(CNN) – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said Friday it was a "weak, convenient excuse" for talk show host David Lettermen to claim his controversial joke made earlier this week targeted Palin's older daughter, and not 14-year-old Willow.
"My 14-year-old was there with me at the game. She was the only one there with me," Palin said Friday in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
Letterman joked Tuesday that Palin's "daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez" at a recent Yankees game. He admitted the following night that the joke was in "poor taste," but he insisted the line was in reference to 18-year-old Bristol, who gave birth to a boy in December.
"We were, as we often do, making jokes about people in the news and we made some jokes about Sarah Palin and her daughter [Bristol]... and now they're upset with me," Letterman said.
"These are not jokes made about her 14-year-old daughter. I would never, never make jokes about raping or having sex of any description with a 14-year-old girl," he said.
"Am I guilty of poor taste? Yes. Did I suggest that it was okay for her 14-year-old daughter to be having promiscuous sex? No."
Palin was unimpressed with Letterman's explanation. "Regardless of which daughter it was - inappropriate," she said Friday.
The former Republican vice presidential nominee said she will "always forgive whomever is asking for forgiveness," but noted that what she's upset about goes beyond Letterman's "sexist, perverted joke."
"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 said, adding that it's also a "sad commentary on what Americans are fed in terms of full news."
Watch Palin's full interview with Wolf Blitzer this afternoon at 4 and 6 p.m. ET on The Situation Room.
From CNN Politics
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does this woman need a ticket to get back to Alaska ? She belongs there , but seems unable to get back home
so Palin just says something and it becomes true? C'mon, how can people believe this. He was making a joke about her daughter getting knocked up because SHE DID get knocked up.
To distort this into something about someone else is just a sad attempt at publicity.
Go away Palin family.
...and the she said that he said that I said, when what was really said.... LET IT GO ALREADY!! Good grief! Best way to let something like this fade is to stop addressing it. Oh, but wait, we're dealing with Sarah aren't we?!
Yeah Yeah while Lettermans joke was in poor taste this woman is milking this for all the airtime she can get. I'm sick of seeing her and hearing her whine. Sarah just go back to Alaska we don't like you here in the lower 48.
If Palin wants to be taken seriously then she needs to learn how to deal with this kind of press and jokes. It was a joke...get over it!!
I personally would never support this woman for any political position!!
Thank god for Hillary......here is a real female politician!!!!
Palin is milking this for everything its worth. Why would any responsible mother want to keep dragging their children out and using them for publicity like this? Is creating more headlines really the way to protect your kids? I think she is worse than Letterman in this.
She's right on this one.
"... what Americans are fed in terms of full news " She must be talking about Faux News.
wow, getting after Letterman over this, he is out of line, but Palin has found her issue
now she will stay in the head lines with out effort for weeks, maybe months
the reoccuring victim that she is would have had a better leg to stand on if she hadn't been playing the victim since she was introduced to us by McCain
I see she still hasn't grasped basic grammar.
I'm not a Sarah Palin supporter, but I think Letterman's comments were inexcusable. Letterman's jokes were crude and offensive.
When you're wrong, you should apologize and drop it.
Letterman was wrong.
Poke fun at her politics or her personal habits, family should be off limits. Ask Jimmy Carter how he feels about this one.
And people wonder why we don't like Sarah Palin? She's picking a fight with a comedian!
Are the hypocrites who line up and try to justify Letterman's inexcusable mistake and, subsequent, cover-up lie the backbone of this country? God help us.
Granted, David Letterman's joke was in poor taste and he apologized for it. For anyone else, that would be the end but with Sarah Palin, she will do or say anything to stay in the press. I guess we are going to have to go thru another " life and times of Sarah Palin campaign". You would think she is the most important person in the world the way her every living breath is publicized.
One more thing , the saddest commentary on what Americans are fed in terms of full news is YOU Sarah .... we don't care what you do. You have taken advantage of the poor choice McCain made for VP and are trying to cash in. If you had knowledge and sense, I wouldn't blame you. But you are putting your own agenda ahead of our country because you are no more qualified to be President than my dog was...God rest her soul.
OH Please SARAH.. yes.. squeeze as much political juice out of this as you can.. squeeze, sarah, squeeze.. In fact, you need all the help you can get. Start by learning how to construct sentences that aren't redundant. Maybe then, we can get a peek into that self absorbed brain you have!!
Letterman's non-joke was about as funny as Palin's place on the Republican ticket last year. I guess if Palin gets on the ticket in 2012 Levi and Bristol will be getting married after all so all will be right with the extreme rightwing. Don't watch Letterman or politicians. It's hard to find humor in things these days.
With all going on in the world, I find myself wondering why people are so concerned about the feud between Letterman and Palin. The feud helps both (with ratings) and does absolutely nothing to make the rest of us better in any way. Lets move on to something relevant.
That's so true! David Letterman and those so-called "Hollywood stars" are the reasons I switched my votes to Republican Party. I lost all my respects to these political ignorant one-side small-minded celebrities like them!
Palin is seeking out interviews to prolong her family's 'agony' about a joke about her adult daughter who works in the public eye? Come on! Look at Palin's demeanor in the interviews.
Palin is loving every bit of that sick lime light at the expense of her family.
Wasn't Palin just complaining about "political correctness"???
And wasn't David's joke in bad taste, or said another way – not politically correct.
As far as her saying people are naive, for accepting David's apology – me thinks she doth protest too much.
And naive is thinking you have foreign policy experience because you can "see Russia from Alaska"
She'll just keep riding this until they stop putting her face on TV for it. Poor Sarah, always the pitbull unless she's playing the victim. Graciously CNN has left off how in her statements about this she also manages to refer to a possible 2012 Whitehouse bid.
Was her trip paid for by the taxpayers of Alaska?
Palin needs to get some thick skin if she has any intention of running in 2012. 90% of the people who now know about the joke found out because she responded and turned a mole hill into a mountain!
