Letterman apology tonight is too little, too late — FIRE DAVID LETTERMAN!!!

by CynthiaYockey on June 15, 2009

I just heard Wolf Blitzer on CNN read the apology David Letterman reportedly will make on his show to be aired tonight, Monday, June 15, to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her teen-age daughters Bristol and Willow. Letterman’s show is taped on weekday afternoons between 4:30 and 6:30 pm at The Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City, so his apology was recorded this afternoon. Letterman repeatedly insulted and degraded Gov. Palin and her daughters on his CBS show, “Late Night with David Letterman,” last week on his shows that aired on June 8, 9 and 10, including snide and insincere remarks he called an apology in his show on Wednesday, June 10.

The New York Times story on the apology today notes that Letterman said in his latest apology he was told Gov. Palin attended the Yankees game he mentioned in his insults with former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and said, “I should have made the joke about Rudy.” What? Instead of Alex Rodriguez?

The New York Times story also claims that protests aimed at pressuring CBS to fire Letterman have not yet had any effect:

CBS executives said Monday that they had exercised no pressure on the late-night star to offer any apology and that they had seen no real impact on advertisers from the protests.

This is why the campaign to get CBS to fire David Letterman must continue and expand with more and more people sending letters and e-mails of protest to CBS, Letterman’s sponsors and the sponsors of Letterman’s racing team to notify them that their products will be boycotted until Letterman is fired. It also will be important to send letters and e-mails of protest to anyone who appears on Letterman’s show to impress them that doing so will put a long-term stink on their careers.

CBS is still playing the “This will all blow over” card. No. It. Won’t.

Persistent, consistent effort on our part will persuade sponsors to drop Letterman’s show and CBS to fire David Letterman.

If we don’t take out this bully, we’ll be swarmed by the millions who will follow his example.

Update: Thank you, Prof. Reynolds, and welcome, Instapundit readers! Please join this campaign to get David Letterman fired. I will have my posts with the complete “Fire David Letterman Kit” finished either late tonight or mid-day tomorrow. Just 15 minutes a day of consistent and persistent work will get this done. Plus, you will learn skills that will empower you for the rest of your life! See this through!

Note to commenters: If you write a comment and have a blog and enter its URL, my blog will automatically link your blog’s most recent post at the end of your comment. You’re welcome!

Prof. Reynolds links a blog with the full apology from the CBS transcript. IT. WILL. NOT. DO. Letterman is apologizing like there was only one vile joke he made — the one about Willow or Bristol Palin getting raped while their mother was watching a baseball game. No, no, NO! Scroll down for my post on how Letterman piled on his degrading insults, day after day, and ONLY stopped when it began to look like he was in real trouble. He is NOT sorry for what he did. He is sorry he’s going to lose his career over it. Boo hoo, Dave! Boo hoo hoo!

Update: A commenter here pointed out that there are lots of other problems in the world that ought to have priority, so we should let go of getting Letterman fired. No, no, no — and Eric Hoffer, author of The True Believer, explains why: because “fault-finding men of words” like Letterman are what bring down capitalistic and democratic societies where individuals are free and clear the way for totalitariam mass movements (for more, see my post, “Why ridicule is Obama’s Kryptonite“):

Hoffer explains on p. 138 how the media are able to create the grounds for a fanatical mass movement like Obama’s:

It is easy to see how the faultfinding man of words, by persistent ridicule and denunciation, shakes prevailing beliefs and loyalties, and familiarizes the masses with the idea of change. What is not so obvious is the process by which the discrediting of existing beliefs and institutions makes possible the rise of a new fanatical faith. For it is a remarkable fact that the militant man of words who “sounds the established order to its source to mark its want of authority and justice” often prepares the ground not for a society of freethinking individuals but for a corporate society that cherishes utmost unity and blind faith.

However, while ridicule is Obama’s Kryponite, since he is now the prevailing order, Hoffer explains why it does not affect the masses he has inflamed with “hope” for “change” (pp. 138-140):

When we debunk a fanatical faith or prejudice, we do not strike at the root of fanaticism. … The freedom the masses crave is not freedom of self-expression and self-realization, but freedom from the intolerable burden of an autonomous existence. They want freedom from “the fearful burden of free choice,” freedom from the arduous responsibility of realizing their ineffectual selves and shouldering the blame for the blemished product. They do not want freedom of conscience, but faith – blind, authoritarian faith. They sweep away the old order not to create a society of free and independent men, but to establish uniformity, individual anonymity and a new structure of perfect unity. It is not the wickedness of the the old regime they rise against but its weakness; not its oppression, but its failure to hammer them together into one solid, mighty whole.

That is why we must work to get David Letterman fired like the fate of our nation depends on the success of our efforts — because it does.

Update, 6/15: Stacy, of The Other McCain, thank you for your blog post, “On Relentlessness,” link and support.

