David Letterman Apology Redux: Shame on Dave for Buckling Under to Palin's Lies

I feel sad for David Letterman, because in spite of the reasons he put forth in his latest mea culpa Monday night on The Late Show, he caved in, I believe, out of misplaced fear that he might be banished from his late night throne.

He won't admit it, but I believe it's true. In my article last week I felt he went too far when he went on and on about how he would never, ever tell a sexual joke about a fourteen-year-old. He looked straight at the camera and then said something to the effect of, "Hey, I'm sorry we made a mistake as to who was at the game, but you have to believe I was talking about Sarah Palin's adult daughter Bristol." All this, though there was little question that the vast majority of people who had watched knew Letterman's joke was about the Palin daughter who'd gained national fame as an expectant teenage mother.

It wasn't a great joke, but it was typical Letterman humor. This is a man who routinely makes fun of people in the news, often with fantasy references, so the Alex Rodriguez sex tryst fell right in with his normal fare. The sexual escapade was obviously phony and concerned a young woman who'd been much talked about in the national media regarding her youthful promiscuity -- a young lady whose fruits were paraded at the Republican convention and during the campaign by her ambitious mother.

Why couldn't Letterman joke about Bristol? You mean it's okay to make constant fun -- even today eleven years later -- of Monica Lewinsky, still the butt of his monologue barbs, not to mention unkind comments about her weight? And as to his probable left-leaning politics, it didn't stop Letterman from ad nausea comic slurs about Bill Clinton and Hillary's conjugal relationship.

I repeat, no one of any reasonable intelligence thought he was talking about the fourteen-year-old Willow Palin. It was her mother who framed it as such, due to some bad research on the Letterman staff's part, as there was only a passing mention to an unnamed Palin daughter at the Yankee game. It was Sarah Palin, a two bit governor of one of our nation's smallest states and the bottom half of a failed presidential campaign, who, in her zeal to stay in the spotlight, jumped at the chance to get back at one of the many comic commentators who've previously enjoyed many jokes at her expense. And she kept repeating it and repeating it even well after Letterman -- in a smart move to quickly defuse the controversy -- clarified rather emotionally last week on his show that it was Bristol who was the gag's target.

Did Palin change her tune and say, "Oh, but even though you were talking about Bristol it's still not right," which might have been questionable due to her daughter's adult age, not to mention her appearances on TV talk shows about abstinence. But she didn't and chose to ignore the truth, and at that point Palin was no longer a protective mother but an out and out liar.

However, she is not alone to blame, because the media wouldn't let up and gave Sarah Palin far too much leash, rarely questioning her motives or forcing her to deal with Letterman's clarification that the remarks were about Bristol. Indeed, many of the scathing TV attacks featuring Palin let her put forth blistering remarks, characterizing Letterman as a lecher and possibly a pedophile. There were TV reports that actually ended the story there, with no follow-up information that Letterman repeatedly had denied the joke was about the younger daughter, no doubt leaving some watching the news to believe Palin had all her facts in order.

The media coverage was so absurd that, according to Letterman, he felt obliged to apologize again. In particular, because of a remark condemning him by Mark Shields on the PBS Jim Lehrer Report. For Mark Shields to continue spreading Palin's lies about Letterman's joke, saying it was "indefensible," and that Letterman must have been aware he was talking about a 14-year-old was insupportable. It apparently hit Letterman hard, though, leading to his second apology last night.

Look, Letterman is in show biz and is probably a bit egocentric and neurotic. He kept going on about how his intent didn't matter, that it was the perception that counted. But how could there be such a perception, except for the media driving it with unrelenting zeal?

So Letterman buckled under the pressure, and that's too bad, because what he has done in this unusual act of cowardice -- he was one of my heroes -- is open the door for other groups to complain and/or to make him think far too much about satirizing anyone in the future. Satire full of silliness, setting famous people in places and situations clearly untrue in order to pay off the punch line. And his barbs spare almost no one or group.

For goodness sake, he has continually made fun of short people with his constant references to New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg as such. He has mocked old folks, including his mother, about whom he has told nonsensical jokes about her drinking. He has contrasted our president's schedule with John McCain's, giving images of the Arizona U.S. Senator that make him look like someone with borderline Alzheimer's disease, engaged in run of the mill tasks to fill his time. He has offended gay folks with jokes like, "Did you watch the Tonys last night? [after applause]: You must all be gay." And he routinely mocks the ethnicity and competence of New York City taxi drivers.

