Is the 'fire David Letterman' movement moot now that Letterman apologizes (again) about the 'bad' jokes directed at Gov. Sarah Palin (who accepted, see below) and her daughter, and will the Letterman apology stop the "fire David Letterman" movement at FireDavidLetterman.com?
Update: 06.17.09
7:24 a.m. EST
"Bill Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time," called the apology that Letterman issued Monday [to Gov. Sarah Palin, her daughters and family]" a real shame. David Letterman should not have had to apologize," Maher told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on The Situation Room. "I've known David Letterman a long time."
Maher's vote of support is comical in its context regardless of how one feels about the "off-color" -- CNN characterizes it -- joke about Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter. Who else is least likely to positively influence those who were severly offended by Letterman's comments.
Watch the CNN video:
In other news, Letterman retains his brand of humor during a Tuesday taping for The Late Show, "included a bit entitled Top 10 things overheard at the 'Fire David Letterman' rally." -- LA Times At least this joke makes sense.
06.15.09
8:34 a.m. EST -- ABC News reports that Sarah Palin has accepted David Letterman's apology and released the following statement:
"Of course it's accepted on behalf of young women, like my daughters, who hope men who 'joke' about public displays of sexual exploitation of girls will soon evolve," the statement read. in part.
The David Lettermam apology to the Palins and the public:
""I've never made jokes like this as long as we've been on the air, 30 long years, and you can't really be doing jokes like that," Letterman said, referring to the inappropriate thing some thought that he was saying. "And I understand, of course, why people are upset. I would be upset myself." -- See the full text of the Letterman apology on E! or watch this video and judge for yourself if the apology is sufficient.
David Letterman apologizes on the Late Show (June 15, 2009) video
Original Article entitled: Rally to fire David Letterman at firedavidletterman.com, Regina Lasko attacks
A new advocacy website FireDavidLetterman.com makes news today as the anger .jpg)
meme towards the host of the CBS Late Night Show continues, shown by a rally to compel CBS to fire David Letterman. The grassroots website and "fire David Letterman" campaign stem from inappropriate remarks the late night star made last week concerning Gov. Sarah Palin and one of her daughters as the two were visiting New York City. The remarks were deemed “desperate jokes” by Letterman.
Though some viewers have sincere, if not legally valid, arguments as they rally to see David Letterman fired, others are attacking unrelated parties including Regina Lasko, Letterman's wife (see below). Additionally, in Letterman vs. Palin, the issue has turned somewhat partisian as attacks about Sarah Palin's character continues status quo.
Asthetically modeled after the Drudge Report, FireDavidLetterman.com headlines a "Fire David Letterman" rally and a related mission statement to include:
“David Letterman Must Held Be [sic] Accountable For His Disgraceful Statements”
and
“62 Year Old Letterman Violates Common Decency
With Sexist Insults of 14 Year Old Girl [sic]”
Contacts for FireDavidLetterman.com include New York State Assemblyman Brian Kolb, Attorney Gwendolyn Lindsay-Jackson and John Ziegler, radio talk show host and producer of Media Malpractice.
At the site, interested parties are encouraged to become involved in the "Fire David Letterman" campaign. Highlights include a CBS / Letterman protest rally scheduled for Tuesday, June 16 to be held at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.
Additional instructions from the grassroots site include advice on sending emails (of moral outrage) to CBS, to comment on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook and to blog on related issues.
Citizens who desire to see CBS fire David Letterman are also encouraged to hit where it hurts most, via advertisers. A contact list and sample emails are included.
This is not the first loosely organized movement to target David Letterman following the spurious comments, as Z on TV points out:
"Some conservatives and conservative groups are calling for a boycott of marketers who advertise on David Letterman’s late-night talk show on CBS because of the jokes he told about Sarah Palin and her family last week."
History behind the David Letterman should be fired movement
To recap the incidents that led to the creation of FireDavidLetterman.com, the veteran talk show host made two "jokes" last week that inflamed the Palins and their supporters – along with some formerly neutral parties, apparently.
First, in a Top 10 list segment on things Sarah Palin can do during her NYC trip, one “desperate joke” – as characterized by Letterman – includes instructions on where Sarah Palin can go to keep her “slutty flight attendant” appearance.
While low on taste, the aforementioned insult is relatively benign when considering jokes and editorials involving public figures.
What has the talk show host in trouble, per se, is a remark made during that night's monologue.