Tagged as: Fire David Letterman, Sarah Palin

Pingback: Instapundit » Blog Archive » DAVID LETTERMAN APOLOGIZES TO SARAH PALIN AGAIN. And this time it’s kinda real. I credit the rig…
http://www.lacegrl130.wordpress.com Dorothy Jane

I loved your quote on Little Miss Atilla – It was fantastic -
.-= Dorothy Jane´s last blog ..Have You Read “Trimalchio in West Egg?” =-.
http://zionbeckon.blogspot.com Cecil Moon

Twenty-nine years ago I started the job of recovery from addiction and the have been apologizing to friends and family ever since. Each circumstance involved understanding the level of harm that I caused and lasting affect on the relationship and, more important, the individual I had harmed. I finally came to understand that the apology was not about me but those who bore the brunt of my bad behavior. As a result I have an extremely supportive family, loving children and grandchildren, excellent “best friend” relationship with the ex., and all the blessings which God provides.

Apologies which contain “weasel” words like “perception,” “interpretted,” or the worst of the lot, “if” don’t reflect remorse but only re-assignment of blame for vile actions which have damaged others.

Don’t bother to wait for Letterman to “man-up”; it requires a measure of character he can never muster.
Pingback: UPDATED: Letterman Apologizes…for Real « The Rhetorican
Daryl Herbert

In his “apology,” Letterman defends making degrading “jokes” about 18-year-old Bristol Palin. He says that Bristol is not “innocent” and is not “minding her own business.”

His defense is “I meant to call that other teenage girl a slut”

That’s not an apology, it’s an atrocity. Get Letterman off the air, now!
http://www.knoxvilletennesseerealestateblog.com Jim Lee

I’m on the “Fire Letterman” campaign. What he said was more more offensive than Don Imus.
.-= Jim Lee´s last blog ..Knoxville real estate transfers for the week of June 7th =-.
Phil

Cynthia, this is my first visit to your blog and I just read your About Me. I’m glad you “found” conservatism (haha) and I think you’ll find it significantly more tolerant that you had been led to believe previously. I do take exception to your notion that Letterman should be “fired”. I think his apology seemed sincere and we should leave it at that. I’m not big on getting people fired. I’ll leave that to the liberals. No?
Sean

Upheaval In Iran…

The Israeli / Palestinian conflict is coming to a boil…

Deficit spending is ready to bankrupt the country…

Barack and the Democrats are making a push for socialized medicine…

Dangerously rising unemployment…

Obama firing regulators who look too closely at his friends…

GOP response? Lets shit our knickers over David Letterman even after he issues an apology (however lame it was).

Now why is it none of my friends take me seriously when I try to extoll the virtues of being a Republican.

http://www.aconservativelesbian.com Cynthia Yockey

Sean,

Obama and a Democrat-majority Congress are in control of the mechanisms for dealing with all the the important problems you list. That means there’s nothing we can do about them except opine.

However, we can get Letterman fired and there are excellent reasons why we must do this job that is in our power to do. The best explanation is in my update to this post, which has Eric Hoffer’s observation from his book, The True Believer, explaining how a f”ault-finding man of words” like David Letterman prepares the fall of a democracy and clears the way for a fanatical mass movement to take its place. Also see my post, “Why ridicule is Obama’s Kryptonite,” which cites the same passage.

Getting Letterman fired is not only something that is in our power, and therefore a duty, but also one of the most powerful things we can do to turn the tide in favor of individuality, capitalism and democracy again. This is a noble fight. It is a necessary fight. There is nothing trivial about it. We truly must fight to get Letterman fired as if the fate of our nation hangs on the success of our efforts — because, as Hoffer explains, it does.

Cynthia

hadley

Count me in. This is important as a symbol and a starting point for a conservative rally and show of grass-roots muscle. I can’t do a thing for the Iranians, but I can help pull Letterman down, and that’s a start.
http://zionbeckons.blogspot.com Cecil Moon

Phil at 10:19 said: “I do take exception to your notion that Letterman should be “fired”.

I agree! If the various commercial interests can be drawn to the idea that we consumer’s are concerned with their projection of ethics through advertising choices and refuse their products in the market place it will have the desired affect. I don’t want to make a martyr out of this miscreant.

Note: The typo in the blog reference has been repaired. It now works even if I don’t.
.-= Cecil Moon´s last blog ..Monday Morning Rant 96 =-.
http://www.britsattheirbest.com/ Cat Glass

It may not seem important compared to the desperate struggle of the people of Iran, but it’s very important that Letterman pay for violating a young girl on air. Nor would it matter if had she been an adult woman. Why should any woman or man be the target of sexual innuendo on air? True, his comments are not unique. So, is having bags of trash in the kitchen a reason not to take any of the bags out?

Letterman should have to pay consequences for his attack. Some might argue that taking him off the air is too severe a punishment, but a teacher who said something like this would lose his job. That Letterman appears to have more to lose is a function of his position. The higher you are, the harder you fall. Don’t forget, he is using our airwaves .
.-= Cat Glass´s last blog ..Boris Johnson asks, "Who the hell is now speaking up for the wealth creators of this country?" =-.
Fen

“Now why is it none of my friends take me seriously when I try to extoll the virtues of being a Republican.”

