Letterman, however spent the first half of Friday's Late Show before Williams came out and most of his time with Williams ridiculing Palin, and McCain for choosing her. Though the NBC Nightly News anchor Williams tried to separate himself from the remarks, and made some gentle counter-points as he preferred to joke about how he's the only one of the three anchors yet to get an interview with Palin, Williams never made the obvious point that much of Letterman's upset over Palin's inexperience could be directed to the top of the competing ticket. Or certainly could have been when he emerged last year as a candidate, but was not.
Audio: MP3 clip (1:20, 500 Kb)
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The exchange on the October 3 Late Show, which matches the audio/video clips above:
DAVID LETTERMAN: How should a person feel about John McCain in having made this choice? To me it seems like we're in such a mess now, here at home and around the world, that do we really want a beginner in the passenger seat?
BRIAN WILLIAMS: That's part of the judgment voters get to make. There are two ways of looking at this: It is refreshing to millions of Americans not to watch a debate like the one we had last night and not to see two older white males on the stage. This is new and this is different and it's late for 2008.
LETTERMAN: It has gotten everybody's interest focused on the campaign again.
WILLIAMS: The other way of looking at it is it's September 11th, 2001. The President is airborne, the Secret Service won't yet let him land because we know that little about what has just happened to us. The Vice President has taken hold of the machinery of government. Inside the White House, he is in the secure tank. That's also the job description we're talking about here and that's part of this choice we get to make in 32 days.LETTERMAN, RAISING HIS HANDS TO HIS HEAD AS IF ADJUSTING HIS HAIR: Well see, there you go, that's it perfectly. You've coalesced everybody's concern I think, you know, she's, you know, “How's my hair?”
[audience laughter]
WILLIAMS: (leans back and sighs.)
LETTERMAN: But ah, that's unfair. I'm sorry.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
I'm out
October 4, 2008 - 02:09 ET by West Coast MinorityI've been a big fan of Dave's for years and years. But, like the old comfortable pair of shoes, eventually they wear down too much and become uncomfortable. It's time to throw those shoes out.
What is it about formally young funny people turning into old, grumpy, mean, hateful idiots? Rosie, Joy,George (RIP), and now Letterman.
Good-bye Dave. I leave you to yelling at kids to get off your lawn.
I will watch one more Late Show.... the night of November 5th -the day after the election - to watch his head explode from hate when McCain-Palin get ready to lead on Janurady 20, 2009.
WCM
October 4, 2008 - 02:12 ET by RESTLESS 1George, I can see, but when were joyless and o'fatchick ever funny?
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
You make an excellent
October 4, 2008 - 02:29 ET by West Coast MinorityYou make an excellent point... perhaps not funny, but at least polite.
I won't bother to watch
October 4, 2008 - 04:55 ET by IamTinmanbut you can tell me all about it on NB.
O'Reilly
October 4, 2008 - 06:13 ET by Gat New YorkI literally have refused to watch any Letterman since his tirade with Bill O'Reilly.
It is one thing to have a difference of opinion and when you act as disrespctful and rude as Letterman does he should at least show an ounce of intelligence.
Letterman's show is the TV version of Daily Kos.
Letterman makes The View look like a mensa group.
I feel the same way. I
October 4, 2008 - 15:10 ET by SmartypantsI feel the same way. I remember that show well; Letterman was way out of bounds. I specifically remember a comment DL made about not knowing what BOR was talking about, but he knew he was wrong just the same. Maybe DL thought he was being funny, but his attitude was fairly serious and it was very awkward. Why invite a guest on the show to treat him like that? Letterman's entire attitude that day gave a clear idea how out of touch he was with reality. The only way someone behaves that way is if they feel the entire world agrees with them. I don't think Letterman even realized how offensive he was being to a good chunk of his audience. I haven't watched him since then either.
You held out longer than me, Gat
October 5, 2008 - 21:27 ET by Scout FinchDave stopped being funny when he left NBC. He was funniest when he was the "Hollywood Outsider" B grade entertainer. He kind of made fun of celebrities and brought them down to earth, if only for 10 minutes.
Once he moved to CBS, he thought, "You like me! You really like me!" He began to literally fawn over celebrity guests. It was painful and embarrassing to watch. So I gave up on Dave many years ago.
Fixing hair in a crisis...
