Sarah Palin accepts David Letterman's apology

Wednesday 17th June, 06:04 AM JST

NEW YORK —

Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin says she accepts talk show host David Letterman’s apology for the joke he made about her daughter.

The Alaska governor, in a statement issued Tuesday, said the apology was accepted “on behalf of all young women, like my daughters, who hope men who `joke’ about public displays of sexual exploitation of girls will soon evolve.”

On his CBS’ “Late Show” on Monday night, Letterman said his joke about one of Palin’s daughters being “knocked up,” meaning gotten pregnant, by Yankees baseball star Alex Rodriguez can’t be defended.

He said the joke referred to 18-year-old mother Bristol Palin, not her 14-year-old sister Willow. But Letterman said it’s his responsibility that people believed that he intended to target Willow, who had attended a New York Yankees game with her mother.

“I’m sorry about it, and I’ll try to do better in the future,” he said.

Letterman last week tried to make light of the joke after the first indications that it had fallen flat. Palin had called the comments “sexually perverted,” and her husband, Todd, said that “any jokes about raping my 14-year-old are despicable.”

Palin said Tuesday that Letterman has the right to joke about whatever he wants to, and “thankfully we have the right to express our reaction.”

“This is all thanks to our U.S. military men and women putting their lives on the line for us to secure America’s right to free speech,” she said. “In this case, may that right be used to promote equality and respect.”

A “Fire David Letterman” protest was held Tuesday outside the Ed Sullivan Theater, where he tapes the show. The turnout was slim, with only about a dozen people turning out.

One of the protesters, New York City real estate agent Tom Muller, said he just wanted “to see a little accountability come to the Letterman show ... And maybe urge him to get back to when he ran a funny TV show and didn’t use it for his political pulpit.”

Although Bristol, an unwed mother, was the target of his joke, Letterman didn’t name her when it was originally made on June 8.

It was “a coarse joke,” “a bad joke,” Letterman told viewers. “But I never thought it was (about) anybody other than the older daughter, and before the show, I checked to make sure, in fact, that she is of legal age, 18.”

“The joke, really, in and of itself, can’t be defended,” he declared.

If there’s a misconception that he was making the joke about a 14-year-old, Letterman said he understands why people are upset. “I would be upset myself,” he said.

“I feel that I need to do the right thing here and apologize for having told that joke,” he said. “It’s not your fault that it was misunderstood, it’s my fault that it was misunderstood.”

Letterman made several references to the issue during his monologue, introducing himself as “Dave Letterman, good will ambassador.” He said he got a call from his mother earlier in the day telling him she was siding with Palin.

When he began a joke about accused swindler Bernard Madoff, whom he called “the most hated man in America,” he then amended that to a list of two.

“Me, Bernie Madoff,” he said. “He was way out in front until a couple of days ago.”

Separately, Palin’s supporters are holding a Web-a-thon in hopes of raising more than $500,000 for her legal defense fund.

Palin has said her legal fees while fighting ethics complaints exceed that amount. After settling with the Alaska Personnel Board over a complaint that the state paid for the travel of her children to events, Palin has until June 23 to reimburse Alaska about $10,000 in costs from about 10 trips.

Palin’s office said 14 more ethics complaints have been resolved with no findings she has violated the law. Earlier this month an investigator for the personnel board found Palin hadn’t violated ethics laws she wore a coat bearing the logo of her husband’s sponsor at the start of the Iron Dog snowmobile race last winter. Palin has called such complaints frivolous.

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AP Television Writer Frazier Moore and writer Jake Coyle contributed to this report.

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CBS is a division of CBS Corp.

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On the Net:

http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/

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Latest 15 of 23 Total Comments Show All

teleprompter at 01:23 PM JST - 17th June

A number of us here have pointed out that Palin would be largely out of the news if it weren't for her enemies' inability to leave her alone.