Unreal...it is SO sad that the Palin's continuing to use their children as political tools and to stay in the press. I agree that Letterman went a tad too far, but he's a friggin' COMEDIAN. He and other comedians have said and done far worse, so why should she feel she should be put up on a pedestal? I'm an independent, and it's things like this that prevent me from respecting her as a public servant.
Please, no more Palin news stories. Is it her that's keeping her name in the news, or is it the media? Either way, she has become a freak show.
The high mighty speak again, but it's been a long time since anyone with any common sense is listening.
How much more of this woman do we have to endure? David Letterman is a comedian – yes the joke was in poor taste which he admitted, she is public fodder, and as Peggy Noonan said this morning, and I quote, "The Palin's paraded Bristol and Levi around like they were the Charles and Dianna of the Klondike"! When you are in the public eye, expect to be included in the late night comedy format – get a thicker skin Governor.
Well, certainly Ms. Palin knows a "weak" excuse when she hears one. She's made a few of those herself. Nothing is ever her fault - it's always someone else - the media, the liberals, the McCain campaign staff, etc. yada, yada, yada.
Palin needs to remove the log from her own eye before lecturing Letterman on the splinter in his
She has said so many despicable things
While I think the joke was innapropiate, tastless and offensive -so were so many of the comments Palin made during her VP bid. She's being a bit hypocritical holding others to standards that she has never followed.
geez, take a joke, you are in the public eye all the time, you are going to be the butt of some jokes now and then.
So that makes it okay, since Letterman meant to target the joke toward the older Palin daughter? Still poor taste. This shows was a classless guy Letterman is.
No one cares, Palin. Just please go away. You will never be President, VP, or anything of the like. Please fade quietly into history. Thanks!
Honestly, she's exhibiting fake outrage just to keep herself in the news. She should be thanking Letterman for all the free promotion.
Letterman's show stinks these days; hence, the poor ratings.
I'm glad Palin is giving Letterman some smack that he deserves, without being totally classless like Letterman, Mahr, and Oberman.
Letterman should stick to making fun of Obummer's economic policies, there's a joke.
I didn't even know Letterman was still on tv. His rating are lower than the nightly news if that is possible. His jokes are no longer funny and he is just another angry liberal that spews old hateful libertal rubbish!
When will this disaster of a woman just go away? Talk about stretching your 15 minutes.....
As someone who wants to run for President does she really want to get into a feu with David Letterman over something stupid he said? I think there are far more important things for her to talk about then late night TV. But I am sure she will get another special with Greta Van Sustern on FOX to talk about how they have gotten through "this difficult time". He made a tasteless joke. He admitted as much. Lets move on shall we?
Palin needs to go away. If she wants to play with the big kids down in the lower forty eight than she needs to take her bumps. Otherwise she needs to stay in Alaska and focus on the state she is supposed to be governing.
Dave gave a very reasonable explentation and getting in a fight with a talk show host is not going to help her presidential ambitions either.
Letterman needs to lose his job and the his sponsors that still support him are as sleazy as he is.
Sarah, if you didn't parade you children around for attention then you wouldn't have to go thru this. You claim to hate the media but you won't say out of it.
I am soooo tired of Sarah Palin's whining about media and America. Grow up and stop whining. Please!
You're right, Sarah.
oh shut up, you have made your protest, now stop milking it for publicity !!
I think Palin Is right on this one for once. what if some one had said this about one of the presidents daughters? everyone and their brother would be up in arms and rightfully so!
Just let it go, just take the apology, run home or go to the nearest Attorney and file a sexual harrasment suit, that is your choice. It's just that simply.
As I am not your biggest fan, Letterman had no right to say anything that demeaning about anyone's daughters and I do find it offensive.
Please...can the news media please stop talking about this woman? We are already probably going to have to see her smarmy face too much in 2012, can we maybe have a vacation from it until then?
I call foul on Sarah Palin's weak attempt to stir up contraversy to keep herself in the headlines. Shame on you Sarah Palin, shame on you.
Is she really so starved for public attention that she would create controversy out of thin air?
I noticed that most people with a strong right strong Christian core have also become experts at the "woe is me" "I'm the victim" school of thought... no matter how lame or beguine. This is a classic example.
i'm so sick of seeing this woman in the news.amazing when we were running for vice president she got in all the jabs she could but turn the tables and all of a sudden she is offended,anything to have our face in the news,go back to alaska sarah!they need ya there,save the news for more important things ,give me a break already!!!!!
I can't understand why Palin, a national political figure wants to respond to a late night host – a comedian! If she wants to be taken seriously, she needs to stay away form the silly stuff and discuss serious issues of national consequence. These late night shows joke about everybody and they are rarely in good taste – you just shrug it off, Sarah. As a mom, I do understand how she would feel offended at the joke, but here's what she do – separate her public events and private events with her kids like the Obamas do, like the Clintons, Bush, and Carters did. And that husband of hers needs to get a job and quit being a celebrity.
Letterman figured, "hey, CNN, MSNBC, CBS, et al, are allowed to get away with it–and they're supposed to be NEWS organizations...surely my late night joke show can join in the smears."
Couldn't be that maybe it's WRONG to talk about people you disagree with like that....no, couldn't be.
Even though the joke was in "poor taste", at least Letterman apologized for his "error" in the comment that he made in front of millions of viewers watching his show, Palin still hasn't apologized to anyone for running for vice president! and shaming the Republicans!!! An awful mistake on her part!!!! Why is she still in the news anyway?!!!
I completely agree with Palin on this. It is terrible to make sick jokes like this about children, whether they are a politician's kids or anyone elses for that matter. It is abusive.
And she also is correct in the double standard. Obama says don't talk about my family, and "Presto" it is done. But, Palin and her family are fair game.
I once was a solid Democrat, but now identify Independent. There is at least as much sexism by Democratics as by the Republicans. There was a lot of sexism going on when Clinton was competing with Obama in the primaries. There were numerous t-shirts with vulgar comments, and Hillary nutcrackers. It was disgusting. And this was done by the Democrats.
Letterman should step down. He has no respect for women or children.
