a first class job of proving your ignorance. Now do yourself a big favor:

1. Recognize you've dug yourself a huge hole with your stupid arguments on behalf of Letterman.
2. Recognize, this jerk isn't worth your effort, and by continuing to dig further you risk seeing buried whatever credibility you might have once possessed.

Letterman, you've got a kid too. You really want this kind of karma coming back at you? Expect it.

Rob, I am certain you don't have children, am hopeful I am correct, and know you should never provide guidance to another impressionable human being. Humor is funny, insightful, edgy, and when creative can be thought provoking. Dave and his litany of attacks on the Palin family are patently personal, obviously mean-spirited, and delivered through a prism of hatred and disgust. Freud would likely conclude Dave is dismayed by his life and his failing to achieve the success he felt he deserved. Have a continued miserable life.

Rob, I am certain you don't have children, am hopeful I am correct, and know you should never provide guidance to another impressionable human being. Humor is funny, insightful, edgy, and when creative can be thought provoking. Dave and his litany of attacks on the Palin family are patently personal, obviously mean-spirited, and delivered through a prism of hatred and disgust. Freud would likely conclude Dave is dismayed by his life and his failing to achieve the success he felt he deserved. Have a continued miserable life.

[...] Nolte on Letterman’s fall: To be amazed at how low David Letterman will stoop in order to humiliate Sarah Palin means we [...]

I used to love Letterman, but he's gotten too old and bitter and unpleasant.

This is why I've been watching Conan – he actually makes MSNBC is crazy left-wing jokes.

I think if it were possible for you to father a child, your family would be the dumbest bunch.

David, David, David your a schmuck.

That's nice. A personal attack, and a homophobic one at that. Very classy.

Letterman used to be funny. Now he is a bigoted jerk like Jamie Foxx . And that top 10 list the other note exposed his Jewish writers as hateful people.

Yes let's look at South Park. For one they go after everyone. For every slam of a liberal, there's probably two or three on conservative targets. We're just used to it. Liberals can't handle people firing back on them. If this kind of joke was made about Chelsea Clinton or the Obama daughters it would be considered hate speech. Your analogy doesn't fly.

How dare you presume anything about the way I raise my children, or wish childlessness upon me? I am not defending an attack on a 14-year-old, and am certainly not endorsing statutory rape. You are imputing qualities in me that I don't possess–frankly, just as have presumed them in Letterman. Dr. Freud never hastened to draw conclusions about people, by the way, as you have; he'd have had Letterman lie on his office sofa for a year first.

PIABM, your endless trolling has opened my eyes! Thank goodness you posted here you've changed my life and I'm going to vote Democrat from now on! Halleluja, oh happy day thank Obama… err God, for PIABM!

"…it reminds us some Hollywood/NY entertainers have a long way to go in understanding what the rest of America understands…

Palin continually awes me with how brilliantly she goes to the heart of what's wrong with this country. And that sentence above nails it. The media and Hollywood have no clue what Americans want – worse, they don't want to. Talk about elitist arrogance. But Palin knows because she IS American to the core, the best of what an American is.

Another thing. Letterman wasn't even funny. It was – stupid. It was sick and stupid. Way to go, liberal media.

God, ain't that the truth

As an East Coast "liberal," I'd honestly like to know what you believe Americans want. My own sense is that different Americans want very different things, and I happen to think that that's part of the beauty of living in this country–a healthy, vital clash of backgrounds, values and choices. But what do you feel that most American want that the media and Hollywood don't seem to understand?

I think he was speaking of the Obama's daughters….both of them….

Lighten up dark eden. I think your a bit angry my friend. Perhaps it's because you an idiot.

No, it still wouldn't be ok, but it wouldn't be nearly as reprehensible.

OK, so whatever parents try to teach their kids, if their kids fall short of it, it's because the parents suck. 'Cause it's so easy to make kids do what you want every time. Kids really have no will of their own.

Got it.

