VIDEO: Letterman Makes Official Apology To Palin Family

"Late Show" w/ David Letterman ^ | June 15, 2009 | Real Clear Politics

[i88schwartz]

On Monday night's "Late Show" host David Letterman re-addressed his comments about Gov. Sarah Palin and her teenage daughter. Letterman made a more serious apology than his response last week. "I had, honestly, no idea that the 14-year-old girl, I had no idea that anybody was at the ball game except the governor, and I was told at the time she was there with Rudy Giuliani," Letterman said.

The post has the full transcript and the video.

[Zarro]

"OK I may be the lone voice in the wilderness, but I thought his apology was heartfelt and classy."

The text version of the "apology" that I saw included the quote below. I find very little class in Letterman saying "I'm sorry you are too dumb to get it." Not class -- just the same slimy condescension we expect from him.

"I told a bad joke. I told a joke that was beyond flawed, and my intent is completely meaningless compared to the perception. And since it was a joke I told, I feel that I need to do the right thing here and apologize for having told that joke. It’s not your fault that it was misunderstood, it’s my fault."

[outlawjake]

I am with you.. I think letterman is a lib wacko.. but a decent person.. and i hate when people take a joke or a comment and drive people off the air..was horrible when they did it to imus.. and trent lott etc..

and this apology came cross to me as sincere..

[FormerACLUmember]

The bullsh*t story changes yet again. Yesterday, he said he thought Bristol was at the game.

[GnuHere]

Wow, just watched the video - a longer non-apology apology, and focused on the age of a 14-year-old vs. Bristol, as if that matters!
But as long as he is feeling some heat, that’s sweet!

[nutmeg]

What a bunch of BS from this bitter old gap-toothed 'Rat. He knew exactly what he was doing with that "joke".

I predicted to my husband and to family and friends that Letterman would claim that he "didn't know" that Gov. Palin's 14-year-old daughter was the daughter who attended the Yankees game with her, and that he would get the two daughters confused. If Letterman didn't know which daughter attended the game with her parents, his writing staff should have.

Letterman's "joke" is an insult to all young women, regardless of age, anyway, as Sarah Palin stated to Matt Lauer.

Apology not accepted. Watching this latest video, it's obvious that he's only concerned about his own sorry @ss, especially now that he's up against Conan O'Brien's new "Tonight Show" on NBC.

Hey CBS: FIRE DAVID LETTERMAN IMMEDIATELY!

The Era of David Letterman is over. He goes out with a wimper...

[DesertRhino]

I agree with you too. There comes a point that you have to let people apologize. His sincerity, or lack thereof, will soon become obvious.

[Yogafist]

I guess we will all see it the way we want. I saw it as contrived. His body language says he did not want to say what he said. He was making excuses all over the place, and I got the feeling he is trying to save his career, more than he is accepting responsibility for a crude joke. He was clearly forced to make this apology, and he didn't like it. I don't watch his show and won't watch it in the future, but this apology is garbage. Not to mention the non-chalant way he ends it.

[nutmeg]

Oh, and by the way... Dave is "so sorry" yet he still has the "Top Ten Highlights Of Sarah Palin's Trip To New York" posted on his website, including No. 2: "Bought makeup at Bloomingdale's to update her "slutty flight attendant" look":

Late Show with David Letterman

[top 2 toe red]

Uh...she [whomever, whatever the she is!] has to CONSENT or it is rape. Period!

[nutmeg]

I guess we will all see it the way we want. I saw it as contrived. His body language says he did not want to say what he said. He was making excuses all over the place, and I got the feeling he is trying to save his career, more than he is accepting responsibility for a crude joke. He was clearly forced to make this apology, and he didn't like it. I don't watch his show and won't watch it in the future, but this apology is garbage. Not to mention the non-chalant way he ends it.

Exactly. He's not sorry at all... he's scared to death he won't get that 2-year extension to his contract, which I think runs out soon. Plus Conan's new show on NBC is killing him in the ratings.

The Era of David Letterman is over, IMO. Disgusting old bitter pervert. And I used to be a big fan of his, although that was years ago...

[james500]

“His audience won’t sadly. They laughed at the joke.”

That brings up an mildly interesting but irrelevant point. Let’s forget for a second whether or not Letterman knew that the 14 year old daughter was with Gov Palin that day. How many in the audience knew and laughed at the joke of a baseball player ‘knocking up’ the 14 year old daughter of Sarah Palin?

[top 2 toe red]

He’s sorry his sorry ass is now in a wringer...

[top 2 toe red]

whomever, whatever the AGE she is!

[Earthdweller]

"The Era of David Letterman is over, IMO. Disgusting old bitter pervert. And I used to be a big fan of his, although that was years ago... "

I used to be really be proud of him because he's from my state. I don't know what the heck happened to him over the years. He's disgusting and hateful.

[preciousbabies]

okay let me get this straight, 1st he checked it was the 18 yr old then he said he thought only Sarah was at the ballgame and his intent was innocent, huh? So he made a joke about an 18 year old that he checked on that wasn't there with innocent intent. The punch line was about someone there. David Liarman.

[preciousbabies]

Yup that's the only sorry he is.

[goat granny]

you wrote, *game set match Palin,* and I think you are right...She played this one perfectly...So did her hubby. Smart and beautiful people...Oh yea, and tough as Alaska's winters......

[nutmeg]

I used to be really be proud of him because he's from my state. I don't know what the heck happened to him over the years. He's disgusting and hateful.

My husband and I used to be BIG Letterman fans (and I love his sweet mom, still living in Indiana!). We were part of his studio audience at the Ed Sullivan Theater in NYC three times over the years (back in the 1990s).

I think Letterman changed after the 2000 election. He was obviously NOT a fan of GW Bush, and became increasingly bitter and partisan... and just plain NOT funny anymore after that. It's really too bad...

[sloop]

before hearing the apology (just the news that it was coming) i posted this

not good enough for me (as if that matters) he has a team of people that sit around and write the jokes - so it was no slip of the tongue

being the bastard that i am - i think he should have to hurt for saying what he said - i think there should be exposure of his private life - including that kid that his girlfriend whelped after she got ‘knocked up’

awful i know

but this successful tactic of theirs - to marginalize and demonize people that they politically disagree with - not based on debating the political beliefs - but on demeaning jokes - that tactic must not stand

ask dan qauyle

all a bully understands is a fist to the face - letterman is a bully - someone needs to punch him out using his tactics

there was nothing he could have said that would have satisfied me - and he did not disappoint me with what he said

he has constantly pushed closer to the edge with his jokes and the eurocool wannabes hoot in his audience cheer him on

the left will not (or can not) debate political issues - they use alinsky's tactics to dismiss conservatives and republicans by making them into a joke

and the left is winning elections

[SupplySider]

He dished out yet more ridicule for the Palin family when the controversy started. Now, when his sponsors and liberal commentators take a stand, he comes out with the classic leftist Clintonesque non-apology apology "I'm sorry I was misunderstood".

David Letterman is not a gentleman. He is not honest. His idea of fun is picking on women and children if it makes his politically correct buddies chuckle.

Todd Palin is above it, but I'd love to read one morning that he cleaned Letterman's clock physically, as Gov. Palin has verbally.