October 4, 2008 - 13:20 ET by aeroveloFirst off...having been born and raised in Alaska, I can tell you that I seriously doubt he could handle one winter in Alaska. Hed be a mess, bug bitten, unshaven...no pedicures, no tie delivery, no sunlight, no nitelife.
Seriously, If I were stuck in a ditch in the dead of winter and could call Dave or Sarah....who do you think I or anyone else with any common sense would call?
Dave, shut up, you have become just a tired cliche.
---
Ask yourself: Do I want a good paying job, or do I want a government hand out. Its that simple!
His name ends in "man"
October 5, 2008 - 02:10 ET by wdhorningThat explains his overt sexism.
Letterman has turned out to
October 4, 2008 - 02:12 ET by mostlymoderateLetterman has turned out to be a nasty old-man. I can't believe I used to LOVE this cranky old bastard. :(
I would pay money....
October 4, 2008 - 02:22 ET by AgentAmericanI would pay money to watch the Iron Lady of Alaska slap the crap out of Letterman, Maher, Olbermann and Matthews in one stroke.
Drill ANWAR
No Seriously......
October 4, 2008 - 07:11 ET by connmanI think Palin could beat the crap out of those names you mentioned. I also think Joy Behar was always a whiney JAP and Rosie tried to make Trailer Park Trash chic! Letterman hasn't been entertaining since Carson was living and breathing and makes it obvious to all that libs do get old, cranky and drift further out to left field, in Dave's case I'm talking warning track!
No way! No how! Nobama! Keep the change! ...Sen. Clinton
Silly Liberals
October 4, 2008 - 04:43 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsDouble standard is a big part of it, the other part being a mix of 'white guilt' and racist beliefs that the poor pitiful black man always needs help to get anywhere.
Progressive my a$$.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Obama: "Oh, did I mention (I'm) black?"
October 4, 2008 - 05:00 ET by Texndoc"Williams never made the obvious point that much of Letterman's upset over Palin's inexperience could be directed to the top of the competing ticket."
You don't think this double standard is not going to bite these libs in the butt on election day? The fact that they won't acknowledge it ahead of time means we're in for all kinds of entertaining post-election analysis of the American people (silent majority) who put McCain and Palin into office.
Note to the McCain Campaign: I want my donation back if I see John or Sarah on "The View", "Oprah" or "Letterman" from here until election day. We are fighting these people. They aren't ever going to be your friends or treat you with any type of fairness.
I agree Tex
October 4, 2008 - 06:08 ET by MOONSTRUCKThis is the first year I have made a campaign contribution, and I would love for Senator McCain and Govenor Palin to stay away from the hateful lefty shows. But then again what would that leave?? Fox?
What would be a site to see is what AgentAmerica said to go their shows on and kick the snot of all of them. Turn Sarah Barracuda loose. Especially on the likes of the perky "one" and chuck. Also, would like to see some more emotion from Senator McCain. I here he has a bit of a temper, let's see a little of that, well maybe not temper, but please Senator McCain some fire and passion. Maybe Tuesday.....
The hateful left makes me happy I am on the Right!!
Ditto that Tex and Moon......
October 4, 2008 - 07:19 ET by connmanIf Williams wants to play that scenario out, the dems would have to hide Obie and we'd still get Biden, who IMHO couldn't hold Cheney's briefcase! You think we shouldn't cringe at that thought?
p.s Biden's a lying S.O.B
No way! No how! Nobama! Keep the change! ...Sen. Clinton
Dave's been there too long....
October 4, 2008 - 07:19 ET by StevefromMKEObviously living in Connecticut and working in New York has driven any sense of the midwest sensibility he used to have.
I gave up on Letterman a
October 4, 2008 - 09:04 ET by Captain RepusI gave up on Letterman a couple of years ago when he started showing his hatred of conservatives poorly masked by weak humor. He has now completed the journey and has joined the ranks of the other cement-dwelling left coast elitist liberals.
Unfortunately, Leno has also joined the same parade in recent years. Fortunately for him, he will be off his show before he reaches the slime level of Letterman and might be able to retain some level of viewer respect, unless he too goes off the deep end if McCain wins next month.
It is amazing to me how far this downward spiral of pure hate and disrespect has progressed from its inception by Bill and Hillary, Carville and Begala some 17 years ago. God help us.
Funny??
