On Monday’s Tonight Show on NBC, Jay Leno incorrectly called New York’s former Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer a Republican during the show’s monologue as he joked about Republican sex scandals. Inspired by John McCain’s daughter Meghan’s recent declaration that she is a "pro-sex Republican," Leno used her comment to poke fun at Republican Senator David Vitter of Louisiana, as well as Democrat Spitzer, who were both revealed to have hired prostitutes. But Leno’s joke assumed both disgraced politicians were Republicans: "Don’t confuse that with other Republicans like Senator Vitter and Eliot Spitzer. They like to get their sex from a pro."
If Leno was confused about Spitzer's party affiliation, it is hardly surprising, as the MRC’s Brent Baker previously documented the mainstream media’s reluctance to label Spitzer as a Democrat, and Rich Noyes documented the media’s greater willingness to label Republicans involved in sex scandals.
Below is the complete text of Leno’s joke from the Monday, May 25, Tonight Show on NBC:
A lot of fun stuff happening with the Republicans. John McCain’s daughter, Meghan McCain, has declared that she is a "pro-sex Republican." That’s what she said, a "pro-sex Republican." Don’t confuse that with other Republicans like Senator Vitter and Eliot Spitzer. They like to get their sex from a pro. That’s totally different.
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Comments Policy
Don't you know the rules of comedy?
May 31, 2009 - 12:08 ET by ironchefofmunchiesOnly Republicans can be mocked for sex crimes.
Unless you are a Democrat President who is being investigated for other crimes (perjury, obstruction of justice) and the sex crimes serve your interests by acting as a distraction.
This is basic stuff.
When you get older your
May 31, 2009 - 12:01 ET by flyingmonkeyWhen you get older your memory tends to fade and you are eventually forced to retire.
Good-bye and good riddance Jay!!!
Whoops. You guys can have
May 31, 2009 - 12:08 ET by balboaWhoops. You guys can have him!
No fair
May 31, 2009 - 13:06 ET by ThisnThatCom'n, Bal, we want to do some horsetrading here, rather than just accept your give-away offer. One Spitzer's gotta be worth at least two of our, eh, "best".
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Liberals constantly demand that we accept a glaring falsehood as truth; Obama's elimination of the word "terror" will make terrorist acts less terrifying
I'll trade you a '08 Spiter
May 31, 2009 - 14:03 ET by balboaI'll trade you a '08 Spiter for a '95 Newt Gingrich. :-)
I'll see your '95 Gingrich
May 31, 2009 - 19:30 ET by winston smithI'll see your '95 Gingrich and raise you an '87 Barney Frank! ;>D
Hm, I've already got doubles
May 31, 2009 - 19:36 ET by balboaHm, I've already got doubles of '87 Barney Frank. What about a '72 Ford.
→ Amphibious cars
May 31, 2009 - 19:38 ET by Cool ArrowPity the Kennedy never got off the ground.
Good Riddance
May 31, 2009 - 12:19 ET by slickwillie2001Leno is just another POS Hollywood liberal; I agree, good riddance. His 10pm show is headed for failure.
Uh-oh. Leno's given the
May 31, 2009 - 12:38 ET by Chris NormanUh-oh. Leno's given the media a good idea - just pass off all scandals to Republicans! For instance, "Today, Republican Senator Ted Kennedy was charged with..." They can always "correct the record" - uh - later.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
So...a guy with a comedy
May 31, 2009 - 12:37 ET by robert108So...a guy with a comedy show gets the news wrong? Whoda thunk it? Jon Stewart does that all the time.
So...a guy with a comedy
May 31, 2009 - 12:55 ET by NewsbusterbrownSo...a guy with a comedy show gets the news wrong? Whoda thunk it? Jon Stewart does that all the time.
Same goes for Stephen Colbert.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Comedy show?
May 31, 2009 - 13:58 ET by Dena InaI thought those shows were newsbroadcasts for the demwits?
Spitzer - perhaps there's a larger conspiracy here?
May 31, 2009 - 12:39 ET by Gary HallSpitzer - perhaps there's a larger conspiracy here?
Oh, I'm teasing a bit.. but NB has made note here, 'Today' Rehabilitates Eliot Spitzer (and there are other instances as well), that the MSM loves Spitzer and is doing their best to rehabilitate him and get him back to work on behalf of the liberal left. Perhaps, it works better for him - for them - if they lead the audience to associate his past corruption with the R's - not the D's.
(;~/ gary
The worst part of this is
May 31, 2009 - 13:08 ET by ThisnThatThe worst part of this is that it validates the MSM's approach to hiding the truth. This simply gives them more confidence to continue along that path. They don't get called on it; they can lie and obsfugate; and the tactic works to rot the minds of the sheaple.
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Liberals constantly demand that we accept a glaring falsehood as truth; Obama's elimination of the word "terror" will make terrorist acts less terrifying
Unintended Insight from Leno
May 31, 2009 - 13:23 ET by Kingfish17Actually, Leno offers us some unintended insight into the workings of our political culture and how that relates to those in the MSM. Democrats break the law and get involved in various scandals all the time. It's not a big deal though. Dems never get called out on it by the MSM or the entertainment culture. They very rarely get prosecuted or even mentioned in the news.