Bullocks. Your’s is the typical “Officer, why are you stopping me for driving drunk when you could be catching murderers?” liberal excuse. So I doubt you’re even a Republican.

Here’s a clue: learn to multitask. It IS indeed possible to call Letterman out and still pay attention to Iran, Congress, the economy, etc.
http://www.ncobrief.com Sgt. Mom

I had my take at The Daily Brief; which is – not so much him, just that it was the last straw.
.-= Sgt. Mom´s last blog ..Broadcast Standards =-.
Ohio Granny

Cynthia, you are darn right. I was saving my protest (can’t say bullets or ammo without scaring the bejesus out of homeland security – but I mean my time and energy) for Ohio budget and Ohio Soverenghty but gosh darn it girlfriend if you haven’t inspired me. Don’t just go after Dave, go after every single CBS advertiser and tell them WHY. See here, it works
http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/407238_tvgif15.html?source=rss

http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/407238_tvgif15.html?source=rss
http://www.markinspokane.blogspot.com Mark in Spokane

Thanks for the post — I’ve linked to it on my own blog.

Welcome to the conservative fold — and realize that while conservatives disagree among themselves over lots of things, we agree on more things. You are doing a great job of standing up for civility and decency here. I look forward to enjoying your commentary as the country moves forward.

Cheers!
.-= Mark in Spokane´s last blog ..Cynthia Yockey’s push to get Letterman fired from CBS =-.
apodoca

You’re right, Cynthia. Too little, too late. In fact, Letterman’s “apology” is no apology at all. His “joke” showed him up as being misogynistic and without a moral compass. Women who get pregnant out of wedlock are figures of “fun” (I wonder what his now-wife has to say about that? ach! She must be a lib, too, so what he says doesn’t bother her.); statutory rape is a joke (NAMBLA must be quite heartened by this as must every pedophile in the U.S.A.); apologies are only to be made after one watches a liberal on tv and realizes that there might be a problem. Even then, apologies are not to be wholehearted but only to those who were offended. The folks who weren’t offended can take the offensive words as rock solid gold—still standing, no need for sorry.

Meantime, Letterman has not commented on his shameful depiction of Gov. Palin as “slutty looking.” That’s a man with a SERIOUS problem with women!

If being good looking; exuding sex appeal without trying; having a dynamite man who looks like he’s got a slow hand; having enough kids to show she’s getting some, on a regular basis, makes a woman “slutty looking,” then the only virtuous women must be three-bagging bow-wows! Either Letterman has a serious jones for Sarah Palin and is frustrated that he can’t get a taste of her or he is a closet homosexual who totally despises women or he’s Obama’s buttboy on trash-Palin duty. No middle ground on this.

No amount of jokes justify going after Sarah Palin as hard and as personally as Letterman has. He wanted to take her achievements out of the public eye and diminish her as a governor with a record of achievement that Obama can’t hope to match.
Sean

You folks need to realize there’s only enough time and space in the evening newscasts. Occupy the few precious minutes that a network might devote to a Republican perspective with “GOP finds David Letterman to be bane of society” instead of trying to put forth the perils of Obamacare.

Average people I know agree it was tastleless, but are just getting sick of the topic already.

And you’re right, I’m not really a Republican anymore. I gave it a good whirl for a few years as an activist, but got so beat up by my own party’s actions that I could no longer defend them.

It was dumb stuff like this that sucked up the limited time we have to communicate with America. Makes us look like petty morons.

But you keep up this distracting little fight from your easy chairs. Talk to me when you try to go gather signatures for petitions in some purple or blue state, trying to claim you represent the party of fiscal responsibility and liberty.

Be for something. That’s how you win people over. Being against David Letterman won’t get Republicans anywhere.

http://www.aconservativelesbian.com Cynthia Yockey

Sean,

Last fall it wasn’t just the sudden tanking of the economy that reduced the support for McCain/Palin. Another HUGE factor was the all-out war waged against Gov. Palin, both openly with the enormous number of lies and rumors and spurious ethics charges, and clandestinely, with lie-filled viral e-mails that were sent by women to their networks of friends. One of these galvanized me into doing the research that resulted in my becoming a fiscal conservative and Republican. David Letterman’s vile jokes about Gov. Palin AND her family are a continuation of this scorched-earth campaign against her. Why? Well, in the fall of 2008, she was far and away the most qualified candidate for president, based on her experience in the executive branch, her intelligent grasp of fiscal conservative economic principles and her charisma and eloquence. She is still the most qualified candidate for president in either party. I think she is the only person on earth that Obama truly fears.

