UPDATED: C4P Announces Grassroots Webathon to Retire Governor Palin's Legal Debt

Friends, Conservatives, and Ordinary Barbarians...

lend me your ears...

As I announced last week on the Tammy Bruce Show, Conservatives4Palin is sponsoring a Webathon to retire the legal debt that Governor Palin amassed while defending herself from frivolous and politically motivated ethics complaints.

To date, all fourteen of these complaints have been dismissed, but in the process of defending herself, Governor Palin amassed over $500,000 in legal debt.

The Alaska Fund Trust is the official Palin legal defense fund. There was limited media attention given to the AFT when it was launched. The attention has tapered off, but Governor Palin's legal debt is still there and is still accumulating as her enemies have regrouped and are looking for new ways to hit her with more frivolous complaints.

The AFT needs our help.

What use is a grassroots movement if we can't take a stand and help Governor Palin when she needs us the most?

Conservatives4Palin will sponsor a Webathon from June 15 – 22, 2009, and we encourage all of you to join us and be an active part.

Here’s how it works...

We created the following “Webathon Banner” which we would like people to post prominently on their websites throughout the week:



Notice the Banner’s four simple instructions.

We are asking people to donate to the AFT and then email us to tell us how much they gave.

We will update the Banner daily to reflect the new numbers raised.

Alongside the Webathon Banner, we would like people to post this video announcing the Webathon:



Please keep both the Webathon Banner and the video prominently posted on your website throughout the week.

At the kick-off of the Webathon on Monday, Conservatives4Palin will post a 3:30 minute video that explains the ethics complaints in more detail. We will keep that video posted throughout the week.

We will also be posting daily humorous video ads to highlight specific ethics complaints and show just how stupid they are. We will entertain people and encourage them to donate at the same time.

If you are willing to join our efforts, please email us at editor@conservatives4palin.com so that we can add you to our update list and make sure that you have the latest Webathon Banner every morning.

If you do not actually operate a blog or website, we ask that you please forward this to the people in your email distribution lists.

Please contact the websites and blogs that you read, and ask them to join our efforts. Ask them to contact us to join the Webathon.

Post this at Free Republic, Red State, Townhall, Team Sarah, and the other conservative web communities. Post our daily videos and the Webathon Banner there.

Help us get the word out!

This is not about any one website. This is about helping Governor Palin and her family.

At the end of the day, the story will be that the "internet community" rallied to help an honest and decent public servant.

Be a part of the story, friends! Someday we'll tell our grandkids how we organized and took a stand!

And be creative too. Feel free to make your own videos announcing this. Post articles about it. Get inspired and get active. We can do it!

UPDATE by J. Smith: Remember to e-mail talk radio hosts like Laura Ingraham (e-mail her here), Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity (e-mail him here), Mark Levin, et al to inform them of what C4P is doing.

Here's a list of actual radio host e-mail addresses we have:

Michael Medved: Michael@michaelmedved.com
Dennis Prager: dennis@pragerradio.com
Bill O'Reilly: oreilly@foxnews.com
Rush Limbaugh: ElRushbo@eibnet.com
Mark Levin: marklevin.show@citcomm.com
Hugh Hewitt: hhewitt@hughhewitt.com

Yes, you CAN make a difference!

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Saturday Open Thread

From In the Face of Evil: Reagan's War in Word and Deed:

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IBD Editorial: Palin Vindicated

From Investor's Business Daily:

It must be sweet vindication for Alaska's governor. Against critics who said her 1,712-mile natural gas pipeline project would never get off the ground, who should the project bag but the "big gorilla" of American energy — Exxon Mobil.

In a major surprise, Exxon announced Thursday that it had forged a partnership with TransCanada, the Canadian pipeline company that holds the state license for Palin's $126 billion Alaska Gasoline Inducement Act project.

It's a big vote of confidence in Palin's top project from a by-the-books company known for its rigid investment standards.

[...]

Other doubters had suggested the pipeline could never happen because of a global gas glut, making the pipeline uneconomical. But with the project slated for completion in 2018, and the need for natural gas expected to rise between 20% and 40% by 2030, it's precisely now that such a project should be built.

"I think it's very shortsighted" to assume that "market conditions are going to stay as they are today," Palin told CNN. In an interview with IBD last July when gasoline hit $4 at the pump, she noted that if drilling had started in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge just five years ago, when policymakers were dismissing the idea of $100-a-barrel oil, "we wouldn't be in our predicament today."

Read more.

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Roundup on the Palin Pipeline

(h/t TommyReport)

From the Alaska Journal of Commerce: "New ExxonMobil, TransCanada deal is 'game changer' for North Slope gas pipeline":

ExxonMobil's acceptance, and even endorsement, of the state's AGIA licensing procedure is a surprising turn of events. Previously the company said it opposed AGIA and the terms the license imposed on TransCanada, the license holder.

In the briefing, Massey said ExxonMobil had concluded that signing on with TransCanada and the state, with its AGIA requirements, represents the best way to successfully develop the project because of the framework in AGIA for producers to get special fiscal terms.

"Predictable fiscal terms are needed for this project and we have come to understand that AGIA is the best vehicle to achieve this. This is why we made the decision to align with TransCanada," Massey said.

"It also represents the best chance to bring all the parties together," on one project, he said. This would include BP and ConocoPhillips, who are still pursuing their own project, and who still object to the terms of the AGIA license.

More here.

From Petroleum News: "Exxon joins line":

Martin Massey, ExxonMobil Production Co.’s U.S. joint interest manager, said ExxonMobil is eager to work with the State of Alaska so the company can become a full participant in the AGIA license.

Massey said ExxonMobil did an analysis, evaluated a number of options and determined that aligning with TransCanada and progressing the project under AGIA provided the best chance of success and the best opportunity to bring all the parties together.

Alignment between all parties — the North Slope producers, TransCanada and the State of Alaska — will be required for project success, Massey said, but TransCanada and ExxonMobil can advance the project for many years.

More here.

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Governor Palin in "The Situation Room" With Wolf Blitzer Today

CNN reports:

(CNN) – Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is pushing back against critics of the proposed $26 billion natural gas pipeline in her state, saying demand for natural gas is on the rise in the United States.

"By probably 2030, we’ll see about a 40 percent increase in demand for natural gas," Palin told CNN's Wolf Blitzer in an interview set to air at 6 p.m. ET on The Situation Room. "Domestically, we have the supply. The resources are up there in Alaska, and it’s time that we build this infrastructure and flow that very valuable resource into hungry markets throughout the U.S."

Palin's comments come in the wake of questions by some critics of the proposal whether there is an adequate demand for the massive expenditure.

The Alaska governor called those views "short sighted" and said the project is "right for our nation’s security and for our environment, for our economy."


Watch Palin's full interview with Wolf Blitzer this afternoon at 4 and 6 p.m. ET on The Situation Room.

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C4P's R. A. Mansour on the Eddie Burke Show

Our own R. A. Mansour will be a guest on the Eddie Burke Show today at 3:00 pm (AKDT) (4pm PT, 7pm ET). You can listen live here.

We'll have audio of it posted later.

