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.
June 13th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Sarah Palin’s oldest daughter is fair game. She’s no longer a minor and she has made herself a public figure by posing for the cover of People magazine, among other things. If she can’t stand the heat, she needs to go away and take her inarticulate mother with her.
June 13th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I grew up withe Lenny Bruce attacking the Canonization of Jackie Kennedy during her husband’s murder. I don’t think Bruce was even correct, but I appreciated his contrarian view.
Too often people cry “I am a Victim!” whenever a person makes a joke about them.
It is Sarah Palin who puts words in Willow’s mouth, blames the Media for making Willow a weak girl and generally USES her daughter:
“Willow no doubt would want to stay away from David Letterman after he made such a comment.”
Palin also criticized a celebrity like Letterman “being able to get away with a disparaging comment that does erode a young girl’s self-esteem and does contribute to some of the problems we have in society.”
Problems like her other daughter getting pregnant as a Junior in HS and then absurdly giving interviews and campaigning for abstinence.
I am a Shakespearean taught Humanist, so I know the Mob is stupid and we need an elite, so I will not say Americans will see through Palin.
I will say that she is sad and her children are pawns and her husband is the non-swinger Hugh Hefner who lives for his toys.
You guys love mediocrity: so please, take The Palin’s and feel sorry for yourselves and lie to each other about a comic who has never made an under-aged joke in his career.
June 13th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Palin we are only asking for you to not speak publically for 4 years. That is all we are asking. Please be quiet for 4 years, well really be quiet for 8 years.
You must know by now every time you open you mouth you make a fool of yourself.
June 13th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
As a woman of course I don’t condone Dave’s jokes. However, reading you saying “she didn’t whine, but she made it clear that Letterman’s hate speech was unacceptable.” Are you flipping kidding me?
Go on You Tube. Play the rallies. Listen to her call Obama a terrorist. (Yeah, I know. You’ll say she didn’t directly say that. But we all know what she meant.) Watch her insight racial hate. Listen to the crowd tell the black sound guy “sit down boy.” See the Curious George monkey one proud supporter brought. Then take note that NEVER did she do the right thing at this point and call off the dogs. I believe about the best thing put out there was some quiet “we need to behave” speak out of McCain.
I’m sorry but it’s just really difficult to pity some whining woman that has a history of more hate speech than David Letterman ever thought of.
June 14th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Beth, did you just Goolge ‘Republicans, Female’ to try and prove a point about conservatives and women’s rights? Well, we definitely know you’re not a lawyer.
Anyway, no one hear seems to agree with you about this matter, so best to move on.
June 15th, 2009 at 1:10 am
MR PALIN NEEDS TO BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF LITTERBOY
June 15th, 2009 at 9:57 am
David Letterman is a sad sack. Matt Lauer is a sorry act. Both of them are skating on thin ice. Lauer thinks he is cool but he is an aging, arrogant, angry fool and the same goes for Letterman. They both speak for themselves -need anymore be said.
July 8th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Hey, beth why are you such and idiot. Sarah Palin speaking for Middle America. I hope not or else most of Middle America are a bunch of un-intelligent drones. I am sure if she was in office, we would already be at war with NK and Iran.I dont think you know what your talking about when it comes to writing a piece of journalism on politics.