PRESS RELEASE: CBS – Here’s Your Exit Plan
June 16, 2009
by The New Agenda
|(This morning, The New Agenda issued its second press release on Letterman.)
For Immediate Release
CBS: Here’s Your Exit Plan
A Way to Get Letterman out of the Mess and Elevate Respect for Women and Girls
The New Agenda, a national organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls, acknowledges a much-improved second apology from David Letterman, but said the damage created will require more than words to adequately address.
As described in The Huffington Post, both CBS and David Letterman have underestimated the national wave that Letterman’s “joke” about sex with Governor Palin’s teenage daughters has unleashed. Mothers and fathers are wondering what happened to common decency, and “how did we let it come to this?!”
“David Letterman’s ’joke’ at the expense of two children has provided our country with a teachable moment to address the national crisis of the sexualization of our teenage daughters. This is an important opportunity for our country, and we must not squander it,” said Amy Siskind, president of The New Agenda. “Letterman said he would do better in the future, he and CBS can prove it by devoting airtime to the national crisis of violence against teenage girls.”
Siskind added that failed attempts at humor are one of the top ways of demeaning and objectifying women and girls. “And as Letterman discovered the hard way, it’s just not funny. Sexualizing our girls may have sold in the past, but the mothers and fathers of our country are no longer buying it!”
The New Agenda notes that serial offenses from the so-called “entertainment” industry this year have created a wake-up call about the role media plays in creating an environment that enables and encourages violence against women: Chris Brown’s assault of Rihanna, Playboy’s “hate rape” list of conservative women, the shameless Letterman defenders of ‘jokes’ about sex with children. There is a disturbing level of blaming the victim and asking her to just take a joke or deal with the beatings she has coming. A poll conducted by the Boston Globe showed that 46 percent of teenagers polled believed that Rihanna was responsible for Chris Brown’s attack
Siskind added: “CBS must do the right thing here. We need a national dialogue to raise awareness about the crisis in the sexualization of our teenage daughters. Our country needs to move forward, but in order to do so, we first need to heal. This national dialogue would be an important first step in this process.”
Go here to send your email to over 70 Letterman sponsors… free:
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From: Melissa Giarrosso
Thanks for your email. Embassy Suites is not a sponsor or advertiser of the David Letterman show. Several online ads appeared on a series of web sites, including cbs.com, among many others. THESE ADS HAVE SINCE BEEN TAKEN DOWN. The appearance of the ads on the CBS network web site does not suggest we condone or agree with Mr. Letterman’s views or comments.
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From: Lexus Customer Satisfaction
To reach our broad range of demographics, like most advertisers, Lexus television spots air across a broad range of programming, including network and cable news, talk shows, sporting events, prime-time shows, late night television and morning shows, and the internet. While we go to great lengths to ensure our name is associated with the kinds of quality programming our Lexus customers enjoy, OUR ADS SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED AS ENDORSING THE VIEWS OF ANY SHOW or the views espoused by the characters or actors, hosts, guests or callers on any show.
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From: Sears Webcenter
When advertising is purchased on television there is no intention of endorsing a specific show or any views expressed on it. Airtime and advertisements are routinely slotted to reach a broad cross section of the general public. IN ADDITION, VIEWERS SHOULD NOT DRAW A CORRELATION BETWEEN SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND ADVERTISING TIME PURCHASED.
I just want to point something out about the apology:
Letterman apologized for the Rodriguez part of the “joke.” In his apology he referenced the time of the first joke and admitted that he was confronted about it the next day. Well, the next day he told the Spitzer joke. He did not specify that the joke was about Bristol this time either. In a sense with this latest “apology” he admits he knew the daughter accompanying Palin was Willow at the time of “the Spitzer joke”, but wanted to continue the line of attack and went for it. Plus, he repeated everything on Wednesday and by then he did know it was about Willow, because he said her age on tv.
What I am trying to say is: in his own words by Tuesday he knew Willow was with Palin and made a joke about it. He apologized for the Rodriguez joke, but not for the Spitzer joke.
He obviously is clueless to what is going on and why his “jokes” were so off the mark and offensive. He is coming out as a bully. He reminds me of bullies I have come across in life, who tell “jokes” to hurt you and then say “can’t you take a joke?”