“One awkward moment though…awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game…during the seventh inning “her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez.” -- David Letterman
David Letterman joke about Sarah Palin’s daughter (video)
Gov. Palin responded initially with the following statement:
"Concerning Letterman's comments about my young daughter (and I doubt he'd ever dare make such comments about anyone else's daughter): 'Laughter incited by sexually-perverted comments made by a 62-year-old male celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl is not only disgusting, but it reminds us some Hollywood/NY entertainers have a long way to go in understanding what the rest of America understands -- that acceptance of inappropriate sexual comments about an underage girl, who could be anyone's daughter, contributes to the atrociously high rate of sexual exploitation of minors by older men who use and abuse others.” --Newsweek
David Letterman, for his part, latter clarified that the jokes were ugly but that he “would never, never make jokes about raping or having sex of any description with a 14-year-old girl.” See Letterman’s full response in the video below.
David Letterman's apology/response on the Palin comments
Many people, including those who support the Palins, do not feel that David Letterman will be fired, yet the possibility remains and the FireDavidLetterman.com site may be more than hot air.
Talk show personalities have had their employment terminated regarding inappropriate comments (made in jest or otherwise) in the past, facilitated by the social media, including Don Imus. There is obviously animosity towards the talk show host as demonstrated by the comments against his new wife, Regina Lasko, in the article More Regina Lasko photos found, (See comment section.)
CBS has yet to comment on the Letterman-Palin feud but some entertainment pundits speculate that the show's ratings may improve as a consequence.
Do you think David Letterman will (or should be) fired? Post your comments below.
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Fire David Letterman campaign sends a message worth listening to
Comments
A comedian made a joke about a politician's family... hmmm. I guess her overblown indignation is easier than discussing issues. I wonder how this compares to jokes made about Chelsea Clinton and the Bush daughters, and whether their presidential parents ever jumped up on a soapbox to demand that people stop picking on them. At least she is able to use this to keep her name (and her daughter's) in the news for a few more days.
It was inappropriate Brad S. and you know it.
I have never before heard an entertainer say anything like this regarding a politician's child. I don't like the partisan politics Letterman plays with. It is one thing to disparage Palin, but totally another to bring her family into it. He definitely would not have said this about a liberal's daughter. I also have 3 daughters and I agree that what Letterman did feeds the social inequity girls already have to combat.
CBS should fire David Letterman, and they would in a different economy. Maybe the advertisers will listen to other than the liberal noisemakers who do not represent common decency. This is NOT about Sarah Palin...wake up CBS and Letterman (who would enjoy the infamy of being fired over this, yes?, esp. with Conan now.)
This is ridiculous. Give me a break that you have never before heard a comedian say like this about a politician's child. It was a joke, perhaps in poor taste, but just a joke. You would think that the guy had made an advance on her daughter or something. Palin was probably just so excited to have something like this happen because she is a complete media whore and to be honest, I am ashamed that I even read this article because the whole thing is just stupid.
Last September, a skit on Saturday Night Live suggested incest in the Palin family. "What about the husband?" asked a mock Times reporter. "You know he's doing those daughters. I mean, come on. It's Alaska!" No outrage. Sarah Palin appeared on the show one month later in late October.
Days after the announcement of Bristol's pregnancy, Conan O'Brien joked, "It's true, John McCain's running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, has revealed that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. Palin said, 'We should never have introduced her to John Edwards.'" Where was the outrage? Was Conan promoting infidelity with an underage girl?
From two different Tonight Shows: "Governor Palin announced over the weekend that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant. Oh, boy, you thought John Edwards was in trouble before, now he's really done it!" AND..."All the Republicans are heaping praise on Governor Palin. Fred Thompson said, as an actor, he could see them making a movie about Sar
Went to check the rally to fire Letterman over the Palin jokes, and the firedavidletterman.com site appears to be put together in haste with lots of typos etc. YoYo has some good points about former insults during the campaign. Still if Letterman was contrite, he wouldn't of egged on the audience with more pot-stirring "humor" when he "apologized." Letterman deserves his troubles, fired or not. Just because Palin doesn't behave properly is irrelevant to the standards TV (and the media) should uphold. I care about my kids, not Letterman or Palin's troubles.
The idiot should be fired Period......and I have never watched his show and for sure now I never will....It makes no sense that he or anyone else would think that that nstatement was nthe least bit funny....Int was sick....
Sure, the joke was not in good taste, but, most comedians' jokes aren't. Dave is not a mean person. He was talking about the 18 year old daughter who had been "knocked up". Actually, I thought it was funny. Let him say he was sorry and drop it.