I believe Democrats and/or Leftists know in their guts that Gov. Palin is this country’s shining hope of staying — or returning to — capitalism, democracy and prosperity. But they want to hang on to their power — which looks like it is going to drive the U.S. down the same road Venezuela traveled. They are piling on Gov. Palin to take her out. Believe me, a death of a thousand cuts makes you just as dead, career-wise, as one big blow. Getting Letterman fired is going to reduce the numbers of self-appointed twits who are trying to destroy her AND this country. I am FOR women and teen-age girls being treated respectfully. If being FOR this requires me to take out someone who is vocally against that, that is what I will do. I am FOR Gov. Palin. Letterman is not engaging Gov. Palin on issues — he is throwing mud in the hope of defaming her, or at least making her so busy swatting gadflies like him that she can’t go about the business of governing her state and, I hope, preparing to run for the 2012 election for president, assuming Obama has not suspended the Constitution and declared himself president-for-life by then. So, if it helps you, I am FOR swatting this fly. It will greatly reduce the fly population and improve the manners of all the others.

And, Sean, if you did not understand how urgently the Hoffer quote makes the case for getting David Letterman fired, please read his whole book. The passage I selected exactly describes the peril we are in now. You may just still be in the denial stage.

Cynthia

marik7

Eric Hoffer has been dead since the early 80s. I don’t believe that he said anything about Letterman or Palin, unless you’re blogging from the beyond.

http://www.aconservativelesbian.com Cynthia Yockey

Marik7,

Let me translate Hoffer’s quote for you so you can see how it applies. Letterman, and his ilk, who are ridiculing Gov. Palin and her daughters, are the “faultfinding [men] of words” and “militant [men] of words.” That is, their weapons are ridicule and vicious words. They do not engage reasonably on matters of policy. The accumulated result of their assaults on free societies — the democratic, capitalistic ones — is to make people eager to give up their liberty for the promised virtues and security of a totalitarian government. That’s what Hoffer meant when he said a “faultfinding man of words,” which in this case is Letterman, “prepares the ground not for a society of freethinking individuals but for a corporate society that cherishes utmost unity and blind faith.”

Cynthia

P.S.

Hoffer’s term “corporate society” is an allusion to the economic theory of corporatism. You can find a quick explanation of corporatism at Wikipedia here. Better yet, read Jonah Goldberg’s book Liberal Fascism. His explanation is more detailed and sets corporatism in context with similar and competing totalitarian ideologies. However, it is a pity that Goldberg seems utterly unaware of Hoffer’s work, which is a flabbergasting gap in the arguments he makes.

marik7

Didn’t Sarah Palin tell us that Bristol was going to get married?

What’s up with that?
Lee W. Dodson

Letterman is only funny to snobs, and he’s always had a mean streak. I say that if you don’t get the guy fired this time, he’ll self destruct somewhere down the road, like when he tries to defend the powers for the total screw up on the economy. Give it three months, and there’ll be so much toast out there Smuckers will run outta jam.

BTW
Lee W. Dodson

Continued:

Glad somebody is reading and remembering Hoffer. I thought he made Rand look silly and petty.

Met him once, old and blind, on the wharf. Smart and learning till the second he died.
George

The networks are dying on their feet and they are going to become even less responsible broadcasters as they die o
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/author/smann/ Schizoid Mann

I don’t want to see Dave get fired, as such, but on the other hand, many folks are right, if you don’t put your foot down here, you had better expect the floodgates to open concerning vulgarities and insults about Palin, conservatives, republicans, anyone who the Left media decides needs ridicule.

Put yourself in the Gov’s shoes. If this was your daughter, 18, or 14, would you stand for it? I’d belt the guy who said it in the jaw, if it were me. And take down his writers too, since we all know they wrote the joke, not Letterman. But he is the captain of this ship. He must take responsibility. He hasn’t, fully, done that. Pseudo apologies are not enough and they are only attempts to keep his show and ratings. That’s all. If anyone believes Letterman is sorry for what he said, I have some GM stock I’d like to sell.

Either make CBS and Letterman pay for their smut and insults or be prepared for the onslaught of lots, lots more of the same.

Either that, or do rape jokes about Obama’s girls. Yeah, right. See how far you get. You’d be lucky to be put in Gitmo for your sins!

Do not watch CBS and especially Letterman. Just say ‘no’. You have the power. Use it wisely.
.-= Schizoid Mann´s last blog ..I Come to Praise Bill Maher, Not to Bury Him =-.
http://anotherblackconservative.blogspot.com/ Clifton B

“If we don’t take out this bully, we’ll be swarmed by the millions who will follow his example.”

100% correct, and right on cue, here is Bill Maher!
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jarone/2009/06/15/bill-maher-real-time-real-man/
.-= Clifton B´s last blog ..Pervert Letterman apologizes again … poorly =-.
http://www.inlookout.com InLookOut

The phony outrage over this manufactured controversy is so pathetic.

Has Sarah Palin yet to apologize to all the rape victims in Wasilla for the rape kits she charged them for while mayor?

If Palin is anything other than accepting of Letterman’s apology tomorrow she’ll simply add to the perception that she’s nothing more than a publicity wh0re, who uses her family to further her own political ambitions.

