Should Letterman have apologized to Palin?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Absolutely not. A real shame that he caved and did.

[Keystone Phil]

That was an apology? Oh.

[YRABNNRM]

People are still talking about this?

[Torie]

No.

[Coburn In 2012]

Yes and he should be fired for what he said.  Oh wait I forgot only the children of libs and leftists are off limits

[J-Mann]

People are still talking about this?

And ... no. That's a poor standard to set for someone who makes his living on bad jokes and insults.

[Eraserhead]

No.

[Ban my account ffs!]

I don't know... in this case, probably... if only because of the whole "which daughter was actually there" mix-up.

Of course Palin's reaction was completely overblown, preachy, full of hot air, and completely self-adulating. 

Ideally, Letterman would have apologized for the joke in light of the 14 year old girl BEFORE Palin started running her mouth... but who wants to apologize to an incessant whiner?

[Magic 8-Ball]

No.  He should apologize to America, however, for not being amusing.

[Sam Spade]

No.  He should apologize to America, however, for not being amusing.

Wow, then he's like 15 years overdue there.

I haven't weighed in on this issue (maybe because of the quality of debate), but I have long agreed with States on these general matters - "Kids are off-limits."

Anyway, this result is quite interesting to me.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Yes and he should be fired for what he said.  Oh wait I forgot only the children of libs and leftists are off limits

That's a little harsh.  There's no reason he should be fired.

[Magic 8-Ball]

No.  He should apologize to America, however, for not being amusing.

Wow, then he's like 15 years overdue there.

I haven't weighed in on this issue (maybe because of the quality of debate), but I have long agreed with States on these general matters - "Kids are off-limits."

Anyway, this result is quite interesting to me.

I think many of the votes came from the way the Palins handled the whole situation.  If they had responded by just saying that it's unacceptable to make a joke about someone simply because her mother is a politician, most of us would agree.  Instead, they exploited the situation and tried to turn Letterman into some kind of monster.  That's not a great way to engender sympathy.

And, yeah, there's a reason his ratings were lower than Leno's, who isn't good either.

[dead0man]

Whoa...I just heard his apology....and no, he shouldn't have done that.  He OVER apologized.  If he is sincere, then he is a pussy.  If he is doing it to put it all in the past, I think he went overboard.



...and every time the right blows up over stupid sh**t like this, they push me (and I'm assuming other people like me) further and further away.

[??????????]

...and every time the right blows up over stupid sh**t like this, they push me (and I'm assuming other people like me) further and further away.

Yeah, because it's ok to insult children.

[dead0man]

Of course it is.  Why wouldn't it be?  I'm not big on treating kids with <ahem> kid gloves.  Especially a 14 year old.  Hell, the poor little protected teenager would have never even heard "The Most Offensive Joke Since Nappy Headed Ho's" if the right didn't go ape sh**t over it. 

Nobody and nothing is off limits when it comes to comedy.  Not all comedy is suited to all people.  Some people watch horror movies for the comedic value (I certainly do).  Schadenfreude is a fairly widespread...."emotion"?, I don't know, but a lot of people have it.  The best jokes are the ones only a few people in a room get.  You should rent the Aristocrats documentary.....good stuff, but it's a bit much for my tastes.  I enjoy corny humor.

Why did the monkey fall out of the tree?

because it was dead

Why did the bird fall out of the tree?

the monkey hit it on the way down

Why did the squirrel fall out of the tree?

he thought it was a game

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

The non-apology apology and the apology are doing wonders for his ratings I bet.

[J. J.]

Yes and he should be fired for what he said.  Oh wait I forgot only the children of libs and leftists are off limits

That's a little harsh.  There's no reason he should be fired.

I agree completely. 

Had Bristol been at the game or had he said, "A-Rod knocked up her daughter, Bristol," I would have said the joke was in bounds.  I think he was intending to referring to Bristol, and assumed it was Bristol.  It was an honest mistake, but still a mistake.

[Mechaman]

I think Letterman should've apologized, but not to Sarah Palin. He should've apologized for coming out of his mother's womb. The guy is the absolute definition of FAIL. I find nothing wrong with the context of his joke, I have a problem with it SUCKING BALLS LIKE EVERY OTHER JOKE I'VE EVER HEARD HIM TELL. WILL IT FLOAT?! ARE YOU FUUUUUCKING KIDDING ME!? YOU CALL THAT COMEDY?