I don't think this is about being funny. I believe — and sadly so — that It's all about politics and political discourse in our nation by a media establishment that has tried for decades to use whatever means and media possible — among others — to further a leftist agenda.

They always have had some success in this. Alarmingly, of late, they have been much more successful in harnessing for their causes this powerful tool. Today the leftist agenda has found overwhelming favor with a very large segment of our media and media personalities. Fair-minded Americans had better not shrug off the problem. Instead, fair-minded Americans need to counter this success.

This Web site is helping; FOX News is helping and talk radio is having an impact. More success is needed, however.

My boycott of CBS starts now

Given your obvious lack of logic and taste in humor, no wonder I've never heard of you. Don't quit your day job. Good luck with your conservatism.

… said Rob, as he continued to dig!

Give it up, Rob. You're wrong on this one. You don't have to admit it publicly, here, but just do yourself a favor and admit to yourself that you're wrong on this one and STFU.

Indeed, if you admit now, that you missed the mark on this one you may retain enough credibility to weigh in on a subject at some future date without being totally ignored.

Letterman's 10 to list included comments about Palins daughter getting knocked up and about "finally meeting one of those Jewish people that Mel Gibson is always talking about." Insinuating that Palin is an anti Semite is just as hateful as antisemitism itself. Get off the antisemitism crutch; it's getting old.

OMG people. Lighten up already. It was a joke. It was a bad one but nonetheless a joke. I'm no fan of Lettermans but in his defense he did not say the word rape.

I write jokes for a living and what most of you are missing is that the joke was about Bristol Palin even though Willow was at the game. It's the classic substitute pattern where you take one story (Bristol's pregnancy) and putting it with another (ARod). Would you guys agree if liberals said this joke was racist because it portrayed ARod, a latino, as having sex with a minor. Has he ever done that? By the way, this may be why Sarah Palin (who I would vote for) is not ever going to win the presidency. If attacks (even jokes) on Palin are always met with outrage and defensiveness then she's clearly not ready to take on real adversity. Her statement was fine…she was asked directly…but this kind of sanctimoniousness will kill Republicans in the long run. Palin's daughter did get pregnant out of wedlock, and to think people comedians won't talk about it is absurd.

Hey, Rick, I wouldn't worry about it because with the way Obama is going and the way polling is quickly turning to the Republicans, we could run Michael Palin and beat you. But you're probably just jealous because Palin is more qualified than Barack Obama.

Keep defending a man who thinks it's funny to make jokes about knocking up a kid. Oh and the joke was racist as well.
Oh wait, you think it's cool because the Palins are retards.
Do read what you write before hitting enter?
YOU are the idiot.

"You're absolutely correct that a sex joke about Malia Obama would be inappropriate–and I really hope I don't have to explain to you the difference."

YES, you loathesome creature, you DO have to explain to us the difference. EXPLAIN why sex jokes about Willow Palin are appropriate but sex jokes about Malia Obama are not. EXPLAIN this. Enlighten us. Expand on your moral theory that if the mother believes in abstinence before marriage but her oldest daughter still goes out and gets pregnant, THAT somehow makes her OTHER daughter liable to being the butt of jokes about statutory rape on national television by a lecherous old man.

One thing's for sure, Rob. You're not normal.

Well, I suppose if we accept your premise that gay marriage is good for America, you're right. But so far most people don't believe that (though they seem perfectly willing to accept civil unions as a happy compromise). On the other hand, people overwhelmingly believe welfare reform and lower taxes and the right to own a handgun and the right of a state to exert proof of citizenship before voting are all good for America and yet the Left vehemently opposes them and attacks their champions in the most personal ways.

Well they are smarter then you. But so is my dog.

Giuliani is hated by many, but also liked by more than a few on the left. That Letterman has expressed that he likes Giuliani does not get him kicked out of the club.

He joked that A-Rod knocked up Palin's daughter during the 7th inning stretch. He joked that Palin had a hard time keeping Spitzer off of her. I didn't watch the 2nd clip as I was not in a location to view it. I was relying on multiple, reliable sources online. Apparently they were correct.