UPDATE: Here's the audio:

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The Latest on Letterman

Here’s Letterman’s latest:

David Letterman joked Thursday that things are now fine now between him and Sarah Palin because the Alaska governor called and offered to take him hunting.

Obviously, she didn't. He is just making light of a serious situation. He still thinks making rape jokes about a 14-year-old is funny.

The Associated Press reports:

Asked by Matt Lauer whether Letterman owed her daughter an apology, the former vice presidential candidate broadened it.

“I would like to see him apologize to young women across the country for contributing to kind of that thread that is throughout our culture that makes it sound like it is OK to talk about young girls in that way, where it’s kind of OK, accepted and funny to talk about statutory rape,” she said. “It’s not cool. It’s not funny.”

[...]

“No wonder young girls especially have such low self-esteem in America when we think it’s funny for a so-called comedian to get away with such a remark as he did,” she said. “I don’t think that’s acceptable.”

Gov. Palin also noted:

...the late-night comedian’s remarks are a “sad commentary on where we are as a culture, as a society, to chuckle and laugh through comments such as he had made the other night, I think is quite unfortunate.”

Watch the entire interview here. K-Lo at NRO seemed to be impressed (at least by NRO’s standards. Palin isn’t Romney after all.).

Don Surber notes:

[Letterman’s] excuse is an eye-roller: He meant her older sister, all of 18, getting knocked up. Oh that explains everything.

His bungling of this incident comes from thinking he is savvy, she is just a hick, and everyone in America hates her.

But when the National Organization for Women dumps on a liberal, he has problems.

Big time.

Letterman is entering Don Imus territory. Broadcast careers can end suddenly.

Some liberals are getting the message. Norah O’Donnell (of all people!) just complimented the governor on her comments to Lauer about this and called it a “teachable moment.”



Not everyone is getting the message.

Gateway Pundit directed us to Arianna Huffington and Donny Deutsch explaining that it was Sarah Palin’s own fault that Letterman made sick rape jokes about her 14-year-old daughter:



So, those Palin females were asking for it, I guess? Sickening.

Check out this great piece by Victor Davis Hanson:

The intent of Letterman’s tripartite sexual reference was to suggest that the Palins were synonymous with female promiscuity. (cf. Letterman’s further references to the governor’s “slutty” look, and remarks about former governor Eliot Spitzer’s interest in a Palin daughter, e.g., the ”toughest part” of Palin’s visit ”was keeping former New York governor Eliot Spitzer away from her daughter.”)

Cf. that logic: (a) Palin is in N.Y. with her 14-year-old daughter; (b) former N.Y. governor Spitzer was caught visiting a young prostitute. Ergo . . . (c) Sarah Palin will naturally have to “keep” a randy Spitzer away from a likewise randy 14-year-old with dug-out propensities.

[...]

Letterman offered no apology, but more of his usual postmodern, I’m goofy; feel sorry for me; “got the wrong daughter;” I’m Dave after all junk. The fact remains that in three separate references he slurred the female governor of Alaska and her 14-year-old daughter on a recent visit to his New York. And when he tried to contextualize it, all he did was make it worse by suggesting that he meant instead Governor Palin’s 18-year-old daughter, who recently delivered an out-of-wedlock child.

So follow the additional sick logic there: Having one illegitimate son naturally implies inherent promiscuity of the sort that would send you down to the dugout to have sex with a baseball player or draw in a frequent patron of prostitutes?

Letterman has devolved into a mean-spirited, demented sort. Good luck to his apologists... who try to explain what he said was not quite what he said. All they accomplish is to end up as foolish and creepy as Letterman himself.

In his earlier commentary on Letterman, Hanson noted:

...Letterman makes a gutter joke about Palin and her unnamed 14-year-old daughter attending a NY Yankees game. Then when a bit of outrage follows, he apparently claims he really meant to slur the other 18-year-old daughter who, back in Alaska, of course did not attend the game but was not named by Letterman. That would be okay, you see.

[...]

[Letterman] strangely amplifies his joke by confessing it really was about "raping" and "having sex of any description," but just not with a "14-year-old girl," suggesting it would have been okay had he just been more explicit and named Bristol, the 18-year-old. In Letterman's world, because Bristol is 18, she is a year past most statuary rape clauses and thus the joke would have only been about "raping or having sex of any description with a [18-year-old] girl."

Please visit firedavidletterman.com. They have the complete list of Letterman’s sponsors there. Write them. Call them. Multiple times. Do it daily. Don’t stop. It works. Keep the pressure on! Don’t stop.

Hillbuzz has great strategies for how to get Letterman’s sponsors to listen. Read their posts here, here, here, and here.

Follow The New Agenda for more info also.

Keep the pressure on!

UPDATE by RAM: Take a look at this call to action from NY Assemblyman Gary D. Finch:

Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C,I - Springport) today has called for CBS Corporation President & Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves to terminate David Letterman's contract with the network. Assemblyman Finch sent a letter via personal courier (see attached) to Mr. Moonves asking for Mr. Letterman to be fired.

"Governor Sarah Palin was a guest of the City of Auburn in New York state," said Finch. "She was subjected to degrading comments about herself, her 14-year-old daughter, and all women, on primetime television by Late Show host David Letterman. I find these comments to be completely unacceptable and outrageous."

Governor Palin was in Auburn, New York to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Statehood of Alaska. She toured and addressed a crowd at the former home of Secretary of State William H. Seward, who was instrumental in the purchase of the Alaskan territory from Imperial Russia.

While staying in Upstate New York, Governor Palin and her family also took time to tour the home of Harriet Tubman who helped free slaves using the Underground Railroad. They visited the Women's Rights National Historic Park and National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York.

"Mr. Letterman made these comments on the heels of Governor Palin's visits to notable landmarks of abolitionists and women's rights advocates," Finch stated. "These comments and Mr. Letterman's continued degrading comments about women during the explanation of his remarks was appalling."

Finch continued, "I insist Mr. Moonves fire David Letterman and send a clear message to America that the CBS Network and its affiliates do not find insulting women acceptable."

UPDATE II by RAM: Even Bonnie Erbe is defending Governor Palin:

I love to laugh but if Letterman and his writers think his one-liner was funny about any teenager, or grown woman for that matter, he's got a lot of thinking to do. I would go beyond what Gov. Palin said to say Letterman owes an apology to all women and beyond that, to all thinking Americans. And he needs a new writer.

UPDATE III by RAM: Audio of Dennis Miller and Ann Coulter discussing Letterman can be found here.

Mark Levin yesterday:



And Rush Limbaugh today:



UPDATE by VO: Amanda Coyne of the Alaska Dispatch is defending Letterman. It's all Palin's fault by not giving Letterman the benefit of the doubt.

UPDATE by Daniel: Another NY Assemblyman has called on CBS to take action:

New York State Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, a Republican, is calling on the CEO of CBS to fire David Letterman for crude comments he made about Sarah Palin and her daughter.

In the letter to CBS chief Les Moonves, Kolb said he took Letterman to task for the "shockingly inappropriate" jokes.

