Daniel,
I agree (I think) with most of what you've written here. But I do understand Palin's reaction. I have never (evah) in my life seen a politician AND her family trashed like Palin was in the campaign. I can understand the way she feels on this one.
Of course, as a politician, she is probably stringing this out a bit long. But for the sake of all the kids of politicians, Letterman and his ilk need to quit making jokes about the kids. They need to feel some pain here. If it were Biden's daughter or Obama's daughters or whatever, the same principle applies.
It was low-class to make Chelsea Clinton jokes too.
As the dad of two teenage daughters, I would be apoplectic if a TV personality made a joke about one of my daughters getting "knocked up". So in this case I'm glad Letterman and CBS are feeling some heat, jerks. Pour it on.
OK, all that being said, I agree with almost everything you wrote. 
I want to be clear. I do not think Letterman's joke was in good taste in any shape or form. And it wasn't that funny to boot. I'd be p.o.'d too if a late night talk show host made a joke like that about one of my girls.
I also, know, however, that I'd be upset if it was suggested that girls should stay away from me because I made a joke (however tasteless) on television (inferring that I was a dirty old man who kids needed to be frightened of as Palin did of Letterman).
Palin's milking this, absolutely, and shame on her for that. No disagreement there. I wish she had just fiercely defended her daughter, period.
I know that Letterman thought he was referring to the older one. So, they are at least guilty of poor research. But the joke was offensive about anyone's daughter, as far as I'm concerned 18 may be legal, but I'd be ticked if the joke had been clearly bout her. It was wrong.
Letterman has been own right hostile and mean to McCain and Palin since the convention. He was relentless during the campaign and has been since. He was never even remotely critical of Obama. At least that's my perspective until last fall when I quit watching him. I'm a big late night talk show fan and had watched Letterman for over 20 years. Some thing changed, though, and he was on some kind of crusade I couldn't watch him anymore. Given his obvious bias and hostility, I don't blame her one bit for not coming on his program.
I also wouldn't say he apologized either. He explained that he wasn't talking about the 14 YO and took the opportunity to re-tell the jokes. If anything, he defended himself rather than apologizing.
Lastly, I don't recall where I saw this study, but it was recently reported that the media has given Obama much more favorable reporting than recent presidents. The numbers were something like 42% of stories were favorable for Obama's early days compared to mid 20's for both Clinton and George W. There's a level of approval of him in the press that is unhealthy, in my opinion and it concerns me, especially considering how ambitious he is.
There is a double standard in news media plain and simple. If this joke had been made about President Obama's daughters or of like nature, then everybody would have been asking for Letterman's job...Of course this will never happen because Letterman has a love affair with the current administration...
Just tonight here in TN, there was an email sent out from one of the state's representative offices. It was racist joke, not meant to be taken in a malicious way, but poking fun at Pres. Obama for being black and his portrait next to all the other pres. would be his eyeballs showing...Again, not the thing to be passing around a political office, but there is an outcry for this woman's job...She has been serving representatives for over 20 years too...
If we are going to have loose lip standards, then lets not get bent out of shape over this. However, if we are trying to maintain some what better, professional standard then, we need to reevaluate ourselves and hold each other accountable for our actions. This is not currently happening right now....
I like Palin on some degrees but let her keep blasting Letterman, because by God, nobody else has or will....Where's the professional standard on this? I disagree to on the fact that she is trying to "score" political points...She is just a P.O. mother who is tired of people taking free shots at her family....And there isn't any grounds for argument that says otherwise...
There is a double standard in news media plain and simple. If this joke had been made about President Obama's daughters or of like nature, then everybody would have been asking for Letterman's job...Of course this will never happen because Letterman has a love affair with the current administration...
He's a late-night talk show host, not a member of the NEWS media. He's a comedian, an entertainer. He loves Obama, no doubt, but that's his right. He doesn't even have to pretend to be fair ... and we don't have to watch him.
Just tonight here in TN, there was an email sent out from one of the state's representative offices. It was racist joke, not meant to be taken in a malicious way, but poking fun at Pres. Obama for being black and his portrait next to all the other pres. would be his eyeballs showing...Again, not the thing to be passing around a political office, but there is an outcry for this woman's job...She has been serving representatives for over 20 years too...
She should know better then.
I disagree to on the fact that she is trying to "score" political points...She is just a P.O. mother who is tired of people taking free shots at her family....And there isn't any grounds for argument that says otherwise...
We can agree to disagree about Palin scoring political points, I guess. She may be a pissed off mom (and good on her for defending her family), but she's also a politician who HAS to see points she can score off of this by dragging it out. Thankfully, she accepted his second apology and maybe now we can move on.
I'd like to say a hearty amen!
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