If you had a few minutes to trade places with Todd Palin, I think that you would see that you are mistaken on who is out of touch.

Hey PalinIsABadMother,
Is your avatar an actual picture of yourself?

Could you do me the favor and point out to me my lack of logic? I would be much obliged. And can you point me to where my saying a joke is "pathetic" is indicative of poor taste in humor? That, too, would be much appreciated. Thanks s'much!

Here's the CBS feedback link. I wrote earlier to voice my opinion, I urge others to deluge CBS with feedback to illicit an apology from the host.

http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_f...

As I've said before, I used to stay up late every night in high school to watch Letterman, even though I'd be wiped out the next day. Now I literally can't stand the man. Cannot stand him.

Hey Dave, you're turning fans into people who hate your guts! STFU!

And another thing. Comedians are supposed to make fun of those who are IN POWER, not out of power. The Republicans took a drubbing this time around. The Dems have the White House, the House, the Senate, and they're one heartbeat away from the Supreme Court. Yet so many of these supposedly "mainstream" comedians are ripping on conservatives and giving the Dems a pass.

It is disgusting. I hate it. Honestly, I don't know how much more I can take.

He meant Bristol board, not weeping Willow.

If you had achieved any level of intellectual maturity whatsoever, you'd understand just how laughably inadequate a defense that is.

Up Next! "rick ross" calls me a "retard"! Because he's so sensitive, 'natch.

Why do people always accuse the Palin's of hypocrisy in regards to their stance on premarital sex? Her daughter had, and now has a baby at age 16, which she chose to keep rather than give up, and has decided that, in retrospect, ten minutes of sex just wasn't worth it, and speaks in favor of abstinence. Nothing hypocritical about that- common sense.

In regards to Letterman's joke, I don't think it was very funny, but it was just another poke at the dead horse of Bristol Palin's pregnancy (seriously, that was old about 6 months ago? People still think that's in anyway funny?) and it wasn't all that offensive…just stupid. It's not so much a joke about rape as it is not a joke. The Palins' have everyright to be offended on their daughters' behalf- they'd be pretty terrible parents if they weren't.

This lame excuse doesn't make sense. Willow was the daughter that was at the game. How was a ballplayer going to "knock up" a daughter that wasn't there. Apparently Letterman thinks people are so stupid that he can get away with this BS "applogy".

That's it?

That's the best you've got?

Have you met rick ross?

You boys would make a swell couple.

I'm sorry, Nick, I'm starting to have trouble believing that you actually have a daughter. If someone calls MY daughter a whore, it's a horrible personal attack — no matter how they intended it. It's not the intent, it's the concrete act.

and I am to give a Tinker's D___ because……………….

I have never seen online flagellation before until now

Egads these liberal trolls are soiling themselves online as they speak. What a pathetic embarrassment they all are. Unbelievable little vulture hermaphrodites. What complete tools. Hey everwank, that's disgusting! Get a room next time………………

Yes Nick that's right cause

When a 30 something baseball player is accused by a 20 something party girl of a brutal rape that is EXACTLY the same thing as two teenage kids acting out their passions and making an unfortunate mistake and getting pregnant. Hey may be we should not get so mad at the guy who killed Doctor Tiller either cause you know there was a guy that had to shoot a roober who had a gun and was trying to rob him at gun point and started firing blindly. After all it involved guns and shooting so Self Defense must be the same as Cold Blooded Murder.

It's caled Logic……… but to you that is a bunch of pretty flowers that smell bad, Huh! BOoooooooooop!

So it is OK for a 64 year old jokester to broadcast over the air waves the rape of a 17 year old governors daughter but not a 14 year old??
He should be taken off the air at least…. Ismas was removed for a while.
I am going to watch tonight just to see who the sponcers are. I will send letters and not buy there products untill he is gone.

None that I know of, though I know many who "used to watch."

By the way, your "St. Arrrgustine" comment — brilliant! (I left you a comment.)

