David Letterman's crass joke about Sarah Palin's teenage daughter is really no different from when Don Imus called a group of women essentially whores. You call my teenage daughter promiscuous as a joke, and all politics aside, I'm going to loose it. Before you start commenting already, set aside your political views for a moment -- table the right-wing anger and the liberal defense -- and let me explain why Letterman will never apologize.
First off, a crisis or faux pas like this can usually be smoothed over and reputation repentance achieved within 24 hours. I can, and have, helped individuals who have stepped in it walk away pretty much unscathed after making a crass or stupid comment or jumping into the blunder pit. Reputation management techniques exist to make something like this better. Hell, I probably could have helped Imus; it just would have taken longer.
No, Letterman doesn't want any reputation repair for his remarks. Why? Because he needs to generate controversy. He needs someone to talk about him, good or bad. Letterman's show is being beaten by an upstart, Conan O'Brien. And Letterman needs people to talk about him to boost the ratings. It's an age-old strategy; attract attention by being a bad boy, or by doing something controversial. Letterman must generate attention at all costs and take a gamble that in six months the audience will only be talking about him and not about his bad deed. Unless, of course, no one is left watching the program. Letterman will never apologize; he may come close, but only close enough to keep the attention coming his way.
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I agree, Letterman is more concerned about ratings, controversy, and publicity than he is about being considerate, respectful, and having taste. I personally think Letterman’s days are numbered… he’s losing his demographic and viewers have way too many choices nowadays.
Great post!!
I think it’s also the case that avowedly laid-back, tolerant, open-minded, urbane types are nothing of the kind when you press on their particular sensitive spots.
i.e. the fawning attention given to Mr. Obama vs. the scurrilous insults meted out to Mrs. Palin _and_ her family.
I now know the jig was up when an elderly philosophy student asked me, in all seriousness, in the mid-80′s, in Ireland: “TigerTom, do you think fascists should enjoy the right to free speech?”
It’s interesting to say the least, that people would make such a big deal about this. If Sarah Palin never ran for VP then none of this would get any attention.
You see sports athletes like baseball players say things that are way worse and not politically correct than this.
If I remember correctly there was a popular baseball player that had a “rocker” of an arm who was given anything but a slap on the wrist.
Thanks for the write up! Also
The post is simply superb. .
+1 for you