Posted on 06/12/2009 5:16:12 PM PDT by lewisglad
The shocking thing about the late-night comic’s “joke” about Willow Palin isn’t just that he told it, but that he would never have considered doing the same about the daughter of a Democrat.
When I first read about David Letterman’s comments about Sarah Palin and her 14-year-old daughter, Willow, I twittered that his remarks were “disgusting and sexist.” That is still how I feel, and I thought his rebuttal was borderline insulting. After claiming to never have made a joke about raping a 14 year old, which he essentially had, he then invited Sarah to come on his show, which of course she will not. Why would Sarah Palin go on David Letterman as a response to his jokes about her and her daughter? The invitation seems contrived and like the rest of this controversy—wrapped in political motivation on his part.
Sexist attitudes toward women are nothing new and sadly still commonplace, including on late-night television.
“I am certain that David Letterman would never make a joke about Malia being raped by Eliot Spitzer or refer to the first lady as looking “slutty.”
However, there seems to be such an aggressive double standard for Republican women as opposed to Democrat women. Would David Letterman ever make such a joke about President Obama’s daughters (or for that matter Al Gore’s, or substitute another high-profile Democratic politician)? President Obama’s daughter Malia is not much younger than Willow, and I am certain that David Letterman would never make a joke about Malia being raped by Eliot Spitzer or refer to the first lady as looking “slutty.” Why is it funny to make fun of a 14-year-old girl, no matter who her mother is, let alone that of one of the most prominent female politicians in the country?
During the election, one of the things I never got over being shocked by was the sexism the media held toward my mother and Sarah. I recently read an interview in GQ magazine with Jay Leno where he credited some of his success to never letting the public know where his politics lay. I have always respected that about Jay Leno. I have absolutely no idea how he feels about Sarah Palin or President Obama personally, and at the end of the day I don’t care. He was always respectful toward me and my family even in the jokes (and he has in the past directed some at me personally during his monologue).
Neither I, nor the rest of the country, go to our late-night comics to hear about their personal politics. That is what Sean Hannity and Rachel Maddow are for. If that was the desired career of these comics, they should have gone into a different field of work. I think the Sarah Palin-David Letterman controversy is just another example of media bias. There seems to be little effort to shield the political leanings of many journalists and comedians anymore. At the end of the day, David Letterman’s show is David Letterman’s show, but as Jay Leno recently pointed out, by being overtly political either way, you alienate half of the country. As someone who has always been a fan of David Letterman, I have become more and more disappointed and yes, dare I say disgusted about his attitude toward Sarah Palin and her daughters. Is it too much to ask to leave a 14-year-old girl out of a late-night joke? Apparently in today’s media, yes it is, especially when it is the daughter of a Republican politician.
Meghan McCain is originally from Phoenix. She graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She previously wrote for Newsweek magazine
Now we see WHY Letterman made the “joke” in the first place.
His ratings are circling the bowl, and he thought if he made a disgusting “joke” about Sarah’s daughter, he’d get a reaction from her, lots of media coverage, and then he could have her on his show, which would be a ratings winner, because it’s a fact that Sarah draws huge crowds (and ratings).
I’m glad Sarah refuses to be on his show. Why should she lower herself to improve that scumbag’s ratings?
The more anyone tries to trash her, the higher she rises in my estimation. I like to think that if I were in her shoes, I’d react with the same intelligence, class, and dignity that she consistently displays.
Can't hear a word this little bitch says.
Meaghan McCain belongs to that part of the culture that permits through it’s permissive behavior to allow such outrageous behavior to take place on TV in the first place. She belongs to the pro-choice part of the Republican party that has been working diligently to rid itself of the very people who seek a higher moral standard within our culture.
Wow, NOW and McCain, all in one day. Perhaps there is something to this 2012 business.
WOW Meghan McCain defending Sarah Palin..and she sounded coherent..Good God it’s about damn time Meghan McCain actually made sense about something.
You wait... That is what she is trying to do... You will see her in CNN, NBC and all the lefty rags...
“Perhaps there is something to this 2012 business.”
???
She needs to be consistent. These attacks on the Palin's didn't just start this week, and I bet she was part of that unknown group of people inside the McCain camp attacking her anonymously in the media.
Oh my God, that bastard didn’t say that did he?
He literally blistered Linda Tripp for the better part of two years, almost nightly, all because she wouldn’t commit perjury at the request of Monica Blewhimsky, and the Preditor in Chief.
Here was a single mother trying to support at least two kids, and Jay did his damnedest to destroy her.
I finally quite tuning in the show. I had/have not use for either of those two peckerheads, Letterman or Leno.
I will complement her on an article that's on target.
Nam Vet
“Leftist callers to conservative radio say that in 1998 John McCain asked, “Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno.”
As of that date no audio of McCain’s quip had emerged.
Where’s the proof? We know how leftists lie otherwise I’d accept it if any other group had made the charge.”
Just wait, when this story dies down, Meaghan will be back to attacking Sarah Palin because she too feels threatened by Sarah’s soaring popularity. The only reason she’s coming to the Palin’s defense is, a great majority of people believe, “hands off the kids!!”
There’s some attention being give to the Mayan calender that expires around December 21st, 2012. I believe there are other references to ‘time running out’ then too. It’s been a curiosity on some of the scientific and history channels.
My mention of it was to poke some fun.
I do remember that he made a joke about Chelsea’s ugliness-just when she was in her awkward years. He did profusely apologize,as he should have.
THis is just a tangent thought but Chelsea Clinton did resign from her hedge fund job (she acquired just after graduation from Stanford) to go back to graduate school just about 2 weeks before the economy really flopped. hmmmm-I wonder if she and her family saw the handwriting on the wall about the economy and hedge funds.
Cordio
Wow, when a clueless moron like Ms. McCain get it, maybe this does have some traction. Turn up the heat.
I have no words.
I’ve seen more of david letterman in the last few days because of his reprehensible idiocy that I have in the last 10 years. And I could easily stand not seeing any more of him.
I TELL YOU... I'm getting a little tired of being treated like "PLAYBOY BONNIE!!!... another piece of meat..."
lol
Meghan McCain making sense? That’s a surprise.
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