Did Letterman promote statutory rape?

[Javir]

As you may or may not know, Sara Palin was in New York and went to a Yankee's game. It was known that her "daughter" went to the game with her. What they didn't bother to check, or didn't care about was the fact that Sara Palin has two daughters. One well know, Bristol, who was pregnant during the presidential campaign. This is who was being targeted by the "joke". In reality Willow, who is only 14 years old, was the only daughter with Sara Palin at the game.




He, without really apologizing, indicated the joke was meant for Bristol.

The question I have and the reason for the poll: Should he be held liable for promotion or statutory rape, or should it be played off as a joke about an unwed 18 y/o who had nothing to do with the event short of being family.


The below spoiler has a website if you'd like to see more information.

Spoiler:

From Draft Palin website: http://draftpalin2012.blogspot.com/2009/06/fire-letterman-movement-grows-rapidly.html

You can find a list of his advertisers as they wish to get him fired. I think he should be fined or made to give a formal apology, maybe not fired. Obviously this site is very Palin bias.

 

[Tomasello]

I can't believe someone as intelligent as you would believe that bullshit excuse of Letterman....


OBVIOUSLY he was talking about the 14 year old Willow.


Whom did Palin go to the Yankee game with while in New York? Willow.

Where did the rape joke take place? At a Yankee game.

Who else is Alex Rodriguez going to knock up during the 7th inning? It doesn't even make sense it would be Bristol. She wasn't there, Willow was.


The joke, aside from not even being really funny, was in really poor taste. Why doesn't the liberal media leave this woman's fucking family alone? She already lost the damn election why keep beating a dead horse?

Even if he meant Bristol, AND HE OBVIOUSLY MEANT WILLIOW. Good job implying her 18 year old daughter is a whore just cause she accidentally got pregnant. That's much better Dave Letterman.

Make fun of Palin all you want, she does come off as a hick, but Jesus leave the kids alone. In 6 months, Conan will be destroying shitty Letterman in the ratings.

 

[Tristam Green]

but Jesus leave the kids alone.

For someone who hates DEM RAGIN' LIBRULZ, you sure sound like Hillary Clinton :|

 

[Javir]

I can't believe someone as intelligent as you would believe that bullshit excuse of Letterman....

Since I was doing a poll, I was trying to remain neutral in my initial post. I'm not afraid to admit I'm a Palin supporter, and I've always hated Letterman, even before I knew who Sarah was. So I'd say he should be held liable. But again, I wanted to know other people's opinions and try to not taint it with my view.

Despite popular believe, I'm not like some people and start my posts off with trying to piss people off =P

 

[Tomasello]

For someone who hates DEM RAGIN' LIBRULZ, you sure sound like Hillary Clinton :|

No I sound like someone tired of liberal cheap shots at people's personal lives that have absolutely NOTHING to do with the issues.

Since I was doing a poll, I was trying to remain neutral in my initial post. I'm not afraid to admit I'm a Palin supporter, and I've always hated Letterman, even before I knew who Sarah was. So I'd say he should be held liable. But again, I wanted to know other people's opinions and try to not taint it with my view.

I figured you knew better then that. You should feel free to taint, pardon the pun, because anyone who thinks its funny to take cheap shots at someone's 14 year old kid is a douchebag.

 

[Firestreak]

He probably meant Bristol, but it doesn't really matter. I think what we should be considering is what the response would be if Letterman made a sexual joke about Obama's daughters. He would probably get fired.

 

[Javir]

He probably meant Bristol, but it doesn't really matter. I think what we should be considering is what the response would be if Letterman made a sexual joke about Obama's daughters. He would probably get fired.

Likely also get assassinated with how fanatical some of his fans are <.<;;

 

[Halifirien]

He's apologizing either way. Class act, that Letterman.

 

[Strid]

You fuckin' serious? Stick, ass, all that weak shit.

I'll choose the third option: "It's a joke you idiot."

 

[Skaw]

I'll choose the third option: "It's a joke you idiot."

This. End of story. The only thing Letterman should apologize for is not being some all knowing, pedestal sitting, super comic who never gets anything wrong that people think he is if this simple mistake is truly being blown out of proportion.

 

[Firestreak]

Alright... first off, he never actually apologized. The closest he came was saying, "I can't defend it." But he also downplayed it like fuck. But the fact is, regardless of if she's 14 or 18, it wasn't really a cool joke about even an 18 year old. Typically speaking... politician's children are OFF LIMITS. They didn't choose to be in the spotlight, it just happened.

All I'm trying to say is that if it was one of Obama's daughters... it would be very different. In fact, I'm surprised Obama himself didn't speak up on this thing, because he's a father and I can imagine he's sympathizing with Palin right now. Letterman is obviously loving this whole thing, he obviously thought it was hilarious from just watching his non-apology.