Tell me, were you this outraged when McCain refused to return the 300K fundraised by Clayton Williams last year? When he learned that Clayton had previously said that rape was like bad weather: “As long as it’s inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it.” ?

Oh the hypocrisy.
.-= InLookOut´s last blog ..Lesbian couple seeks apology, policy changes from Fresno hospital for denying partner access =-.
Peg C.

Cynthia, superb post. I’m on board with this!

The Seans of the world are lost to the Borg. They can’t see their own side is pickled in the past, in minutia and in hatred in general.

I want Letterman fired because he has become the poster child for so much nihilism in the present culture. The problem with the Left is they have no shame, no humility and no civility. If we let their degradations pass, we contribute to our own destruction as a society.
syn

“Average people I know agree it was tastleless, but are just getting sick of the topic already.”

Sick of what?

Dave Letterman’s lazy comedy, his perverted jokes about children, his arrogance of being able to hide behind the mask of ‘artist’ when he isn’t an artist.

Personally, I am done with the entertainment industry all together; it’s boring, repetitive retread, foul, lazy, condescending mush with too much eye-candy void of substance.

I have tuned out and turned off; I found was rotting my brain and polluting my soul.

In other words, the only thing TV People can create anymore is a sick society so if you want good health care stop consuming entertainment’s junk.

Hollywood Entertainment, the addictive opiate of mindless masses.
Brian Macker

“The New York Times story on the apology today notes that Letterman said in his latest apology he was told Gov. Palin attended the Yankees game he mentioned in his insults with former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and said, “I should have made the joke about Rudy.” What? Instead of Alex Rodriguez?”

Well, I understand Rodriguez wouldn’t be too happy about being assumed a probable statutory rapist and pedophile.

I’ve got an even better idea, Letterman. Make it about a visit to the White House and Obama as black rapist and see how funny it will be.

Sorry but I can’t get too upset about making fun of politicians. After all the very fact they are running for office indicates that they think they are better than everyone else. They need to be taken down a notch. So the Stewardess joke is just fine, and in fact funny.

Come on, you’ve never heard a joke about how a male politician dresses? Men get kidded about how they dress all the time. Ever watch American Idol? Ryan Seacrest often quips about Simon Cowell’s clothes.

The joke about Willow crossed the line but sorry I can’t get too upset about it. Not enough to get a comedian fired over it. He’s not a school teacher.
Pingback: Moe Lane » Letterman apology, take two.
http://aconservativeteacher.blogspot.com/ A Conservative Teacher

http://www.firedavidletterman.com

This website has a list of advertisers for the Letterman show and their email addresses. Email away.
.-= A Conservative Teacher´s last blog ..A Proper Reaction to David Letterman =-.
http://aconservativeteacher.blogspot.com/ A Conservative Teacher

http://www.firedavidletterman.com

This website has a list of advertisers for the Letterman show and their email addresses. Email away.
Fen

“Being against David Letterman won’t get Republicans anywhere.”

But you’re the only one claiming that defines Republicans. I get the sense that you just don’t want us to talk about Letterman’s rape joke. And again, you make the typcial Leftists appeal to conformity: “if do x people will think we’re cool”.

“You folks need to realize there’s only enough time and space in the evening newscasts… the limited time we have to communicate with America.”

Lame attempt. I’m expected to believe you are really a conservative waiting on the likes of CBS or NBC to throw you a bone? Seriously? Next time, do a bit of research on conservatives before you attempt to impersonate one.
Pingback: It’s Time to Start Figting Back « The Right Cup of Tea
bobsmith

Cynthia, you’re understandably upset about Letterman’s jokes, but I don’t see anywhere in the post what his firing is supposed to accomplish, other than the fleeting feeling of having won a battle.

“If we don’t take out this bully, we’ll be swarmed by the millions who will follow his example…That is why we must work to get David Letterman fired like the fate of our nation depends on the success of our efforts — because it does.”

How and why is the fate of our nation in the balance? Maybe I’m a rube for asking the question, but you’re gonna have to convince some moderates like me that giving Letterman the ax is warranted in order to get CBS to listen. Otherwise, with all due respect, this sounds like a huge exaggeration.

I think you may be attaching too much symbolic weight to the prospect of ousting Letterman, as if getting rid of him could by itself cure a whole host of ills. Remember, he’s not the white whale; he’s just one jerk entertainer.
apetra

First apology was as bad as, or worse than, the original joke.

“I *liked* the joke!” … “She [Bristol] *was* knocked up.”

http://www.aconservativelesbian.com Cynthia Yockey

Apetra,

I agree. Also, I note that Letterman’s apology only addressed the rape joke. Is he too out-of-touch to know about YouTube? He is in trouble for ALL the vile, woman-hating, Palin-bashing jokes he told last week.

