New York Legislator Calls For Letterman To Be Fired
Republican (of course) Brian Kolb of upstate Canandaigua, New York, the Minority Leader of the New York State Assembly, is calling for the firing of David Letterman. I don’t know about you, but it sends chills down my spine (and that of the First Amendment) when a legislator wants to fire a comedian because of a joke.
“In a letter sent to CBS Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Les Moonves earlier today, I called for the firing of ‘Late Show’ host David Letterman over the shockingly inappropriate comment he made about Willow Palin, the 14-year-old daughter of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, during his program on Monday, June 8. As the proud father of a daughter, and as a husband, I wanted Mr. Moonves to hear from me directly about Mr. Letterman’s disparaging remarks.
[...]
That Mr. Letterman thought it somehow acceptable to make light of the serious crime of statutory rape and demean the 14-year-old daughter of a sitting Governor whose family was visiting our state is outrageous.
Never mind that Dave apologized (even though it was ungraciously not accepted by Sarah Palin, who continued to attack him on the Today Show). And never mind that the joke was clearly aimed, not at 14-year-old Willow, but rather Bristol Palin, now a fully grown mom.
Can anyone say “Fascist”?
Oh wait .. he’s a Republican. He was already a fasicst partisan.
Daddio Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Sigh!!!
EricG Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Sigh … your not bringing anything to prove me wrong. So I guess it’s true.
take a look at your party, daddio
You’re blind if you don’t see hate and bigotry and racism and fascism.
You’d have to be an idiot.
Maybe you are. I doubt it but it’s possible.
Daddio Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Never mind that Don Imus apologized. After all it was only a joke and Don Imus is a comedien also. He not only apologized nationally but he met privately with the Rutgers womens BB team. He apologized several times but the left still forced him out.
OldLefty Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Huh, I thought it was the audience, the advertisers and the Network that forced Imus out:
He WAS a comedian on a morning news show, not on a late night comedy show….
Although I think both comments were inappropriate and did not warrent firing, the family v late night audience made a difference.
deeznuts Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Need I remind you, dear child, that Imus’ ouster was in no way motivated by a government official?
That’s the difference.
A legislator calling for the firing of Letterman over this (fat chance) is the very definition of government censorship.
Daddio Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Your right deeznuts. So are legislators that tell stations what to program. Fairness Doctrine, or what ever new name they give it.
Sharpton may not be a politician but he is very political.
EricG Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
“Never mind that Don Imus apologized”
I would like a world where Imus didn’t have to apologize. It was a stupid thing to say but like all the radio-talkers he is just throwing stuff around. It would deserving a full apology if he took up some campaign against the team or was verbally abusive to them in personal interactions.
But that’s the radio! Just like the internet nobody has to deal with consequences unless you want to. You don’t have to look someone in the eye and call them “liberal scum” or in this case “nappy-headed ho’s” so people feel free to be beyond rude.
-
If the world was more honest, more people would admit to what they are doing via computer or microphone.
I’ve come out and said it many times on this website:
Flaming works.
If I did a ‘flaming-dedicated’ side-blog instead of bipartisanship attempt I’d wager I’d pull down more hits per day, probably ten-fold.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Horses’ pa-toot..
average james Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I smell it stronger than ever.
Desperation.
average james Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
The right keeps throwing stuff out there.
Please stick, please please please please stick, something–anything.
EricG Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Yeah, I’ve been picking up on that too.
It seems to me that they are just throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks.
next week it will be back to hating Muslims and this week it’s Letter is the Devil … it’s like they just keep coming up with a new thing to be upset about and then go outragous expecting some grand reation from the party.
I am beginnning to really hope they just crumble away as a party. If they stood for individual freedom and personal responisblity I’d be upset with them going away … but a party of theocracy, bigotry, partisanship and racism is nothing worth saving nor honoring.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I thought that Republicans were the self proclaimed keepers of our constitutonal rights. Apperantly only when it comes to guns.
Rocky the Liberal Rottweiler Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Yeah, you have to go left to the ACLU if you want to stand up for ALL the amendments AND the constitution too.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Im embarassed for the good guys in the party. Their voices not heard, their actions not recognized. The loud, obnoxious, shock and awful get the print.
EricG Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
That’s something I’ve wondered about from the outside, Craig.
Do honest and non-hateful conservatives get as frustrated as I with these people?
It would seem to me they wouldn’t want the shock-jock mentality to run their party.
I’ve said many times that if conservatives would practice what they preach (personal accountability, individual freedom, conservation of funds and resources) then I’d highly consider joining up.