This issue is no different than the Imus issue!
Blah, blah, blah. When you called candidate Obama deplorable names, it was o.k. What goes around comes back around. And please tell Bristol to stay out of the limelight, if she can't take the heat.
Palin and her camp are making a "mountain out of a mole hill" perhaps keep in the public eye. Her camp escalated the issue to "rape" and insinuated that David Letterman was somehow a pedophile-shame on you Palin! Perhaps Letterman is "palling around with terrorists" too.
As for Letterman, he is great but he and his writers should avoid references to children in his segments. Palin gives "material" to keep him in business for a whole decade.
Enough is enough....Palin is making a mountain out of a molehill. Worse jokes have been uttered by comedians. Palin's continued response demonstrates how much of a joke her whole campaign is by misplacing her anger about her daughter's mistakes. She got an apology from Dave, does she want him to resign? The only person that should take a hike is Palin.
Palin needs to get over it. She chose to be in the public eye, and must take the good with the bad. And, the fact that she has a promiscuous daughter with an illegitimate child just adds to the joke fodder. Palin is the joke of the republican party.
One thing I forgot to say was Sarah will keep this going and will banter back and forth with David Letterman but when the next campaign gets into full swing, you will see Sarah Palin go on the Letterman show and accept David's apology then.....just to get more exposure. Wait and see if I am not correct.
Please! Please! Please! When will these Sarah come latelys learn that when they step into the spotlight, they become targets! It was obvious who Letterman was targetting (Bristol Palin). Letterman had no insight into the Palin itinerary for her trip! And besides, why is she so thin-skinned all of sudden? Keep inviting people to your pity party, Sarah! No one's buying it!
Letterman is an old washed up comedian. . Time to retire Dave...
Letterman should apologize to all young women for his rude remarks. However since he’s a liberal he will get a pass by the media and his employer. The people who will blog here to slam Plain only shows the double standards in the media and they also have no respect for young women themselves.
before everyone piles on palin. how would you have taken it if you were her? i certainly don't mind admitting to being pretty sensitive to things said about, or did to, my children.
I believe that Letterman should apologize to Palin and the whole family in person while on live TV. Letterman has always been known to be a sick man from the get go.
Palin is correct when she accuses the media of being biased and only giving bits and portions of the story as they feel. It's wrong and the American public knows about it.
The joke was almost as weak as Palin's knowledge of foreign policy. Almost.
Don't concern yourself about Letterman. He's a insignificant TV talking-head without any concern for scruples. He's the Oprah counterpart. If it weren't for TV..........................these people would be factory workers...............if their lucky.
Palin must be loving this. Keeps her in the spotlight for a few minutes more.
She's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but even she knows she's running on borrowed time.
despicable man–we all know he meant what he said–Letterman has a vicious streak when it comes to conservatives–he should be fired by CBS. Good for the Palins to treat him like the troll he is and scorn an invitation to his low-life leftist porn show.
Everytime she feels slighted, we have to watch the Sarah Palin pity
tour.
Who the real teenager here? Not a fan of the late night shows, but she lost this fight when her spokesperson sunk to Dave's level with the "we should keep Willow away from Dave" comment. Letterman was making a joke on a comedy show. The spokespersons comment was just snide and hypocritical. Bottom line, nothing new from the far right conservatives.
This is going to be funny...can't wait to get home for the "Situation Room"
Is Palin TRYING to commit political suicide? When a political figure gets into a fued with a comedian the most likely outcome is the end of the political figures career and huge ratings for the comedian.
An interview between Sarah Palin and Wolf Blitzer about a Dave Letterman joke?
Is this a slow news day?
Palin drags her kids everywhere...and then she is shocked when they are associated with the very people they are sitting with.
I know Alaska is out of the mainstream, but if Palin wants to protect her children (and boy do they need protecting), keep them at home and let them have their own lives.
Parenting 101.
Letterman is guilty of very poor taste in making fun of Palin's daughter but Palin shares the blame for shamelessly using her children to promote herself. It is time for this bimbo to go back to Alaska and mingle with the caribou.
The longer Sarah Palin is around, the longer the dems will stay in power. I'm an independent voter, and there has never been anyone turn me off from a political party as much as she does..... and that includes Barney Frank.
Palin expects an apology from Letterman. She owes many people apologies for many of her remarks on the campaign trail including an apology to the President.
She's pathetic. Dave read jokes written by his writers. He doesn't know which daughter Palin was traveling with, didn't care. She is making something out of nothing, but the really sad part is David Letterman is one of the good guys, for her and her spokespeople to insinuate that he is some sort of pervert is nothing short of slanderous, and she needs to stop.
To all those whom wish to compare this with past presidential children and how these kind of attacks were never used with the Clinton's and Bush's or others.
Rush Limbaugh on his television show back in the very early years of the Clinton administration, once referred to Chelsea Clinton as the White House dog after referencing a picture of the newly acquired white house cat 'Sox'
BTW, she was 13 when he said those remarks.
WHO CARES??? Seriously, who cares what that non-relevant woman thinks or says? She's not happy unless she has a microphone to whine into and any poll will tell you that America could not care less about the political joke known as sarah palin. Stop reporting on her trivial life.
When Obama said family is off limits, he was right.
It should never be acceptable to try and use vulgar humor at the expense of a politician or celebrities child.
Letterman should man up to the fact he was telling a nasty joke about Palin's fourteen year old daughter.
He should then apologize to Willow, Bristal (who cares if he thought it was Bristal.. she is a young women and does not deserve that kind of filthy talk) and all the young women across the country that are being used by a so called comedian for cheap laughs.
Get a grip, he admitted it was in poor taste and apologized. You paraded your kids around for your political purposes, so you've exploited them. In fact, I'd put you in the category of Jon and Kate!!!!.
Sarah OK you win.
Some other things that are weak:
Palin's credentials, performance, ideology and brainpower.
Palin's chances of getting elected POTUS or VP in 2012.
Palin's speaking, governing and parenting skills.
