Re: Article: 'Double Standard? Leno Told Similar Joke ... '

On Jun 14, 1:41 pm, Donz5 <do...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
On Jun 13, 11:07 pm, Brad  Hill <bradh...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:





On Jun 13, 10:40 pm, Donz5 <do...@xxxxxxx> wrote:

Unless Rodriguez has a publicized history of sexual indiscretions that
I don't know about,  ...

Perhaps tha's the problem, as most in the city are well-aware of
Rodriguez's recent relationship with Madonna while then still married
to his wife. Thus the reference to him and not, say, Derek Jeter or
any other local baseball player. A-Rod was the target.

Knowing that does make the joke click better for me. Still a risky
joke, though -- it makes a 14-year-old daughter either a willing
sexual partner, or a rape victim. Yes, I know, it was supposed to be
about Bristol, but *she wasn't there*. That's really the problem. I
think Dave could have reduced the swirl around this by making a
clearer apology on that point.

And, possibly, neither was Willow there as well. Which makes this
entire matter approach the surreal.



I think most of us agree with Dave's take that it was tasteless, but
not criminal, as the Palins are suggesting.

Are they? I missed that. Are they suggesting that Dave be arrested?

Calling Dave a pedophile seems to me to be an accusation of
criminality.



Again, I continue to insist that Bristol wasn't the "target"; it was
Rodriguez and Spitzer. Bristol was the reference to make the Rodriguez
and Splitzer jokes "work."

And I continue to insist that Bristol has nothing to do with this. :)
If she had just attended that damn ball game, Dave would be off the
hook with a slap on the wrist for being tasteless. Or not even that,
as the Palins might not have chosen to make a fuss.

And I think you've hit upon the fundamental: the week before, Sarah
had become a laughing stock among her fellow travelers, with her "yes
I'm going, no, I'm not, yes, I am, let me speak, ok, I won't speak"
distraction that was last weekend's GOP mash-up (Gingrich: "I am not a
citizen of the world!" Hold that thought). Any excuse possible to
change the subject was welcome, and they instantly pounced on Dave's
"indiscretion."

In other words, they were itching to "make a fuss" about any possible
opportunities that they thought might present themselves, damn the
context and lack of import. Not exactly an isolated circumstance among
the paranoid right (Sotomayor's "wise Latino" and Obama's "empathy"
remarks, or DHS's extremists warning, to cite just three instances).

Which is why this has become such nonsense; it transcends the actual
distastefulness of the joke itself and becomes The Latest Crisis That
Is Destroying American Values And Morals And David Letterman Is To
Blame For The Downfall Of Our Divine American Heritage, its fourth or
fifth or thirtieth version since they lost control of the government
and are imploding faster than anyone thought possible.



I think Kath is on to something with the male/female outlook on this.
My wife is really pissed, partly for political reasons and partly as a
woman. I don't quite get the whole second part of her anger, I
confess. But I can imagine how it might be for Willow, who went on a
glamorous trip to New York, where a famous media personality joked to
a national audience that she had sex, or was raped. Then Bill Maher
took it up on his show yesterday, complaining (rightly) about Sarah
Palin's implication that Dave is a pedophile, and actually mimed a
scene in which Dave rapes Willow on stage. This is unspeakably vulgar,
and can't be good for the girl. And it's all because of the LS's
careless failure to check facts.

I certainly can't speak from a female perspective, but I can note that
the opinions expressed among the females in this newsgroup have not
been unanimous.

No they have not, which is fine, healthy discourse is what makes
democracy great.

But I do think my point of view has merits.

Kath
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Article: Double Standard? Leno Told Similar Joke ...
    ... to his wife. ... Bristol was the reference to make the Rodriguez ... If she had just attended that damn ball game, Dave would be off the ... scene in which Dave rapes Willow on stage. ...
    (alt.fan.letterman)
  • Re: Article: Double Standard? Leno Told Similar Joke ...
    ... to his wife. ... Are they suggesting that Dave be arrested? ... Bristol was the reference to make the Rodriguez ...
    (alt.fan.letterman)
  • Re: Article: Double Standard? Leno Told Similar Joke ...
    ... to his wife. ... Are they suggesting that Dave be arrested? ... Bristol was the reference to make the Rodriguez ... I'm going, no, I'm not, yes, I am, let me speak, ok, I won't speak" ...
    (alt.fan.letterman)
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