Comical Taste to Tasteless

On a recent Late Show broadcast, the host David Letterman made some jokes meant to entertain. His jokes were directed towards Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and her daughter Bristol. The following are the jokes from that show;
http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/top_ten/index/php/20090608.phtml
Top Ten List:
10.) Visited New York Landmarks she normally only sees from Alaska.
9.) Laughed at all the crazy looking foreigners entering the U.N.
8.) Made Moose Jerky on Rachel Ray
7.) Keyed Tina Fey’s car.
6.) After a wink and a nod, ended up with kilo of crack
5.) Made coat out of New York City rat pelts.
4.) Sat in for Kelly Ripa, Regis couldn’t tell the difference.
3.) Finally met one of those Jewish people Mel Gibson’s always talking about
2.) Bought makeup at Bloomingdale’s to update her “slutty flight attendant” look.
1.) Especially enjoyed not appearing on Letterman.

Another joke was said during his monologue;
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/06/sarah-palin-david-letterman-cbs-rape.html
One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game, during the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez.

On the following day, David Letterman gave this explanation and sort of apology;
We were, as we often do, making jokes about people in the news and we made some jokes about Sarah Palin and her daughter, the 18-year-old girl, who is – her name is Bristol, that’s right, and so, then, now they’re upset with me…”
“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. I mean, look at my record. It has never happened. I don’t think it’s funny. I would never think it was funny. I wouldn’t put it in a joke…”
“…Governor Palin, if you’re watching, I would like you to consider coming to New York City – you and Todd as my guests, or leave Todd at home – I’d love to have you on the show. It’d be exciting…”
“All right, so there, I hope I’ve cleared part of this up. 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.”

The Palins were outraged by these remarks and felt they were tasteless and uncalled for. I agree to a point. David Letterman makes his money at humor. Whether it is good or not, will be judged by his audience. I agree that references to minor family members should be kept decent at best. Mr. Letterman’s apology is about as good as it is going to get. Is it enough? If the Palin’s want to show any class it would be. But class is one of two traits Sarah Palin does not have in my opinion. The other trait being intelligence.

Sarah Palin is using this opportunity to keep her name in the press and try to obtain some sympathetic following. She is aware as anyone that, the Republican Party is in disarray and would love, to end up being the leader of the party. So, like she did early in the Presidential Election, she is using her family as a prop to gain recognition from the public. Quite frankly, I think this is worse than what David Letterman is accused of doing. Both she and her husband could have shrugged the remarks off or made a short statement about the remarks being tasteless and left it at that. She could have even said she was a Leno fan to add to the rebuttal and looked classy over it. But, as in the Presidential Election, she has shown the lack of class and intelligence that I believe cost John McCain the election. To continue to throw her daughters name out into the public realm shows the low class she is and probably always will be. I hope, when the Republican Party resurges, it has left this classless and brainless woman on the sidelines. She may be considered in high esteem in Alaska but, to me, her lack of intelligence in National and World affairs makes her an embarrassment and insult for someone trying to reach the highest office in our Country.

That’s How I See It.

Websites of reference;
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2009/06/12/sarah-palin-matches-david-letterman-in-cheap-classless-jokes.html
http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2009/06/12/is-the-palin-crews-fight-with-david-letterman-a-publicity-stunt.html
http://www.biography.com/articles/David-Letterman-9380239
http://www.newsday.com/topic/entertainment/television/david-letterman-PECLB004157.topic
http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/L/htmlL/lettermanda/lettermanda.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Show_with_David_Letterman
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20284295,00.html
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=49506
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/06/sarah-palin-david-letterman-cbs-rape.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Letterman