So what happens to a Dem that actually breaks the law, has a scandal or both, and suffers the consequences of their actions? Well that's the instant that they cease being Democrats and they turn into Republicans!
"I've sentenced boys younger then you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it, but I felt I owed it to them." Judge Smails
This must be the "vast
May 31, 2009 - 15:10 ET by MrSnugglesThis must be the "vast right-wing" conspiracy that hillary always used to talk about. The one where Republicans pretend to be Democrats and then purposefully get caught in all kinds of scandals to make the democrat party look bad. So really, Leno was just telling it like it is because NO REAL DEMOCRAT would EVER get caught in a scandal!
B.S.!! No way this was a
May 31, 2009 - 17:33 ET by mostlymoderateB.S.!! No way this was a mistake. Leno intentionally referred to Spitzer as a Republican even though he knew that he was a Democrat. Hope his new timeslot flopps.
Your kidding,,right?
May 31, 2009 - 18:04 ET by general companyHope his new timeslot flopps.
This IS nbc were talking about
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
mm... I agree, it was
May 31, 2009 - 18:08 ET by bigtimermm...
I agree, it was intentional
I also could care less one way or the other about nbc/msnbc/cnbc, Bill Gates along with heads at the top of these networks... let alone Leno.
They never quit...none of them.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
No kidding Bigtimer. Yeah,
May 31, 2009 - 20:02 ET by mostlymoderateNo kidding Bigtimer. Yeah, we are supposed to believe that of all the media propagation regarding Spitzer Mr. Leno never realized that Spitzer was a democrat. Sure. Anyhow, I am like you in that I could care less about the big-3 (ABC,NBC, CBS). I know one thing, if these networks had to compete with foreign competition like the automobile industry, they would be asking for government assistance as well! Unfortunately, not everyone can afford or is willing to pay for cable and not everyone is keyed into the Internet yet.
The libs must be smelling something liberal this way comes.'
May 31, 2009 - 20:09 ET by pahuberLeno was original once upon a time, but now he's just another sold out lib tard taking his orders from his writers. Have fun Leno while you play with your sports cars/motorcycles while our country is being destroyed...and yeah thanks for helping or whatever.
Leno
May 31, 2009 - 19:52 ET by 1uncleLeno was poor replacement for Johnny Carson. NBC or GE is in a bad way to prime time Leno. I wonder if he will be allowed to use profanity and sex as he does to get cheap laughs from the kids on the late show. I watched his standup routine.
Kinda shows how lousy
May 31, 2009 - 20:58 ET by mostlymoderateKinda shows how lousy television has gotten. Think of going from:
1. Ed Sullivan -- mega-class
2. Johnny Carson -- mega class
3. Jay Leno? -- no class
4. Conan O'Brien -- um...get my point? We are in a downward spiral in regards to television.
TV Shows!
May 31, 2009 - 23:04 ET by blazermaniacDidn't you forget this!
5. David Letterman--no class at all!
One more!
May 31, 2009 - 23:45 ET by slickwillie20016. Craig Ferguson--Ass Class
Vid
June 1, 2009 - 07:31 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsJohnny Carson.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Leno's New Show
May 31, 2009 - 19:52 ET by Kingfish17I heard some interesting comments from a "Media Analyst", (employed by a Bank/Brokerage firm), a few days ago. Her contention was that NBC was undergoing a major reformat of it's Prime Time Lineup by going with a single show in the 10:00 Eastern slot for Monday thru Friday. By doing this NBC is going to save a ton on production costs, but they will also lose a ton in ad revenues.
She said that this was going to be a big opportunity for CBS and ABC and other Cable Networks to try and grab share from NBC.
"I've sentenced boys younger then you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it, but I felt I owed it to them." Judge Smails
I heard the same analysis.
June 1, 2009 - 01:56 ET by jdhawkI heard the same analysis. I think that this network is bereft of ideas that aren't liberal. My bet is that there are a heck of alot of good scripts out there, but if they don't fit the politically correct mode, they don't get made into TV programs - at least by this network.
Having a "late night" talk show at 10:00PM, still part of prime time, is proof that they have run out of ideas at NBC, or, at least ideas that liberals would approve.
It is little commented upon, but much like the major networks liberal slant of the news, they have attempted to foist their ideas on mainstream Americans through any other programming means available. Here, it appears that they are sacrificing revenue and competitive standing because there isn't any liberal programming other than Leno that they can come up with.
Competition Needed
June 1, 2009 - 09:19 ET by slickwillie2001Networks like late night talk shows because other than the few million a year the host gets, they are very cheap to put on and they end up very profitable from the ads. I would like to see a network put on good movies at 11:30; not first or even second run movies, just good movies from the last 20 years or so, and advertise them some. I think that would blow away the late night talk shows that only get good ratings because there's nothing else on.
Leno Calls Disgraced Democrat Spitzer a Republican
June 1, 2009 - 10:35 ET by wbcActually, you should clarify further -- Leno is just plain confused on most matters.
I give his new "primetime" show about 3 - 6 months before it's canned.
Not a mistake
June 1, 2009 - 12:31 ET by Blogger Guy00001This was intentional. This convinced thousands of people. The retraction, if it ever comes, will be largely missed by viewers.