Palin's need to be in the spotlight and drag this story out, when if she really cared about her daughters' honor (or whatever the heck she's claiming), she'd let the sleeping dogs lie and get the discussion off this subject.
nobody cares ,why are you still putting her in the spot light .
Hmm...maybe we need state run media so that no one's feelings ever get hurt.
Like President Obama said, " You can attack me, but do not attack my family, espicially children"
Letterman knew what he was reading and saying, and should never have allowed that "joke ".
Letterman has no class and should some how in some way be punished for his comments.
Letterman is the worts talk show host I have ever seen, and WILL NOT watch his show ever again
"sad commentary on what Americans are fed in terms of full news."
Be careful what you wish for dopey...because you just might disappear off the radar if the media follows through and stops printing stories about idiots and what they have to say.
Sarah Palin: If you were really concerned about your daughters, you would stop perpetuating this issue. The more you harp on this, the more you shove your daughters into the limelight and then it's YOU that makes them into the butt of the joke.
It's a pretty sad commentary on what Sarah Palin believes is "full news" if she's talking about Letterman. What was the 'news' story here? They they went to a baseball game? Quick, someone call Ted Koppel to accurately report on this!
Letterman already admitted his joke was in poor taste; Palin's just trying to enhance her celebrity status with her crocodile tears about corned for abused women.
Anyway, it is Sarah Palin who parades her daughter, a high school drop-out, unemployed, and a unwed mother, around the country like her child is the model for our youth.
In fact, the Palin family is the model for how to a right-wing hypocrite...and nothing else. Next thing she'll be demanding Obama apologize to Limbaugh for taking offense at Limbaugh's incendiary comments.
...and who put the daughter(s) in the limelight. Oh, please. Complain when it's convenient, use them when it's convenient. Opportunist pig! Go back to Alaska. Let your voters pass judgement. Shut up already.
Letterman should be fired for his reckless mean spirited behavior.
If this is all Sarah can talk about, all she is doing is turning herself into a tabloid train-wreck celebrity with nothing substantive to talk about. She should have left this one alone and benefit from the sympathy and instead focus her attention on policy issues, but now she is acting like a psycho.
Sarah Palin is absolutely right. No amount of rationalization from the LEFT can justify this no matter how hard they try, and they will. Just wait and see the tone of their foolish comments that will follow. It will pretty much be the same trash they usually spout when they see the name "Palin". They degrade only themselves.
Unfortunately Gov. Palin is once again whining after the fact. She made the crucial mistake of exploiting her children during the Presidential Campaign when she paraded them around like stage figures for her own policitcal gain. Instead of dragging these children around like props, they should have been in school. Gov. Palin you opened the door for the late night comedians. Remember Tina Fey, and let us not forget about the Katie Couric interview. Bristol, Williow, Piper and Trig should never have been used by you from day one. Did you really want to be VP that bad? Evidently you did....so shame on you!
I personally love David Letterman and think he is hilarious! Palin is just trying to grab at straws to keep her popularity up even though she is a pathetic excuse as a women in politics! Go back to Alaska already!
Why is this even in the news. Please CNN cover things that matter. O h my goodness, stop it.
She'll manage to get 12 more days of coverage out of this if it kills her.
"sad commentary on what Americans are fed in terms of full news."
Palin is referring to news that doesn’t revolve around her royal highness.
Global media sources, BBC, Deutch Welle, etc...Aren’t reporting on the trials and tribulations of the Palin family either; i.e. her public disagreements with her former 'son-in-law'.
Speigel or The Economist isn't putting Bristol Palin on their front cover...Do you know why? Because the educated world doesn't care about Sarah Palin or her redneck family.
I agree with Gov. Palin that this comment was very weak, and Letterman has taken his comments to a new low.
It should make him feel badly that he now has to look up to see a snakes belly. At least I hope he carries this feeling.
The "joke" is that the media still believes we care what Sarah Palin thinks.
Congratulations Governor, you are still a late night punchline.
She will do anything to get into the news and get attention. Let it go, lady.
Letterman is a comedian and Palin is a joke. She's the one who dragged the kids into this. If she can't take the heat, PLEASE get out of the kitchen.
Politicians are public figures – she made her kids public figures. Deal with it.
Palin give it a break already. You have exposed your daughters already to the public limelight. Letterman is a comedian.
Personally I get no joy out of cracking jokes about family members but he is a comedian.
And how about all you right wing nuts offerring "to take the gloves off" if it would have been your daughter. Is this all that the republicans can offer is threats and threats of force ? Sounds typical.
Audacious and Self-Absorbed, thy name is Sarah Palin. She acts an idiot and tosses falsehoods and accusations, but will not stand for anyone who doesn't worship her.
Oh Lordy, she's going to milk this one for all it's got.
Please do not elect this person, I know this type of family!!! They live on problems, they create problems. If everything is fine in the world, they have to make problems!!!
Letterman should be fired. This is on the same level of bad judgement
as the incident involving Don Imus not long ago. He was let go.
Anyone who doesn't see this as Palin trying to twist this story is a fool. Letterman apologized, it was clear he was referring to Bristol, but Sarah wants to spin it into something it isn't. She is now using her own family for politcal opportunity. Who's the sicko now?
While it is in "poor taste" to go after a public figure's kids, Sarah Palin has shown poor taste in allowing her eldest daughter to hit the national talk show circuit and pose for the cover of People in a cap and gown with her baby. She may be 18, but she is far from mature.
Shut UP Sarah! Sheesh...
Letterman's ratings will really suffer for this. Even if people did
not like Palen, I do not think the american public will condon this
type of talk!!
I will never watch Letterman again.
I am not a Sarah fan in any way, shape or form but I have to agree that what Letterman said was in really poor taste and his attempt to sweep it under the rug was just as pathetic. Some things are just totally out of bounds and this is one of them.
Dave owes Sarah and her family a true and sincere apology (if that is possible for him to do). I sincerely doubt that he would appreciate someone using that type of humor directed at his family.
I don't care whom it was that Letterman was referring to. It's in poor taste all around – it's just not funny.
