David Letterman apology to Sarah Palin falls on deaf ears

We can't keep up with political nonsense, but Sarah Palin and David Letterman are pretty much going to war over the late-night host's comments about the Alaskan Assassin and her family. Let's get up to speed:

Tuesday night Letterman poked fun at a Palin visit to NYC for a conference on autism with a Top 10 list that attacked her family. Most notable among the taunts was that Palin sported a "slutty flight attendant look," that the worst part of the trip was "keeping Eliot Spitzer away from her daughter" and a trip to Yankee Stadium (against the Rays, no less) ended when "during the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez."

Of course, Palin was traveling with 14-year-old Willow, not 18-year-old Bristol, whom Letterman then said on Wednesday's show was ostensibly the target of these jokes.

"I'm telling you, I recognize that these are ugly. These are actually ugly. These are borderline ... but again, in an act of desperation to get cheap laughs, which is what I've been doing for the last 30 years," Letterman said. "These are not jokes made about her 14-year-old daughter. I would never, never make jokes about raping or having sex of any description with a 14-year-old girl."

Letterman then went on to invite Palin on the show, saying he was "guilty of poor taste." Palin's camp was having none of it.

"The Palins have no intention of providing a ratings boost for David Letterman by appearing on his show," Palin family spokeswoman Meg Stapleton told People. "Plus, it would be wise to keep Willow away from David Letterman."

Something tells us this, like the Palins in general, isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

[Photo: At the Rays-Yankees game on Sunday. Getty Images]

Comments

[Dallas]

It really is a bit sad, because in my opinion Letterman is very good at being funny without reaching this low. He should be an honorable man and present a genuine apology if he has not already. The Palin's should try to maintain their sense of humor and just let it slide. Sticks and stones...

[Chloe]

David Letterman's bar is obviously too low if he feels directing these jokes toward an eighteen year old is permissible while directing them toward a fourteen year old would be out of bounds. His humor took an ugly turn once he began manipulating political opinions.

[writerT]

What comes to my mind is how CBS treated Don Imus when he made his "unfortunate" comments about the Rutgers' Women's Basketball Team. Remember that one? It was both sexist and racist and Imus was fired, deservedly, shock-jock or not.
Why doesn't CBS fire Letterman? His ratings already stink. He is no longer funny. He is just an angry old man who happened to get a woman "knocked up" himself and then took -what was it? five YEARS? to marry her.
CBS is complicit with Letterman's vulgarity, bad taste and putrid comments aimed deliberately at a woman and her family who happen to be white conservatives. Had such comments been directed at Michelle Obama and her daughters or Hillary Clinton and her daughter, I have no doubt but that CBS would have removed him immediately and his name would be anethema among the HollowWoodian elites. He would probably then have to have recourse to something like the Witness Protection Program. Shame on Letterman for spewing his lewd venom and shame on CBS for not taking any action in this unwarranted and gratuitous attack. I totally empathize with the Palins and agree with their decision to shun Letterman's invitation to be his "guests". His apology was weak and so obviously insincere. He has no shame at all.
At least Don Imus DID apologize publically and sincerely to the Rutgers Women's Team.