this is why i can't stand palin, she's so freaking stupid and ridiculous. anyone with half a brain knows that he was talking about bristol palin who is 18 years old, he thought her 14 year old daughter was her 18 year old daughter. i agree the commentary was inappropriate no matter whom it was directed at, but he didn't INTENTIONALLY refer to the 14 year old in a sexual context. he explained himself and who the joke was directed at, apologized, and invited this moose killing idiot on his show. she needs to stop beating a dead horse into the ground.

OK, Palin is now on my STFU list.

and he was mocking the ridiculous hypocrasy and duplicitiouness of these two idiots (palin and her daughter) advocating for complete teen abstinence and abstinence only education after bristol's situation. so they want people to remain ignorant of safe sex practices and remain ignorant of things that could possibly save their lives. maybe if palin had educated her daughter about safe sex she wouldn't have gotten pregnant in the first place, but they don't want to even acknowledge that.

oh and how dare she make light of rape when rape victims in her state were forced to pay for their own rape kits? this b**tch kills me.

sloane220 - AGREED! I couldn't have said it any better!

Letterman was wrong, no matter who he thought the joke was about, and Palin was right to be angry.

Palin is crazy. Sloane, you said it best. She is making a mountain out of a mole hill and she is making a fool of herself. She needs to just curl up and disappear already.

oops i meant hypocrisy and duplicitiousness, and thanks anonymous.

Though Palin is kinda blowing it out of proportion by relating Letterman's comment to violence against women, she totally has the right to be angry!

I think it was completely inappropriate of Letterman to make comments about her daughter (underage or not) in a sexual way. I believe he said something around the lines of some player impregnating her on the court, and that Spitzer would want her, too. That's just not funny to me- especially when it's directed at a young girl. Also, it's unfair of him to bring her daughters into his jokes- he should make fun on the celebrity mom, not the kids.

Well, that's one way to stay in the news.

She has a right to be angry, but I don't think Letterman exactly has a reputation of making jokes related to statutory rape. (I'd definitely give him the benefit of the doubt in believing that he was talking about Bristol...and this isn't the first time people have made fun of politicians' daughters...the Bush twins got a lot of flak as did Chelsea Clinton). I agree with sloane. He's a comedian, and insulting people is nothing new to him.

Answer me this, Republican amigas here on Sugar. We all know this kind of woman. She's older, everything is about her, she takes everything to be an insult - she has a persecution complex. Why on earth would you want this in the White House?

It seems like a really great strategy to have four years of drama and war. The president gets nailed in the media more than anyone.

palin has every right to be angry. ever since she was announced to be be mccains running mate, every liberal media organization or person has attacked her, from her daughter to her smarts. this is just sarah palin saying enough is enough, you can insult me but please dont make fun of my underage daughter. honestly, pain is a smart person, she got to her position without the help of any family or connections. women should be proud of her because she has children and is a hard working women.

I don't understand why the media/talk show obsession with her, she was watching a game in NYC with her kids (or whoever), whoop-dee do, big deal, why make a joke about it? (I didn't see Letterman so I didn't know what he said or whatever)
Oh she was in a fundraiser somewhere, somehow I got to hear about it in some news channel (although I really don't need to).
I got to see her kid on some magazine cover, her ex-to be son in law all over some talk show circuit, etc.

Remember, if no one writes/reports/talks about her (or let's just say, only her local newspaper do it and no one in national arena or national tv), she WON'T BE IN YOUR FACE anymore.

She was practically 'invisible' before McCain tapped her to run with him.
Return 'em to that state.
I frankly don't know her value to the Republican party, but seriously, I just don't see her...newsworthy-ness right now, I guess. Maybe if she runs for presidency, or invents some miracle machine or something then there'll be her again all over the news but until then...I wish they'd just stop mentioning about her at all.

is palin running for president? i didn't realize that had been announced.

I'm not Republican, and I didn't and wouldn't ever vote for Sarah Palin, however, this issue is of a comedian making sexual jokes about her daughter! If it was any regular woman standing up for the public ridicule of her daughter, I would have supported the mothers right to be angry.

Sloane, you are so right.

will someone please explain to me WHERE rape fits into his joke?

The sheer ignorance and hypocrisy of a woman who would have the country applaud and commend her own and her daughter's "choices"... while at the same time stand in favor of eliminating the basic right to choose for all women... still astounds me to this day.

runningesq--Palin's camp is going for the "statutory rape" angle because of the younger daughter's age... even though the "knocked up" joke was quite obviously in reference to Bristol who is of legal age of consent (and consequently did in fact get herself kocked up).