Dave Letterman should be fired. What he said was not funny. One thing to go after a political figure another thing to go after their kids.
Where is NOW and all of the other womens groups? Oh – forgot this was about a Republcan woman.
Every time she speaks, my brain freezes. You're dumb. Go home.
Why do the people and the sponsors of television and radio shows continue to allow the "celebrity" hosts to malign and make libelous statements about our public servants. We may dis-agree with our politicians, but they don't deserve to have their families and their personal lives attacked by people like Mr. Letterman. Has not he ever heard of humor that is done in "good taste"? What a despicable man he is!
I think the person apologizing here should be Sarah Palin to her own daughter. Palin is clearly so desperate to stay relevant and get in the public eye she will leverage a joke few people ever heard and smear her own child for the convenience of her personal ambition and ego. Palin's traveling circus of media coverage is embarrassing. Thank god she was not elected - is this the kind of freak show the country would have been treated to with her as VP?! The only "sad commentary" here is about Sarah Palin...
Letterman is raising the bar for low level humor. It is one thing to bash a political figure but reference to family members is another. Even his non-apology was turned into an attempt to confuse and ridicule the facts surrounding the reason he was making an apology.
Yes, Letterman is a jerk. He should apologize – I mean sincerely apologize but he won't because he's a jerk. Palin won't apologize for the vicious statements she made about Obama during the campaign either - because she's a jerk too.
So far, Bristol has been gracious and above the nastiness. The is not a Liberal or Conservative situation. This is a matter of common decency or lack thereof. Liberals and Conservatives don't like it; don't think it's fair; don't think it's funny; and don't think either of these two deserve our attention. So don't watch Letterman and don't support Palin. Discourage this sort of name-calling and nastiness from any side of the aisle.
Wow! This woman is really reaching. I have always disliked her, but now I feel sorry for her. She has zero grasp on reality. People are losing homes and jobs and she thinks we care about a joke? Poor people and moose in Alaska.
She's intellectually overmatched, she should just let it pass. Unless she just wants to keep doing that cute baby voice thing.
Wellll thats the typical liberal media for you:)
Am wondering if Willow actually knows anything about the birds and the bees, given Sarah's track record.
Or maybe she just tells her that the stork brings babies - yeah, that's it.
David Letterman isnt where most americans are "fed" their news. He's a comedian, give it up Palin.
The right wing moose hunting wanna-be whose still in "poilitical elementary school" taking on the lefts king of late night TV??
Good luck with that!
Why the hell does anyone care what Palin thinks about anything? Just like during the campaign, that awful woman is cashing out on her kids to stay in the public eye.
Letterman's joke was in poor taste, but at least he wasn't selling out his own kids to score some cheap political points.
If Mrs. Palin wants to play the game of politics, she's gonna have to roll with the punches. She can't seriously believe that because all of the drama she's incurred with her lack of preparation, the daughter's pregnancy, the Troopergate scandal, and the desperate ploys she (and McCain) exacted during the 11th hour of their pathetic campaign against Barack Obama is not going to be made the butt of jokes. She gave David Letterman the material! She, at one point wouldn't give the Media the time of day to answer questions – why even be concerned now with what is in the news?
Mrs. Palin should be focused on making whatever attempts she can to salvage her party – and do it quick! The Republican party is becomming a Mammoth.
Go get a life, Palin. You're not funny. So tell comedians what not to do. You couldn't even tell your daughter what not to do. So just shut up.
Sarah Palin is an idiot, plain and simple. I had to mute her prattle on a Today interview this morning, I just couldn't take it. I thank whatever God there is that enough voters saw through the paper-thin act and she isn't sitting one seat from the Presidency today. Hopefully it won't work in three years either, but George W. Bush was a two-term President, so I can't get my hopes up too high. But at least for now, she's more or less irrelevant nationally.
David Letterman is a comedian. Comedians mock famous people. If Sarah Palin is so thin-skinned that she can't laugh it off, maybe she just needs to go back to Alaska and stay there.
CNN ... would you just change the name of this section to "PalinTicker" ... because its clearly all Sarah Palin, all the time! Nothing about this has anything to do with legitimate politics and political news. Just because someone calls themselves a politician ... it doesn't necessarily mean that everything they say and do is about politics!
This posting has nothing to do with politics ... entertainment ... or even social commentary. This is all about notoriety and self-promotion by a complete loon.
Oh, lovely. Just what Sarah Palin needed, an excuse to get on TV without actually having to know anything. Works well for her, right down her alley.
Quit the party lines. Letterman is wrong and an absolute dirtbag. It's not funny to keep joking about young girls. Dem or repubs should all be disgusted
...he should be suspended. That is absolute sexism and gross. Even if he's talking about an 18 year old (which he wasn't) it's gross. She isn't a pop star, she's a kid of a politician. If this was Chelsea or one of the Obama's girls, he would be fired. Letterman, your old and not funny anymore. Nice hair.
Palin's just showing the public how uneducated she is. She can't even remember which of he daughters got 'knocked up' that would have elicited such a joke. It's just a feeble attempt to make some sort of controversy to keep herself in the news cycle and exploit her family further for political gain. To me if she can't figure out a simple joke because she only sees what's two feet in front of her then she does NOT need to be a leader of any organization of any kind for lack of competence. The dumb, folksy act only goes so far.
Ah, Sarah stay in Alaska and keep all your kids safe. You really ae one for the books!
Honestly, I am tired of hearing about this. In a perfect world, after Letterman made these comments, Todd Palin would've shown up and punched his lights out. But, that's not going to happen most likely. Hats off to Todd for having that kind of restraint. So, let's just stop making a big deal over this. It is what is.
I think it is a "weak, convenient excuse" for Silly Sarah to blame the main stream media for her defeat in November!
Ah, the Wasilla Hillbilly. The gift that keeps on giving.
You can't fix stupid!
So it's okay for her to let her daughters actually GET pregnant out of wedlock when they are underage, but it's NOT okay to joke about it or the fact that she dresses like an expensive prostitute?