I think the numbers would swell in their favor if they would drop the Reagan Era politics for good.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
[...] New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb explains why he’s asking CBS to fire David Letterman for jokes about Sarah Palin’s [...]
June 12th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
There is nothing Liberal/Conservative about this issue. I happen to be a mother — David Letterman is the south-end of a north bound mule. I don’t care if he is taking pot-shots at Palin’s daughter, Obama’s daughter, or the girl down the street – since when is it okay to verbally molest women like this? This is just not funny. If you have a daughter, a wife, or a mother – any female in your family that you would not like to see treated like a piece of trash, then you should be outraged. How can young men learn to treat women properly when a 62 year old grandpa figure treats a young girl like a harlot?
OldLefty Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Rise’,
Were you also upset about Rush and McCain’s jokes.
Rise' Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Lefty,
With McCain, not so much – they just got old after a while (no pun intended considering they were always about age!). As for Rush – I never really heard them (or I don’t recall them) but if they were aimed at his addictions then I would have been upset. I think you can take pot-shots at people’s opinions, their policies/politics, their idiosyncracies – but never their kids. I’m not a Rush listener but I applaud him if he has overcome his addiction – he is to be commended, not ridiculed.
OldLefty Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Rise’
The Mccain and Rush Limbaugh jokes I was refering to were about Chelsea looks when she was just a child.
Rush called her the Whitehouse dog. and McCain said she was unttractive because Janet Reno was her father.
Rise' Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Lefty,
Both remarks are disgusting. I don’t know how people can talk about another person’s child like that. It makes me sick.
average james Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
COMEDIANS are frequently disgusting.
OldLefty Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Rise’,
Yep.
placefield Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Rise,
I agree with you but, I have a big problem with an elected official calling for someone to get fired for some potentially offensive jokes. Clear cut violation of freedom of speech in my opinion.
Rise' Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I completely agree. I meant to finish the post with that comment myself and hit submit before doing so. If Letterman is fired I want it to be on the basis that he no longer marketable in that time slot, not because some congressman thinks they have some muscle to flex.
Rise' Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Good heavens! I just re-read that post… I need to learn to proofread before hitting submit!!!
Rocky the Liberal Rottweiler Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
“…since when is it okay to verbally molest women like this?”
There are just as many women and girls “verbally assaulting” men and boys every day of the week.
And anyone who needs to look to a TV talk show host to set an example should really see about getting himself or herself a new set of parents.
Rise' Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Maybe I am sheltered (and admittedly biased being a woman myself) but I have never heard the level of disrespect shown to men as I hear toward women.
As for anyone who needs to look to a TV talk show host to set an example needing to get a new set of parents… I couldn’t agree more, but the sad state of affairs is that it happens a whole lot more than you think – maybe not so much here (I admit I *might* have been a little melodramatic), but since when is is okay to be so disrespectful about other people’s children? I don’t get it, Rocky, people just can’t be that mean-spirited.
Rise’
GuidoVanHorn Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 1:59 am
then you aren’t paying attention Rise…men are the last unprotected class in America. Watch how men are portrayed especially in sitcoms and jokes, extremely stereotypical and demeaning.
Isn’t the point of the women’s rights movement to be treated equally.
Part of being treated equally is taking your shots when they are given.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Imus should not have been fired, and Letterman should not be. Imus’ comments were only directed at ONE TEAM. I don’t see how that’s racist when he compliments Tennessee on being good looking (which includes black gals) and then says the other team is nappy.
Letterman made a dumb joke. It was a little too far, perhaps a wee bit too partisan, but I don’t see it as THAT bad. I hope the issue drops. Enough is enough. Everything has been said that can be said.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Oh goodie, let’s do fire him. Then we get to pick who to fire:
Oxyrushie Limpballs
Seannie KKKlanity
Mark Levin the ass
Michael Ravage
Bildo O’Loofah
Daddio Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
How about Obama firing the CEO of a private industry?
OldLefty Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
That company came to the government for a hand out.
You people act like they SEIZED the company.
Daddio Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Obama’s calling the shots Lefty.
OldLefty Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Daddio said
Obama’s calling the shots
…………………..
Good!
Because they ran the company into the ground, then came crawling.
As Cheney said,
“Cheney said that rather than acting on GM, the Bush administration “put together a package that tided GM over until the new administration had a chance to look at it.”
Daddio Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Lefty, you a socialist? You want the government running our industries now? You want Hugo Chavez type government?
ARE YOU CRAZY??!!! :) Not serious Lefty.
OldLefty Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Daddio,
The government is not running our industries.