I agree that politicians' children should be off limits, UNLESS, they put themselves in front of the camera. IMO Bristol is "fair game" for satire or ridicule based on her choice to go on a media blitz about her views on abstinence etc. You put yourself out there, you have to accept that someone may want to take a shot at you. Perhaps Bristol should have gotten better advice before making herself a poster girl for abstinence.

Interesting how none of the elite leftist feminists can back up this family when a comment like that was made. Regardless of the age, whether the person was 14 or 84, the comment was wrong. It wasn't funny. And come to think of it Letterman hasn't been funny in years. If Limbaugh had made the same comment against any of the Progressive families I'm pretty sure the outrage would have been deafening. I don't know why people assume Palin is just going to allow these comments to be made without defending her family. I love that this woman continues to get under the skin of Progressives everywhere. She's probably not president material but it sure is fun watching the liberals work hard to keep her from being one. She's obviously a fighter. I admire her for taking it to the media. Particularly given how little respect they have for her.

This leftist feminist supports freedom of speech, including satire.

I mean, come on. This was a joke. And it was obviously directed at an 18 year old who was, I'm sorry, knocked up and had a child out of wedlock with a redneck moron. She's fair game, especially because she publicly supports abstinence.

Give the outrage a rest, Republicans. This is nothing.

i think letterman's joke was off color no matter what. that said it clearly was about bristol. i mean the argument is that no one's kids should be a media target. that said bristol lost that license when she became a spokesperson for candies on abstinence.
naive my a#$. letterman and leno and conan can push the envelope with jokes but none of them would make a joke about an underage rape. sounds like palin's leading a witchhunt.
and yeah pretty ballsy when her state's own rape victims have to pay for rape kits.

I also doubt that the joke was about Bristol, because he said : "One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game- during the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez." The only child that accompanied Palin to the Yankees game was her 14 year old daughter. Bristol wasn't even there.

I'd like to thank Dave for giving this dangerously dimwitted famewh*re yet another chance to come out of the woodwork and get another 15 minutes. Good work, Dave! Happy?

"mean, come on. This was a joke. And it was obviously directed at an 18 year old who was, I'm sorry, knocked up and had a child out of wedlock with a redneck moron. She's fair game, especially because she publicly supports abstinence. "

She is fair game? an 18 year old is far game to make sexual jokes about an older man having sex with her?

and you are asking us republicans why we like palin? ask yourself why you dislike her daughter so much?

It cracks me up that she tried to accuse Matt Lauer of being naive when it seems she is quite clearly using this whole thing to prolong her time and keep her name in the media spotlight. She respectfully declines the public invitation to go on Letterman's show and directly confront him (as if she will not dignify it) yet shows up on the Today show for the sole purpose of dragging this out even more and bringing it to some ridiculous political level?

What is naive (to me) is to assume that this person isn't constantly thinking of her own personal agenda...

I think

In my opinion, Palin is making a big deal out of this just to get attention and stay in the spotlight. She proved during the election that she cares more about her political career than her children. I wish Letterman wouldn't have made the joke so that we wouldn't be talking about this idiot anymore.

To finish where I got cut off...

I think that many are correct that Bristol Palin should have more carefully considered her position as a public spokesperson for teenage abstinance. It's a shame...I wonder why her mother maybe didn't do more to educate her daughter of how she would be opening herself up just this kind of scrutiny.

I don't care about her daughter, Caterpillar girl.

I had to take a lot of classes in communication law to graduate, and what I can tell you is that this is very protected speech. Bristol is very clearly a public figure, as defined by her actions putting herself in the spotlight. There is a rich history of them having to endure the harshest public criticism.

So, yeah, it is fair game for an older man to make jokes about having sex with her.

I would feel this way about any subject, right or left. I was defending the white supremacist's free speech here yesterday.

Splork, I'm pretty liberal, but I kind of agree with you. Letterman shouldn't have made then joke. Period. About either of her daughters. It was inappropriate. The thing that bugs me though, is that she just wont LET IT GO already.

I agree that politicians' children should be off limits, UNLESS, they put themselves in front of the camera. IMO Bristol is "fair game" for satire or ridicule based on her choice to go on a media blitz about her views on abstinence etc. You put yourself out there, you have to accept that someone may want to take a shot at you. Perhaps Bristol should have gotten better advice before making herself a poster girl for abstinence.