Yes, David should be fired. Imus got fired for an inappropriate remark spoken off the cuff. He is an entertainer who does comedy. David "joke" was premeditated, deemed appropriate and put on prompter before he ever went to air. Besides isn't a joke supposed to be funny? Which posters here on this website actually thought it was funny to talk about anyone's children in this way? And No, comedians do not always make fun of politician's children. A rule in politics has always been to leave the children alone. Except the left doesn't ever follow the same rules, and conservatives are outraged by other Palin family jokes, but you just don't see that in the media. They should have fired SNL writers and Conan too. However, this transcends left/right, this is about common decency shown toward our young women today, regardless of which side of the political spectrum you or they fall. Labeling something "Comedy" doesn't make it ok to say vulgar things anytime you want. Words have consequences!
I feel he should have been held accountable as "in his words" were directed to their 18 year old daughter. that is no excuse as she didn't deserve that on what happens in her private live. Also how would he know what a "slutty airline stewardes" look like did you see thw woman he knocked up and didn't marry for how many years after the birth of her son.. GOOD TASTE David YUK
Johnny Carson would NEVER had thought of doing this kind of 'joke'. Davey should be fired and Craig Ferguson should replace him. At least he doesn't do 'rape humor'.
You pathetic sick people why don't you all go out a cut your wrists. I would love to see every democrat in the country drop dead tomorrow, I hate them, they are incompetent morally corrupt and so out of touch with reality that they might as well be living on Mars. They have nothing in there favor but you morons. Sarah Palin paraded her children and her family around like a bunch of trained monkeys and if she and the rest of you idiots are offended by Dave's remarks well tough sh** thats the pitfall of public service.
If she runs again in 2012 she will have my vote, if she promotes any part of this mass act of republican assine stupidity she can roy in hell
His comments were disgusting and he should be fired. Both he and CBS should be fined. I will support a boycott of any advertiser of his show.
letterman is a low life pig and should be fired!!!!!!!!!!!his writers put it there and he said it. what a big ignorant ahole...oh yeah he finally got married so his son is no longer a bastard!!!!
Wow. I've never seen more comments from ignorant peckerwoods in one place in my entire life. Palin is just trying to keep her name in the spotlight until she can start running again next year (yes, it will begin that early). You people act like Letterman has some history of being a child molester. He does not. And the implication that he advocates "rape" of a 14 year old is just so utterly ignorant. Most importantly, there ARE 14 year old girls out there being raped and molested, and Palin is only trivializing a REAL problem that exists. It is utterly insulting to the unfortunate young girls and boys that HAVE BEEN molested. Her continuing efforts to paint Letterman as a dirty old pervert who degrades girls and women so misdirected... if she really cares, why doesn't she go after gangsta rappers and their utterly degrading treatment of women as nothing better than pieces of meat to be used and tossed away. Oh wait... it's much different going after rappers than harmless old men.
I guess she needs the air time. This is ridiculous. It's obvious he was talking about her 18 year old unmarried daughter who was knocked up by a teenage high school hockey player. Her parenting is in question more than a late night comics crude humor. And the term soccer mom is not a compliment, it's an insult to any woman with any self respect. She's insulted all women with that horrible title. She's using her children to get air time, after parading constantly, during late hours at campaign rallies. She's a poor parent, a terrible woman and an insult to all thinking women. Stay out of the public eye, stop parading your children around like little robots and using them for political gain. She's a disgrace to my gender.
Talk about blowing a spark into a blaze, trying to any way. Palin, go home and stay there. Letterman is much more of a standup guy than you're making him out to be and have twisted this all around. Take if for what its worth, an off comment from a comedian. The only thing funnier is Palin running for VP and expecting to win. Ridiculous!!
Letterman should be fired now, all advertisers should be boycotted & CBS should have put a stop to his behavior when it first started. CBS is just as much to blame as letterman.As far as I'm concerned we should all watch FOX
CBS DOES NOT HAVE THE MORAL GUTS TO FIRE LETTERMAN-BUT THEY SHOULD. HE REPRESENTS WHAT IS BAD ABOUT THE DIRECTION THAT THIS COUNTRY IS HEADED. ANYTHING GOES FOR A LAUGH OR A BUCK.
So, David Letterman apologized, he should still be fired. How many apologies have we seen from Imus, Stern, politicians, yaddah, yaddah. Sorry may be the hardest word and this is too little too late -- Dave's ego got the best of him until the pressure was too much.