Cynthia

TC

I’m 100% positive that all the people who are sick of the Letterman story felt precisely the same way about Don Imus who made tasteless remarks about young women all over 18. It was a campaign that wouldn’t get Democrats anywhere so they all gave up on it quickly. Right? That happened didn’t it? Imus never got fired did he? Jimmy the Greek either, he didn’t get fired for a tasteless remark.
Roger

Good post–and thanks for doing right.
Pingback: The WyBlog
Me

Sorry, but a campaign to get Letterman fired is hypocritical and wasteful. Did Letterman say some offensive things? Yes (although I think there’s some ambiguity in regards to which daughter he was talking about…the host and his staff may have not known that the older daughter was not traveling with Palin). But getting people fired for making tasteless remarks is a tactic of the mirthless left not the free speech right.

Letterman has made plenty of jokes that could be deemed offensive over the years. Some have been on target and others have been juvenile blustering (I’m thinking of his notorious Limbaugh interview). His strong turn to the left over the last 5-6 years notwithstanding, Letterman is generally still a very talented entertainer, who, like many entertainers, occasionally crosses the line. That he has apologized, without pressure from CBS, albeit grudgingly, should be enough for sensible, grown-up people.

Leave the calls for firings to the juveniles on the other side of the political divide. They are the ones who try ot get people fired for their speech, not the classically liberal right.
Me

I have to add, given the comments here and the inflammatory language, that I suspect there are several people commenting who have not read or seen the original Letterman comments or heard his apology. It’s clear that 1) Letterman and his staff were not intending to refer to Palin’s underage daughter in the joke, but to her 18 year old, and 2) That Letterman admits the joke was tasteless and regrets telling it (but in the context of such hazards being the nature of comedy.)

Banding about accusations of “rape” and “pedophilia” jokes is rhetoric that offers no benefit of a doubt to the other parties. Bloggers and writers publish stuff all the time that can be misunderstood (or that is clumsily worded or offered). Just because the left plays this game of using every mistake or ambigiously worded comment as an attempt to ruin people’s careers doesn’t make it right. Do not repay evil with evil.

http://www.aconservativelesbian.com Cynthia Yockey

Me,

If you do not understand why Letterman must be fired, you do not understand the problem.

To review the videos of the offensive material, except for the pseudo-apology last night, see my post, “Your handy ‘Fire David Letterman’ Kit, Part One.”

Cynthia

http://www.pointofagun.blogspot.com Dave C

For what it’s worth,
count me in.

Speech is free.. and has consequences.

It’s a lesson Letterman is going to learn the hard way.
.-= Dave C´s last blog ..Images From Iran =-.
Tristan

Don’t believe that NYT story. I commented on that story that several of the suppliers that I had written to (I picked about ten and sent about eighteen emails total) had sent me replies telling me that they did not consider the content of the show appropriate, were discussing the matter with CBS, and were making decisions about their advertising spending. Alas, that comment is still in “moderation” 12 hours and two pages of comments later. FYI I also used the NOW link to contact CBS.

http://www.aconservativelesbian.com Cynthia Yockey

Tristan,

It would be a HUGE help if you would e-mail me both your e-mails to the sponsors and their replies along with permission to post them. If you are willing to do that, please send them to cynthia at conservativelesbian.com.

I didn’t believe the NY Times, either, but we need to supply proof.

Thank you.

Cynthia

Me

Cynthia,

That’s not an answer to any of my points, it’s just a restatement of your position, “fire Letterman” and continuing to stand behind what may be an erroneous characterization of the original comments, which I’ve read.

Shall I respond that maybe you don’t understand free speech? That’s not my point though (and it would be just an extension of the faulty logic on display through much of this thread). My point is that taking offense at someone’s speech is one thing. Trying to destroy their career for a mistake is another. It’s the kind of thing that leftists do when they can’t think of any other way to get at people on the right. It’s intellectually dishonest and counter-productive.

Moreso, Letterman’s not going anywhere. His apology will be good enough for CBS and quite frankly, should be good enough for most sensible people. What you’ll only wind up doing is taking Palin’s moral victory on the issue and turning it into an unnecessary personal defeat, and for no useful purpose.

http://www.aconservativelesbian.com Cynthia Yockey

Me,

I did answer your points and you did not understand my answers, or you agree with the misogyny underlying Letterman’s remarks.

David Letterman did not make a mistake. He is on a vendetta against successful, smart women in general and conservative women in particular. I am going to post an example from Little Miss Attila of what he did to Joan Collins to demonstrate that he is a remorseless, dastardly serial offender. He is not being censored, his free speech is not being limited. He is happy about dishing about punishment, just not so happy about taking it. Free speech is being applied to make him feel the consequences of his actions.