He is also hopelessly clueless to the fact that people have had it with these kinds of attacks on women and girls.
Why does he even think in his apology that it is ok to “joke” in this offensive way about an 18-year old?
Good press release. Now, have you heard about Bill Maher’s comments? Just as horrible.
http://www.conservatives4palin.....right.html
“In defending his friend, Maher thought Republicans had over reacted and this was just a case of ‘fake’ outrage. Much ado about nothing. He then went on talking about how Letterman had invited Sarah Palin and her young daughter, Willow, to appear as guests on his show but the Governor declined because she thought it would be wise to keep her daughter away from him. Said Maher, “…that’s right, he’s 62 years old, he’s gonna [f**k] her right there on stage…it would be very wise to keep her, very wise, yes. You know, I’d worry a little more about the 18-year old hockey players who knock up your daughters.” To which his audience of trained seals laughed and clapped and had a good old time.”
Though off topic, I would like to make the following comment:
It appears that increasing numbers of Lesbians are recognizing the reality that the Obama administration is not on their side. Perhaps this is an opportunity to persuade people that words and deeds that demean straight women, or white women, or any other category of women demean all women, including Lesbians.
John Horning, I am a lesbian and did not vote for Obama. His stand on lesbian/gay issues was very clear during his campaign. I believe that the reason gays voted for Obama was out of fear of the religious right represented by the Republicans. I spoke to many gays during the campaign pointing out to them that Obama was not pro gay marriage — or pro gay at all for that matter!! They still wanted to vote for him. Most of my lesbian friends are very aware and did not vote for BO. And being a lesbian does not preclude being a feminist. In fact, it makes one hyper-aware of the abuse of women.
Hellmann’s pulls advertising from Letterman show. I just got this email:
Hello,
Thank you for contacting us regarding your disappointment with the program content which contained a commercial for a Unilever product. We never wish to offend anyone and your opinions are appreciated regarding this subject matter. Advertising for Hellmann’s or media buys are done months in advance and unfortunately we can’t foresee issues in the media before they come up. We appreciate the feedback from our consumers and we’ve decided to pull our online ads from the Letterman show from our advertising schedule moving forward.
We hope that this information has given you a better understanding of our advertising practices. Thank you again for taking the time to share your views with us. You can be assured that your comments will be considered as we continue to challenge our perceptions about what is appropriate for us in today’s environment.
Kind regards,
Your friends at Hellmann’s/Best Foods
I read the apology yesterday, and I wonder if he is truly apologetic or if I should try to spread the worder further for a wider protest. I have considered writing to the local paper, but I wanted to ask and see what our next move should be.
It is really to great to see companies are also taking action and are pulling their advertisements.
Letterman apologized only because his sponsors were publicly leaving his show! A man who says sexists things about the mother of his child is not clueless, he simply hates women!
I just don’t buy that Letterman is “clueless”. He speaks horribily about the mother of his child!
This is about maintaining power and control and for some psychological reason, the obsession which has been passed down for generations from father to son, lessons that teache young boys from almost the day they are born, that treating women as equals will deminish them as men.
I don’t believe the likes of Lettermand, Olbermann, Matthews will ever truly accept women as equals. They have been conditioned for too long that women are not. They will simply not be so blatant in their hatred towards women, but it will still be there.
Unconditioning this mindset towards women must start at birth for little boys. We need to change our education system to actually include women in history books and the roles and contributions they made in the sciences, politics, medicine, education, etc. and change the way teachers always call on boys more than girls.
That’s where the change will come.
I am really pleased that Letterman is getting the kind of flack that he is getting. Perhaps the bullies will crawl under the rocks now; for the longest time it seemed it was open season on women. Now if we can just convince the prez that seperate but equal did not work in the past (his remark in Cairo that men and women do not have to do the same thing to be considered equal), perhaps it won’t take 500 years for women to have fair treatment in this society.
You people are insane. All of you. Utterly ridiculous. Not a goddamn one of you even understands sexism or mysogyny. Not one. This organization is nothing but a Republican front.
Jan,
Please explain what sexism and mysogyny are, then.
http://bighollywood.breitbart......-real-man/
Bill Mahr defends Letterman and goes on the attack against Palin and her children in his opening monolgue. I cant repeat the language he used but read it, it is disgusting
dianet on June 16th,
I stand corrected. I have been under a very different impression.