Color me, HUH?
After watching the rerun of Letterman's "joke" and what was said, I find it disgusting that his writer's and he would even make a comment like that about anyone's daughter! He is a parent, he has a long road to travel with his son, Letterman does not know what his son may experience in life. My mother always said, do not talk about anyone's children, you have your own child and do not know what life will bring.
What is far important is that the Republican Party offered you as VP candidate and that you continue to parade yourself as a significant political figure. Both are indicative of not only poor taste but of a lack of intelligence.
Sarah Palin is in poor taste.
Excuse me, Mrs. Palin. No one really gives a rip.
ohhh boy.. where should I begin...?
Maybe when Palin's President she can work on that whole 'free speech' issue. I mean seriously, do we need people expressing views that differ from that of her majesty? Did you know that she can see Russia? March on Christian Soldier!
I like David letterman and I do agree that it was a really weak (non-)apology. He could have done it a lot better. That said, the Palin spokeperson took the wrong road by saying that they should keep Willow away from Letterman. Don't blow the high road by trying to stoop Dave's level.
Letterman is a dirtbag. Who the hell does he think he is. If he made that remark about Obamas girls, he would be fired. I say get rid of the scumbag...........
Palin has Wordaman on this one!!!!
will we ever get rid of this horrible, moronic woman. We can only hope she will get the Republican nomination in 2010 so she can give the Republicans another landslide defeat.
It pains me greatly to say that I have to agree with Palin on this one. Please note that this is just about the only thing I agree with her about. Letterman put his foot in his mouth and probably WAS thinking about Bristol, but even so it was a crass thing to say and shows his lack of respect for Palin. Which I share, but as a woman and mother I would not go there.
Letterman should receive at the very least the same treatment that Don Imus got for his much less objectionable "nappy headed hoes" remark... he should be summarily ostracized and demonized by the mainstream media and CBS should be forced to fire him. Of course this will not happen, because the media is controlled almost totally by clueless, ignorant liberals just like Letterman, and just like all his moronic supporters across the country who are so indoctrinated with liberal ideology (their religion of choice) that they cannot recognize the very obvious hypocrisy and double standard at play here.
Who cares! Don't we have more important things to be concerned about other than petty jokes.
Please stop reporting on her CNN! You are only encouraging her ridiculous ideas. She is irrelevant and noone cares what she thinks.
Even Henry the Eighth allowed for a court jester. Lighten up GOP.
What is this? The Daily Palin?
CNN, it's time to get over this woman of "weak" intellect AND her petty feuds. I mean, really. The one-time nominee for vice president of the United States of America is in a feud with a comedian, and this is worthy of continual news updates?
Sarah Palin needs to calm down and stop trying to keep herself in the limelight. She is just looking for ways to keep herself known, even it's likely no one took the comment to be about her 14 year old daughter until she mentioned it. Calm down and go back to watching Russia for us.
He's a comedian. Whether you like his jokes or not, that's all it is. If you can't take the heat, keep yourself and your children out of the fire.
What is wrong with this woman? She should have never commented on something stupid said by Letterman. She looks more ridiculous every day focusing on a few tasteless jokes. Get over it already!
Hahaha!! It is a funny joke!
The Palins are in the spotlight. ALL OF THEM! Get used to it!
I cannot wait for the 2012 presidential primaries to be over. This way once Palin gets her annoying phony behind handed to her she will sink back into crooked Alaskan political obscurety never to heard from again. This woman (and her family) is one of the most annoying politicians/attention grabbers since Newt in the early 90's and Paris Hilton. And the media follows her around like a lost puppy. What has this woman ever done but embarrass herself and turn Alaska into a Socialist state?
its kinds scary how many of you people absolutely hate this woman, I mean despise , its crazy. she's beautiful smart she's not hateful she's passionate consistent charismatic, I mean even if you don't agree with her views on policy just say that, why the immense twisted hate? I really don't understand it. I mean alot of people didn't agree with hillary but you never saw anything like this. you guys better watch out because the middle in this country does not like bullies and disagrees with hateful speech, you guys are such a suck mob your gonna bounce yourself right out of power.
I find that Ms Palin's faux outrage is "weak".
But I like that she makes a mountain out of every molehill. Wouldn't want her to ever start looking credible.
The difference between Letterman's jokes and Palin's clear implication that Letterman is a pedophile is the difference between tasteless and reprehensible.
Besides, this is the woman who has paraded her children around whenever it benefits her, and who let her daughter become spokesman for an abstinence campaign sponsored by a clothing maker that markets provocative clothing to tweens. She has no high ground here. Indeed, she's just hit a new low.
Just another case of David Lettermam being crude and rude. That is why we stopped watching him years ago. What he said was not funny, and in the poorest of taste. CBS should put out a statememt condemning his comments.
Sarah is weak... keep your family out of the limelight!
sarah palin is right
had this been said about anyone on the left, heads would roll
And who cares about Palin? SHE'S the one who dragged her kids around with her on the campaign trail, exploiting them for all they are worth, and that definitely includes the one who was pregnant at the time. To now say Letterman crossed a line with this is seriously hypocritical. I wish she and her nut job family would go back to Alaska. They do not represent mainstream America.
Letterman – another Howard Stern wannabe.
David Letterman is Comic, get over it! and CNN, you article made it seem as if David Letterman rolled over and bowed down in acknowledgment. David Letterman did no such thing. I watched that show. He is a comic and he should not and really did not apologize. David stood his ground as a comic. Shame on you CNN for misrepresenting what Dave joked about into some sad apology.
If Ms. Palin wants to be in the limelight, then she needs to accept the consequences of "notariety". Get over it.
Letterman should absolutely apologize. He was way out of line.
Sarah Palin and her family belong on reality TV, not in a governor's mansion or god forbid, the White House.
Last I checked, Letterman is a comedian, not a newsman. And Sarah Palin trying to gain moral high ground by calling him sexist and perverted, THAT's weak. He doesn't owe her an apology. He was making a joke, which is his job, and as a public figure she- and her family- are fair game. She's just going to have to get used to it and stop blaming all her failures and humiliations on the media.