This is not the first time a giant industrial firm has restructured under the wing of the federal government. In the 1970s and ’80s, railroad operations for much of the northeastern US operated under government control, before the firm Conrail was finally sold back into private ownership with a stock offering.
President Richard Nixon signed the legislation.
With the Detroit carmakers today, the Obama administration is calling key shots on its own (using the pool of congressionally authorized rescue money known as the TARP), and Grimes says the government’s role is “more ad hoc.”
As Don Grimes, an economist at a University of Michigan in Ann Arbor said, voters could end up being angry that their money is being used to prop up private corporations that failed, and also angry about job losses at dealerships or factories where they live.
For all the political risks and the dangers of government meddling in private industry, the damage to the US economy without government support could be large.
“I have to give him some credit, maybe a lot of credit,” Mr. Grimes says. “He did realize that the economy in its fragile state really couldn’t go with [an automaker] liquidation phase right now.”
“You want Hugo Chavez type government?”
Not particularly….do you want a Pinochet type government?
Rocky the Liberal Rottweiler Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
“You want the government running our industries now?”
Government couldn’t do any worse. Corporate America by and large is run by incompetent jerks who can’t see beyond the demands of their obsession with personal wealth. So they rape the corporate accounts, the stockholders, the employees, and then lobby the congress for more and bigger tax breaks.
Lee Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Actually, the reality is that it very much depends on the ‘business’ and the economic environment as to whether Government should be running businesses/services etc..
The ‘Greed is good’ philosophy works very well to a point in that it spurs growth, innovation and efficiency in most industries. The problems with this model come when it is either applied to an industry where profit is not the number one goal (e.g healthcare and essential services like mail/law enforcement) or when moral hazard and other factors contrive to put the executives in a “can’t lose” scenario at the expense of the average Joe (e.g shadow banking etc).
This is why almost all western nations have both renounced a totally socialist model and equally a totally libertarian/’capitalist’ model.
The notion that the Obama administration has an agenda to have government run mainstream businesses such as the auto industry on a long-term basis is ridiculous (along with the banks).
I don’t like the union majority ownership of GM, I think that is a recipe for total failure of a business unless you are indeed living in a communist/socialist nation.
However, using the government to temporarily protect giant pillars of our economy makes sense to me and that part I support completely.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
This is only the latest in a long string of faux, manufactured rightwing controversies straight out of Karl Rove’s playbook. Bankrupt as they are, this is all the game they’ve got left.
(1) A minor remark/event/joke/observation begins with a “Dem” or “Dem” sympathizer. (2) The mainstream conservative press (FOX) presents it to their fruitcake media base (bloggers and talk radio) who add their own special sauce before regurgitating it back to their lunatic fringe public . (3) The “right” feigns outrage at the juiced up controversy ignoring that it now bears little resemblance to the original event. (4) Once the faux controversy takes root (or sticks to the wall), the mainstream Repukes step into the “fight” and the whole bunch run with it together to see just how far they can go with it.
For the record, Palin does have kind of a “slutty” flight attendant look. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
blissfulconservative Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Did the Imus situation suit your fancy?
average james Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Hey Bliss,
The Imus situation did not suit my fancy.
June 12th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
I like slutty flight attendants. They kind of offset the matronly flight attendants that seem to be far too common today.
“Coffee, tea or ME?”
June 12th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
What’s up with our society’s fascination with feigned outrage? People just love to be offended.
June 12th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
What David Letterman did was wrong.
Oh,he was not referring to her 14 yr old
daughter,BUT it would have been no holds
barred to say ugly c**p about her
18 yr old daughter.Then he said Sarah
Palin bought lipstick and something about
her “Slutty Stewardess Look” You don’t say
the Gov of Alaska looks like a SLUT.For
God sake people.What happened to principles.
This was flat out wrong and he thought it was
acceptable until people started complaining.
I think everyone should call CBS 212 975-4321
If a conservative said Michelle Obama had a Slutty
look I guarantee you the Liberals would be picketing
with signs and the President would have something
to say,but be disrespectful of a conservative
and it’s fine.I heard some pretty viscious things
during the campaign from people such as Madonna,
Sandra Bernhardt. The election is over,but Sarah
Palin and her family are to be attacked and the
people laughed.How would Letterman like it if
someone attacked his wife that way.Think he’d
see the humor Mr.Colmes? Mr.Colmes how about your
wife is she fair game.I doubt it.I say he
needs to be FIRED.
pierre Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Michelle, ma belle!
Is that worst than being called a Slutty looking lady?
If so would you call for the firing of the author(el limbo)?
