Correspondent of the Day: Where Is Decency In Today’s Politics?
Where Is Decency In Today's Politics?
Editor, Times-Dispatch: As an independent voter for almost 40 years, I have no inclination toward defining or attacking any politician based on party affiliation. I often split my ticket -- choosing the individuals whom I believe to be most qualified for the positions they seek. I must say that the current double standard that allows liberal media jokes and attacks on their conservative counterparts has become absolutely unacceptable and even frightening.
While many examples could be cited here, I am referring to the recent jokes by David Letterman, Bill Maher, and other entertainers whose sexual innuendoes toward Gov. Sarah Palin's children are absolutely out of control and should be collectively condemned by the right and left, and everyone in between.
President Barack Obama declared family "off limits" during the presidential campaign, yet his silence has been deafening when it comes to families other than his own. Imagine what would happen if a public figure made a joke about his daughters or compared Michelle Obama to a "slutty flight attendant."
Palin is absolutely correct in asserting that acceptance of this type of humor contributes to a general tolerance of the degradation of women. Letterman said he meant the joke to be directed toward Palin's 18-year-old daughter, Bristol. Is that somehow better?
With every election of national, state, and local leaders, I am increasingly alarmed by the decreasing number of honest, respected, and wholesome individuals who are willing to run for office.
The vicious, brutal bullying and unlimited scrutiny and mockery that these folks endure by the media and entertainment industry is appalling; and the lack of outrage on the part of our country's leaders and citizens is even more appalling.
Decent citizens must unite and find a venue for the voice of reason -- if one still exists.
Cecilia B. Thomas.
Mechanicsville.
Reader Reactions
Old Grump, if someone attacked your fanily in this type of manner you would be up in arms. There is no sane reason for the attacks on anyones family that Gov Palin has had to endure. From the pregnancy of her daughter to accusations of rape of any of her children by anyone to insults about her cheerleading past. Name one other politician who has been subjected to this type of negative press? Jimmy the greek and Don Imus where fired for far less of a “JOKE” than what David Letterman said. Their is a double standard in todays world where attacks on Republicans and especially repulican woment are OK but by god don’t attack any facet of the Presidents or Democrats style of life. What happened to just reporting the news instead of creating it or actively influencing it. I don’t watch any of the so called comedians or news reporters these days as I feel they all have lost sight of what their jobs are. I have no pity for David Letterman and feel Sarah Palin should have been more outraged by what was said. If I was her husband I would have gotten invited onto his show and when he went to shake my hand I would have decked him then left after a few choice words.
Old Grump. Palin was minding her own business when this was foisted upon her. Letterman is the one who opened the whole can of worms. If he had kept his big mouth shut, none of us would be talking about this right now.
Personally, I can take it when someone attacks me directly, but if someone attacks my family I will cloud up and rain all over them. Palin can hardly be blamed for coming to the defense of her daughter.
Greta’s right, politician’s children SHOULDN’T be the subject of the media, but when Sarah Palin decided to capitalize politically on her daughter’s unfortunate situation after the press seized upon it, she was just as guilty as the tv networks that fed on the story. Rather than just allow the story to die and leave sleeping dogs to lie, the VP candidate simply stirred the embers and heaped more fuel on the fire. We’d almost forgotten about poor Bristol (and her mom) until Letterman mouthed off, giving the Alaska governor an opportunity to act magnanimously, show the genuine hurt it caused, and let John Q. Public skewer the idiotic late night talk show host. Instead, she tried once again to make political hay out of it. My sympathy goes out to both Palin siblings—but I have nothing but disdain for their calculating mother, and utter contempt for David Letterman.
Henry’s Ghost is absolutely correct. There is a growing culture of professional political operatives whose sole mission in life is to raise and spend enormous amounts of money to perpetuate their own existence by convincing lazy voters to vote on the basis of misrepresentations, outright lies, and obfuscation in hateful, partisan, political propaganda rather than educating themselves by independently researching and evaluating the backgrounds, previous performance, character, and positions of candidates for public office.
An enormous percentage of elected officials represent only their own selfish and partisan interests, those of special interest groups who “bought” them the elections, and professional political operatives who’ve held no other jobs in their lives.
Change is long past due!! We should all be Independents and accept the responsibility to educate ourselve rather than relying on “unreliable” party-produced propaganda.
Tasteless sexual references about politicians children have always been considered off limits even by the most partisan of comedians and commentators.
Until Sarsah Palin. I can think of no area of her life that had not been dissected and discussed endlessly.
It has been a shameless shabby free-for-all.
Imagine how surprised Dave Lettetman and the writer who wrote the joke and the network must have been at the public reraction to that show.
Even though the “joke” was at the expense of the heretofore fair game Palin family, the bad taste meter registered too high.
The tasteless pendulum swung too far and tossed Letterman into the
“oh God I have to apologize” arena.
It does not matter whether it is bad jokes about Chelsea Clinton, or Amy Carter or the Bush girls. It does not matter who makes them.
I believe that the sexual reference, which no matter how partisan you are was unmistakable and that is what produced such a high squirm factor. I do not believe that any adult with a servicable intelligence can pretend to have misunderstood the import of the “joke.“
Like all “jokes” it conjured up a mental image. There was no doubt about the writers intent.
The Palin’s reaction was both understandable and easy for any parent to relate to.
And I disagree, there are still holds barred in politics these days. They just don’t seem to include Sarah Palin and her family.
there are no holds barred in politics these days, no gentlemen and ladlies, and that’s because there are no longer statesmen—only politicians.
There are few things that you and I agree on and this is indeed one of them. I tire of politics as usual in DC. The American people need to do a wholesale housecleaning over the next couple of election cycles. The only trouble is, I don’t see anyone on the horizon that will make a difference.
But when Rush Limbaugh (on his short-lived tv show) announced that the Clintons had “a new dog” at the White House—then showed a picture of their daughter, Chelsea, THAT was okay? Give me a break. When you spent the first paragraph of your letter claiming to be “fair and balanced” (like Fox News), you were simply laying the groundwork for a slam. I detest Letterman’s remark too, but let’s face it (and we agree), there are no holds barred in politics these days, no gentlemen and ladlies, and that’s because there are no longer statesmen—only politicians.
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