Thread: David Letterman

Originally Posted by igitur55

I think Black's spells it "libel", but there is always room for local color . What you have cited there is a dictionary definition, not a legal cause of action. And even if you have a sufficient cause of action, these cases are notoriously difficult to win in the U.S. (something to do with the 1st Amendt ... ), which is why so many Americans are now forum shopping and suing in England under that country's more permissive laws/less protected freedom of speech.

that's in the proper "English" here in redneck counter we spell it any darn well way we please.

Originally Posted by mhailey

that's in the proper "English" here in redneck counter we spell it any darn well way we please.

And so you should! "Lible" like "Bible" - any other way would be sacrilege.

Oh please. Letterman made a joke about Palin's adult daughter being impregnated. He clearly meant the 18 year old one, anyone who chooses to believe otherwise is bending over backwards to be offended. That daughter has already had a child, so let's not make out she's a blushing virgin. She's a young adult now. When she chose to risk pregnancy she knew there could be consequences, having jokes made about her being the least of them. She accepted the risks.

I agree that the media should leave people's kids alone - but if Palin wants to protect her children from the media then she should stop parading them at political events. She can't have it both ways, exploiting them for political benefit then complaining when the media mention them.

The daughter herself is old enough to avoid the limelight if she chooses. Decisions ... consequences. That's how life works. Some are just slow learners.

Originally Posted by mhailey

There should be.

Agreed, but I think we both know that there wouldn't be.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Now if Letterman had picked on Palin fine no problem, but to stoop to picking on her daughter????? FOUL !!!!!

Children should be off limits Period !!!!

+1. There are exceptions to most of the privacy laws in this country for "public persons." If you're a celebrity, or a politician, you don't have the same privacy rights as "regular folks." However, that's Palin, not her kids. They've stayed fairly under the radar, and they should be left alone.

Originally Posted by matt321

Comedians and artists probe the edge of the social norm. We cheer them on as they mock prevailing standards. Then one day they cross the line and society turns on them. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

This is free market economics at work. We sit here, and think that Letterman was out of line, but at the end of the day, most people don't really agree with us. Most people, think he's funny, and will keep right on watching his show.

If his ratings fell by 20% because of the joke, he'd be fired. The sad reality, is that I wouldn't be shocked if his ratings went up because of the publicity.



The other random thought I'd throw out there, is that David Letterman probably doesn't have a clue what he's making jokes about. His staff does the research, and does the jokes, and in reality, he's just a mouthpiece. What would be really interesting, is to see if any of his staff got canned over this.

Originally Posted by pio

too many questions marks i guess...
you haven't answer the question...
it is funny to call the president gorilla just because he is black?

I thought he was white. Not that I care.

Originally Posted by igitur55

That makes you classy, JMS. Even if you do say so yourself.

I didn't mean to suggest I was classy. I am anything but classy. I consider her Classy because she knew when to stop. I may not know when to stop, especially since it would involve my children.
When I said I would do the same I meant I would insist on an apology also.

Originally Posted by JMS

I didn't mean to suggest I was classy. I am anything but classy. ...

Well at least we can agree on something.

And who are these 'Liberals' I keep hearing about? I just see more Americans.

Originally Posted by singlewedge

We have a right to trial by jury not by press. If you want to substitute the trial process for one by press then kiss all your freedoms goodbye because the people are fickle and they will change there minds on a whim.

BTW for a public figure you may be able to dig up dirt, but for Joe Shmoe that met anyone on the street and made that comment. According to the law you have no damages. Slander requires a loss of something that you cannot get back, earning potential, loss of clients, etc. If you are a young girl in this case 14, your earning potential is not such that a comment like that would adversely affect you, nor should you have clients.

Some one could bring a suit and it would get dismissed as being baseless. Then the other party would counter sue for something and around we go.

Again respectfully.

I believe that was the basis of the case Larry Flint won before the Supreme Court - lampooning/joking about a public figure. Palin made her family public by parading them around every chance she got - never mind the fact that her unwed daughter gave had a kid....and the "marriage" was conveniently called off after Palin lost the election. Where was the condemnation from the right for her being an unwed mother? Isn't that a stoning offense in the Old Testement?...or is it another example of picking and choosing which section of the Bible to follow (as best suits your political needs)?

I have never found Letterman funny...and when I heard the joke, I thought it was about the ball player and the poor example set by many modern sports figures, not Palin specifically. She knows it wasn't directed against her 14 year old....the context doesn't even fit (it was the older daughter who got knocked up by a high school jock). Palin is just being the poster child for the "professionally offended" crowd - the people who are offended, no matter what, as it is the only way the can feel in control, enjoy the spotlight, and stroke their own egos. After all, how can you feel superior to everyone else if you can't claim to be a victim?

All this false indignation is sickening. If you don't like what he said, counter it with more speech. You can't censor someone because they offend you. Imus is a crass individual; Limbaugh is a broken record; Letterman is not even remotely funny (to me). I don't think any of them should be censored/fired for what they say. The basis of this nation is defending the rights of others to say what they want, even though you would go to your death opposing their view. Letterman did not incite action or condone such actions. He was speaking on a known comedy/satire forum and was speaking in hyperbole. I'll give the Palin camp's whining some credence when she apologizes for the hateful comments she made (and her supporters) during the election.

This woman is the future of the Republican Party?

I can hear Lincoln weeping from his tomb in Springfield.......



"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too." - Voltaire

Originally Posted by WireBeard

If you don't like what he said, counter it with more speech. You can't censor someone because they offend you.

Hear, hear! How does the saying go? "I despise what you have to say, but I will defend with my life your right to say it," or something like that.

Originally Posted by WireBeard

I can hear Lincoln weeping from his tomb in Springfield.......

I think that's just because he just wants out.

That is a quote attributed to Voltaire...but it is really a scholar distilling Voltaire's views on Liberty into one phrase. Still, it is one of the foundation blocks of this nation. The ONLY response to offensive speech is more speech. To censor the written or spoken word is the first step towards tyranny. YOU can only be made to feel insulted or inferior if you allow yourself to be. The issue is one of taste and personal preference, not slander. There is a huge difference between the content of an obvious joke and if the same content had been stated on Meet the Press or Frontline. If Letterman told his audience that martians had landed, based on the public outcry to his joke, I wonder how many people would run to the window to look.......

This nation and the world has more serious issues than who got offended...Palin and her ilk are simply following the tried and true approach of misdirection and projection from their lack of solutions for the problems we face. We do not need to be made afraid of our challenges or be told whom to blame.