Yeah it was obviously a joke and yeah it was probably about the 18 year old and no he doesn't promote statutory rape. Though politician's children are off limit in the first place, unless they intentionally seek media intention, and he was cracking jokes about her all night, and they were mean spirited, and he didn't even do it with an ounce of care. I don't see why the general attitude is to be completely dismissive of his actions most likely because of people's views on Palin.

 

[Tristam Green]

It's arguable that Bristol Palin sought the spotlight by appearing in magazines with her child, and by extension, so did Sarah by doing so vicariously through Bristol.

As such, she (Bristol) is no longer off-limits.

I'll take Strid's option three as well.

 

[Firestreak]

It's pretty common for political family members to get some neutral exposure. The Bush daughters, Cheney's daughter, Obama's daughters, Chelsea Clinton, ext. They have ALL been off limits to the kind of thing by something as mainstream as Letterman/Leno/Conan, ext. It's not like they're all Paris Hilton.

I'm not a parent so I don't know how it would feel to be in Palin's shoes, but some people on QCDN are and can probably understand better how they'd feel if because of their career their children being exposed to that kind of public embarrassment.

 

[Mirewen]

OBVIOUSLY he was talking about the 14 year old Willow.

Uh no. He was talking about Bristol. That is what was obvious. How was that not clear? Or were you being sarcastic? I really can't tell.

 

[Trippyhippy]

Who cares?

Why is Letterman still doing jokes about Palin? That's the real question.

She lost. She is a loser. She is out of the picture. Insignificant. Of nominal importance.

...liberal...

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

It is not a synonym for "Bad" or "Evil".

Spoiler:

lib·er·al (lbr-l, lbrl)
adj.

1.
a. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.

b. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.

c. Of, relating to, or characteristic of liberalism.

d. Liberal Of, designating, or characteristic of a political party founded on or associated with principles of social and political liberalism, especially in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States.

2.

a. Tending to give freely; generous: a liberal benefactor.

b. Generous in amount; ample: a liberal serving of potatoes.

3. Not strict or literal; loose or approximate: a liberal translation.

4. Of, relating to, or based on the traditional arts and sciences of a college or university curriculum: a liberal education.

5.

a. Archaic Permissible or appropriate for a person of free birth; befitting a lady or gentleman.

b. Obsolete Morally unrestrained; licentious.

n.

1. A person with liberal ideas or opinions.

2. Liberal A member of a Liberal political party.

 

[Zaltana]

trippy get points for the princess bride reference.

 

[Rips]

It was an unclassy joke, but when are late night host shows ever unclassy?

 

[Javir]

I'm fully agree that Bristol has effectively brought herself into the spotlight with trying to promote her messages about teen parenting.

I don't agree that this was "just a joke". Though I'm willing to concede that it was a reference to Bristol, he didn't check or know. And ignorance is not an excuse. It's common knowledge she has more than one daughter. He indirectly promoted sex with a minor, and directly promoted older men having casual sex with young women with no regard.

Forget the political inclinations about whether or not it's another Palin vs Obama issue. Ultimately Lettermen crossed a line of the continued mindset that women are playthings for guys. He neglected to ensure the facts and allowed it to be thought that he was a supporter of statutory rape (despite being shown that he in fact doesn't). Not that anyone who watches Letterman is an immoral person, but what of those who are and got motivated by this. Sure they're responsible for their own actions, but he shouldn't be setting the example. Plain and simple that is what he did. Remember, too many people take things far more seriously than we intend them to.

 

[Tomasello]

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

It is not a synonym for "Bad" or "Evil".

Inconceivable....


A Liberal is:

1. Part of the HERD.
2. Always the "VICTIM".
3. Only sees in pastel color.
4. Believe they can create the PERFECT world.
5. Accepts all behavior, good or BAD is OK.
6. Believe Killing in the womb is "Choice".
7. Race is a ugly word but call everyone except themselves racists.
8. Have suppressed the Blacks for years in the name of them being victims.
9. Believe if you can't make it on your own, the Government will save you.
10. "Hate" is the foundation of their thinking.
11. Reality is only what they make it to be.
12. Like to be called "Progressives", but Secular Progressive is more Politically Correct.
13. Believe tax and spend is the answer.
14. Have never seen a tax they didn't love.
15 Invented earmarks and live off this fat.
16. Cheating on your wife is OK cause they can define "is"
17. Applaud "Dumbing Down" our school curriculum
18. Live by double standards..
19. Invented "Politically Correct" speech.
20. Invented "Global Warming".
21. Believes it's funny to make statutory rape jokes about someone's 14 year old.


(Not my words but a pretty good summation.)

 

[Halifirien]

More than half of that list applies to conservatives as well.

At any rate, here's Doug Stanhope to show how you really rip into a politician's kid in a tastelss manner. Not safe for work by any stretch of the imagination, unless you're wearing headphones so nobody else can hear the swearing...

Spoiler: