Sarah Palin appeared on the Today Show this morning to discuss the societal implications of the David Letterman insult towards women. Read about it below and see photos and the Sarah Palin, Matt Lauer interview video.
Sarah Palin, Matt Lauer
Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin is tough. Very tough. It is a pleasure to watch her, as a Washington outsider, take on seasoned politicians and entertainers who are continuously frustrated in their attempts to minimize and belittle her. The latest battle started with sneering, degrading and misogynistic insults toss out on national television on The Late Show with David Letterman. The insults were in the guise of humor, but they weren’t funny. But then, David Letterman has not been funny in years.
I can’t help but think that part of the reason for Palin’s extreme popularity is that she speaks to the values and concerns of most of middle America. Regardless of whether people agree with her on every single issue, they know that she speaks from her basic values and has the personal courage to speak out instead of kowtowing to whatever the current political correct dogma is, or following the hollywood crowd into whatever is currently acceptable in that world.
Palin was on The Today Show this morning. During her interview with Matt Lauer she did what she has consistently done throughout her public life. She took it on the chin. She showed class and dignity, she didn’t whine, but she made it clear that Letterman’s hate speech was unacceptable. She called on people to rise up - not against insults to her and her family, but to the societal acceptance of chipping away at the values that are at the heart of our society. She blew off the personal insults to her with humor. When asked about the ’slutty flight attendant look’ comment, Palin said “My first thought was, ‘Hey, don’t disparage flight attendants,”’ Palin said. “We love them.”
The insults towards her daughters were another story. She made it clear that she didn’t believe Letterman’s claim he was referring to Palin’s older daughter, calling it a ‘weak excuse’. Regardless, the result is the same, its belittling to women and contributes to the acceptance of derogatory views of women in general. She said he owes women an apology. She also called for people to ’start rising up’, calling for an ending to the cultural degradation of women that leads to lower self-esteem of and the acceptance of abuse and disrespect of young ladies.
Palin’s point is well taken. I know that a lot of people are increasingly concerned and downright angry about the anything goes kind of acceptance of bad behavior. A lot of people are ready to rise up and take a stand on principles.
You can see the video of the Sarah Palin, Matt Lauer Interview below.
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Sarah Palin, Matt Lauer Interview - Video
Photos: www.wenn.com
June 13th, 2009 at 2:09 am
Thanks “Beth” for that stirring analysis of the Letterman/Palin controversy. Clearly, Letterman has a track record of “cultural degradation of women”. In stark contrast to, oh let’s say, the Republican party’s history of unwielding support for women’s rights.
And on a related matter, you’re an idiot! Since when did Republican’s get politically correct? Beth, just take a deep breath, relax, and realize that your being a humorless, opportunistic jackass. Leave the yellow journalism to CNBC and Fox.
June 13th, 2009 at 6:52 am
I agree that the children of politicians should be off limits, even when they contradict the candidate’s platform and show the blatant hypocrisy of an entire political party. Also, I agree that Letterman is not particularly funny. But Palin represents middle America? Seriously? She represents the wing of the right that was sorry to see Bush go–that is, the mule-headed right.
June 13th, 2009 at 9:02 am
I hope she runs for president next time around. It will insure a republican loss. She isn’t to bright and if she is your shining example of the repugnantcan party, then you guys are way more pathetic than i thought. But the truth is. There won’t be a Repub president for a long long time.. lol
June 13th, 2009 at 9:48 am
I believe the children of candidates should be off limit if the candidate does not place them on center stage. In the case of Sarah Palin, she uses her children as stage props at every opportunity. Bristol has joined the center stage with the abstinence campaign for Candies. Letterman is not alway funny and I am no fan of Letterman, but I defend the right to freedom of speech. If people don’t like what an entertainer says, they can turn off the TV.
June 13th, 2009 at 10:41 am
OMG, she is such a ditz. Was the joke in bad taste? Perhaps……..but there are LOTS of jokes that are in bad taste. She is just using this as an excuse to get attention.
As for a presidential candidate? You have got to be friggin kidding me. What an embarrassment she would be.
June 13th, 2009 at 11:13 am
MO Inkslinger. The other candidates took their children on stage. During the dem convention Michelle had Sasha and Malia on stage talking to Obama who was on the big screen, remember? They’ve been all over the place with the Obamas. No one is accusing them of using the kids for stage props, but they’ve been on stage as much or more than Palin’s children. That’s just a weak excuse for very bad behavior on the part of the dems. They have attacked Palin and her kids viciously and try to justify it by saying she brought them onto center stage.
June 13th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Letterman is the reason Palin’s son had to join the army and her daughter got pregnant out of wedlock when she was a junior in High School.
It is high time Letterman take responsibility for the actions of Palin’s children.
One wonders how well Bristol would have done in school if it were not for Letterman forcing her self esteem to sink so low she got pregnant.
Letterman is the reason poor Palin did not win the VP. Even among women she took 43% of the vote.
Also, where is the actual Alaskan Pipe Line? Letterman killed it.
Poor Sarah. Poor Republicans, helpless victims all!!!!!!
June 13th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
tjr - your attempt at humor is commendable, but misses the point altogether. In the left’s constant whining and victimization, they can’t see the forest for the trees. Letterman made a joke about an underage young lady. It was Palin’s daughter, but the point is not about Palin and her family. The point is the chipping away at the respect for women in our society. This isn’t the first time this has come up. This issue has been discussed at length in other forums and over other incidents that have nothing to do with Palin or Letterman - but with other ‘entertainers’ who take it on themselves to try to normalize behaviors that many of us don’t want normalized. It erodes the core values of our society.
June 13th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
BTW - EVERYTHING isn’t about politics. Its about human decency.
If Palin were a democrat, you’d be calling for Letterman’s head on a platter.
June 13th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Chris - thanks for taking the time out from gaming in your grandmother’s basement to respond to my article.
Re: the the Republican’s party history of support for women’s rights - Condi Rice, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Elaine Chao, Margaret Spellings, Mary Peters, Susan Schwab, Dana Perino, Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, Laura Ingraham, Monica Crowley, Ann Coulter …. my goodness, the list goes on and on. You are just drinking the kool-aide served up by the donkey party that CLAIMS to be tolerant but is, in fact, the most INtolerant group of people out there. Try disagreeing with them on anything and you will find yourself getting the same treatment as Joe Lieberman or Sarah Palin - anyone who disagrees with the talking points. Kinda like Stalin, ya know.