Letterman is a washed-up, OLD, pathetic, humor-less, angry, has-been. I've stopped watching his program for years (mainly because he bored me). His failed attempts at "humor" makes his look like a "deer-in-the-headlights". He has lost his ability to distinguish what real humor is (of course, humor is fluid and it evolves with each generation). Obviously he (and many other so-called media darlings) prays at the "leftist" alter and does what he can to feast upon the scraps of the hard-core democrat / liberal party…to wag his tail when they say 'good boy, you really got that person for us…". Seriously, his "joke" about raping a conservative woman's (Sarah Palin) 14-year old daughter leaves me with the idea that he enjoys tearing others down to elevate himself in the eyes of "those who would laugh at the brutality of women, children, handicapped…". He is, and will continue to be a disgusting low life.

Look up "hypocrisy" in the dictionary, ya bonehead. If Sarah Palin vocally condemned people who had sex out of wedlock while she herself was having sex out of wedlock, THEN she'd be a hypocrite. I'll give you another example. If you're vocally condemning people who leave big carbon footprints while you fly around the country in your private jet, you're not only a hypocrite, you're also Al Gore.

Let me see if I follow your logic here. If I called Sasha Obama a nappy-headed hoe, and you were offended, then if I said, "Oh, sorry, I meant to say MICHELLE Obama," you would be fine with that.

Okay. I'm back. No prisoners, Nolte.

When does your dailykos replacement show up? Bet you're tired.

Look up "statutory rape" and then get back to us.

The troll's blathering has been deleted but let me guess:

They can't deal with Letterman's actions so "PalinIsABadMother" is dragging out all of the lies about Palin out in the hopes that it will divert attention from Letterman.

Aw, a mental reject trying the "everyone knows" method of argument. How cute.

Rob, how do you know the joke wasn't politically motivated? Did you write the joke for Letterman? Did you and he discuss his inner motivations? Do you know him to be apolitical? Just wondering.

Once again, Sarah Palin has used one of her kids as a political football. SHE is to blame for making her family a pathetic joke. THey knew he was talking about her unwed daughter with an illegitimate kid, but the Palins WANT the outrage/publicity…..so they drag their 14-yr old into this.
And the fanatical, rabid righties eat it up. fools

To be sure, any reference of someone's daughter having sex with any pro-athlete during a game in progress is, and should be, out of bounds. The fact that the writers wrote it, and Dave said it, makes them both culpable. While I don't believe they meant Willow… ok, I hope and pray they didn't mean her – it is still wrong. That they would even stoop to such a level and not even fact-check (what else is new?) is despicable.
They are very afraid of her… and you know what? I hope she comes back in 2012 and kicks the O's out of office.
This will show the whole country how mean-spirited liberal democrats really are. I hate that it is at the expense of the Palins.
How long before someone makes a joke about one of O's daughters getting 'punished' with a baby?
Oh…that's right… never!

Joke: Letterman got raped by fans on stage. Ha, ha, ha. That's so funny. I'm a professional liberal Hollywood comedian.

But it's not funny because Letterman is not a conservative woman.

Where is the National Organization of Women? They only defend left-wing, Liberal woman for Democratic worship-abortion events.

Letterman said the daughter was "knocked up" at the game. The 14 year old was the only daughter at the game.

Use English much?

This is Letterman's way to throw his hat in the ring to be a judge at the next Miss Teen America Contest.

Johnny Carson did not make the decision for Leno over Letterman. That was all the NBC execs.

She ran a town successfully. She is running a state successfully. Your qualifications to judge are based on what?

Oh, yeah! You explain retards to us really well!

What? You think these fine anonymous folks with the insecure nicknames would actually pass up an opportunity to try the ever-childish "she MADE me do it" cry?

Your eyes must be brown. . .

Wow. One usually has to go to HuffPo or Kos to see such breathless outrage.

Letterman obviously got the sisters mixed up. Whoops. Hardly a big deal, and Bristol Palin is an adult now.