So I worry, I really do, where all this will lead. It may make CBS happier and it may reassure Letterman's future on his late night forum, but will the show be as good if he has to worry about what he's going to say? Ironically, his monologue prior to his apology had zingers and political humor, and he made fun of the controversy, but all at his own expense. Apart from self-deprecatory remarks, will he now start to censor himself beforehand with his writers and, worse, when he interacts with his guests on the panel? All it has to take is another person to seriously complain and mislead the media and public as Sarah Palin has shamelessly done.

Letterman may insist this is the end of it and he will go back to essentially the way things were. I hope he does, but I won't believe it's true until he gets back on the proverbial horse which recently threw him and summarily launches another zinger at Palin when she deserves it.

Michael Russnow's website is www.ramproductionsinternational.com

Comments

[fouroclock]

Letterman is not going to stop making jokes about various individuals or groups, including Palin. What he will do is be more careful about the children of celebrities as all media personalities should do (LImbaugh included), and rightfully so. The callous attitude toward sexual exploitation of children in this country needs to change. Talk to any detective working to stop crimes and you will quickly hear how overwhelmed our law enforcement is.

[Jamchinadian]

As many others have pointed out, Palin let many jokes about her daughter's teenage pregnancy go without so much as a single word in anger.

I am thinking that what got under her skin this time was Dave's joke about her being like a slutty flight attendant.

I think she is only feigning outrage and disingenuously trying to suggest it was about her 14 year old because she knows that would play "better" than if she made the jab at herself the issue. Once again, she uses her children to play games.

[MSMSucksCom]

Sheesh Michael, you said everything thought for thought on what I said all last and this week.

I too said that I was extremely disappointed that Dave chose to apologize. I am not sure what his motives were for doing so, but I do not think it was because her feared for his job.

This is because, as you say and as is obvious, no one with an ounce of sense took Dave's joke to mean that he was talking about Willow or having sex with 14 year olds.

That's where Palin screwed up and Dave lucked out, Palin stupidly saying that Dave was making rape of minors jokes. If Palin had left it at "the jokes were in poor taste and simply not nice because they are directed at teens" then maybe the public would have sided with her.

Instead she showed herself as being an uncaring parent , an opportunist and an addict to the camera.

IMHO Dave not being afraid of losing his job is evident in the fact that mocked the protesters who were making fools of themselves outside the ES Theater. If Dave and his bosses were concerned then there's no way Dave would have poked fun at the protesters. He would have had to act concerned about them, apologized to them (a third apology) and maybe even done so on air and invited them in to the show.

Thanks for your spot on article. It sums up things perfectly.

[flowereater]

I love DAVE! He didn't need to apologize a second time. But he doesn't deserve to be picked apart for it either!!!!!

[miketheb]

I can't believe the lengths this women (Palin) will go, talk about trying not to lose the public's eye. The joke wasn't even that bad it was bad taste i will say that but other people have said a lot worse about her. And she wants to possibly run for president when such little things set her off like this? But once again the media helps over-blow something so trivial as this, its just funny how immature the government and news media is. Its time to grow up people.

[ddemos]

Dave has softened over the years.... as most people do...I think he was sorry that a joke was over the line about a young woman, even if she is sexually active. I despise Sarah Palin and everything she stands for, however I am proud of Dave for apologizing. I doubt he buckled to anyone...he has been around forever, and CBS would never dictate to him.

[trisha08]

I guess I am curious........

Palin stated that the joke was "obviously" about Willow....while most of America assumed he was speaking of Bristol. Sarah claimed that Willow was at the game with her, so that's why Dave was talking about Willow.

However, there is no proof that Willow was at the game with Palin. No photos, no documentation....so far, no proof that Willow was there.

Did Palin lie to create this stir? I've seen some comments bringing this up, and I do think it's interesting. Maybe Willow was there, but I've yet to see any proof.

Where was Willow? Anyone? Any photos? Any video of the game? Any local coverage that showed Willow WAS with Palin at the game? If Willow WAS at the game, someone had to see her.

[adkatz]

Dave is actually at his best when he's in self-deprecation mode -- the jokes about yesterday's rally (and last week's hunting joke) were much funnier than the original jokes. Re Palin, I hope we never have to hear another Palin joke again; deprived of media attention, she will hopefully go back to the obscurity she so richly deserves.

[trisha08]

Why was Palin so offended at Dave's remarks when she nominated a man to be Alaska's AG who advocates rape of women by the husbands in a marriage?

All these Palin supporters are saying that Dave was exploiting women. Yet, they seem to ignore the part where Palin supported and nominated a man who said it's O.K. for a husband to rape his wife. Palin didn't create a stink or ask for an apology. She NOMINATED him, and was really angry when he wasn't confirmed.

