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)