He should be fired,but he probly won't be after all he's a libral. Anyone with children would be upset at his so called joke. RAPE is not funny.
If David Letterman is fired, then I will rally to get Sarah Palin IMPEACHED !!!!
His ratings are low,his so called jokes arn't funny,and if he didn't hate Sarh Palin so much, he could get more laughs joking about our Vice Pres. Joe Bidden. Sarah has more class for not going after Letterman's child.
No one deserves to be fired more then Mr. Lettermen. His apology does NOT seem sincere.
David Letterman should be fired, he has no decency. He believes he is so powerful he can get away with sexual harrasment of a teen girl on television!If anyone ever spoke of my grandaughters like that they would be looking at some kind of Lawsuit. Leave that poor family alone! Sarah Palin was just trying to help our country.
Sara Palin is a joke. Please, she is just trying to keep her name in the lime light, and she will use any source possible. She's positioning herself to run for President (lord help us). As someone who lives in Alaska and voted for her for Governor... I am ashamed to have been fooled by her. She is all about herself and really has NO IDEA what she is doing. I will NEVER vote for her again and hope the rest of America doesn't. She makes herself out be better than most, but SHE IS NOT. She should not be wasting her time with this silliness with Letterman. She is putting words in Letterman's mouth... things she claimed the media did to her. She should be running the state of Alaska. Sara Palin is a JOKE!
what does a-rod think about him raping a 14 year old girl at the yankee game? sick.
He should be fired. I really hate to say it.
if she were black this would be different...and then the a-hole repeated the joke and you ignorant people laughed again. Dave you are washed up, and not funny any more.
A 62 year old comiedian has no business trashing little girls. This in my opinion is not comedy. I will never stoop so low as to watch the Letterman Show again- Fire Him!!!!
david lettermen deserves and should be fired.
I was molested at the age of l4. When david made that so called joke, it brought back the fear and shame that old man caused. I think it is time for him to go. Now he looks like a dirty old man.
Letterman should be fired. Period! Imus was and there is no difference.
Who the hell does Letterman think he is that he could get away with talking about anyones children or even the horrible remarks about Sarah...If they were african american he would have been fired..apology or not..how dare he talk to any woman anyway he chooses he needs to be fired!!!!!
David should be fired. He's not only deranged, and despicable, but a hipocrite. I haven't heard anyone mention that he knocked up his girlfriend and didn't marry her until after the child was born.
What has happened to common decency in our country? What has Sarah Palin or her family done to deserve this kind of treatment? She was asked to serve our country, drew enormous crowds, speaks fluently, is accomplished, a governor of a very beautiful state and this treatment of herand her family is disgusting. PEOPLE OF AMERICA -- STOP THIS MORAL DECLINE IN OUR COUNTRY, GET BACK TO DECENCY, GET YOUR LIVES IN ORDER AND PRACTICE DECENCY. Really it isn't so hard to be kind and decent. Turn the TV off if programs are offensive!
If anyone talked that way about my daughter, they would get their face punched. I used to like David Letterman but he's not funny anymore. It's time for him to retire.
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, DIDN'T LETTERMAN GET
HIS GIRLFRIEND PREGNANT AND THEN MARRIED HER
SEVERAL YEARS LATER. WHAT A JERK! LETTERMAN SHOULD BE FIRED JUST LIKE THEY FIRED IMUS.
Letterman has always been a bufoon,often vulgar and tasteless, but this time he has really overstepped his boundaries. I suppose he considers himself a great humorist and political satirist,but he has never outgrown relying on high school/college level pranks and jokes. And the losers in the audience who automatically laugh at everything he says regardless of whether it is humorless, tasteless,or downright stupid are just as pathetic as he is. CBS, try to find someone with CLASS to replace him, please!!!
i think david letterman should be fired just as imus was for saying what he said. if palin was black. al sharpton would be all over this,but no he wont back her up.this is against all females not just one.also flight attendances should really be upset and ask for his firing as should alex rod. thank you
Of course, I vote to fire him - when our precious children become fair game for the slings and arrows of dirty old"comedians" it's not only time to shout STOP! but to show our outrage by demanding the ultimate consequence - take him off the air along with all the two-faced judgemental people condemning this poor young girl who made a pretty common and human mistake and in my opinion handled it with incredibe honesty, humility and maturity. Where are the value systems of the people who feel this child should be exploited? I can just hear their reply, "What's a value system?
David Letterman, has taken this joke, way too far. How dare him think that this was an appropriate thing to say on TV. Every woman that is a Mother is outraged at the statement. As far as his apology, he does not seem sincere in the least. HE SHOULD DEFINITELY FIRED.