Sarah Palin should go on the show. That would be interesting. Hillary Clinton went on the show after years of Clinton jokes (which I'm sure you had no problem with) and it helped the perception of her a great deal. If Palin is as smart as people say she is, she will take the opportunity.

I remember when Bob Dole went on Letterman's show after the '96 election, and Letterman said afterward that he thought we had just elected the wrong guy. Dan Quayle went on the show after he left office and also impressed everyone.

If Palin really has the goods, she should start showing them off in front of non-partisan crowds more often. Even Alec Baldwin said she was impressive after she appeared on SNL.

As others have pointed out ably, making Bristol the target of the joke doesn't excuse it. It was tasteless and uncalled for regardless.

Of coarse you would, your a right wing hick.

You couldn't pick a more pathetic person to support.

Maybe it's because they are not stupid enough to get so upset over a joke.

Yeah, I'm sure you only have the welfare of the GOP in mind with your helpful comments.

Nice spelling, though.

Tell that to David Letterman, Buddha.

Baloney. The stink of hypocrisy and arrogance emanating from the left in this country will outlive any criticism of Palin.

Thanks tubby.

And they would be tasteless and uncalled for. Because that's all you guys have.

Howard Dean was a crazy populist making just enough noise to be dangerous at the time. He would have been killed in a general election against anyone. That's why the pile on happened. That was a political hit also.

As for Sarah Palin's "allusiveness" and "stupid things come out of her mouth." That well has been pumped to exhaustion. Hence the desperate reach on the "Knocked up" joke. And there just happens to be two guys at the White House who have a well overflowing of gaffes, stupid comments and questionable judgments galore. Not to mention one of them allegedly had an adult daughter caught on video snorting coke. Tons of material, but nary a mention.

Yes, Carrie Prejean does not seem equipped to handle the scrutiny and cheap shots. Sadly, she was subjected to more fire that the first wave of the invasion at Normandy. She thought she was only in a beauty pageant!

Letterman as a "horny old man" may be part of the picture. But his love of the left and disdain for traditional, conservative values does show through. I used to love his show and watched all of the time. After he moved to CBS he gradually lost any detachment he may have had as far as even handedness towards his guests and jokes. Then after the 2000 election he seemed to jump into the abyss.

On the Chelsea issue. There were a few jokes that were universally rebuked it seemed. Then she went to college, became a party girl, graduated and was photographed publically very drunk a few times (once being helped into a car to pass out), got a cushy job based on nothing but political connections, gave a very fictitious account of her experience on 9-11 for publication…then she got plastic surgery. So, yes, they got nothing.

Letterman is done in my eyes. He's been off the deep end for a while but this really seals it. Personally, it really makes little difference to me if he was talking about Bristol vs Willow as far as the nasty spirit of the joke goes. He clearly is just being mean as evidenced by saying Palin looks like a slutty airline stewardess.

That kind of "comedy" isn't what I choose to spend my time on. I say vote with your remote on this guy and just turn off the trash. More of that and perhaps we will eventually see changes in what is presented for entertainment. Let Letterman and others like him be free to say things that sink their careers with people who have some class and good taste.

Funny Letterman, funny.
Almost as funny as your continued virginity.

Of course, that's a given.

Thanks,

I am hearing feedback from members of the Privateers club. I intend to go introduce myself to their President. I will follow up on the blog if anyone tries to push these poeple out of business. I don't think it can happen but the whole "western" values and pirate thing is chilling. These people are simple business men and actors to boot so they are hero's to us BH crowd even if they are local. I have heard that a few of the guys are conservatives as well. I have a friend who knows them.

When I saw the Tourism Czar comment I knew I had to address what was going on. It really pissed me off big time.

http://shermansmarch.blogspot.com/2009/06/capital...

But as Jack Nicholson would say in Batman……

He has a wonderful signing voice

Is it cold under that bridge Troll. Is that why you are so mean and irratible today.

There There have some Pie you'll feel better.

We are heare to help let it all out. In a few months Obama will have a service job for you and you can finally move out of mommy's basement. Won't that be fun!