“As the proud father of a daughter, and as a husband, I wanted Mr. Moonves to hear from me directly about Mr. Letterman’s disparaging remarks," Kolb said in a written statement.

“Firing Mr. Letterman would send a clear message that CBS will not tolerate any of its employees — even an established media figure like Mr. Letterman — making demeaning and degrading comments about women.”

More here.

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McCain Advisers Defend David Letterman

Politico reports:

"If the right goes after Letterman they make him look big and themselves small," says Mark McKinnon, a campaign advisor to George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). "It's win-win for Letterman."

Republican media consultant Fred Davis, a chief ad-maker for the McCain campaign, added: "I think it's a mistake too many conservatives are making right now. They are trying to find anything to attack."

Davis sought to downplay the egregiousness of the offending Letterman cracks, saying, "David apologized. He said it was over the line. He is a funny guy and his job is to do sarcastic humor. That's his thing."

Mr. Davis, your job is to win elections, but apparently, that's "not your thing." Those ads you made for the McCain campaign were awesome.

VO: When did Letterman apologize? I must have missed it.

UPDATE by RAM: Please note that John McCain has been very supportive of the Palins in this situation. Reuters reports:

"I don't understand why Letterman would say that about a young woman," McCain said during a telephone interview on Thursday. "They (the Palins) deserve some kind of protection from being the butt of late-night hosts."

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Amanda Carpenter Takes On Huffpo Editor

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Nothing gets my blood boiling more than when somebody flat out lies about Governor Palin. This Huffpo representative LIES when she claims that Governor Palin incited "hate speech" during the campaign. Hey Huffpo, the Secret Service disagrees with you:

SCRANTON – The agent in charge of the Secret Service field office in Scranton said allegations that someone yelled “kill him” when presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s name was mentioned during Tuesday’s Sarah Palin rally are unfounded.


The Scranton Times-Tribune first reported the alleged incident on its Web site Tuesday and then again in its print edition Wednesday. The first story, written by reporter David Singleton, appeared with allegations that while congressional candidate Chris Hackett was addressing the crowd and mentioned Obama’s name a man in the audience shouted “kill him."

News organizations including ABC, The Associated Press, The Washington Monthly and MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann reported the claim, with most attributing the allegations to the Times-Tribune story.

Agent Bill Slavoski said he was in the audience, along with an undisclosed number of additional secret service agents and other law enforcement officers and not one heard the comment.

“I was baffled,” he said after reading the report in Wednesday’s Times-Tribune.

Disgraceful. I don't understand how people can go on national television and just lie through their teeth.

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Note To Laura Ingraham

Governor Palin was on the "Today Show" to discuss the pipeline project!

Good Grief!

Email Laura here to leave a friendly reminder.

Laura, it is clear that you have not been following Governor Palin over the last week. You have yet to mention that Governor Palin was on the Today Show to discuss the pipeline developments. On Monday night she was interviewed by Sean Hannity, where she addressed Obama's economic policies. Over the weekend she gave a speech in upstate New York that some 20,000 people turned out for, in that speech she addressed conservative values. In her introduction of Michael Reagan the week before, she again discussed conservative values. Laura, you thought that she was in Anchorage, when in fact she was in Texas this morning. That tells me that you didn't watch the beginning of the interview -- where she discussed the pipeline, or you did watch it and didn't pay any attention.

Also, Governor Palin made it clear that she was speaking for all women and girls, not just her own children.

UPDATE by Daniel: During her speech in Evansville, Governor Palin quoted from Laura's book Power to the People to illustrate the hollow words from those who claim to fight "for the children", yet fail to protect those children when they're most vulnerable. She quoted Laura to point out that no issue is more fundamental to our society than our children, and therefore protecting them must come first. Question for Laura: Was she advancing conservatism then?

UPDATE by RAM: Please, folks, remember that Laura Ingraham is a friend of the governor’s. Be polite in your comments. I am a huge fan of Laura’s, and this website is not at war with Laura Ingraham, nor is Gov. Palin. I’m sure this was just well-intentioned, but misinformed comments on Laura’s part. Let’s approach her as you would approach a friend who made an incorrect assumption.

Like I said, Laura Ingraham is a friend. She is misinformed about this. We need to explain things to her. We are not going to war with a good conservative like Laura Ingraham. We are not, nor is Gov. Palin. People are misinformed about Alaska issues, and hence, about the great victory Gov. Palin had yesterday. C4P was organized, in part, to inform people of the work that Gov. Palin is doing. Go and politely inform our friend Laura Ingraham. You can contact Laura here to leave a polite comment showing your support of the governor.

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Governor Palin on the Today Show

Update by JR: Let MSNBC's Republican Joe Scarborough know that the purpose of Governor Palin's interview was to discuss the recent pipeline development. I don't know how Peggy Noonan can be reached -- probably by carrier pigeon. Does MSNBC have any Republicans who even come close to speaking for the present day conservative movement?

I think I will go a step further and call Scarborough "uninformed." He agreed with Obama lover Peggy Noonan that Palin was not "thoughtful." Joe, did you even watch the interview? He claims that Palin has not "studied." I don't understand this at all. The point of the interview was to discuss the pipeline, something Governor Palin did discuss in great detail. However, nobody on Joe's panel -- including Joe himself -- felt the need to actually discuss the pipeline!

Update II By JR: Ed Morrissey of Hot Air writes:

This interview shows both the potential and the peril of Sarah Palin. She has improved considerably in handling the national media. On both economics and politics, Lauer couldn’t dent her (and just to emphasize, Lauer was treating her fairly), and had the Letterman controversy not existed, that aspect of her performance would have been the headline here. Instead, the three minutes or so in the middle of this 11-minute interview that has nothing to do with governing or policy will be all that the public will remember or want to see.

I love Hot Air, but just for the record, Hot Air has yet to link to a story about the exciting developments in Governor Palin's pipeline project.

By the way, Governor Palin made it clear that she was speaking for all women/girls in taking on Letterman today.

Update by III JR: Please vote in this poll asking if David Letterman should issue an apology to the Palin family.

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Friday Open Thread

WSJ: U.S. Commander Maps New Course for Afghan War

Financial Times: BofA chief faces tough questions from Congress

ABC: U.S. Officials Say There are Indications North Korea is Preparing for a Third Nuclear Test

AP: Obama to fire inspector general of AmeriCorps

Byron York: What's behind Obama's sudden attempt to fire the AmeriCorps inspector general?

WSJ: Russians Outfox U.S. in Latest Great Game

Times of London: Foreign Office fury over settlement of Guantánamo Uighurs in Bermuda

Operation Denali: "We are taking a full rest day today to prepare for our move up to high camp."

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Statement from Governor Palin on the Shooting at the National Holocaust Museum

From Governor Palin's Facebook page:

As first reflected upon through Twitter, Wednesday, June 10, 2009:

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the shooting victims at the National Holocaust Museum. The museum itself remembers and honors the lives lost in one of the world's most horrific genocides. To have an act of intolerance further spread hatred at this place of reflection, further adds to the grief. My heart goes out to all those impacted, especially the brave guards who acted so selflessly to prevent further injury. May God Bless the Jewish community."