As a commenter at Little Miss Attila’s site pointed out, Letterman is being tried in the court of opinion, where he has ample opportunity to defend himself and becloud his offenses. I am arguing for the prosecution that his vicious insults and misogynistic rants do not belong on the public airwaves and therefore CBS should fire him. They fired Don Imus for a much lesser extemporaneous one-time remark. Why, it is both racist AND sexist not to fire Letterman, whose offenses were planned and scripted with malice of forethought, and repeated and elaborated on with glee, including in both sham apologies. It is my ambition to make Letterman both unemployed and radioactive to future employment because he is not a free speech martyr, he is an unfunny despicable bully who is using the phony claim of comedy to destroy a prominent woman AND her children AND to intimidate other women so they don’t get too uppity.

However, I am a reasonable woman. If Letterman announces he will leave his show this week so he can spend more time with the son he sired out-of-wedlock — by which I mean he will never appear on “The Late Show” in any capacity ever again, starting immediately — then I’ll stop my campaign to persuade CBS to fire him.

Cynthia

lsi

he has to go … Imus was fired for much less …
http://www.thunderrun.us/ David M

Sean:
Comment 16

This isn’t about defing a Reublican message, this is about being civil in our discourse. As Cynthia has stated in numerous comments here, Letterman must be held to the same standard to which Imus was held. If it is now acceptable to “joke” about a 14 year old being raped by a baseball player, then what did Imus say that was so bad?

Letterman needs to be fired because he has stepped beyond the bounds of decency.
.-= David M´s last blog ..From the Front: 06/16/2009 =-.
http://e3gazette.com The Monster

Has Sarah Palin yet to apologize to all the rape victims in Wasilla for the rape kits she charged them for while mayor?

Have you stopped beating your wife?

She never charged anyone for a rape kit. Therefore, by apologizing to no one, she has literally apologized to all such victims.
http://www.inlookout.com InLookOut

Has it made any difference at all that Palin actually accepted Letterman’s apology? Even she knows when to call it quits… Do you?

I’m still waiting to hear if Palin will apologize to rape victims in Wasilla for charging them for rape kits.

Or from this blogger… if she was also just as outraged when McCain took 300K from a man who made an equally offensive joke about rape.

See earlier comment…
.-= InLookOut´s last blog ..Lesbian couple seeks apology, policy changes from Fresno hospital for denying partner access =-.

http://www.aconservativelesbian.com Cynthia Yockey

InLookOut,

I am glad Gov. Palin did the gracious thing and accepted Letterman’s fake apology. However, Letterman’s vile remarks affect ALL women, and he is a serial offender who has put all women on notice that he will stop at nothing to tear them down. So Gov. Palin’s graciousness cannot save him.

Since you are spreading the rape kit libel, I suspect you are a woman and like me, got most of the lying anti-Palin e-mails that feminist groups propagated in the fall of 2008 in their maniacal and self-serving campaign to keep their pro-abortion money flowing into their coffers. As I pointed out in my post, “Save the wolves! Palin for president!” the Down syndrome baby is their best boogey-fetus to scare women into supporting abortion. Personally, I support abortion for up to the first four months of pregnancy because I think if we do not have the sole determining power to decide whether the fetus lives or dies in that time, we become the property of a religion or the state as baby makers. But so-called women’s rights groups were out of their minds with the fear that Gov. Palin’s happiness with her Down syndrome child and public success in rearing him would reduce their income from pro-abortion fundraising. There was no lie they would not tell.

Now it appears there is no joke Letterman won’t tell to destroy people he hates. Let him do it in his own living room — but not on the public airwaves.

As for McCain, it is up to the people of Arizona to decide whether he keeps his job.

Cynthia

I R A Darth Aggie

Letterman and his staff were not intending to refer to Palin’s underage daughter in the joke, but to her 18 year old

I call…bovine scatology on this “excuse”. Doesn’t Letterman or his staff know how to read? surely they where reading the articles in the NY Times of the NY Post about the Governor’s trip? and knew which family members where travelling with the Gov. Palin?

So, either they knew that Willow as the daughter in question, or they’re idiots who can’t do their job properly. In either case, that warrants dismissal.

Now, fast forward to the next night. By this point, it’s been noted that Bristol is not in New York. Letterman or his staff should be aware of this if they were paying attention. Yet, Letterman makes a crack about having to keep Spitzer away from the daughter.

So, we’ve moved from statutory rape as a joke, to statutory rape and underage prostitution as a joke. Which part of that is funny?

And that’s not even mention that he slimed a wise, Hispanic male as a sexual predator. Where’s La Raza when you need them?
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Fen

Me: It’s clear that 1) Letterman and his staff were not intending to refer to Palin’s underage daughter in the joke

No. Its not clear. Whats clear is thats their excuse

but to her 18 year old,

So rape jokes about 18 year old girls are better than rape jokes about 14 year olds? Thats your defense? Less pathetic is still pathetic.

That he has apologized, without pressure from CBS, albeit grudgingly

Again, you claim knowledge unavailable to the public. How do you know he wasn’t pressured by CBS? His language sure has alot of lawyer-speak in it. Do you work for CBS? Part of their PR team?