I agree with this. Bristol is a public figure and she's an adult. People have no problem making fun of Miley (even though she's only 16) and Paris Hilton. They are both someone's child but people still make fun of them because their public figures.

She is fair game? an 18 year old is far game to make sexual jokes about an older man having sex with her?

and you are asking us republicans why we like palin? ask yourself why you dislike her daughter so much?

Bristol is an adult and she's a public spokesperson so yes she is fair game wether it be positive or negative.

The joke wasn't funny but I think it was more directed at Rodriguez who is a certified *sshole and womanizer rather than Willow or Bristol.

Boo f*ckin' hoo! Her dumb daughter got knocked up and now wants to be in the spotlight, she's fair game. Palin, you lost the election, stop being such a sore loser!

This has nothing to do with political ambitions, people. This is about a comedian who takes liberties with Govenor Palin and her daughter Bristol at every chance he gets. How many of us have made mistakes. If her Mother does not castigate her WHY SHOULD WE. How can we say that her Mother did not tell her to practice abstinence. I guess none us were teenager, since we all listen to our parents. Sure. You can only educate other people if you have had the experience that she has had. So let her speak and educate.

This whole Letterman thing is also about women in general. All women on this blog should be outraged. This is not ONLY about Mrs. Palin, it is about all of us and our daughters. It is demeaning and insulting, we were outraged when Rhianna was beaten up by her then boyfriend. It is all around us, rappers, comedians, actors, etc. verbally attack women. His was a condescending attack on a woman and her daughter, period. It was not a joke, he knew exactly what he wanted to say. Until we have respect for ourselves and protect our daughters no one else will. The laugh is on us, ladies.

I personally think that Dave Letterman has issues with strong minded women.

Of course he's talking about Bristol but you have to look at the situation from Sarah Palin's position. No mother wants to hear those kinds of jokes about her daughter, whether she's fair game or not. IMO he has the right to make jokes like that (even though they are in bad taste) and of course she has the right to be angry about it.

Sandy, that sounds like a very humorless, thought-controlled world you're proposing - to me at least. Are daughters so weak they will break at a joke, that they need "protecting?" Is this about your needs or theirs?

It is about all of us. I have two daughters and I WILL protect them until the day I die and they are not far from weak. I would take the same stance as Palin in regards to my daughter being portrait in that light and if my mother would still be a life she would do the same for me. Maybe some of you do not children so therefore you have no idea what I'm talking about. Sorry, but that was not humorous in my opinion it was vulgar and degrading. If you did find it humurous that is your opinion. As far as thought control, are you saying that anything goes and there is no consequences as to peoples actions and anyone can say what they will? Freedon of expression, right? Wrong not at my daughters expense. Needs? There is not needs just common decency.

One more thing Mrs. Palin was "protecting" Willow her 14yr old daughter. I do believe at 14 you still need some type of protection. As a parent you should be there for your children in any situation.

First, let's be realistic. Most of the country knows Bristol Palin had a baby. In comparison, no one knew that Willow Palin went to a baseball game last week. The joke obviously referred to Bristol, since she actually HAS been knocked up; otherwise, it wouldn't even make sense. Therefore, it was Sarah Palin and ONLY Sarah Palin who chose to focus this "scandal" on her 14 year old daughter, Willow. So please answer this - if she's sooo concerned with protecting Willow, why did she needlessly bring her into the spotlight?

The sad reality is that Sarah Palin will do anything possible to extend her 15 minutes of fame. She knew that her 18 year old daughter wasn't a very sympathetic "victim," since she actually had a baby. Instead, she chose to flat-out exploit her 14 year old daughter just to get the added attention. Look at when Bristol's ex was going on talk shows - instead of declining to comment, Sarah was willing to speak to any media source available, even at the risk of further embarrassing Bristol. She doesn't care one bit about "protecting" her daughters - just her political career.

That's fine, Sandy. You're entitled to your opinion. We'll just agree to disagree.

It's hard for me to understand your mindset, though. If I ever had a daughter, I think I'd have an entirely different parenting philosophy. I wouldn't let it change my belief in free speech.

Spacekatgal - Agreed. I think it's paternalistic and condescending to assume that Bristol, a legal adult and mother herself, is so helpless that she must be protected from even one comedian making a joke at her expense.

Bristol is a public figure blabbering on about the virtues of abstinence:

"Mommy told me I had to keep my legs closed to be a good Christian, but I just couldn't do it. Levi was too hot. Now I am supposed to go around the country telling other girls to "do as I say, not as I do". That will make mommy happy, and she will let me ride in the helicopter and shoot moose if I've dun good."