October 4, 2008 - 09:26 ET by iveseenitallIt may be just me, but I've never understood the "humor" of guys like Letterman, et.al. I've always seen it as nasty and vindictictive with one end in mind : to hurt and possibly destroy another person. America started down the slippery slope in the 1970's with SNL, which today continues the tradition. I believe satire should be used for the purpose of letting us laugh at ourselves and our own human foibles, or to fight real evil, such as a Hitller, but not simply to push a particular political agenda or philosophy or to attack good people. Look what has happened in the last 40 years. We are a nation divided more than ever in history. And the MSM has a huge role to play in this division. We've slid way down that slippery slope and may never get back up the hill to see the sunshine and enjoy life. Sad.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
formerly funny
October 4, 2008 - 09:17 ET by tejanodiablodon't leave out jay lefto
never look a gift skunk in the tail ..
Of course Dave loves
October 4, 2008 - 09:37 ET by HockeyKidOf course Dave loves 0bama--they do the same thing for a living: read from a teleprompter.
LOL Hockey kid
October 4, 2008 - 10:02 ET by connmanTrue......True.
No way! No how! Nobama! Keep the change! ...Sen. Clinton
Davy Davy Davy...
October 4, 2008 - 10:38 ET by TheAssessorWaitress? Can I have an order of flying lessons for Dave please, oh, and ...hold the plane.
Barak Obama, Political Sociopath - Toxic Drip
Many Years Ago
October 4, 2008 - 10:41 ET by DoktorFrankenThat's a phrase I use to describe my admiration for several people in that biz called show. Many years ago I thought Dave was talented and was good at what he did - which was to take up about an hour's worth of my late night time with fairly amusing hijinks.
But, like a lot of people in the entertainment media, he crossed the line and figured his vile opinions were worth ticking off half of the country. Because of people like Dave I do not watch any of the 'networks' (CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, PBS and whatever the other one is called now). Some of my favorite networks are TV Land, GSN, and TCM because they show repeats from years ago - long before BDS overwhelmed everyone.
I wish Johnny Carson were
October 4, 2008 - 10:42 ET by suzycreamcheeseI wish Johnny Carson were alive so we could see a real talk show host interview and disccuss Sarah Palin with some professionalism and class. For as many years as Carson was on the air, he had to have had guests on with whom he didn't agree or even like, but you would never know by the way he handled them all with grace and humor.
Forget change. Bring back class!
I stopped watching Letterman back in the early '90s and I don't even remember the reason that made me stop. I guess I was already tired of hist shtick back then.
Class
October 4, 2008 - 10:56 ET by pickerseniorYou are absolutly correct. Letterman has zero class, and employs writers that have less than zero class.
When he had his bypass, I have a feeling that they also bypassed his brain.
Interesting to watch the ending of a pathetic bitter old man.
I miss Johnny Carson more and more.
October 4, 2008 - 10:42 ET by tomchrisIt's funny how Letterman, a close friend and admirer of the late, great Carson, has failed to adhere to Johnny's gift for straddling the middle and finding comic gold on both sides. I agree with the other poster who says that Letterman is now no better than Joy Behar- an aging, angry, self-loathing comic. Carson, in comparison, understood both middle america and the coastal elites. He was, like Letterman, a bi-product of both. While I suspect he, himself, fell politically a little left of center, he could have on his show a little ol' grandma from Anywhere, U.S.A as well as William F. Buckley and both guests would be treated with warmth and humor. Letterman would use an ice pick to the back of both their heads.
Even more incredible is how entertainers like Letterman no longer give a crap about the fact that conservatives comprise a part of their audience. They exist solely in their East/West coast bubble of proclaimed superiority. Fly over states be damned! But hey, don't touch that dial!
Well said
October 4, 2008 - 14:57 ET by NeoConfirmedAlthough as time goes by we are less and less of their audience
NBC
October 4, 2008 - 10:51 ET by jaywlLet's see. Williams is the top dog of NBC news, including the bastard child MSNBC that has been given the task of living or dying by being the most hateful of outlets for anti-Republican, anti-Bush, anti-conservative vile ever seen. He goes to a competing network to advance his cause and complains he hasn't had access to Palin. I think Williams should take the next step. He should call a news conference at the National Press Club and demand, in all fairness, that Palin be ordered by her McCain handlers to present herself before that scion of objectivity, he of intellect en flambe, Williams little buddy himself, Keith da Man Holdyernose. I'm sure Williams could come up with a long list citing the reasons Palin should present herself before his paragons of fairness. In truth, I don't believe these people have any idea how biased they are. They truly believe their bile.
