June 14, 2009
Dave, You May Want to Get a Ruler
No doubt, they were tasteless and crude, even about an eighteen year old, as he thought, and not a fourteen year old. They were also not particularly funny.
But what reflects most poorly on David Letterman in his telling jokes about Sarah Palin's daughter is that it demonstrates a lack of consistency on his part. The point is not that jokes were never told about Chelsea Clinton; they were and it was equally unacceptable. The point is that Letterman never told them.
Nor do I want him to even the score by doing so after the fact. Matt Allen got it right Friday when he said that politicians' family members who stay on the sideline are off limits.
Letterman is a funny and talented guy. I enjoyed, probably too much, all of his observations about the Clintons, Bill and Hillary. With this instance, he finally let his slip show. Potshots at all politicians AND the uninvolved families of Republicans are fine.
You drew the line, Dave, but it's kind of wavy.
MONIQUE
Joke that John McCain told
"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly ?
Because Janet Reno is her Father"
Dave Letterman is a comic
John McCain was a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
from the party of "family values"
Can you imagine if President Obama told a joke like this about Dick Cheneys
daughter, or the Bush twins ?
Is Dave guilty of telling a couple of jokes he perhaps should not have? Yes. Whether by intention or accident, that type of joke involving a 14-year-old does call for an apology (he needs not apologize, however, for the A-Rod reference).
However, there's a larger point we're all missing: Can we expect Hunter-Gatherer Barbie as president to keep her cool dealing with terrorists and the world's Adminejads, Chavezes, Putins and little pests from North Korea if she blows up over a late-night comedian? God knows how many jokes they've all told about other presidents (some of them in questionable taste, too). Never saw Bubba or Dubya get this whiny when a stray wisecrack got lobbed at their daughters.
Somebody should also remind our favorite flight attendent that the more she carries on about this, the more viewers Dave draws.
I think it would be nice if Monique, Justin,and Mike (if he not still baned)
apologized to Chelsea Clinton, for John McCains hatefull joke,as Rhode Island\'s
Family Values leaders.
Monique apologize now it only hurts for a moment,you will fell better in the morning.
Posted by: Rob in Scituate at June 14, 2009 7:04 PMRob
No one need apologize except the one who made the questionable joke. True in all cases, for individuals of any race, creed or political persuasion. Individuals take responsibility, not groups. Unless you are part of the Borg, I guess.
rhody
Unlike The One, and most other Democrats, Republicans cannot count on the fawning toadies of the media to do the heavy lifting. Republicans have to do it for themselves.
Monique
I couldn't disagree more regarding Letterman. He hasn't been funny for decades. This 'joke' is his 'nappy headed hos' moment. The women on the Rutger's basketball team didn't deserve that shot by Imus and neither does either one of Palin's daughters deserve this one by Letterman. Either man has the right to say what they will. However, there should be consequences. You might want to check out the posts on Cynthia Yockey's blog, A Newly Conservative Lesbian, for some tips. Don't you find it interesting that Media Matters is quiet on this but went ballistic on Imus?
Posted by: chuckR at June 14, 2009 8:38 PMApart from our lack of culpability for McCain's sense of humor, I'm surprised Rob felt the need to dig so deeply. That Clinton joke is from the '90s. Republicans have been better behaved than I'd have guessed if that's how far back detractors have to go.
Oh, and Monique explicitly narrowed her focus to Letterman. Might want to reread, Rob.
Posted by: Justin Katz at June 14, 2009 9:08 PMDave Letter is a comic,
John McCain is a Senator and a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
sorry guys huge differance
Just like when GOP leader, Dick Armey
called Rep. Barney Frank, Barney Fag
chuckR
I did not say that Monique NEEDS to apologize.
I said it would be NICE if the FAMILY VALUES leaders of RI would apologize
Be well all
Posted by: Rob in Scituate at June 14, 2009 10:03 PMJeez Rhody with you being the guardian of any and all things gay agenda I would have thought you of all people would refrain from stereotyping others.
Your distainful stereotying of Sarah Palin is not very tolerant now is it? tsk....tsk....tsk....
I love it when you libs show yourselves for the genuine hypocrites you are as you throw up all over yourselves. Veeeery entertaining!! lol
Rob you still haven't addressed the issue at hand. How come?
The Palin's are under constant attack from the wacko left. I've never seen a pol and her family under such constant and personal attack as these folks have been. Sarah Palin represents everything libs hate and they target her and her family because of it. Pro-family, pro-life, pro-gun, pro-America. It's actually a huge compliment to her that she is targeted they way she is. The lefties see her as a threat and they always seek to silence and/or destroy those who they feel threatened by.
Posted by: Tim at June 15, 2009 7:29 AM C'mon, Tim, you don't still believe HGB is the guardian of moral values, I hope.
Truth be told, I don't think she's such a great mother, exploiting her kids' crises for political gain. And if Bristol's baby daddy is really the knucklehead she claims he is (based on his MySpace, I agree), why was it she couldn't get him in front of cameras fast enough at the RNC?
She made a name for herself with her love for attack politics. She's simply reaping what she's sown (though it's a shame her kids have become collateral damage).
Rhody, I'll be very happy, and proud, if we're fortunate enough some day to have a president who stands up for her country as strongly and forcefully as she stands up for her daughters.
We don't need a president going around the world trying to make nice with a-holes.
Posted by: George at June 15, 2009 10:27 PM