Governor Sarah Palin

Here is Governor Palin's tweet from yesterday:

Despicable act of hatred @ Natl Holocaust Museum today. Our hearts & prayers are w/victims of the shootings. God bless our Jewish community.

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Why Aren't We Angrier at Letterman Labeling Palin an Anti-Semite?

I realize I'm a bit late to the outrage over David Letterman's vomit-inducing anti-Palin 'jokes', but trust me I have been watching - and the coverage here has been spectacular. That said, there is one other angle to this story which I am surprised is not getting more coverage. This little joke is rightly overshadowed by the outrage over Letterman's perverted sexual 'humor', but I cannot let this issue die without going back to item #3 from the "Top 10 Highlights of Sarah Palin's Trip to New York":

3. Finally met one of those Jewish people Mel Gibson's always talking about

Maybe I'm a little oversensitive about these things, but as both a Palin supporter and a practitioner of Judaism...well...Let's just say that I would tell you how I felt, but that would require me to use a long string of Yiddish profanity and this is a family friendly site.

In my opinion, Letterman was out of line here on three fronts. First, he is assuming that we all get the joke - as if we all assume that people not from the East or West Coasts are bigoted, xenophobic anti-Semites. Unfortunately for Dave, the idea that such comments are funny is actually limited to the elitist circles in which he apparently runs.

Second, he assumes that it's funny to joke about anti-Semitism - and it's not. Frankly, I found this joke about as funny as the time somebody (knowing my religion) asked me what the difference between a pot roast and a Jew is (the answer being that that the pot roast doesn't scream when you put it in the oven).

And finally, I would think that he owes Alaska's Jewish community an apology for just assuming that they don't exist (and yes, I know there are Jews in Alaska, because I distinctly remember Gov. Palin having a bill signing at a synagogue last year). Listen, I grew up in Colorado, so I will admit that Western Jewish communities are much smaller than those on the coasts - but I can guarantee you that there are Jews all over the country, and people meet them all of the time. Frankly, the assertion that an Alaskan - or any other rural American - has never met a Jew is ridiculous, and the fact that Letterman even thought about cracking that joke is evidence that he lives in a New York bubble.

Of course, those of us who admittedly spend too much time tracking Gov. Palin know that she has not only met Jews in her life, but keeps a small Israeli flag in her office. And maybe I'm just getting too worked up over this - but somebody had to say it.

And while we're on the subject of Letterman - I think going on The Tonight Show would be a great move for both Gov. Palin and Conan O'Brien. However, I personally think it would be even funnier for Sarah to make Letterman the second-ranking late night host on CBS (at least for one night) by going on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.

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TransCanada and Exxon Join Forces on the Natural Gas Pipeline to the Lower 48 - Major Victory for the Palin Administration! UPDATE: Palin Interview

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin celebrates a landmark agreement between TransCanada and ExxonMobil to partner together in building Alaska’s natural gas pipeline – the largest and most complex construction project in North America. Governor Palin, center, is joined by (left to right) Marty Massey, Joint interest Manager for Exxon Mobil; Alaska Department of Natural Resources Deputy Commissioner Marty Rutherford; Rich Krueger, President of Exxon Mobil Production Company; Hal Kvisle, President and CEO of TransCanada Corporation; and Dennis McConaghy, Executive Vice-President of Pipeline Strategy and Development.

This is a major victory for the Palin Pipeline, and yes, that is what we are calling it -- the Palin Pipeline!

The News-Miner reports:

Exxon and TransCanada say they have reached a deal to work on an Alaska natural gas pipeline.

The announcement said in part:

"TransCanada Alaska Company, LLC and subsidiaries of Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd. will remain the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) licensees and TransCanada will continue as the primary point of contact with the State of Alaska and the general public for this project.

"As TransCanada and ExxonMobil work together with the goal of successfully advancing a pipeline project, the AGIA contract obligations of TransCanada to the State remain unaffected."

What is not clear from the announcement is whether Exxon would be part of the AGIA "obligations of TransCanada to the state."

Update: TransCanada's press release:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – June 11, 2009 – TransCanada Corporation (TSX, NYSE: TRP) (TransCanada) today announced that TransCanada and ExxonMobil have reached an agreement to work together on an Alaska gas pipeline.

TransCanada’s Alaska Pipeline Project is designed to deliver a reliable and secure source of clean energy to markets for decades to come. With an initial forecasted capital cost of US$26 billion, the project would provide a variety of benefits to Alaska and Canada, as well as the rest of the United States, including substantial revenues, jobs, business opportunities and new, long-term stable supplies of natural gas.

“TransCanada’s Alaska Pipeline Project will connect Alaska’s natural gas resource to new markets. We are pleased that TransCanada and ExxonMobil have reached agreement on initial project terms to progress this exciting initiative,” said Hal Kvisle, TransCanada president and chief executive officer. “TransCanada envisions that our combined activities with ExxonMobil, along with the support of the State of Alaska, the U.S. and Canadian governments, and other interested parties, will result in the timely completion of the project. Today’s announcement is an important step toward that goal.”

Rich Kruger, president of ExxonMobil Production Company, said, “ExxonMobil and TransCanada have the experience, expertise and financial capability to undertake this project. We have on-the-ground knowledge of Alaska and Canada, experience working in the Arctic, a strong history of technology and innovation, and the proven ability to build and operate projects of enormous scale in the most challenging environments.”

TransCanada Alaska Company, LLC and subsidiaries of Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd. will remain the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) licensees and TransCanada will continue as the primary point of contact with the State of Alaska and the general public for this project. As TransCanada and ExxonMobil work together with the goal of successfully advancing a pipeline project, the AGIA contract obligations of TransCanada to the State remain unaffected.

In November 2007, TransCanada Alaska and Foothills jointly submitted an application under AGIA to build a 4.5 billion cubic feet per day 48-inch diameter natural gas pipeline running approximately 2,700 kilometres (1,700 miles) from a new natural gas treatment plant at Prudhoe Bay on Alaska’s North Slope to Alberta, Canada with an LNG option to deliver gas supplies to a liquefaction facility at Valdez. In December 2008, TransCanada was awarded the AGIA license after prevailing in an open and transparent competitive bid process and receiving the approval of the Alaska legislature. TransCanada has moved forward with project development, which includes engineering, environmental reviews, Alaska Native and Canadian Aboriginal engagement, and commercial work to conclude an initial binding open season by July 2010.

Update II: Tweets from Governor Palin:

Info on today's announcement re: deal reached by TransCanada & ExxonMobil thru AGIA. Historic deal & day in AK & US energy history. (@ about 11:00 a.m. AKDT)

Here's link to presser & photos re: TC/Exxon partnership. http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1901 & http://gov.state.ak.us/large_photo.php?id=343. (@ about 11:10 a.m. AKDT)

For previous coverage of AGIA, please read here, here, here, and for an explanation of AGIA read “AGIA Lives!”.

Update III: Press release from the governor's office:

Historic Agreement Moves AGIA Forward Governor Applauds Private-Sector Alignment

June 11, 2009, Dallas, Texas - TransCanada Corporation and ExxonMobil announced today they have reached terms on a gas pipeline development agreement. TransCanada and ExxonMobil have agreed to work together to progress the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA) Gas Pipeline Project.

