David & Sarah

(With Letterman back in the news, I dusted off this email I sent a couple of months back.)

Sarah Palin was in New York with her daughter and they went to a Yankee game. An awkward moment occurred during the 7th inning stretch her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez."-David Letterman

Palin was in New York, and did attend a Yankee game with her 14 year old daughter.

Palin has led a drumbeat of criticism of Letterman.

Is she right?

Many of you are parents. Put politics aside, put on your parental hat. How would you react if that statement was broadcast to millions about your child?

Put your political hat back on. What if Letterman said " Obama's daughter went to a rap concert last night, and was knocked up by Fity Cent?"

What would the criticism of Letterman be like if that happened? The guy wouldn't be able to be own a TV, never mind have his own show.

But in modern America, its not what you say, its who you say it about.

Sarah Palin's existence in American political life drives liberals batty.

Thus Palin, and her family, including her under-aged children are considered fair game.

But you could never blame a parent for wanting to shield their child from anything harmful.

We do have a story from modern American history that is somewhat analogous to the Palin-Letterman situation.

President Truman's daughter Margaret was a professional singer. In 1950, 26 year-old Margaret gave a performance in DC @ Constitution Hall.

Washington Post music Paul Hume reviewed Margaret's performance: “She cannot sing very well,” “she is flat a good deal of the time,” and, he concluded, she had no “professional finish.”

Harry Truman decided to give the reviewer hell and quickly wrote him a letter from the White House: Here is a relevant part of the letter: “I have just read your lousy review,” the president explained. “I have never met you, but if I do, you’ll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below." (The entire letter is below.)

How did the American people react to their President threatening to punch out a music critic?

They understood. Harry was Margaret's father.

Just as Sarah is the girl's mother.

Does modern America understand something as basic as that?


TRUMAN'S LETTER

Mr Hume:

I've just read your lousy review of Margaret's concert. I've come to the conclusion that you are an "eight ulcer man on four ulcer pay."

It seems to me that you are a frustrated old man who wishes he could have been successful. When you write such poppy-cock as was in the back section of the paper you work for it shows conclusively that you're off the beam and at least four of your ulcers are at work.

Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below!

Pegler, a gutter snipe, is a gentleman alongside you. I hope you'll accept that statement as a worse insult than a reflection on your ancestry.

H.S.T.