Jeweler Korman files complaint over Letterman joke

Austin 360 ^ | June 12, 2009 | Dale Roe

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sarah Palin is not the only person outraged about David Letterman’s jabs at her family. After the CBS late-night talk show host made some off-color jokes about the former vice presidential candidate’s daughter Monday night, Austinite Russell Korman, owner of Russell Korman’s Fine Jewelry & Watches, decided to file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission.

“I really think it was intent to hurt a public figure by going through their children,” said Korman, who saw the jokes on Tuesday when they were rerun on cable news shows. “We didn’t do that, much, to the Bush kids and we didn’t do it much to Chelsea Clinton or Amy Carter, and we certainly shouldn’t do it to Sasha and Malia Obama. And we shouldn’t do it to a governor or senator or, really, anyone’s underage kids.”

In his Monday night monologue, Letterman made a joke about a sexual relationship between Yankees player Alex Rodriguez and Palin’s daughter. (The Palin family attended a Yankees game Sunday.) An issue of contention is whether Letterman was referring to Palin’s 18-year-old daughter Bristol, a single mother who has become a public figure, or Palin’s 14-year-old daughter, Willow.

Letterman contends he was talking about Bristol, and that he would not have made a joke about a 14-year-old girl. But Korman notes that it was widely reported, before Monday’s broadcast, that it was Willow Palin who was attending the game with her parents. “For me to know that in Austin, Texas, before any of these jokes even came up, it was that well publicized,” Korman said. “Let’s remind everyone, CBS is based in New York, his show is in New York City, I believe, and the New York Yankees are in New York. So if I knew the news here, out of his huge staff — they knew what they were doing.”

Korman filed his complaint (Form 475B, regarding “Obscene, Profane and/or Indecent Material) on Thursday morning. He said he would like to see the FCC mete out the maximum possible fine to CBS and for the network to suspend Letterman’s show for a week. “I’m not someone that does a Don Imus thing and calls for firings and things like that,” he said.

Neither the FCC nor local CBS affiliate KEYE responded to repeated requests for comment.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Everyone can do this: I did so about an hour ago. And I don't care which of Mr. Todd and Governor Sarah Palin's daughters that David Letterman was referring to. Rape is rape! He also inferred that 14 year old Miss Willow Palin was a prostitute with the Elliot Spitzer "joke" that he told. What next?

[SolidWood]

Also if you haven't yet filed a complaint at the FCC:

File an online complaint at the FCC

Channel and time: CBS at 11:30 p.m. Monday 8 (rape joke), Tuesday 9 (prostitute joke)

[ETL]

At the very bottom of the Late Show with a-hole Letterman website, there is a "Feedback" link for commenting on any given program.

The screen that you'll see will look like this below. You apparently don't need to be a registered member of the site to send comments:

http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/top_ten/index/php/20090608.phtml#

___________________________________________

From NewsBusters.org, June 9, 2009...

Seven months after Election Day, and the attacks on Sarah Palin keep coming.

On Monday, CBS's David Letterman on the "Late Show" shamelessly went after the Alaska governor and her family during his opening monologue, as well as in his "Top Ten" list.

Top Ten Highlights Of Sarah Palin's Trip To New York

10. Visited New York landmarks she normally only sees from Alaska

9. Laughed at all the crazy-looking foreigners entering the U.N.

8. Made moose jerky on Rachael Ray

7. Keyed Tina Fey's car

6. After a wink and a nod, ended up with a kilo of crack

5. Made coat out of New York City rat pelts

4. Sat in for Kelly Ripa. Regis couldn't tell the difference.

3. Finally met one of those Jewish people Mel Gibson's always talking about

2. Bought makeup from Bloomingdale's to update her "slutty flight attendant" look

1. Especially enjoyed not appearing on Letterman

"One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game, during the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked-up by Alex Rodriguez."

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/06/09/letterman-attacks-sarah-palins-slutty-flight-attendant-look

[AlexW]

Flood CBS with complaints. It is easy to do:

http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php

Also complain to Letterfool’s sponsors.

[RaceBannon]

I am waiting for Todd to tell Letterman he is going to kick his ass

Letterman deserves it and it will cause Sarah’s numbers to skyrocket

It is too late after the incident, though, it has lost effect.

[davetex]

Years ago, I used to enjoy Letterman, but for several years now I don’t. Now, he’s just a weird, creepy pervert. Making jokes like he did is nothing more than sick. Kids should ALWAYS be defended and protected by adults. He chose otherwise. Sad, sick, and lame. He’ll find his karma one day.

[gaijin]

FCC is a good route, but if there are no show SPONSORS, there IS no show, FCC investigation or not.

Most efficient route is to call show sponsors and as them if they WANT to pay for rape promotion.