Sarah must be loving all this with all the publicity she is getting.
Letterman is simply a pig. What if a similar joke were made about the President's daughter or daughters? Would Dave still have a job?
She is always blaming the media instead of perhaps looking at her own parenting! She assumed David knew which kid was there as if she is a star and everyone knows her childrens names.
Still waiting on her apology for the "palling around with terrorists"comment........still waiting. Still trying to find fault with others instead try finding your own faults first.....practice what you (so called ) preach........hypocrite.
The "joke" wasn't even funny. It was just sad. It shows how Letterman has gone from a funny entertainer to a mean-spirited, angry old man. As a woman and mother I found it in extremely poor taste. And for him to say "Oops, I meant it about the 18yr old" just compounded the mistake. Sad. It was just crude.
When doe's it become acceptable to society that a 62 year old man can get away with a public humiliation of a child? Mr. letterman owe's her a heartfelt apology, retraction of his poor attempt at (so called comedy) and a good will gesture to the child in question. His so called celebrity status should require some level of dignity when it comes to children. Act like a man David, face the facts of the harm you have intentionally inflicted and admit your very poor judgement. Make something good come from this.
Who cares about either one of them. Palin calls people names. Her daughter in loose, so what?
I am surprised she is not knocked up by Rush L.
David Letterman has learned:Never insult a narcissist!
Why does Palin get so much coverage? This is not news!!!
For pete's sake Palin's – let it go. Enough already. This whole thing is inanely stupid.
"She was the only one there with me," Palin said . OMG could Palin please stop BUTCHERING the English langauge?? This woman is such an idiot ~ I can't believe we are still talking about her 7 months after the election. Palin should be in ALASKA doing the job her constituents elected her to do!
First, I am really not sure what "full news" was left out in any story I have seen on this topic. Sounds like a "weak, convienient excuse" on Palin's part.
Second, I think it is ironic that she talks about "full news" when it suits her, but full disclosure on information that she wishes the public not to know about are private matters.
I love David Letterman. Sarah Palin needs to grow up and quit whining.
Of course we all know Palin's brain is pretty weak as well. So I'm not sure why she is speaking because she needs to wait until all of her brain cells catch up with her mouth.
Is this woman ever going to go away? I mean, I find stupid people as amusing as the next guy, but after nearly a year of her, it's starting to get old.
Palin hits the nail on the head. 90% of our media leans so far left they can't tie their shoes. They certianly have gotten away from reporting the truth. What happened to atempting to be objective???
He apologized now get over it lady!!! She's so big and bad when it comes to insulting people, but she can't handle anything herself. She is an insult to women!
She is absolutely correct. There is a gross double standard in this country right now, where it seems as though any conservative is fair game for cruel, foul, nasty jokes and rhetoric. But if the target is a liberal, then all hell breaks loose and that person then has to pay dearly for his or her misdeed. It needs to stop! Our country is divided and our enemies know this...the world is watching and we are failing miserably.
I really used to like this guy but her turned bitter years ago. Remember what Cher said about him. Then he softened up a bit when he thought he was going to die after the heart surgery, but that change only lasted a few months.
He is just one angry life-hating dude with no class. And where is the National Organization of Women, are you kidding me? I guess they are a joke.
And another thing....We knowwwwww Sarah, you hate the media. You've been saying it since John McCain stupidly picked you as his running mate. You hate it so much that you can't stay off of it. If it wasn't for the media, and the fact that you can't not step in front of every camera that has a lens, you'd still be a nobody. You owe many thanks to the pathetic media that can't help but cover you're train wreck.
Will this woman and her whining husband just go away once and for all please!!!
Ha! I hadn't heard that. It's a perfectly funny & reasonable joke. I don't think it's in poor taste at all. I think it was a mistake for Letterman to apologize.
Palin is so transparent, funny thing is, she has no clue that she is...
Oh... poor Palin. Now she knows how it feels to get hit with slander. Idiot.
Nothing was wrong with Letterman's joke. Palin is simply crafty at twisting things around and inflame it to rile people up for her benefit. Then she thinks it's OK to be snarky & take pot shots at others. She's an expert user of people - even used her daughter's pregnancy to benefit herself.
Go Dave, go! You said enough, even admitted joke was tasteless, which really was not so appalling. Don't lose you comedic edge! Palin is just a grifter & deserves a nuggie!
Sarah Palin is the Paris Hilton of politics. I guarantee that she absolutely LOVES that she has this flap to keep her name in the news.
You can tell she is not going to let this go, she just has to milk it for all the attention she can to try to raise her miserable profile even more. Comedians have been making jokes about politicians as long as I have been alive.
If Palin is so upset by this, then she should suck it up and go on Letterman to set the record straight with him. She needs to grow up. He apoligized, end of story. She needs a thicker skin.
Letterman has turned into a bitter and unfunny old man in recent years. I guess having a kid and getting married is starting to wear on him.
It is sad. I really use to like watching him; but the show has become painfully unfunny in recent years. Might be time for him to move on to retired life.
Let it go Sarah.
In fact, stop putting your kids out in front of the public for you own personal political gain. They are kids, not political assets. Your soulless and maniacal lust for power is destroying these children.
Let it go David.
In fact, stop keeping the "Sarah" abberation in American politics alive by mentioning her at all. You are acting as her pawn. She is secretly ecstatic over your boorish joke. Stop being her stooge.
No Sarah, you actually are loving this joke made by Letterman, because now you can be in the media spotlight some more and rage about your favorite enemies: anyone who doesn't like you and the "liberal media".
I completely agree with Sarah Palins reaction to these comments, what a disfunctional society we live in that anyone finds this humourous in any sort of way. It has become the norm in our society, it's very sad, and this has taken Letterman and others off guard that someone with actual morals would stand up to such a person of influence in the spotlight. It's about time!!!
I agree that it was done in poor taste but really, who cares what Dave Letterman says. I love him as a comedian but I don't look to him for political morality. I look at him for a good joke.