AGIA was created as a commercial vehicle for advancing the Alaska gas pipeline project through the first stages of development of what will be the largest private energy project in the world. "In a volatile world with growing energy needs, the time is now to develop Alaska's valuable resource for the environment, economy and national security,” Governor Palin said. She further described this historic announcement as “very encouraging and exciting, but certainly no surprise, because AGIA was crafted to allow just this type of commercial alignment to take place.”

For the State of Alaska and Alaskans, the owners of the North Slope’s world-class hydrocarbon resources, this event represents progress on this long lead-time project. Once construction begins, Alaska will experience economic growth not seen in over a generation, including potentially thousands of jobs created through construction of an open-access pipeline, as well as significant revenues generated from the production and sale of the gas.

Governor Palin said, “The Legislature voted in support of AGIA and subsequently supported issuing TransCanada the AGIA License because the legislators recognized the importance of this investment to our state’s economic future. AGIA and its ‘must haves’ protect the value of the resources that belong to all Alaskans. Of course, we recognize that this step is not the end of the AGIA process, but it is the natural evolution for a project of this magnitude.” Wednesday in Dallas, Governor Palin met with Hal Kvisle, TransCanada president, and Rich Kruger, president of ExxonMobil Production Company, to discuss the proposed alignment. Governor Palin said, “The meeting not only confirmed TransCanada’s commitment to the AGIA License, but also ExxonMobil’s commitment to continue to advance the Alaska Gasline project with TransCanada, including as additional alignments are reached with other stakeholders.” For TransCanada and ExxonMobil, the alignment provides a mutual benefit by bringing together the key skills of two world-class companies to effectively advance a project of maximum value and mutual benefit. For other producer and explorer companies, this project ensures their discovered resources can be transported to market, and at the lowest reasonable transportation cost. For America, this announcement means an affordable and clean source of energy is on its way and that, as a nation, we are much closer to domestic energy independence. “ExxonMobil recognizes that the State of Alaska has set a course for commercializing the North Slope’s trillions of cubic feet of known natural gas reserves,” the governor said. “By recognizing the value of Alaska’s relationship with TransCanada, ExxonMobil has made a strategic decision that I believe makes good sense. Alaskans will also be pleased to know that TransCanada’s obligations to the state as the AGIA licensee are 100 percent intact and unaltered by this alignment with ExxonMobil,” a fact that was echoed by Kvisle. AGIA involved an open and competitive bidding process and resulted in granting a license to TransCanada to move the project forward through one or more Open Seasons and eventual FERC certification. By providing matching funds during the risky development phase of this project, the state has secured commitments from TransCanada to conduct an Open Season by 2010.

The mandated commercial provisions of the AGIA License also protect the long-term interests of the state by ensuring that pipeline transportation tariffs will remain low. This will protect the “net back” value of the state’s natural gas, which will provide Alaska’s economic base for future generations. These same provisions guarantee that new gas discoveries will be provided access to the pipeline and that any expansions of the pipeline will not result in tariffs that unduly burden new explorers for gas. The next major milestone in the AGIA process is the 2010 Open Season, slated to begin sometime in the second quarter of 2010. The regulatory, design, engineering and cost work leading up to this, and the feedback received in the form of commitments made, will play an important role in continuing the progress made to date.

AGIA Facts:

* Governor Palin introduced Alaskans to AGIA in January 2007, promising swift movement to get Alaska's gas to market.
* Alaska legislators passed AGIA 58 to 1 in May 2007.
* Five entities expressed interest in applying for the AGIA license to proceed with specific commitments from the State of Alaska.
* Private-sector competition created by AGIA encouraged another pipeline project, Denali, to begin down another path to bring Alaska's gas to market.
* Alaska legislators awarded the AGIA license to TC Alaska in August 2008.
* TransCanada pre-filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in May 2009.
* When built, the natural gas pipeline is expected to carry roughly 4 bcf/day, supplying up to 8 percent of the United States' annual consumption.
* TransCanada is a leader in developing and operating energy infrastructure in North America.
* ExxonMobil is the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company.

A copy of the press release issued by TransCanada and ExxonMobil can be found at: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/AK-TC-EM_ProgressPipelineProject_June11-2009.pdf

A photo from Wednesday’s meeting in Dallas can be found at: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/photos/AGIA-Progress_June10-2009.jpg

Update IV: More tweets from the governor:

More context on AGIA: Here's presser re unveiling of AGIA, my 1st few months in office: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/archive.php?id=170&type=1. (@ about 11:20 a.m. AKDT)

Presser on AK Legislature's 57-1 vote to pass AGIA: http://twitter.com/AKGovSarahPalin/status/2120875388. (@ about 11:22 a.m. AKDT)

More info re: a historic FIVE companies bidding for AGIA license. Landmark progress on project 30 yrs in making. http://www.gov.state.ak.us/archive.php?id=777&type=1 (@ about 11:23 a.m. AKDT)

Final Link: Presser announcing TransCanada as worthy recipient of AGIA license. http://www.gov.state.ak.us/archive.php?id=1375&type=1 (@ about 11:24 a.m. AKDT)

Update V: Statements from Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Mark Begich, and Representative Don Young.

Update VI: The ADN Politics Blog post on this announcement includes some quotes criticizing the deal from State Rep. Mike Hawker, whose wife, you might remember, works for Conoco Phillips (who is partnering with BP on the competing Denali pipeline project). The ADN now has a story up on their main page as well, which they say will be updated throughout the afternoon.

Update VII: Gov. Palin is going to be on the Eddie Burke radio show. Listen live here. We will have audio of it later.

Update VIII: Another tweet from Gov. Palin, this time with links to audio and pictures from this afternoon's press conference. Be sure to follow the links:

Audio from today's AGIA press conf. http://www.gov.state.ak.us/audio/AGIA_TransCanada_Exxon_06112009.mp3 & pics from the historic announcement http://www.gov.state.ak.us/photos.php (@ about 4:30 p.m. ADKT)

And one more tweet:

Here's a link to AGIA page providing detailed info on TC/Exxon partnership http://www.gov.state.ak.us/agia/agia_tc-em.php (@ about 8:15 p.m. ADKT)

UPDATE by Daniel: Here's the audio of Governor Palin on the Eddie Burke Show this afternoon:

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NOW Defends Governor Palin and Her Daughters; Steele Calls for a Boycott; TNA and C4P Say Call His Sponsors!

Finally, the National Organization for Women has issued a statement on Letterman’s sexist “jokes” about Governor Palin and her daughters:

After two nights of “jokes” at the expense of Palin and her family, Letterman tried to explain himself and offer something of an apology. On his June 10 show, Letterman said he was referring to Palin’s 18-year-old daughter, Bristol -- not the 14-year-old daughter who actually accompanied Palin on her New York trip. Letterman said “I recognize that these are ugly” jokes. NOW agrees. Comedians in search of a laugh should really know better than to snicker about men having sex with teenage girls (or young women) less than half their age.