[AlexW]

A list of sponsors can be found here:

http://thenewagenda.net/2009/06/10/letterman-doesnt-stop-contact-these-sponsors/

[2ndDivisionVet]

Here are David Letterman’s sponsors:

Aveeno https://www.aveeno.com/contact-us.jsp;jsessionid=ICzq9MKfCJMvYNQPalV7EWJ+CJY

Canon http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/AboutCanon/ciwofloc.html

Charmin (Owned by Proctor & Gamble) http://pg.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/pg.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=49Z6U*zj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NzUsNzUmcF9wcm9kcz01OSZwX2NhdHM9MCZwX3B2PTEuNTkmcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTE*&p_srch=1&p_prods=59&p_pv=1.59

Citibank https://online.citibank.com/US/JRS/portal/contactus.do

Downey (also P&G) http://www.downy.com/en_US/contactus.jsp

Hellman’s https://secure.hellmanns.com/contact_us.aspx

Lexus (Owned by Toyota) http://www.lexus.com/contact/

Nissan Motors http://www.nissanusa.com/apps/contactus

Rogaine http://www.rogaine.com/men/contact-us

Ambien CR https://contactus.sanofi-aventis.us/default.aspx

bing.com (Owned by Microsoft) https://feedback.discoverbing.com/default.aspx?mkt=en-us&productkey=bingweb&brand=&&locale=en-US&P1=dsathome&P2=&P3=0&P4=&P5=5462F211BC1D4717B52B5B14CB670F99&P6=Needham,%20Massachusetts&P7=Original&P8=&P9=42.285999/-71.233001&P10=24902.0&P11=&P12=&searchtype=Web%20Search&optl1=1&backurl=http://www.bing.com:80/?FORM=FEEDTU&scrx=1

Chase https://www.chase.com/ccp/index.jsp?pg_name=ccpmapp/shared/assets/page/contactus

Ford http://www.fordvehicles.com/help/contact/

Hotels.com http://www.hotels.com/faqs.do?reqType=getQuestions&cmsFaqId=

Listerene (Johnson & Johnson) https://www.listerine.com/contact-us.jsp;jsessionid=o9dUC7PE892Iut-YH7ibH32Z1Wk

Mazda http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/emailMazda.action

Old Navy (Owned by The Gap) http://oldnavy.gap.com/customerService/info.do?cid=3332&mlink=5151,1004621,3&clink=1004621

Samsung http://www.samsung.com/us/info/contactus.html

T-Mobile http://www.t-mobile.com/Contact.aspx

[TexasBeth]

Response from Mars.

In response to your email regarding MARS SNACKFOOD US. We are writing in response to your recent communication which objects to the placement of advertising on David Letterman. We appreciate your concern and thank you for taking the time to contact us. While we do not “sponsor” television shows, we do contract for commercial time months in advance for those programs which we feel effectively reach our consumers. As a matter of policy we make every effort to avoid programs containing exploitative examples of ethnic, racial, religious or sexual stereotyping. We apologize if we were unsuccessful in this instance, and we will share your comments with our advertising agencies. Our loyal consumers are very important to us, and we thank you for taking the time to bring this to our attention. Have a great day! Your Friends at Mars Snackfood US MM/HERNLIND010961364A Please do NOT reply to this email. If you would like to respond to this message, click on the link below. http://www.econsumeraffairs.com/mars/ContactUsFollowUp.htm?F1=010961364A&F2=MARSC

[Signalman]

The big irony of all this is that Letterman didn’t marry his current wife until 6 years or so after she had their son. So I guess she was “knocked up”, huh Dave?

[bigbob]

Thanks just did both. May be futile but I feel better letting my feelings be known to someone who has the clout to hit CBS right in the pocketbook.

[GOPsterinMA]

He was watchable/enjoyable back in the mid 1980’s. He became a bitter bad of vinegar and water when he GOT PASSESD OVER for The Tonight Show. And no matter how many years he’s on CBS and no matter how many millions he gets, that still stings him!

Bears repeating: GOT PASSESD OVER for The Tonight Show.

He is a sick bastard. The Palins should file charges against him.

[Signalman]

I am waiting for Todd to tell Letterman he is going to kick his ass

And no jury in the country would convict him.

[Navy Patriot]

Freeped with civil language, demanded firing Letterman, CBS apology.

[EverOnward]

Thank you for posting the sponsors. I’ll be emailing each one.

[trumandogz]

No need to call in the over reaching federal government.

[Paleo Conservative]

Years ago, I used to enjoy Letterman, but for several years now I don’t. Now, he’s just a weird, creepy pervert. Making jokes like he did is nothing more than sick. Kids should ALWAYS be defended and protected by adults. He chose otherwise. Sad, sick, and lame. He’ll find his karma one day.

He stopped being funny when he moved from NBC to CBS after NBC promoted Jay Leno over Letterman for the Tonight Show. The ultra cynical routine works for a young up and coming comedian who isn't yet the 'top dog'. It doesn't work for the 'top dog'.

[firebrand]

Protest being planned for Tuesday.

[Sparky1776]

bookmarked