Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele suggested an informal boycott of late night talk show host David Letterman after the comic made crude jokes involving Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s (R) daughters.
“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.'”
Letterman found himself in hot water after making a joke about Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez “knocking up” one of Palin’s daughters, which the governor took to mean 14-year-old Willow. Letterman apologized and clarified to say he meant 18-year-old Bristol, but not before Gov. Palin suggested Letterman was “perverted” and should not be let near daughter Willow.
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.