Read his quotes. It's disgusting.

“If a guy can’t rape his wife, who’s he gonna rape?”

“There wouldn’t be an issue with domestic violence if women would learn to keep their mouths shut.”

Wayne Anthony Ross was on the side that said there doesn’t need to be a law saying that a man can’t rape his wife.

Gee, if all these Palin supporters (and Palin) are so concerned about women, why no public outrage about her choice for Attorney General?

[G Katz]

Governor Palin seems to wants to make Letterman and his joke guilty for the abuses and exploitation of women worldwide. Palin is so set on destroying Letterman that she refuses to graciously accept his apology without a backhanded attempt to continue to put him--and all those like him--down. In behaving this way, she is lending more and more credence to the stories about her vicious vindictiveness that we heard during and after the campaign.
Yet in all this, she seems to have been given a free pass for her participation in one of the biggest institutionalized spectacles for the objectification of women ever. I have heard not a single word of apology from her for her early attempts to gain fame based in large part on her physical appearance in beauty pageants, an activity frowned on my feminists for decades now. Why does the press ignore this and not make her accountable for it?

[phoenixhasrisen]

Bravo Bravo! I'm sick of the "serious" folk who pressure comics to seriousness. I hope Letterman looks into Sarah Palin's Scientology connections. There's lots of fodder for the comic canon there.
http://gawker.com/5185380/sarah-palin-advisers-secret-scientology-plot-to-take-over-washington
And if the Palin camp attacks again, we'll all know it's true. (We already know it's true, but they're trying hard to cover it up and those people are so serious and unhumorous to the core it would be a joy and pleasure to see them squirm.)

[barackobama4prez]

Please. Dave came out shining and Palin loses, yet again. 15 protestors? embarassing!

[ofcoursejesusisblack]

I think this commentary is spot on. I love Dave and I am really disappointed. But I am heartened by the fact he made fun of the so called protests last night.

[Magnolia50]

Just wondering.­.........s­o if Bristol Palin was *paraded at the Republican convention* during the campaign of her "ambitious mother" were the Obama children paraded to support their ambitious dad?

How about when he referred to them in his acceptance speech that he would "get them a puppy" as promised? Was he using them as a "prop" to generate the "awww's that so sweet" factor?

And Amy Carter? Was she a prop? Chelsea Clinton? How about Joe Biden's children? Grandchildren? Props too?

So, are you saying then, that children should NEVER be a part of a politicians campaign? Lest they be perceived as props?

[hooklefty2]

I'm sorry but no one else has shamelessly exploited their children like Sarah.
Maybe Bristol would have preferred that her teenage pregnancy not be on the
national stage and I think Piper herself said that it was hard for her to catch up on her school
work, she should have been in school. Not being hauled all over the US.
Her newborn special needs child was exposed to lights and germ filled crows when he should have been safe and comfortable at home.
How many examples would you like?

[trisha08]

You are trying to compare apples and oranges.

The Obama's kept their children in school while the Palin's kept them on the campaign trail. So much, that even little Piper said (at the end) that she was really behind in school and didn't know how she was going to catch up.

Also, Palin used her children as part of her qualifications for being VP. Remember, I'm a hockey mom....look at me....I'm such a good mom.....Levi and Bristol are getting married so we are a good Christian family........I just gave birth to a special needs child,so I'm really special......I'm a mom, I'm a mom, I"m a mom.......­..........­..........­.........

Big difference.

[stop7997]

When Sarah Palin paraded her kids on the stage of the convention, then that was politics as usual (sadly). Personally, I consider this sort of pandering on a par with kissing babies, waving the flag or quoting scripture, and find it equally repulsive whether done by Republicans or Democrats.

But when Palin intentionally twisted Letterman's words, accusing him of making a joke about raping a 14 year old (and how she could intentionally conjure the image of her own 14-year old being raped is beyond me), and continued to perpetuate this lie after Letterman had gone to great lengths to explain the joke and offered 2 apologies, that's when she went beyond the pale, in effect pimping her own teenage daughters in order to further her own political career.

And, besides, I suspect you only like Sarah Palin because she looks like you -- at least in your tiny picture :-)

[tm68]

Just curious- do you think Conan, SNL, and Leno have contacted Dave and offered to buy him a beer for taking one for the team? The other guys certainly got off easy- unless we Palin has future plans...

[RTtucson]

If they do I'm sure Dave would refuse. Their silence over this issue is deafening. They demonstrated just how afraid they are of these right wing nut jobs.