June 13th, 2009 at 2:54 am
Check out this rush limbaugh clip. Rush claims that Nancy Pelosi had oral sex with Obama. That hasn’t been a peep about it.
http://www.conceptualguerilla.com/?q=node/2764
gopexposed Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 3:28 am
cue to 8:16 to hear it
GuidoVanHorn Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 3:50 am
should there be a peep about it?
June 13th, 2009 at 3:10 am
According to today’s guest, Rush’s comments certainly merit termination. The comments are certainly more raunchy and “disrespectful to women.” It’s way worse than what David said. It might even be a problem for the FCC. Have you ever heard someone making fellatio sounds on the air before?
GuidoVanHorn Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 4:45 am
I’m surprised Rush has any idea what that would sound like.
blissfulconservative Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Are you kidding me? How bout’ howard stern, the grease man, etc etc etc?
Remember what the left did to Imus?
June 13th, 2009 at 4:18 am
CBC don’t back down ; don’t do another Dan.
Some network (fox news) incite people to kill(defeat socialism like the facists).
David’s joke only hurts someone’s feeling.
Killing is for ever; feelings go away eventually.
Again, don’t even think about firing anybody.
Daddio Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 10:32 am
He works for CBS Pierre, not the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
“…(fox news)incite people to kill…”–Pierre.
An utterly rediculous statement to make Pierre!!
Joking about raping a 14 year old girl is not funny and out of line. Even joking about raping an 18 year old woman is out of line.
Dan Rather used falsified documents and ran them as legitimate for the purpose of smearing a presidential candidate. That is grounds for dismissal.
No, Letterman should not be fired, but he should give the Palin’s an honest, sincere apology.
average james Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Fox, incite people to kill ? Nah, incite people to hate ? Closer.
Why does rape keep coming up ?
Statatory ? Bristol is 18.
Poor taste for certain, no doubt at all.
Letterman is a COMEDIAN. What’s up with all this clamor ?
pierre Reply:
June 13th, 2009 at 11:18 am
David never uttered the word “Rape”.
By the way, many 14 and 18 yo girls are having sex/getting pregnant while their parents advocate
miraculous conception.
Fox news(ann coulter, o’rielly) only demonise
ghetto-teen pregnancies.
June 13th, 2009 at 10:21 am
Hello;
I’m new to this site but I’d still like to present a thought.
One of the wisest men I know said, “All generalizations are not worth a toot; that includes this one.”
In this vein, I would suggest that until we can get past the notion that, “all conservatives are racists,” and , “all liberals are communists,” we are doomed to languish in hate.
I think that the ability to have two or more opposing sides enter the marketplace of ideas and, in the spirit of teamwork, develop a synthesis, can lead us to greatness. All other such combative and acerbic rhetoric is hurtful, selfish, and unproductive.
Certainly, hard disagreements will occur and one side may win the day but, at least can we assume that we are all about trying to protect and defend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
libpatriot Reply:
June 14th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Helipilot, I think some of your generalizations here are definitely worth a toot!
June 13th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I’ve worked in one of the biggest law firms in the world since 1999. A few years ago, one of our brand-new associate attorneys faxed a threatening letter to his landlord on the letterhead of our firm. He was not smart enough to remove the letter from the fax machine after sending; the letter was discovered, turned over to management and he was immediately terminated.
The same thing should happen to Brian Kolb for sending his letter on state letterhead. He was NOT speaking for the people of New York – rather he was voicing his own opinion. He even confessed to Alan that by using the state’s letterhead, he thought the opinion would “carry more weight.”
Talk about abuse of power. Unbelievable.
June 13th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
This is just another Republican trying to shore up support for a Political Party that has fallen out of grace with the public. The Republican Party will try anything to gain support from the general public. Even if it means trying to crucify a so-so comedian.
That’s How I See It.
http://robertdrovie.blogspot.com
June 13th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Does Palin have a 14-yo daughter? really?
I heard the joke and only the one with the baby came to mind.
Now they are accusing David as being a ” Rapist”. My God!!
Does Palin need another 15 min.?
June 13th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Alan said: And never mind that the joke was clearly aimed, not at 14-year-old Willow, but rather Bristol Palin, now a fully grown mom.
K: I think Palin ought to go on Letterman’s show and make jokes about his young son servicing pedophiles during the seventh inning. Seems fair…
June 14th, 2009 at 1:44 am
[...] Alan Colmes’ Liberaland » New York Legislator Calls For Letterman … [...]
June 15th, 2009 at 10:20 am
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June 15th, 2009 at 10:52 am