Did Letterman have a RIGHT to say what he did?

[underpants]

Notice how when someone on the right or who the right supports says something flat out ignorant (as opposed to a joke by Dave)
we have to sit through the air-time sucking discussion of "well I think that no matter what other people say they had a right to say it"
and then there is a ample amount of time spent on this obviously rhetorical question.

When Rush Limbaugh says "I want Obama to fail" people are falling all over themselves to get on camera and ask if he had a RIGHT to say it
When we have a fake-celebrity fight about what Miss California USA (oh so important) says we have to hear that she has a RIGHT to say it
When Palin runs her mouth or someone gets the mic at a McCain rally we have to talk about whether they have a RIGHT to say it
When Dick Cheney says something like "support me or you will DIE!" we hear that he has a RIGHT to say it
When Newt Gingrich says something....
etc.

But with Dave or Pelosi or Barney Frank the air-time is filled with crushing minutia of details that we never hear on any other subject

Do I have a RIGHT to say this?

[liberal N proud]

1. It's entertainment

Remember Palin put her own children in front of the media first. They were exposed, therefore vulnerable.

[get the red out]

2. Good point!

Quite often the media even goes so far as to try to approach ignorance coming from the right as legitimate points of view in silly-looking efforts to "appear un-biased" which often achieve the opposite effect. But let a comedian crack a joke about wonder girl and her brood and look out!

[pipoman]

3. Of coarse he had the right to say it

Just like Imus had the 'right' to say what he said. All of the people mentioned in your OP are political partisans except Letterman and Miss Cali, though the beauty contestants are often asked (and expected to answer) quasi political questions. With the never ending ratings wars between NBC and Letterman why in the name of hell would Letterman choose to alienate 50% of the population? Whether that 50% is women or Repugs or any other group? Letterman has long been known to be a Liberal, which is great for our side, but idiotic for someone trying to sell something to the general public (unless they are selling an overtly partisan product). People or businesses trying to sell a product to the public should remain A political or be prepared to suffer the consequences.

[WonderGrunion]

7. Carrie Prejean became a political partisan when she became

spokeswoman for the "pro-marriage" group. She's very much fair game too.

[pipoman]

10. No arguement

my point is that if Letterman wants to alienate a large block of the public, that is certainly his right, just quit scratching his head when it comes to why he has continually lost the ratings wars with Leno who at least tries to balance his political parody between the 2 parties. I have been watching Letterman since his daytime show and like him very much, I also liked the gas station owner I used to patronize. This gas station owner had Democratic signs up all over the store, inside and out during the 08 elections. He told me that he was going to have to close up, his business had fallen in half...geez I wonder why? Could it be that half of his previous customers were Republicans?

[Zen Democrat]

4. Someone could be offended every single night by late night monologues ...

So if you don't like that type of humor, don't watch it. For God's sake, Monica Lewinsky had YEARS of abuse at the hands of talk show hosts making crude, degrading jokes, as did Linda Tripp. It's a fact of life, and a fact of free speech. If you object to it, don't watch it. All it takes to be in the line of fire is to invite attention in politics, in entertainment, any current event will do. The Palin family, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Janet Jackson all qualified at one time or another ... the beat goes on.

[merh]

12. if I were forced to watch the new kid or Conan every single night

I'd be offended for sure. They aren't funny.

OMG, do I have the right to offend unfunny comics?

[KatieW]

5. Yes, by all means he has the right to say what he did regarding Palin, but I wish

I wish he would have left the kids out of it. I don't find that type of humor funny, but that doesn't mean I have the right to censor him.

[WonderGrunion]

6. He has a right to say it and the right to be criticized for it.

Free Speech is a two way street. You have the right to say practically anything so long as you are willing to accept the consequences of it.

[dem629]

9. Yep.

[dem629]

8. Of course. And so did Imus have a right to say what he said.

What happens, though, is that the Speech Police will go after Letterman, Imus, or anyone, and try to silence them.

It's amusing watching the people who wanted Imus fired now defending Letterman. And, conversely, the people who supported Imus now want CBS to "take action" against Letterman.

Guess what? When you start down the road of bullying people off the air, into silence, sooner or later your "side" is going to be on the receiving end.

Fight speech with more speech, not efforts to silence.

[malaise]

11. No only RW haters have

the right of free speech