"Comedian" Bill Maher has picked up where Letterman left off. Commenting on Letterman's apology, his offer to have Palin and her daughter on the show, and their refusal to go on Maher was unable to restrain himself and "joked"

"...that’s right, he’s 62 years old, he’s gonna f*** her right there on stage…it would be very wise to keep her, very wise, yes. You know, I’d worry a little more about the 18-year old hockey players who knock up your daughters."

Amazing. Again, you would never know that their party controls the WH, Congress and Senate and that Palin is governor of a state which is a good six- or seven-hour flight away from the lib media nexus of NY-DC.

Where does all the hate and vitriol come from?How can these people insist in the same breath that they are all about tolerance and being "non-judgemental"?

Bizarre.
shinjukuboy at 01:24 PM JST - 17th June

Sarah Palin slays the dragon!!! Yeah!!! Let her be president, and she can slay Leno!!! Yeah!!! You go girl!!! Big Deal!!!
Molenir at 01:25 PM JST - 17th June

Palin's response to all of this was quite impressive - Letterman unwittingly gave her a chance to score big time with women on both sides of the political spectrum and she did just that.

I was particularly amused when NOW jumped into the fray as well.
Altria at 01:52 PM JST - 17th June

Letterman unwittingly gave her a chance to score big time with women on both sides of the political spectrum

I'd pay to watch that!
teleprompter at 02:00 PM JST - 17th June

Palin said Tuesday that Letterman has the right to joke about whatever he wants to, and “thankfully we have the right to express our reaction.”

“This is all thanks to our U.S. military men and women putting their lives on the line for us to secure America’s right to free speech,” she said. “In this case, may that right be used to promote equality and respect.”

Hear, hear. What a class act. Puts women like Pelosi and Hillary Clinton to shame.
adaydream at 02:20 PM JST - 17th June

I hope she just goes away now. < :-)
almondjoy at 03:14 PM JST - 17th June

Use their kids? She is pro-family<

most people with families are pro-family. He's a comedian they p!$$ people off no need for speeches, and that little "thanks to our U.S. military men and women" crap is played out and half-hearted. We are fighting for everyones elses freedom and rights.

Palin should really go back to hunting with her LV rifle bag.
skipthesong at 03:54 PM JST - 17th June

I hope she just goes away now. < :-)" Well, you do know that there is supposed to be some type of succession thing going on up there....
Sarge at 03:56 PM JST - 17th June

Palin in '12.
sailwind at 04:00 PM JST - 17th June

"thanks to our U.S. military men and women" crap is played out and half-hearted.

Her eldest son enlisted in the Army about a year ago. You know the one kid the media DIDN'T go after.
Obot2008 at 04:09 PM JST - 17th June

" teleprompter at 10:33 AM JST - 17th June- As for her views on evolution - she is the daughter of a science teacher who, by all reports I read, was quite a good teacher"

You read multiple reports on Palin's science teaching mother???? wow, talk about a fan-boy....LOL
sailwind at 04:19 PM JST - 17th June

You read multiple reports on Palin's science teaching mother???? wow, talk about a fan-boy....LOL

You think all science teachers are female? I thought liberals hated stereotyping. Which parent do think it is?
jackfish at 04:30 PM JST - 17th June

Both of them got attention and ratings. They probably high-fived each other behind the scenes.
ca1ic0cat at 10:48 PM JST - 17th June

Palin accepts David Letterman's apology ...

I would have hoped that was the end of it; but this is JT and the web. Carry on!

"I hope she just goes away now."

Why? A democracy requires debate of ideas and a loyal opposition. I would hope that the Republicans come up with some good candidates. The discussion is always better that way.

"thanks to our U.S. military men and women" crap is played out and half-hearted"

Whom would you prefer to thank? You don't really expect that your rights would last five minutes without a good defense, do you? Credit where credit is due.
Sarge at 10:57 PM JST - 17th June

"Iron Dog snowmobile race"

This might make a good movie...