FIRE HIM NOW . ON ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO EXPLOIT YOUNG GIRLS ON PUBLIC TV. THERE ARE TOO MANY SEX ACTS AGAINST GIRLS AND WOMEN IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY FOR ANYONE TO STAND ON PUBLIC TV AND PROMOTE SUCH ACTS. HE OWES EVERY FEMALE AN APOLOGY. AND IF I WERE A-ROD, I WOULD SUE HIM UNTIL HE DOESN'T HAVE A DIME. OH, DAVID,HOW MANY GHOSTS ARE IN YOUR CLOSET? REMEMBER, PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN'T THROW STONES. DAVID, WHAT WERE YOU DOING WHEN YOU WERE THAT AGE? HOPE YOU ARE NEVER ON TV AGAIN !
I have never watch his show,don't think he funny. If CBS doesn't fired him their station will be block from my TV. David Letterman has been on her case every since she ran for V.president. Who is he to speak having a child before marriage.
David Letterman is one more example of how decadent our society has become. This is also evidenced by the roar of laughter from his studio audience when he made the "comments". His comments regarding Sarah Palin and her daughter were disgusting, offensive and unconscionable and his so-called apology was anything but an apology. Even more appalling was the repeated roar of laughter from his studio audience when he made the "so-called apology". Yes, I think David Letterman should be fired just like Don Imus was fired from his radio show for making "inappropriate and offensive" comments. It has been said that David Letterman was referring not to Sarah Palin's 14 year old daughter but rather her older daughter. That is the most ridiculous statement. This type of comment should not have been made about either daughter. I would like to see CBS do the "right thing" and take a responsible stand in this issue.
Letterman ( and C B S ) are too late to correct the DAMAGE they caused Sara Palin and her DAUGHTERS. FIRE David - BOYCOTT C B S
LETTERMAN IS A NASTY OLD MAN AND SHOULD BE FIRED. I WONDER WHAT HIS NOW WIFE THINKS ABOUT HIM KNOCKING HER UP AND REFUSING TO MARRY HER UNTIL THE LITTLE BOY WAS FIVE.WHAT A SORRY PIECE OF TRASH HE IS.
!Letterman doesn't have any reason to criticise
anyones morality since he waited so long to marry his girlfriend after impregnating her and allowing his child to be born out of wedlock!!
The rape of a child is not humorous whether it was in the past,present or future!!Letterman
should not only be fired, he should be taken out and horse-whipped.
I WAS A BIG FAN OF DAVES SINCE HE STARTRED HOWEVER,THE LAST FEW YEARS HIS JOKES ARE NOT FUNNY AND VERY POLITICIAL
LET ME TELL YOU LAST YEAR I WROTE TO CBS COMPLAINING AB OUT HIS RUDE HOKES TOWARD MRS.PALIN
ITS NOT SOMETHING NEW, ITS NOT A JUST ONCE TIME, BUT THIS TIME HE CROSSED THE LINE, LIKE ANY LION WITH A CUB HE DID WRONG BY GOING FOR TRHE GIRLS.
WHAT UPSET ME EVEN MORE WAS THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT LAUGHED WITH HIM
THIS HAS GOT TO STOP, PULLING PEOPLE DOWN, LOOK AT JOY BAYAR, SHE HAD TO SLAM HER ALSO, HOWEVER, I THINK SHE GOT A LITTLE TALK IN HER EAR AS THE NEXT DAY
MY SHE AGREED WITH MRS. PALIN. SHE IS VERY BAD I WRITE TO ABC ALL THE TIME A BOUT HER RUDENESS SO SOON SHE WILL SLIP TOO.
I LIKED THE VIEW, BUT FIRST ROSIES AND THEN JOY SO I TURN WATCH THE CLIPS FROM THE SHOW AS SHOWN ON FOX NEWS......................
David Letterman is a poor excuse for a human let alone a comedian. I will do everything possible to avoid the TV station he representsuntil they do something about it, and if not there is always FOX ! Maybe management will start to realize what an ignorant person he really is. You know what they say Dave...people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME, I JUST WATCHED THE DAVE SHOW AND IS THAT AN EXPLAINATION OF HIS CRUDE JOKE
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS HOW DOES A ROD FEEL ABOUT BEING MENTIONED IN THIS BAD REMARK??
IT SAMS HIM AS MUCH TOTHINK HE WOULD O THAT TO A YOUNG WOMAN...............
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