The sexualization of girls and women in the media is reaching new lows these days -- it is exploitative and has a negative effect on how all women and girls are perceived and how they view themselves. Letterman also joked about what he called Palin’s “slutty flight attendant look” -- yet another example of how the media love to focus on a woman politician’s appearance, especially as it relates to her sexual appeal to men. Someone of Letterman’s stature, who appears on what used to be known as “the Tiffany Network” (CBS), should be above wallowing in the juvenile, sexist mud that other comedians and broadcasters seem to prefer.

On that point, it’s important to note that when Chelsea Clinton was 13 years old she was the target of numerous insults based on her appearance. Rush Limbaugh even referred to her as the “White House dog.” NOW hopes that all the conservatives who are fired up about sexism in the media lately will join us in calling out sexism when it is directed at women who aren’t professed conservatives.

I agree. We should protest when this happens to any woman.

We support Amy Siskind of The New Agenda, a non-partisan organization that stands up for all women regardless of political agenda. They are what NOW was supposed to be before NOW became a partisan organization.

Amy wrote an excellent article at the Huffington Post today:

When is sexism acceptable? The answer should be never. Yet for many feminists in our country, only certain types of women have been worth defending. When a conservative woman is the target of an attack, many so-called feminists stay silent. This “selective sexism”, or speaking out against sexism on a case by case basis, does not advance our national dialogue on women’s issues. Rather, selective sexism allows a dangerous level of permissible sexism to live and breed in our country. The only way for the women of this country to truly move forward is to unite and speak out against all forms of sexism regardless of party or the source of the attack.

I wrote to Amy earlier today:

The way I see it we are all upset about this for multiple reasons, but there is at least one common reason for all of us. The one reason that we are all united in being disgusted about is sexism and making light of violence against women.

Conservatives are also upset by the apparent double standard. We know that this would not be done to the child of a liberal Democrat.

But if we allow it to happen to one person because of that person’s political beliefs, then, as Miss Attila pointed out yesterday, it is a form of a misogynist law -- telling women that if they think a certain way, they are fair game for sexist attacks on themselves and their daughters.

It’s just not right.

I have no idea about your political background. We probably don’t agree on the finer points, but I would venture to guess that on the big picture, we agree. And that’s what the women’s movement should be about -- the big picture of advancing the role of all women and advocating a culture that respects women.

Her response:

That is the premise of TNA – working on unity among women – the issues we all agree on – and that is the vast, vast majority. At TNA we decided to leave political party and choice aside and focus on everything else – and that is plenty!

I should correct myself. It was done to a liberal Democrat. It was done to Hillary Clinton last year. It wasn’t right then either. I noted that today when I was on Tammy Bruce’s radio show.

You’ll notice that we have added TNA to our “Important Links.” We like what they stand for, and we are proud to stand with them to defend women of every political persuasion and background. Perhaps TNA’s success will serve as a positive rebuke to NOW which will encourage NOW to get back to its roots.

TNA is urging everyone to contact Letterman’s sponsors. We agree with them. We urge everyone to contact Letterman’s sponsors and continue to contact them until Letterman is fired or suspended.

The Hill reports that Michael Steele is calling for “an informal boycott” of Letterman’s show.

“Letterman’s joke about Sarah and Todd Palin’s daughter was thoughtless and tacky,” Steele said in a statement to The Hill. “I saw his explanation for the joke, but sometimes the easiest thing to do is simply say ‘I’m sorry.’”

[...]

Steele seemed to suggest on Thursday that viewers supporting Palin should tune out from Letterman in protest of “tasteless jokes.”

“When Letterman starts making tasteless jokes about kids, it’s time to turn the channel,” he said.

Don’t just tune out. Contact his sponsors. Don’t stop until he is fired or suspended. Send multiple emails. Call multiple times. Don’t stop. It works. Companies are already pulling their ads off of CBS's website. Keep the pressure on. Don't stop.

UPDATE by RAM: Hillbuzz has great strategies for how to get Letterman’s sponsors to listen. Read their posts here, here, here, and here.

UPDATE II by RAM: (h/t Reece)

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Stand Up and Shout!

It is hard to deny, whether you are conservative or liberal, that Governor Sarah Palin has had a good week.

She started the week last Wednesday night in Alaska when introducing Michael Reagan. Governor Palin finally unleashed many of her thoughts and her beliefs in a single speech aimed straight at the heart of the ankle-biters and the liberal media.

Governor Sarah Palin was not going to run off by false ethical allegations, and she absolutely would not sit down and shut up. Not only did she insist that she would not sit down and shut up, she also encouraged the rest of us not to sit idly by while President Barack Obama leads this country down the path to socialism.

As Governor Palin headed off to New York to celebrate Alaska’s 50 year of statehood with New Yorkers, many of the ankle-biters spent a few days mumbling to themselves and each other about skirts, shoes and whatever other mind-numbing drivel they could think about. Who knows why they went there, but my guess is they could not think of anything else to say.

On Saturday, the liberal extremists, who seem to dominate the party of the left these days, finally thought they had hit on a theme. Plagiarism!

Their moment of glory did not last very long once they posted the YouTube video as evidence. Most common sense thinking Americans realized that Governor Palin did give proper credit to Newt Ginrich.

There is something about Governor Palin that sends the liberal loonies into a hyperactive state of hate. Boy, did they ever go off the deep end. Obviously, we have all been watching the David Letterman fiasco.

This hyperactive state of hatred has caused many leftists to lose their sensibilities and the media elites to lose their objectivity. But hey, in their minds the good governor deserves it. After all, she dared to challenge their messiah.

Not to be content with just letting the liberal loonies wallow in this hyperactive state of hate, several of the elitist Republican leaders and elitist conservative media decided to step out of the shadows and pile on.

We already know about the foolish decision made Senate and Congressional leaders as they invited, disinvited, invited, and disinvited again Governor Palin to their fundraiser. Congressional leaders made themselves look like fools!

Also, not to be content with just letting the Congressional Republican leaders wallow alone, out steps an elitist writer who likes to call herself a conservative -- Kathleen Parker!

Very few people knew who Ms. Parker was before she made it a habit to slam Governor Palin during the campaign. That certainly got Ms. Parker the attention she wanted, even if it was from the lefties.

Of course, not wanting to miss her chance to slam Governor Palin, Ms. Parker choose to write an article titled “Half Baked Alaska”. After all, Ms. Parker could not miss her chance to join the crescendo of hate-filled politics to take a free slap at Governor Palin.

Clearly, Ms. Parker was bucking for another ride on Air Force One. President Obama richly rewards those who trash his enemies for him.

As I read Parker's typical RINO tripe, I realized that this is the same liberal garbage that many conservatives and those in the GOP are fighting.

Here is an example of the RINO tripe written in yesterday’s column:

Palin's fiercely independent streak is part of her charm but also may be her undoing. It's one thing to campaign on an anti-inside-the-Beltway platform. But to play in the big leagues, you need people who know what they're doing.

Playing the RINO game that the people “in the know” have advised us to play has cost us heavily in the last two elections.