Isn't it wonderful the many ways Olbermann can be played with. NBs do so many that sometimes it is an effort to spell it correctly. Keep up the good work!
Letterman was truly funny
October 4, 2008 - 11:42 ET by Kirk HallBut that was along time ago, I would come home from work and laugh my asss off for an hour in the 80's. Having not watched since then unless he has a big guest, I would have to say we have both changed with age and have become set in our ways and beliefs. Dave just went totally the other way and I am unable to watch anymore without becoming irate which is very sad. I miss him.
Letterman has become a grumpy old man
October 4, 2008 - 12:02 ET by culture dropoutLike many of you, Dave used to be my absolute favorite....comedy genius I thought. He's stepped way over the line in this pre-election season and forgotten what got him to the top. Celebs who dabble in politics are pathetic when they don't have a clue what they're talking about. I'm almost over Dave at least until after the election.
This explains the sign I
October 4, 2008 - 12:07 ET by BuffNBoneThis explains the sign I saw outside the local Democrat Party Office. "Attractive Women Need Not Apply."
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
Palin's experience
October 4, 2008 - 23:27 ET by art341She has just as much public service as Obama and substantially more executive experience.
What she doesn't have is experience with known traitors, such as Ayers, Dohrn and Klunsky.
Cocktail crowd Letterman
October 5, 2008 - 02:03 ET by Lame CherryI actually am keeping track of the liberal trash guests who agree to take part in this FCC violation by Letterman.
This is not in good standing with the public airwaves. This is pure hate speech. Letterman sure gets pervert crowds in that hole he calls a theater who sometimes laugh, but most of the time he has to have applause signs on.
You will notice a completely different crowd is on liberal Leno's program and even Kimmel stopped having the jerks like Elvis Costello on bashing America.
Is simple people. Just go the FCC, and file complaints. They get enough of them and Letterman can go back to the woman who is good enough to sex and produce a child, but not good enough to marry.
Letterman is an old washed up hack who thinks he matters as a comic whore for Obama. Letterman was the first whore who asked Obama when he was running for the White House without serving one day in the Senate.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Letterwoman
October 5, 2008 - 02:09 ET by wdhorningFunny how liberals accuse conservatives of sexism and how they support NOW, for example, and yet practice sexism worse than all of us.
Note that I changed "man" to "woman" in his name.
"How's my Hair" mocks
October 5, 2008 - 07:29 ET by Jack Bauer"How's my Hair" mocks Letterman about Sarah...
Well, Dave... like her philosophy, and her debating skills, it's sure doggone better than Bidens.
And Dave, have you been asking Joe for Hair Plug advice?
Its ok He's a Dem Liberal
October 5, 2008 - 09:29 ET by Redrowan2000Hey whats the racket.. It's ok when the left is sexist, racist and downright meanspirited . Joe Biden, Letterman, Olbermann, Matthews. Defenders of Bill Clintons indiscretions (i mean sexual assaults), Robert Byrds club memberships (Kleagle of the KKK) oh and lets not forget Teddys driving record. (i mean murder of Mary Jo Kopechne) Hey all minor indiscretions that the MSM wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. Just like they won't cover Obamas ties to Rezko, and his house being financed by him, or Bill Ayers or ACORN or the Saudi who financed him through Columbia and Harvard. You didn't really think he was that smart did you?
"Don't let the bastards grind you down."
Red
He never really was "funny"
October 5, 2008 - 09:38 ET by timzankAs a hoosier (roughly Daves age) I grew up watching and wondering what the attraction to Dave really was. We're always proud to see one of our own do well, and Dave was no different until he really hit the big time. He went from being un-funny but "quirky" to unfunny and "snobbish". I could live with and even appreciate "quirky" but since he's become a mean spirited east coast limosine liberal hack I no longer have any use for him or his ilk.
Something happens to these guys (Letterman, Stewart, etal) when they finally get an audience and it ain't pretty. I have NO PROBLEM with comedians criticizing government and government officials, Lord knows they deserve a lot of it, but basing your entire "schtick" and career on personally tearing apart people with whom you don't agree is not only unfair and shallow, it's indicative of of their "Holier Than Thou" & "I Know What's Best For You" attitude.