Jan,
My understanding of sexism: attitude/behavior based on traditional stereotypes of sexual roles and/or discrimination based on gender. My understanding of misogyny: a hatred, dislike or mistrust of women.
I happen to have concluded that President Obama is very obviously a sexist, though I do not think he exhibits misogyny, though some of those that he surrounds himself with seem to.
John, your definitions are accurate, your conclusion is not. Obama clearly is a misogynist. If you surround yourself with those type of men and allow them to act in this manner when you have the authority and power to stop it is in my view the same as doing it yourself…indeed in my view these people are acting at his behest but give him an out if he needs it
Jan—I am a national officer of The New Agenda and I can assure you and everyone else that we are not a front for either major political party. We are a group made up of women and men of all political persuasions, all walks of life, from all over the United States (and in other parts of the world) who are united in changing our culture in how it treats females. Period. It is a new way of thinking. Nonpartisan. I am confident that if you are able to rethink our whole cause through a new lens that you will not feel so antagonistic. You know people used to think it was funny to ridicule African-Americans as “little black sambos.” As a culture we have become enlightened in understanding how wrong that behavior was. We must now wake up and change our egregious behavior towards females. It will free us all. We cannot become the great country we all believe ourselves to be if we continue as a culture to belittle females.
Right, Cynthia. You’re non-partisan like I’m a refugee from Alpha Centauri.
I know about white people calling black people Sambo. Your feminist icon and paragon of motherhood, Sarah Palin, referred to the current president as “Sambo” during her presidential campaign. She didn’t bother apologizing for that, either. She also called Hillary Clinton a bitch.
I don’t see you people getting upset at John McCain saying that the reason Chelsea Clinton is ugly is because her father is Janet Reno.
I’ve read the comments in here, and I’ve read the columns. Obviously, you are partisan. And, you haven’t a clue about feminism. None of you.
I’m doing my utmost to out The New Agenda as nothing but a cover organization for the Right. I support David Letterman. I wouldn’t give your organization a nickel.
What kind of partisan group defends both Palin and Pelosi from sexists attacks? The RNC removed it’s sexist attack of Pelosi because of this group.
This group is less than one year old. Sure, many of the articles may be critical of Obama and supportive of Palin, but that is because Obama is the current president who has exhibited sexist behavior and is accountable for improving the situation for women in this country, and Palin has been the subject of sexist/mysoginistic attacks that are unprecedented.
This organization has called out the sexist treatment of Pelosi, Sotomayor, Michelle Obama and others. Many of us who defend Palin from sexist attacks do not agree with her politically. In my opinion, that is a true feminist.
Jan, you are entitled to your opinion. If you do not feel comfortable with our mission, then you can stick with NOW or other groups. But coming here to insult us all and spew lies about this organization is unnecessary.
Also, can you back up your Palin accusations with true references (videos, sound bites?)
“I’m doing my utmost to out The New Agenda as nothing but a cover organization for the Right.”
Well, I think we’ll be keeping you busy then. It will be hard to prove something that is false.
I’d like to hear Jan Tessler’s definition of feminism. I’m curious.
I’m a hardcore leftist, feminist, only voted Democratic in my life and have been following this site all along.
Jan Tessler you have turned us in. Darn, I thought we could get away with it, but no, you are a smart one.
A feminist believes in equality between the sexes. If this is the case amongst the posters on here, I have to ask where are the criticisms of Rush Limbaugh? Newt Gingrich? John McCain? Jay Leno? Conan? Chris Matthews? Bill O’Reilly? Fox News’s Greg Gutfeld?
If the ultimate goal is the advancement of women’s rights, I’m all for it. When you pick and choose who to chastise based on your political affiliation, you are partisan, regardless of the assertions to the contrary. I find people like Carrie Prejean to be a blight on the cause for women’s rights. She’s a beauty queen that parades around in bikinis for the pleasure of men. Beauty contests are notorious for detracting from the self-esteem of young women. They encourage young women to prance around for the enjoyment of their primarily male audiences (and judges) all for a pretty crown.
Don’t get me wrong, sexism is terrible and I am not condemning you for your attempts at equality. However, don’t try to pretend that you aren’t partisan when you’ve proven you are.
Mary,
TNA tackled every major sexist incident since the election. Look through the archives.
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