Sarah Palin Tells CNN David Letterman's Joke "Sexist, Perverted," Beyond Inappropriate

Palin's Says Letterman was Talking About Statutory Rape

Saul Relative
Saul Relative, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jun 12, 2009 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
Sarah Palin really is on a roll. She can't help herself. Using David Letterman's inappropriate joke as a springboard, the Governor of Alaska has launched herself back into the public spotlight. She appeared on CNN's "The Situation Room" Friday and continued going after the comedian, picking up where she left off with NBC's "Today Show" earlier.

Wolf Blitzer prompted the discussion by telling her that Letterman admitted that the joke was in bad taste and that it was a mistake to have told it. He asked if Sarah Palin was willing to forgive Letterman.

She said she would always be willing to forgive those who ask for it. Then she said that David Letterman's comments went beyond inappropriate. She said that his joke was "sexist, perverted." She also said that the explanation that the joke was actually about Bristol, Sarah Palin's older daughter (who, incidentally, had been "knocked up"), was a "weak, convenient excuse." She said she had been at the ballgame with her 14-year-old daughter and chided David Letterman for not knowing that.

Sarah Palin said that what Letterman had described was actually statutory rape, that no 14-year-old would consent to having sex with a 30-something-year-old man. (The joke went as such: "One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game, during the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez.")

But that is only if you fall for the slant Sarah Palin and many conservatives are putting on the story. Palin contends that Americans weren't and still aren't being given all the details about the joke and its context. As to the "beyond" inappropriateness, Palin said, "This insinuation that it's ok, that it's acceptable to talk like that and then that it's acceptable for the media to not provide the American public, the listeners, the readers the full context of that joke." She also said it was a "sad commentary on what Americans are fed in terms of full news."

Palin seems to have returned to her position that the liberal mainstream media conspires against the truth, only showing what is best for ratings and whatever casts a poor light on everything traditional and conservative. But this issue has been covered in depth by many in the media from every political ideology. And the video of Letterman's joke can be seen anytime online at any of thousands of different places. If Americans are being "fed" without getting a well-rounded sense of the topic, then it is because of lack of observation.

Yet, it is a typical "Big Brother" scare tactic employed by the political Right, which Palin is aligned with.

And Palin is incorrect. There was no substantive "context" for Letterman's joke. It was part of his monologue. He started talking about Sarah Palin being in New York. Then he told the joke. As is her usual wont, Sarah Palin is attempting to distort the truth in order to promote herself and her agenda.

And David Letterman did not condone nor advocate rape, statutory or otherwise. "These are not jokes made about her 14-year-old daughter," Letterman said Wednesday night. "I would never, never make jokes about raping or having sex of any description with a 14-year-old girl."

Palin, who acted like she had not heard any of David Letterman's comments, said that it did not matter which daughter he was talking about, it was "inappropriate."

On that, this writer can agree. Letterman's joke was inappropriate. That Sarah Palin and her family were angered by its target and focus is understandable. But to listen to Sarah Palin make the crude joke into something it wasn't is simply annoying and smacks of direct political grandstanding and blatant manipulation.

All in all, Sarah Palin did not sound all that forgiving...

And one is reminded of why Sarah Palin's approval ratings fell so precipitously during the 2008 presidential campaign after people actually started listening to her...

******

Sources:

"Late Night with David Letterman," CBS Television

"The Situation Room," CNN Television

Published by Saul Relative

WVU graduate, with degrees in History, English, Secondary Education, Computer Programming, and Psychology (and nearly a degree in Political Science). Originally from West Virginia, with stints in Virginia,...   View profile

More from

7 Comments

Post a Comment
  • Lol 10/26/2009

    david letterman is an old horny gap toothed slimeball. He can mock Sarah all he wants, at least she's easier on the eyes.

  • Snidely Whiplash 6/13/2009

    As well, what happened to the pleas from Barack during the election cycle that "families are absolutely off limits." Barack even mentioned Palin and her family by name in referencing the comment he made during the election. Attack Miss Sarah 'til Hell freezes over, but her kids and family, adult or not, are beyond the reach, or should be. If one defamed my kids in an effort to punk me, they better hope like Hell there are miles of wire between their big mouth and my pissed off ass! Harm my family, esp. if they are not involved in nay way, and I will open the offender like a can of Albacore and eat 'em - mayo and all! Little relish, some chopped up onions - good stuff!

  • Snidely Whiplash 6/13/2009

    In fairness Saul, as to your article's descriptive overview, Palin is back in the spotlight due to the actions of Letterman. She was attending a GOP event. She's a GOP bigwig, so no news there. She attended a ballgame at Rudy's invite. Once someone takes upon themselves to draw attention, and horribly negative and unfair attention at that, well that removes any guilt for all that comes after. Ya know me Brother. Not addressed to you Sir, but throw the first punch and then do not whine when I bury that size 12 steel-toed engineer's boot up one's backside. Start the fight, as did Letterman, and if the outcome is Letterman's a bloody pulp when the dust settles, metaphorically speaking, oh well! poking anyone with a stick is a dangerous business. Do it and live the consequences. Letterman has provided her with a new platform. Run Sarah, run!

  • Charlene Collins 6/13/2009

    I have to wonder about anyone who would defend this kind of attack on Palin's daughter, or any girl or woman, for that matter. I wonder if it would be funny if it were your child being talked about? It doesn't matter what side of the fence your political leanings are... what would Letterman feel if something so degrading was said about his loved one?

  • Kim Linton 6/13/2009

    I can't believe anyone would defend Letterman on this. I don't care if he was talking about the "other" daughter, or a random adult woman or teenager. It was beyond tasteless, went way over the line (even for a comedian), and showed his lack of character as a man. Don't forget that Obama has two daughters, and one will soon be a teenager. Let's see if Letterman is so quick to throw out demoralizing jokes about the Obama girls - if one of them happens to get "knocked up." Let's call it what it is Saul. Some liberals hate Sarah Palin so much that their ability to extend basic common decency toward her flies out the window. That being said, I do agree Palin should stop taking about it, and neither side should use it as a political tool.

  • Greenhill 6/13/2009

    finally, someone said something that makes sense!

  • icarus 6/12/2009

    Palin's use of her children for political purposes is what's shameful. As Willow's own mother, to twist Letterman's joke into a shrill, public tirade about her 14 year old being raped - for airtime and political points - is much worse than anything Letterman did. As much as everyone wishes Palin would shut up, probably no one wishes it more right now than poor Willow. For someone who hates the media so much, Palin sure spends her life trying to get coverage no matter the cost to her family.

Displaying Comments

To comment, please sign in to your Yahoo! account, or sign up for a new account.