NOW Joins Palin In Bashing Letterman

David Letterman's spat with Sarah Palin has had one interesting political effect: it put the conservative Alaska Governor on the same side as the pro-choice National Organization for Women.

The feminist organization put Letterman in their "Media Hall Of Shame" for making sexual jokes about Palin and her daughter.

Comedians in search of a laugh should really know better than to snicker about men having sex with teenage girls (or young women) less than half their age.

The sexualization of girls and women in the media is reaching new lows these days -- it is exploitative and has a negative effect on how all women and girls are perceived and how they view themselves. Letterman also joked about what he called Palin's "slutty flight attendant look" -- yet another example of how the media love to focus on a woman politician's appearance, especially as it relates to her sexual appeal to men. Someone of Letterman's stature, who appears on what used to be known as "the Tiffany Network" (CBS), should be above wallowing in the juvenile, sexist mud that other comedians and broadcasters seem to prefer.

Conservative bloggers are, for the most part, surprised and pleased, although some are grumbling that NOW also highlighted conservative sexism at the end of their post. But it's hardly the first time NOW has called out figures on the left. Keith Olbermann, Randi Rhodes, and Ludacris have all been criticized by the group.

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Comments

[myfreepress]

Stop with the rape kits lie!

This policy was enforced for at least some reported rapes in Wasilla, and in 2000, complaints about rape kit charges in Wasilla and other rural areas drove then-Gov. Tony Knowles to pass legislation requiring police departments to pay for the testing. The Wasilla police chief opposed the new state law and defended the practice, saying that it avoided burdening taxpayers with the cost of testing.

Palin was no where near this policy.

[awaitingmd]

ok i have one question for everyone here. Rush aka bouncy bouncy limbaugh says the most despicable things on air..for instance, calling for the health bill to be named the Ted Kennedy memorial bill, making fun of Micheal J Fox and his parkinson...but no one revolted or called him out or forced an apology. dave makes a rather comedic joke and all hell breaks loose. where did we go wrong in this country? at what point did we loose our sense of humanity and succumb to the shameful proverbial sale of our soul to the devil.

[suigeneris]

The ignorant morons at NOW -- who I usually support -- apparently aren't savvy enough feminists to not fall into this false-martyrdom trap belonging to one of the most ANTI-WOMAN "feminists" in existence. Perhaps they should be working on getting women to not have to pay for their own RAPE KITS in Sarah Palin-run Alaska, rather than advancing Palins media blitz for campaign 2012?

[mssmartypants]

NOW is sooo THEN. I suspect that, like Sarah Palin, they're desperate for attention. This is a post-NOW era. And I say this as a middle-aged feminist.

[Marnieblue]

NOW where were you when Sarah's rape victims pay for their own rape kits broke?

NOW where were you when Sarah trotted out Bristol's abstinence tour?

[ElaineHe]

My mother was a member of NOW in the early 70s, and I never became one because I felt it changed a great deal since that time. This proves to me all the more I made the right decision. There are so many more important (and immediate) issues to deal with. Male comedians bust on males just as much as they do females - young and old. Female comediannes, too. This is truly a case of enough is enough - not to mention Palin is just stoking the fire because she was otherwise fading into obscurity. She's an opportunist and a sensationalist - but NOW doesn't seem to have a problem with that...???

[michiganms]

I will not be renewing my NOW membership. Fist of all, Sarah Palin, who has never been a feminist and is an insult to women everywhere, is using NOW to further her own agenda. And NOW, you are gullible enough to go along with it. Sorry, no membership fees from me, no contributions, nothing.
Ms. Palin uses whoever she can to further her own ambitions.

[gardedan41]

i guess hate has blinded you to even a fair sense of decency.... So sad.

[mssmartypants]

Where do you see "hate"? Saying someone has "never been a feminist"? That she "uses whoever she can to further her own ambitions"? Wow, if that's hate to you, I see why you may have read way too much into a harmless little joke.

Typically, those who have been quick to condemn David Letterman have used hyperbole and unsupported statements to further THEIR agendas. Who's the hater?

[Taliese]

When is expressing a freaking opinion equivalent to hate? If that's the case, I guess hate has blinded you too.