Of course when Palin says Obama is palling around with Terrorists and inciting a crowd that screams KILL HIM......that's OK
Go back to Alaska and stay there................
This woman is trying to make a career out of being offended.
What's "inappropriate" is the insinuation that it's ok, that it's acceptable to talk like you have a clue what's going on in the world. It's a sad commentary on what Americans are fed in terms of 'facts' from weak, ignorant, and fairly unintelligent politicians.
In all honesty, who cares? Hurtful jokes are made a lot.
Plus Sarah deserves it after being a sore loser.
I'm amazed she has taken this as far as she has. He clarified and apologized. Get over it, quit crying and move on Sarah Palin.
Why doesnt CBS pull the plug on Letterman like radio did to Imus???? this trash on TV is a poor example of entertainment in any form....I guess he needs to poke fun at Palin....Letterman only wishes he had a wife as beautiful as Palin.
As the father of two daughters, one of which is a flight attendant, I find it disgusting that David Letterman would offer up such a ridculous comment, and think there was some form of humor in it. In his explanation he seemed to portray himself as the victim. Why doesn't he just have guts enough to apologize, not just to Sarah Palin but to flight attendants and indeed all women.
I would be more outraged over Mr. Letterman's comments if the Palin's would not have paraded their children all over the country during the campaign. Was the joke in poor taste, absolutely but I believe the Palin's protest too much! She is as gulity as using this as a way to continually stay in the media as David Letterman is of poor taste.
The poor taste is you Palin. YOU are the worst mother. YOU use your kids to get what you want .. or what you might want. Many are fool with ' soccor mom' look you are selling but come on get real.
EVERYONE knows Dave was joking about your pure re virgin Bristol ( by the way how is the ' wedding' coming along? ) ... you and your dirty mind went right away to your kid Willow. What a sorry loser you are jajaaa.
If it makes you feel better going after a comedian because NO ONE in your party takes you serious .... then go for it clown!
Letterman is a worn-out has-been doesn't know when to exit the stage. His "comedy" rivals that of Al Franken.
I hope the sexist Letterman takes an Air-France flight from Brazil soon.
That's the old GOP/Limpbaugh/Steele format. Make an over-the-top comment and then "apologize" by saying "it's just a joke", "it's satire", or "it's what we do". Obviously, Ms. Palin doesn't like it very much when she's the butt of it. Turnabout's fair play, Sarah.
Sarah is a very self-assured, confident woman who is real. I think that combination scares the stuffing out of libs.
If this is how she deals with a bad joke and take it totally out of content, what in the world would she be like as a President of the United States
She should have just said it was a bad and tasteless joke and left it alone
I wish she would just go away!!!
Hey Sarah
Get over it..... How long have people poked fun at people in politics. Clearly his joke was about your older daughter that if you have forgotten just had a baby. maybe you should spend more time focusing on that problem oh wait your the Gov of Alaska get to work
Palin's mock indignation act is getting old. Everything is an outrage to this person, also, you betcha.
She gives a good sound bite but can't answer the simplest of questions. She is vacuous and the least qualified person seeking higher office that I have ever seen. If this is what the GOP considers the qualities of a world class leader, they are in real trouble.
Palin needs to lighten up. It was a mistake. She acts like the world is supposed to distinguish one daughter from the other. She isn't that famous. She needs to be forgiving like a true conservative.
"it's also a 'sad commentary on what Americans are fed in terms of full news.'"
Sarah,
The David Letterman show does not provide news. It's a talk show. We realize that you don't know the difference but now that you have the information, please try to keep it in mind as you gear up for your "campaign".
I honestly think Dave should sincerely apologize and I too didn't find his joke funny. It was more conceited that he can slap whatever he wants to say thinking people would still laugh and love him. What a poor bastard.
Surprised you guys are all still covering this "story." The whole "controversy" was invented by a has-been candidate eager to stay in the headlines by playing the martyr card. Isn't there a war or something you guys should be covering?
Why is this airhead still in the news? Get over it, idiot!
Can we PLEASE talk about something that matters?! How about the economy?
Wow, beyond poor taste. Where are the groups defending woman's rights on this one?? If Rush Limbaugh had made the same jokes about Michelle Obama and her daughters, he would of been yanked from the airwaves and this story would be front page news. Another example of the liberal, lack of morals, and politically corrupt media dropping the ball.
My God, she actually said that she will "always forgive whomever is asking for forgiveness".
Delusions of grandeur, anybody?
What are you, Palin, Jesus Christ?
omg already. STOP TALKING ABOUT PALIN. I'm so sick of everything about her. I don't care what she said about Letterman or anybody. Her "ideas" and unintelligent comments make me sick that she's an American, and that she even got so close to being VP. i'm ashamed. so can we please just forget that she exists?
I need to comment on this article! David Letterman have been around a long time cracking jokes and obviously everyone know he was not referring to Palin's 14 year old girl it was Bristol. I dare she use this for her political agenda! She need to get with program if you cant take the heat get out of politics nutball!
the dumbest politician in this whole country is actually calling Dave weak? ho ho ho – funny stuff!
Regardless of which daughter it was meant for, I agree for her, it was disgusting and very much so in poor taste. However, he has since apologized, and whether it was sincere or not doesn't matter, it is now her who is keeping this in the spotlight. Wouldn't most mothers want this to just go away?
It doesn't matter which daughter he was "joking" about.....it was a disgusting, low-class thing for Letterman to say. He should know better. And, oh yeah, Dave.....people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
lettermen makes these comments about the same time conan o'brien takes over the tonight show? is lettermen still upset that he got rejected by nbc and not being able to take over johnny carson's spot? either way, lettermen is becoming a hack, bitter, exploiting his show to make personnel/political attacks on people/even kids. old and boring, another hater(liberal)
of course she calls his excuse "weak".
what else would we expect the sarah palin to say?
the thing she's missing is ... he's a comedian. it was a joke. a bad joke, certainly. and so ... he's guilty of being a bad comedian.
let it go, already.