Fair game, indeed.

Obviously Dave was talking about Bristol, and Palin knows it too. But this was just too huge of an opportunity for her to get on television, even if she has to wh*re out her own daughter Willow as a "victim" to do it.

If she REALLY cared about Willow, she would have commented once on the joke not being funny and let it go. I am sure Willow just loves her name in the media everywhere next to "statutory rape". But, NO...there are soapboxes to stand on, and fists to shake. Cameras are everywhere and are ripe for the picking.

After all, us dumbass women will buy into her crap, slap on the self-righteous mantle of motherhood, and follow her like brainless rats after the Pied Piper.

Palin in 2012!!!

Anyone who has watched late night shows know that there are plenty of bad, tasteless jokes all the time; perhaps part of the reason they air after 10:30. I think if Palin is as concerned about her daughter's best interest as she claims then she wouldn't be dragging it through the media gathering even more attention about it. In my eyes she is even more guilty than Letterman; afterall how many people actually watched the show and heard the joke when it first aired versus how many learned about it post show via media/Palin making a huger deal out of it.

It is a matter of interpretation, I did not at any point think rape was being implied. Also thought the joke's insult was aimed towards Elliot Spitzer not her daughter. David Letterman clarified that the joke was not about her 14 year old daughter and apologized, what else is he supposed to do? I do feel bad for Bristol, although she is getting plenty publicity it can't be very much fun to be the spokesperson for my life is what not to do but she can change that if she wants.

I believe that Palin is acting like a 'poor me' woman and is setting bad example for her daughters. The joke happened already, you can't do anything about that but you can be a responsible adult/parent by exampling how a civilized person should act/respond in this situation. Take it up with the person who insulted you and your family rather than trash talk them to the entire nation. I for one am extremely glad she is not making decisions on behalf of the entire country.

As a mom of course she has the right to be upset, and whether or not Letterman's joke was in bad taste has become irrelevant because it's obvious:

She's utterly blowing this out of proportion for her own media gain.

"Governor Sarah Palin ripped into Matt Lauer"??? Uhm I watched the interview this morning and there was no such ripping. Now did she rip into David Letterman? Oh hell yeah she did and IMO he deserved it to. I don't agree with her politics but on this social issue I agree with every point she made 100%.

David Letterman's half hearted excuse and full throttle ass covering was pathetic. He should have come out and issued a sincere apology immediately not sit in the shadows and see which way the wind blows before he issues a statement.

Some have made the excuse well he's a comedian sure he is but this isn't George Carlen or Richard Prior doing stand up it's a late night show but never the less it is still a family show that gets referenced constantly through out the day by media, people at work etc.

IMO they did not realize which daughter it was and made an error in judgment, hey it happens fess up to it and apologize sincerely.

@splork- oh please honey. i'm a leftist feminist and i'm hardly elite, and i did state that i agreed with this bird, oops i mean palin, that the statements made by letterman against she and her daughter BRISTOL were sexist and inappropriate, but to ignore the facts, THAT LETTERMAN WAS TALKING ABOUT BRISTOL PALIN, a grown woman in the eyes of this land and try to make it seem as though he's talking about willow the 14 year old and thus go on a tangent making light of rape because she wants to be a dummy makes me hate her even more. she deserves every single bit of ridicule she gets, as long as it's not sexist. and limbaugh's stupid ass has made comments about liberal families, including calling a 13 year old chelsea clinton who he DID mean to target, a dog.

To the hypocrites citing tastelessness of the joke:

Where the hell are you when these jokes are not connected to Sarah Palin or her family? Oh, that's right. You are sitting in complacency until the joke hits home in some fashion to you. So, hypocrisy, party of some, your tables are ready.

Get a grip. Move on.

Signed,
Common Sense

hypnotic, David's show is not a family show as it comes on after 11 p.m. If children are awake at that time without a fever or other sign of illness, something's not quite right about the family.

First, Is this woman capable of not speaking in sound bites? All buzz words. Even the bits about her daughter and letterman - she's going to drop the statutory rape line as many times as possibly in the hope that fox news watchers everywhere will forget the original context and only remember that david letterman made some comment about raping her daughter.

Like it or not, as a public figure, Palin opened her entire family up for public scrutiny. That's just the way it goes. And there is nothing people like more than criticizing blatant hypocrisy.