Letterman Apologizes To Palin (Again), This Time She Accepts

Last night, David Letterman apologized to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin for his questionable jokes about one of her daughters. He had initially apologized last week, but Palin still considered the remarks—which suggested that A-Rod might impregnate her daughter and that they should keep Eliot Spitzer away during the Palins' trip to NY—offensive and demanded that he "apologize to young women across the country [for contributing to a culture] that says it’s OK to talk about statutory rape...It's not cool; it's not funny."

What made Letterman's jokes more uncomfortable was the fact that the daughter on the trip was not 18-year-old Bristol, who he assumed was present, but 14-year-old Willow, giving First Dude Todd Palin a chance to say, "Any 'jokes' about raping my 14-year-old are despicable (yikes) and some people an opportunity to start a Fire David Letterman group. So, the talk show host took some time to say he was sorry once again:

Well, my responsibility - I take full blame for that. I told a bad joke. I told a joke that was beyond flawed, and my intent is completely meaningless compared to the perception. And since it was a joke I told, I feel that I need to do the right thing here and apologize for having told that joke. It’s not your fault that it was misunderstood, it’s my fault. That it was misunderstood. [Audience applause] Thank you. So I would like to apologize, especially to the two daughters involved, Bristol and Willow, and also to the Governor and her family and everybody else who was outraged by the joke. I’m sorry about it and I’ll try to do better in the future. Thank you very much.

Here's the full transcript—Letterman did crack a joke about how Palin did go to the Yankees game with Rudy Giuliani—and how he should have made his jokes about Rudy. Agreed!

This morning, Palin issued a statement saying, "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. Letterman certainly has the right to 'joke' about whatever he wants to, and thankfully we have the right to express our reaction. This is all thanks to our U.S. Military women and men putting their lives on the line for us to secure America's Right to Free Speech - in this case, may that right be used to promote equality and respect."

While CBS said that advertisers hadn't pulled out, the Decoder reports that Embassy Suites "sent word to Ms. Palin’s supporters that it had ceased advertising on CBS’s Web site and did not want to be associated in any way with Mr. Letterman’s comments."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on June 16, 2009 9:28 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

I get hot thinking of all those Palin women defending their eggs from comedic insemination.

nomnomnom

Dear Embassy Suites:

Because you're kowtowing to Palin and her supporters, you won't be getting any of my money.

Sincerely,

Hotel Customer

Kreetoo

Dear Embassy Suites:

Because you stood up against David Letterman's hateful and misogynistic joke, I will now choose your establishment first when presented with a choice of Hotels.

Sincerely,

Hotel Customer

-----

To everyone else, this isn't a political issue. I don't care how much you hate Sarah Palin, if you're defending Letterman in this then you're showing your true colors. You don't really care about hate speech, racism, or sexism unless it applies to someone you like. You are just as bad as you claim the "right-wingers" to be. Good job being "progressive" you hypocrites.

Spirit of 76

This demonstrates your narrow-mindedness. Just because we laugh at Palin doesn't mean we wouldn't laugh at a Democrat. It's not a political issue. I laughed at Gary Hart, too, when he was caught cheating. And Spitzer during Hookergate. I'm an equal opportunity laugher. Look, if you claim abstinence is the only effective technique and your very own daughter didn't practice it, then both of you are fair game. You're the one who's the hypocrite, trying to make yourself out to be taking the high road when in reality, you're just upset that he's mocking someone you admire.

leftylib

U.S. Military men and women are putting their lives on the line because Saddam didn't want to play ball with his oil resources with the U.S. and THATS WHY and it has NOTHING TO DO with OUR FREE SPEECH.

WorksInDUMBO

"our U.S. Military women and men putting their lives on the line for us to secure America's Right to Free Speech"

Seriously? She is still spouting this tired old campaign rhetoric?

hotstepper

what riles the base, keeps palin in place.

FJF

While no fan of the snarky Letterman myself, one begs the question, "Why bother?"

verbal

First off take the politics out of it for a second and make it about john and jane doe. The joke is offensive, and it is a bad joke to boot. Letterman let his slip show, and he's become irrelevant.

Now re-insert the visceral hatred the left feels for Palin, and it's still in poor taste and inappropriate, regardless of which daughter he claims it was about.

I'm still surprised there's been no outrage by Arod, being that he's accused of being either a pedophile or a rapist, or both!

This is actually far far worse than what Imus was eviscerated for. The transparency and hypocrisy is astounding.

birdmechanical

I disagree.

A knocked up joke about an already been pregnant daughter of a big shot Republican who preaches abstinence, has potential.

At least if you are already ideologically similar to Letterman.

verbal

A joke about the public figure, yes, her kids are off limits. Sorry, it just shows no class whatsoever.

The 'joke' wasn't funny, it was made at the expense of two people that have no skin in Palin's public persona. Letterman took a cheap shot; as much as I've always despised Leno, he's looking like he deserved the Tonight Show job after all.

AvenueHebrew

The joke, while not specifically aimed at her (since it was really more about lecherous baseball players and governors), had to do with Bristol Palin. Bristol has in fact made herself a public figure, as she's now a vocal activist for abstinence education. She's making public appearances, speaking on television and at rallies, all in support of a (particularly stupid) political position. That, even by your definition, makes her fair game for mockery.

And anyone who honestly believes the joke could have been about Willow is either a stooge or just looking for something to be upset about.

r1b2

Now, if Letterman could get A-Rod on the show and into a 3-way with Courtney Love and Drew Barrymore, with Madonna lookign like Skelator in the corner, that would get some ratings! No apologies there!

r1b2

Now, if Letterman could get A-Rod on the show and into a 3-way with Courtney Love and Drew Barrymore, with Madonna lookign like Skelator in the corner, that would get some ratings! No apologies there!

russ

I hope Willow Palin DOES get pregnant by A-Rod!

r1b2

C'mon, of course he didn't mean the 14-year old. It was a stupid joke regardless, but he's a professional comedian with a team of writers; they're not going to write a bit about raping a young girl. It's good he apologized, because the public misunderstood his intention and he answers to his public, but he owes Sarah Palin NOTHING.

r1b2

C'mon, of course he didn't mean the 14-year old. It was a stupid joke regardless, but he's a professional comedian with a team of writers; they're not going to write a bit about raping a young girl. It's good he apologized, because the public misunderstood his intention and he answers to his public, but he owes Sarah Palin NOTHING.

jibbly

My theory is that Letterman (or the show's producer) is afraid that viewers will flock to Conan's show if he doesn't soften up his image. I mean, why else would Letterman apologize NOW - when he's told far more offensive jokes - unless he feels that getting on Palin's good side will help garner viewership from former gee-golly-you-betcha McCain/Palin supporters? This is purely a ratings move by a frightened CBS.