"Sarah Palin & David Letterman : Dan Quayle & Murphy Brown"?

I really don't know what to make of this. To me, it was clear from the first time I heard Letterman's monologue that he was referring to Bristol Palin.  Sarah Palin's older daughter whose out-of-wedlock teenage pregnancy became something of an issue during last year's presidential campaign.  And who is also over 18.  And the reason I thought so is that nobody else seems to care about the other Palin children.

It's particularly revealing that this person, who many consider a "front runner" in the GOP for the '12 presidential election, is choosing to spend this much time and effort on such a small issue.  It's really not Letterman's fault that while Palin was advocating abstinence-only, her daughter was not abstaining and because she did not practice or believe in using prophylactics she got pregnant.  And it's not Letterman's fault that it became revealed to everyone because her mother agreed to become the GOP's vice-presidential nominee.

Politicians should know that picking fights with entertainers is not in their interest: they have very little to gain, and the entertainer gets better ratings.

Let it go, Sarah.  There's so much work the GOP must do to pick itself up and become a meaningful alternative to the Democrats for you to waste it on this.

Nothing to see here.

Moving right along . . .

Comments

[Melek]

"It's really not Letterman's fault that while Palin was advocating abstinence-only, her daughter was not abstaining and because she did not practice or believe in using prophylactics she got pregnant. And it's not Letterman's fault that it became revealed to everyone because her mother agreed to become the GOP's vice-presidential nominee."

Roberto, ... soo basically ... it's fair play ... "she asked for it?" Hum ... I'm sorry, but Letterman was way out of line with this "routine" ... Bristol was not at the game ... and he may have tried to imply that just like her ... her younger sister was on the same track ... this was black humor far from funny ... and no one should be singled-out and targeted blatantly regardless of their political persuasion ... there's no justification for his nasty attack "dipped" or disguised as a comedy routine!

As a woman and a mother, I found it hateful & insulting ...

This is in no way the same, but it reminds me of the women who are victim of rape ... and those who state: ... "I'm not surprised ... look at the way she dresses ..." Quite sad!!! Wrong is not relative ... and this was totally wrong!! :(

I wish you well :) Melek

"Everybody is in favor of free speech.
Hardly a day passes without its being extolled,
but some people's idea of it is that
they are free to say what they like,
but if anyone says anything back,
that is an outrage."~ Churchill

[La Ventanita]

I have to agree with Melek on this one. Even if the attack was on Bristol, this sort of gratuitous personal attacks on a politicians family members are wrong. In particular, when he made a remark about Palin herself on a "slutty flight attendant look".

When did personal attacks become the norm? What is the limit to this new way of disqualifying politicians not for their beliefs but for the way they look?

Are you telling me that if it had been one of Obama's daughters at the game and in the joke (even if she was 18 now) the WH and the rest of the left would not be insulted?

[El Loco]

Melek & LV,

My point wasn't that Letterman's attack was OK. I've seen and heard worse, but that doesn't make it right. My point was that when I heard the comment, I didn't know who was at the game and who wasn't but I thought of Bristol and not of any of her siblings, which is what Dave was arguing. I believe him because that's what I thought at the time I heard the comment, which was before Dave did his 'splaining.

Roberto, ... soo basically ... it's fair play ... "she asked for it?"

You keep blowing my cover, Melek!

But seriously, I don't think anybody "asked for" anything. Still, it was Sarah Palin who chose to make a point about her daughter's out-of-wedlock pregnancy. And both the Palins and Bristol's ex's family have kept their relationship on the news and tabloids. Personally, I don't think it's anybody's business what they did, do, or will do. But you can't air out your dirty laundry and then expect everyone else to "respect your privacy." Had I been Sarah Palin or her husband, I would have left Bristol in Alaska with her boyfriend to let them try to put together a life for their kid and not brought them on the campaign trail.

Personally, I think she exploited her daughter's pregnancy for political purpose.

And, LV, I didn't catch the "slutty flight attendant look" comment. I actually find that comment more offensive than the one about Bristol.

When did personal attacks become the norm?

I don't think the original comment was a personal attack, but rather, a bad joke. A really ill-conceived bad joke. But again, that stuff happens when you're a public persona.

Offensive? Yes. But lets move on to something a little more substantive, shall we? If the right is so bent out of shape, it can boycott Letterman's sponsors, and it can use the power of the remote to watch something else.

Oh, wait. I forgot you call that censorship and not free speech.

[La Ventanita]

No Roberto, we call it censorship if NOW (the group not the time) all of a sudden would ask for Letterman to be fired, the way they fired Imus.

He can say whatever he wants, and he can be boycotted, there are responsibilities for your actions.

[El Loco]

No Roberto, we call it censorship if NOW (the group not the time) all of a sudden would ask for Letterman to be fired, the way they fired Imus.

Then I guess this Republican would be guilty of censorship:

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/kolb-to-moonves-letterman-must-step-down/85/

And, BTW, keep blowing my cover, LV!

[La Ventanita]

God I'm sorry Loco! Jeez we are all so bad at "covering" ourselves! Melek is the only one who always keeps her cover!