The GOP will not be winning any more elections until our elected officials start listening to the real people “in the know.” The conservative grassroots volunteers are the real people “in the know” -- not the media elitists and RINO politicians. We are the ones making millions of phone calls, making hundreds of thousands of yard signs, and pounding on tens of thousands of doors.

The gig is up for the “inside-the-beltway” media elitists and politicians. The GOP simply cannot win if they cannot tell the difference between the conservatives and the liberals.

To make matters even worse, during a chat scheduled yesterday after the column came out, Ms. Parker made a slew of additional digs aimed straight at Governor Palin. That is okay. That is freedom speech. Of course, as we saw with David Letterman, our individual freedom of speech can be taken to a very dangerous level if we don't have the sense to think of others before we blurt out hateful things.

My heart sunk when I read these words written by Ms. Parker (H/T Hot Air):

Okay, I censored myself before so I'll say it now. I also think it's out of line for a woman to sexualize her candidacy, which Palin did. Just ask Rich Lowry, who wrote that he had to sit up a little straighter when she winked during the vp debate. So, maybe when you play the flirt and invite males to see starbursts bouncing off the walls (Lowry again), then maybe you invite the sexual punchline.(emphasis mine) I'm wobbling here.

Oh my.

How many years have we, as women, had to endure this type of sexism?

Comments like the following have become common place in our society:

"You know, she deserved to be raped -- did you see what she was wearing?"

"That woman is just asking for a beating from her husband. She should not be wearing her makeup like that, she looks like a hooker."

"Of course she had it coming to her, she was coming on to me."

Governor Palin's crime according to too many people, including Ms. Parker is that she winked.

To see these type of words from a woman who claims to be a conservative aimed at another woman is beyond disgraceful. It is hate.

For years woman have been terrified to report real crimes and injustices against them because of this type of sexist thinking. Fear has driven many a woman to take a backseat. Over and over again too many intelligent, energetic and common sense thinking woman have been told to sit down and shut up.

Now is the time to STAND UP AND SHOUT at the vulgarity, the sexism, and the hatred that we see being directed at Governor Sarah Palin.

Those of us inspired by President Ronald Reagan and encouraged by Governor Palin are not going to sit down and shut up.

What say you, ordinary barbarians?

Governor Palin has made it very clear that she will not sit down and shut up, how about you?

Let’s roll, ordinary barbarians!

PS. For those interested in contacting the Washington Post, you can email them to this email address: ombudsman@washpost.com

I am sure it only a matter of minutes before an ordinary barbarian comes up with a list of sponsors of the Washington Post.

Keep the pressure on the Letterman sponsors. Don't stop until he is fired or suspended. Email them. Call them. Do it multiple times.

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C4P's R. A. Mansour on the Tammy Bruce Show

You can listen live here.

UPDATE by Daniel: Here's the audio:

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Gov. Palin Thanks the Troops on the Colbert Report

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BUMPED: Letterman Makes Another Sex "Joke" About Willow Palin; Statement from the Palins; UPDATE: Letterman Issues a Non-Apology; Call to Action!

On Monday, Letterman "joked" that 14-year-old Willow Palin was "knocked up" by Alex Rodriguez during a baseball game.

Last night, he associated Willow Palin with Eliot Spitzer and prostitution:



Classy.

UPDATE by JR: Contact CBS and let them know what you think about David Letterman making cruel jokes about 14 year old children:

General CBS contact form can be found here.

"Lateshow" feedback form can be found here.

CBS bigwig contact addresses:

Nina Tassler
Kelly Kahl
Audsvcs
Kim Sartor
Les Moonves

Call CBS: 212-975-4321

List of sponsors courtesy of The New Agenda:

TV.com
Aveeno (owned by Johnson & Johnson)
Canon
Charmin (owned by Proctor & Gamble)
Citibank
Downy (also owned by P&G)
Hellman’s
Lexus (owned by Toyota)
Nissan
Rogaine

UPDATE by RAM: The following statements were issued by Gov. Palin and Alaska's First Gentleman about Letterman's treatment of their 14-year-old daughter:

"Any 'jokes' about raping my 14-year-old are despicable. Alaskans know it and I believe the rest of the world knows it, too."

- Todd Palin

"Concerning Letterman's comments about my young daughter (and I doubt he'd ever dare make such comments about anyone else's daughter): 'Laughter incited by sexually-perverted comments made by a 62-year-old male celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl is not only disgusting, but it reminds us some Hollywood/NY entertainers have a long way to go in understanding what the rest of America understands - that acceptance of inappropriate sexual comments about an underage girl, who could be anyone's daughter, contribute to the atrociously high rate of sexual exploitation of minors by older men who use and abuse others.'"

- Governor Sarah Palin

UPDATE II by RAM: From Victor Davis Hanson, our favorite intellectual at NRO:

Letterman in His Dotage [Victor Davis Hanson]

Letterman attacked in crass sexual terms both Palin and her daughter: Two of the rhetorical cornerstones of the feminist movement used to be zero-tolerance for sexual slurs by men alleging promiscuity ("slutty flight-attendant look"), and jokes about something as serious as rape (e.g., Palin's 14-year-old daughter "knocked up by Alex Rodriguez"). David Letterman, who has become ever more creepy in his dotage, on both counts proved a boor — and receives only silence? (Personally, I admire flight attendants a great deal: They put up with a great deal from jet lag to obnoxious passengers, and somehow remain polite and hard-working — and with a modest and professional look.)

UPDATE III by RAM: Great stuff from Little Miss Attila. Read it. It's vintage.

UPDATE IV by RAM: I am heartened to learn that ordinary Americans on the left side of the political spectrum are also disgusted with Letterman’s “jokes” about Gov. Palin’s 14-year-old daughter.

The Dr. Socks of the “Reclusive Leftist” blog reminds us that “Sexism isn’t selective, and misogyny isn’t something that only applies to certain women”:

Remember the Sarah Palin rape jokes? Remember the “C***” t-shirts? Remember the boiling rivers of misogyny that poured from the so-called progressive blogs? Remember the feminism-free feminists who laughed right along?

This stuff metastasizes. Behavior begets behavior. As I wrote last year — one of many, many posts:

“The haters don’t care about Palin’s political positions. They’re driven by some inchoate impulse to crucify the woman herself. To rape her with words.”

Read the rest of her post. DaTechguy, who tipped us off to Dr. Socks’ post, notes that we might disagree with Socks on any number of issues, but she’s an honest voice.

You don’t have to be a conservative or a supporter of Gov. Palin to find Letterman’s comments cheap and cruel and offensive.

UPDATE V by RAM: Letterman has issued a non-apology apology. He’s insisting that the joke was about Bristol, even though Bristol wasn’t even in New York. The daughter who attended the baseball game was Willow.

“We were, as we often do, making jokes about people in the news and we made some jokes about Sarah Palin and her daughter [Bristol]... and now they’re upset with me…” Letterman says on tonight's show. "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.... Am I guilty of poor taste? Yes. Did I suggest that it was okay for her 14-year-old daughter to be having promiscuous sex? No." Saying he hopes he's "cleared part of this up," Letterman extended an invitation to Palin to come on the show as a guest.