[brandon102]

Well, now, NOW, I have a bumper sticker on my car that I've removed and will gleefully shred your upcoming, inevitable appeal for contributions.

Since you have changed your position and now support a woman who opposes abortions under all circumstances, and campaigns on this platform, as well as being the governor of the state with the highest rate of incest in the country (you'd think NOW wouldn't care for that at all, but if it's OK with you, well, I'm just not down with it.)

The other thing is that you have obscured your previously excellent campaigns by reinforcing the stereotype of feminists as a group of humorless old bitches. And there you are.

[gardedan41]

Hey would you appreciate someone talking about your daughter like that? Where is the personal sense of decency here

[mssmartypants]

No, I wouldn't support someone talking about my daughter like that. Nor would I have outted my daughter's pregnancy to stop speculation about my own pregnancy. Nor, hopefully, would my daughter become pregnant at age 17. Nor would I have hundreds of supporters trying to stop free speech on my behalf.

[stagebandman]

"The sexualization of girls and women in the media is reaching new lows these days". While that may be true, it has absolutely nothing to do with David Letterman nor his joke about Bristol Palin, who was obviously very sexually active as an underage teen. The hypocrisy just oozes from this whole matter.

[EmoryL96]

Hey, Stage...and the scary part is that it's all about the right's belief in the President's illegitimacy. The shrillness of the voices screaming that Obama has no right to be president, that he's a traitor, that his policies are a failure are very worrisome. I keep asking when will the normal media begin to fight back and answer the likes of FOX, Limbaugh, Hannity, etc. Now, Arthur Laffer is back, warning that Obama's policies will destroy the American economy. HELP!

[MicheleCA]

NOW where were you when Sarah's rape victims pay for their own rape kits broke?

NOW where were you when Sarah trotted out Bristol's abstinence tour?

[Taliese]

Where were they (and Palin for that matter) when Conan and Leno told similar jokes during the campaign? All three were equally tasteless.

[obamaluv]

So you want all three fired.

[davidmnc76]

This folks are insane. David Letterman told a frickin joke! GET OVER IT YOU FEMI-NAZIS!

Did anyone hear about this NY Republican weasel starting a website and rally to fire David Letterman!?

"New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb recently wrote to CBS CEO Les Moonves in hopes that he would fire David Letterman. Kolb wrote that firing Letterman would send a message that CBS would not stand for "demeaning and degrading comments about women."

If Kolb's letter doesn't get through to Moonves, the Fire David Letterman rallies will try to seal the deal. Tuesday's rally is being led by Michael Patrick Leahy, an RNC delegate from Middle Tennessee who usually protests taxes, and helped organized the famed "tea parties" from a few months back."

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1843729/fire_david_letterman_rally_set_for.html?cat=2

This is really scary when a comedian cannot tell a joke anymore. Letterman has been a staple in my home for over 20 years. And now this beauty queen/ slu!!y Avon saleswoman from Alaska is at the forefront of trying to get him fired! This woman is despicable.

[happycat]

I share your outrage also. I too adore Letterman!

[obamaluv]

Did I tell you the one about the moslem and the camel

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

Isn't the National Organization of Women worried about completely destroying their credibility by associating with the clearly mentally disturbed Sarah Palin?

Oh, that's right... they never had any.

[happycat]

I agree.

[Taliese]

Spot on, Dr. Johnny.

[sullavox]

I've heard female comedians say worst jokes as well as female news commentators yet NOW joins Palin in bashing Letterman. Give me a break.

[Jigglypuff]

Is the pornographer that created "Nailing Palin" in NOW's "Hall of Shame"?

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

LOL

[wltdnfaded]

The scene with the 2 Russian soldiers was HAWT. Did you see that? LOL.

[SeanFromNJ]

I hope they remember this when all their friends are gone. They're going to turn around and bash a guy who is on the side of the angels when it comes to women's issues for the sake of a woman who would outlaw abortion and birth control the first chance she gets? David Letterman made a harmless joke about an adult woman. He makes worse jokes about other people every day of the week. I agree with NOW on most issues but they really shoot themselves in the foot with this sort of stupidity.

[RedGinger]

I'll second that!

[suigeneris]

good point.