And for such a low-intensity issue, you sure seem invested in it.
http://www.inlookout.com InLookOut

Nice framing Fen. With a 14-year-old its certifiably rape. But with an 18-year-old it’s not always rape… some times it’s consenting. Since Letterman was referring to the 18-year-old who had already been knocked up, is it still a rape joke? Don’t think so.

“…it is up to the people of Arizona to decide” Yockey, what a cop out. He was running for POTUS at the time, and that’s what the money was used for. And he kept it. So it went well beyond the people of Arizona. But I’m sure, as a conservative, it’s much easier for you to forgive McCain, that to forgive Letterman.

By the way… I am not a woman.
.-= InLookOut´s last blog ..New York Times blasts Obama’s defense of DOMA =-.

http://www.aconservativelesbian.com Cynthia Yockey

InLookOut,

OK, so you aren’t a woman.

I agree the rape joke McCain is alleged to have told in 1986 is repugnant. The one told by his fundraiser is actually so common an expression, “might as well lie back and enjoy it,” that I’m not very worried about it. McCain has done plenty to redeem himself. Here’s just one example: McCain had far more women on his staff during the presidential campaign, working at high levels of the campaign, and earning more than their male peers, than Obama did. HillBuzz has the rundown on Obama’s long history of sexism. McCain AND Palin both had more openly gay people serving on their campaign staff than Obama, too. Plus, Obama campaigned with an ex-gay and currently is doing more damage to the cause of gay equality than anyone ever has before.

You seem to feel Obama does not need to return any of the hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign money he got illegally from overseas donors, or the millions received from donors with fake names like “Good Will” and fake addresses. He obtained this money by having the address verification system turned off for his online donation page. Conservative bloggers were posting screen captures proving they had donated money from such names and addresses as “Saddam Hussein, Spider Hole, Tikrit.” I’m pretty sure I can persuade Sen. McCain to return that $300,000 if you can persuade Obama to go to jail for his campaign finance violations and return all the money he obtained illegally.

If McCain really told that joke in 1986, his record with humor and women certainly improved enough to give him absolution. However, Letterman is an unrepentant, serial offender. Letterman told the “rape Willow” joke and “slutty flight attendant joke” both on Monday, June 8. His reaction to the objections was to joke that Willow was a prostitute the next night. The following night was a phony apology played totally for laughs. And last night’s apology addressed only his rape joke. He is a sexist who viciously attacks women he hates, claiming it is comedy. His objective is to destroy their lives and/or careers. And he wants to intimidate any girl or woman who might follow in their footsteps. That is why Letterman’s career is over. He is a survivor of a quintuple-bypass and he should quit or be fired so he can spend his twilight years with the five-year-old son he sired out-of-wedlock and his son’s mother, whom he only recently deigned to marry (on March 19).

Also, how is it possible you do not understand that because McCain is one of Arizona’s senators, it is that state’s voters who have power to remove him by electing someone else in his place? If you feel justice will be served by mounting a protest against McCain with the aim of punishing him for a joke he told in 1986 and a joke a campaign donor told in 2008, knock yourself out.

Cynthia

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http://www.inlookout.com InLookOut

Get your facts straight, Yockey, McCain didn’t say it… Clayton Williams a donor said it. You wasted all that time on your reply and you couldn’t even get that right.

I was never talking about recalling McCain, or mounting a protest… wouldn’t want to steal any of your glory. I was talking about your over-the-top outrage with Letterman, and whether you were similarly outraged with McCain for taking the money. I guess you’re not.

I never said anything about Obama. Nice try in trying to draw me into a debate about him. Fail. This isn’t about Obama. This is about you.

As for the slutty flight attendant remark. I just watched Betty White and Chelsea Lately call each other sluts. Do you want to knock them off the air too? No of course not, they were joking. Which is exactly what Letterman was doing.

By the way, I suggest you not watch Bill Maher. You’d have to mount a crusade every other week. Which would be exhausting.
.-= InLookOut´s last blog ..New York Times blasts Obama’s defense of DOMA =-.

http://www.aconservativelesbian.com Cynthia Yockey

InLookOut,

Do not pose as an expert or insult other people when you are the one who is wrong. McCain is alleged to have made a joke in 1986. When I wrote “The one told by his fundraiser,” I was referring to Clayton Williams.

You do not have the level of decency, intelligence and intellectual integrity to get further comments approved here.

Cynthia

apetra

In most of the country, Bristol’s 1st pregnancy would have been considered to have been by an act of sex below the age of consent.
So even if Letterman was talking about her, it was in essence still a “rape joke” — by the standards of all the “enlightened” states, against which Palin’s Alaska is drawn by Letterman’s ilk as oh so backwards and hick. What’s his next distinction spin, between “statutory rape” and “real rape”?
http://www.inlookout.com InLookOut

You’re right though. I misunderstood and thought you had confused both the allegation (which I chose not to cite because it was alleged), and what was on record. If that’s an old expression that’s generally accepted then that’s truly sad. And when you launched into your anti-Obama rant, I just lost track. I apologize. But I stand by everything else I said.
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