Gee, you think she’ll go on your show after you suggested that her 14-year-old daughter was a prostitute and made a joke about that same 14-year-old getting sexually assaulted?

I have to ask, did it make any difference really which Palin daughter it was? Is sexual assault a joke?

UPDATE VI by RAM: Here is video of Letterman’s non-apology:



I’m sorry. I have seen the Palins treated heartlessly in the past, but that video is just too much. The audience is laughing about a cruel joke made about someone’s 14-year-old daughter.

This is “hope” and “change”?

You may wonder why we keep writing about this. It’s not about stirring up controversy for web traffic. We are fighting this because if we let this slide then we are saying that the Palins are fair game for everything. If their 14-year-old daughter is not off limits, then nothing is. If this heartless jerk can get away with this, then what next? Can we expect jokes about little Piper? When is enough enough?

I would be disgusted by this if it were anyone’s daughter.

Are you upset by this? Then make your voices heard. A number of you have been emailing the local CBS affiliate in Anchorage. Here is the reply they are sending out:

I want to thank you for taking the time to write regarding the recent comments about Sarah Palin and her family on The David Letterman Show. I want to let you know that KTVA does not condone this type of treatment of a minor. While our Governor may be a controversial figure, her minor daughter is not. In my opinion this crosses the line and have registered my complaint with CBS corporate management. While I understand from CBS and David Letterman that there has been some confusion regarding which daughter he was referring to, the responsibility rests with them to make this clear. As the General Manager I regret that this content regarding a minor aired on our station. We are previewing tonight's Letterman Show to see if there is a repeat instance of this content. If there is, we will not air another sexually derogatory reference about a Palin minor. I also encourage our viewers to register their sentiments on this matter. CBS maintains an Audience Services telephone number for these types of issues. That number is 1-212-975-3247. I will also be forwarding every email I receive regarding this matter to CBS.

Regards, Jerry Bever
Jerry Bever Vice President/General Manager KTVA-TV Alaska Broadcasting
Company, Inc.

Take his advice. Call CBS at 212-975-3247. Melt their phones.

Call every women’s organization you can think of. Call every sexual assault victims organization you can think of. Call every child protection advocacy group you can think of. Call every teen pregnancy organization you can think. Get a comment from all of them. Ask them if they have anything to say about David Letterman’s jokes about the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. Ask them if they think it was alright that David Letterman declared that his joke was really about Gov. Palin’s 18-year-old daughter. Does it make it alright that he was mocking an 18-year-old mother? And if they have no comment, ask them why. Ask them what makes the Palins any different from any other family.

Don’t stand for this. Do you want ordinary citizen politicians? Well, the Palins are ordinary people. They got into politics for the right reasons. They wanted to serve. And this is how they are treated. If you want more people to get into politics for the right reasons, then you had better defend this family – otherwise what other family would put themselves out there when this is how they know they will be treated.

UPDATE VI: From the Riehl World View:

In over five years I have never seen the Right side blogs get a blog burst going that was this unified, or sustained. And it isn't only about Palin-mania. There is a surprising amount of anger among both bloggers and commenters on this issue. And it's about double standards and being shouted down, as much as it is about Palin.

For too long, the Right has had to put up with being called homophobic, racist, misogynist, ignorant, or evil, ad infinitum - you name it, often for nothing more than trying to convey a legitimate political point.

Now we are watching one of our own being maliciously assaulted with nothing more than utter filth being spewed at her ... and we're supposed to just take it. Most of the mainstream media hasn't even acknowledged this is going on.

UPDATE VII by RAM: Sebastian at Hillbuzz offers excellent advice on how to make them hear our voices. Go after Letterman's advertisers. Don't stop. Keep emailing. Multiple emails. Persistence is everything.

Here is an up-to-date list of his sponsors and their contact info.

Email! Call! Multiple times. Don't stop until he is fired or suspended.

Let it be a warning. They can't do this to her, and they can't do this to any woman. They can't do this to us.

UPDATE VIII by RAM: Take a look at what was said this morning on the Morning Joe:

[Harold Ford, Jr.] claimed that though Letterman was wrong to make sexual jokes about Sarah Palin's teenage daughter, somehow the Palins are "unique," and thus presumably an understandable target. Mika Brzezinski came down on him. A clearly uncomfortable Ford was soon seeking cover.

Are you angry yet? Imagine what the leftwing in this country would do if it were a conservative host attacking a Democrat politician's family in this way.

Don't just get mad. Get even. Email! Call! Don't stop until he is fired or suspended. We can make it happen. The left does this all the time. It's time we played the same game.

Don't stop! Keep the pressure on! Don't let them get away with this!

We can win if we keep the pressure on.

UPDATE by Mel: Per Norah O'Donnell at MSNBC, Todd Palin has released this statement (it is not yet on the official facebook page):

"Nice attempt by Letterman to draw the heat away from himself; however, Willow was the only one at the Yankees game and the only Palin child included in the photo opportunities with the Giulianis, as was obvious. Regardless of which Palin daughter it was, Bristol, Willow or Piper, these sexually-perverted comments are outside the acceptance of mainstream America."

For more information about Letterman's sponsors see here.

UPDATE II by Mel:

Tim Blair points out Letterman's bs:

So Sarah Palin went to a baseball game with her 14-year-old daughter, Letterman cracked wise about Palin’s daughter being knocked up by a baseball player during the game, but he was really talking about another daughter who … wasn’t at the game. Makes sense.

UPDATE III by Mel: From Meg Stapleton:

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

UPDATE II by JR: John McCain defends Governor Palin:

"I don't understand why Letterman would say that about a young woman," McCain said during a telephone interview on Thursday. "They (the Palins) deserve some kind of protection from being the butt of late-night hosts."

UPDATE IV by Mel: From Senator Claire McCaskill (D - Missouri) via Twitter:

Letterman jokes about Palin's daughter. Way over the line. If it were my daughters I'd be furious. He should seriously apologize.

And from a press release from The New Agenda:

The New Agenda, a national organization dedicated to improving the lives of all women and girls regardless of political affiliation, called on David Letterman to demonstrate true contrition by devoting a segment of his show to some of the insidious ways language puts young women at risk.

And a piece from New Agenda President, Amy Siskind at the Huffington Post:

When is sexism acceptable? The answer should be never. Yet for many feminists in our country, only certain types of women have been worth defending. When a conservative woman is the target of an attack, many so-called feminists stay silent. This "selective sexism", or speaking out against sexism on a case by case basis, does not advance our national dialogue on women's issues. Rather, selective sexism allows a dangerous level of permissible sexism to live and breed in our country. The only way for the women of this country to truly move forward is to unite and speak out against all forms of sexism regardless of party or the source of the attack.

Read more here.

UPDATE IX by RAM: I was on the Tammy Bruce show this afternoon to discuss our call to action. Listen here.

UPDATE X by RAM: We have a new post up with the latest info. Keep contacting his sponsors. Don’t stop until he is fired or suspended. Send multiple emails. Call multiple times. Don’t stop. It works. Companies are already pulling their ads off of CBS's website. Keep the pressure on. Don't stop.

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