David Letterman - Stalker & Extortionist.

self ^ | 11 June 2009 | self

[An.American.Expatriate]

In recent days, David Letterman has repeatedly made comments about a juvenile private citizen (Willow Palin) on his nationally broadcast television show.

These comments were made with the full knowledge that Miss Palin herself, as well as her freinds and schoolmates, would hear them and were calculated to cause the utmost in emotional distress on the part of Miss Palin.

By using the public airwaves to broadcast these comments, David Letterman has violated Title 18, Part I, Chapter 110A, §2261A Stalking:

Whoever—
(1) travels in interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or enters or leaves Indian country, with the intent to kill, injure, harass, or place under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate another person, and in the course of, or as a result of, such travel places that person in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury to, or causes substantial emotional distress to that person, a member of the immediate family (as defined in section 115) of that person, or the spouse or intimate partner of that person; or
(2) with the intent—
(A) to kill, injure, harass, or place under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person in another State or tribal jurisdiction or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States; or
(B) to place a person in another State or tribal jurisdiction, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury to—
(i) that person;
(ii) a member of the immediate family (as defined in section 115 [1] of that person; or
(iii) a spouse or intimate partner of that person;
uses the mail, any interactive computer service, or any facility of interstate or foreign commerce to engage in a course of conduct that causes substantial emotional distress to that person or places that person in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury to, any of the persons described in clauses (i) through (iii) of subparagraph (B);[2]

shall be punished as provided in section 2261 (b) of this title.

Furthermore, the unstated but inherit implication of further smears and attacks against the minor daughter of the Govenor of the State of Alaska amounts to Extortion - and in a much as these threats are communicated via the public airwaves are a violation of US Code Title 18, Part 1 Chapter 41 § 875 Interstate communications:

(a) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any demand or request for a ransom or reward for the release of any kidnapped person, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
(b) Whoever, with intent to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other thing of value, transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
(c) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(d) Whoever, with intent to extort from any person, firm, association, or corporation, any money or other thing of value, transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to injure the property or reputation of the addressee or of another or the reputation of a deceased person or any threat to accuse the addressee or any other person of a crime, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

shall be punished as provided in section 2261 (b) of this title.

[1] So in original. Probably should be followed by a closing parenthesis.
[2] So in original. Provision probably should be set flush with par. (2).

[An.American.Expatriate]

I can respect that suggestion - but they will likely do nothing as it will only serve to give MORE ammunition to the libnutroots.

We have a duty and an obligation to see to it that this kind of attack is never allowed again.

[Churchillspirit]

If A-Rod did not have so much baggage he could sue for slander. He could well afford it.

[TASMANIANRED]

Dave might be a Lambda member.

[Darkwolf377]

I never heard, and I'll wager that neither has anyone else ever heard, on-the-air speculation about Chelsea Clinton's putative paternity.

I never suggested any such thing.

[Darkwolf377]

If a dog barks at me as I walk by, is it necessary for me to drop onto hands and knees to bark back? I suggest the Palin family reply “It would be wise to keep Willow away from Letterman.” to be the proper squelch.

Yup. The proper response would have been to remain above his retarded level of communication, and let people come to the conclusion that he is an utter ass on their own.

Letterman is a silly, angry little man. If people continue to see Palin in these skirmishes over the way she's treated by interviewers and crap like this, she will rapidly become a joke.

[Darkwolf377]

You may have thought nothing of Letterman’s attack on the 14 yr. old daughter of Sarah Palin but most of us have a different set of values.

Yes, that's right--if I don't care for the WAY people respond, I must think it's OK to attack children.

Nice to see the liberal mindset being taken up by supposed "conservatives".

[calex59]

Exactly. The whole stalking thing is pretty stupid stuff. Besides, the joke is clearly about Bristol, who got herself knocked up and can hardly be considered “innocent”. Some people are twisting themselves into knots trying to make this a much bigger thing than it is.

Plain to see what side you are on. A girl gets pregnant so that makes her fair game for a rape joke, and it was a rape joke as verified by Letterman's so called apology. The "joke" wasn't about Bristol, it was about the daughter that Palin had with her at the ball game and it was well publicized which daughter that was, 14 year old Willow. Your little comment has all the liberal talking points, either you are a lib troll or a Palin hater or, a third possibility, you are an insensitive dolt. Pick one.

[Carley]

One of the biggest problems with President Bush was his unwillingness to strike back at the lies, deceit, and mischaracterizations of his actions.

We were weakened by his unwillingness to strongly defend himself.

[Hacklehead]

“Your little comment has all the liberal talking points, either you are a lib troll or a Palin hater or, a third possibility, you are an insensitive dolt. Pick one.”

Insensitive Dolt of course. Ask anyone. Try to get your accusations straight. If I think the joke was about Bristol, then by definition its not a rape joke. The problem with this whole thing is people try to make too much of it. Rather than make a defensible and clear point about gratuitous attacks on Palin and her children, they ruin it by going a bridge too far. The stalker and extortionist argument is a perfect example. No one is going to buy it and makes the accuser look like an idiot.

[Darkwolf377]

They joked about the rape and prostitution of Chelsea!? LIAR!

I never claimed they did, which makes YOU the liar.

[Darkwolf377]

Original comment I responded to (emphasis added for the liars): "Oh, so in your mind it is okay for someone to go on national television and abuse a child emotionally?"

My response (ditto):"So when should we expect your dissertation on John McCain's and Rush Limbaugh's doing just that to Chelsea Clinton?"

Your lying version of what I claimed: "They joked about the rape and prostitution of Chelsea!?"

I won't hold my breath waiting for your honorable retraction.