NY Assemblyman Gary Finch calls for Letterman

Letterman – Gov Palin posts (updated 6-15)

June 15, 2009

New York Assemblyman GARY D FINCH's press release (dated 6-12) and his letter to CBS President/CEO Les Moonves calling for Letterman's immediate firing - like his fellow assemblyman BRIAN KOLB It also explain some of the legitimate reasons -- besides a charity walk for autism and something involving and Independent Living home for folks with disabilities - why Gov Palin was in New York and highlights what Letterman chose not to mention.

FINCH CALLS ON CBS TO FIRE LETTERMAN

Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C,I – Springport) today has called for CBS Corporation President & Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves to terminate David Letterman’s contract with the network. Assemblyman Finch sent a letter via personal courier to Mr. Moonves asking for Mr. Letterman to be fired.

“Governor Sarah Palin was a guest of the City of Auburn in New York state,” said Finch. “She was subjected to degrading comments about herself, her 14-year-old daughter, and all women, on primetime television by Late Show host David Letterman. I find these comments to be completely unacceptable and outrageous.”

Governor Palin was in Auburn, New York to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Statehood of Alaska. She toured and addressed a crowd at the former home of Secretary of State William H. Seward, who was instrumental in the purchase of the Alaskan territory from Imperial Russia.

While staying in Upstate New York, Governor Palin and her family also took time to tour the home of Harriet Tubman who helped free slaves using the Underground Railroad. They visited the Women’s Rights National Historic Park and National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York.

“Mr. Letterman made these comments on the heels of Governor Palin’s visits to notable landmarks of abolitionists and women’s rights advocates,” Finch stated. “These comments and Mr. Letterman’s continued degrading comments about women during the explanation of his remarks was appalling.”

Finch continued, “I insist Mr. Moonves fire David Letterman and send a clear message to America that the CBS Network and its affiliates do not find insulting women acceptable.”

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Assemblyman Finch’s letter to Les Moonves

Mr. Leslie Moonves, President & Chief Executive Officer
CBS Corporation
51 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019

Dear Mr. Moonves:

I am writing to insist that your primetime comedian David Letterman, the host of the Late Show, be fired.

Last week, Auburn, New York was honored to have Governor Sarah Palin celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Statehood of Alaska at the former home of Secretary of State William H. Seward. William Seward was instrumental in the purchase of the Alaskan territory from Imperial Russia.

While she was a guest of our state, Governor Palin, her daughter and all women, were subjected to Mr. Letterman’s outrageous comments on national television. To make the situation more egregious, during Mr. Letterman’s explanation of his remarks, he took the opportunity to continue making degrading comments toward women.

Mr. Moonves, once again I am calling on you to cancel David Letterman’s contract and send a clear message that you, the CBS Network and all its affiliates do not find insulting women acceptable.

Sincerely,
Gary D. Finch
Member of Assembly

NY Assemblyman, Brian Kolb, aslo calling for Letterman firing

Letterman – Gov Palin posts (updated 6-15)

June 15, 2009

Republican Minority Leader of the NY Assembly Brian Kolb, like fellow Assemblyman, Gary Finch is calling for Letterman’s firing. He thinks Letterman should be held accountable like other employee at the CBS.

Friday, June 12th, Kolb (like Finch), released a written statement and wrote a letter to President/CEO of CBS, Les Moonves. He has also–along with attorney, Gwendolyn Lindsay Jackson and avowed friend of MSNBC/NBC, John Ziegler–established the FireDavidLetterman.com website to wage an email/Twitter war on CBS and its sponsors. Additionally, they are planning a rally outside the Ed Sullivan Theater – where Letterman tapes his show – to take place on Tuesday (tomorrow), June 15th at 4:30. My bet is Moonves waits to see the turnout before he responds to Kolb and Finch’s letters.

[Not] surprisingly the media as a whole has not demanded a reaction from Moonves. [Surprisingly] Katie Couric, known critic of Palin, has remained mum – as far as I can find as of just now.

FYI: As if it wasn’t already known, CBS [Lamar Outdoor and Clear Channel Outdoor] has made clear their stance by refusing to allow any of their 550,00 billboards to read: “Where’s the birth certificate?” – the campaign started WorldNetDaily founder and CEO Joseph Farah.

Kolb’s (6-12) written statement per FOX.

[I don't know if it is his full statement - it wasn't on his website like Finch's was.]

As the proud father of a daughter, and as a husband, I wanted Mr. Moonves to hear from me directly about Mr. Letterman’s disparaging remarks.

Firing Mr. Letterman would send a clear message that CBS will not tolerate any of its employees — even an established media figure like Mr. Letterman — making demeaning and degrading comments about women.

Kolb sharing his outrage with FOX’s Dave and Clayton yesterday.

Courtesy of mghoft [hand transcribed]

FOX: Tell us why you are calling for David Letterman to be fired?

Well, as a father and a husband I thought it was outrageous what David Letterman said. I don’t think it was funny whatsoever to talk about a 14 y/o daughter, or a 18 y/o daughter, or 32 y/o daughter. It was totally across and above the line.

And I think that certainly that if David Letterman made that comment working in a corporation, he’d be fired.

And so I think that the same standard should be applied to him – when your talking about a woman of any age.

[And most definitely a girl of any age.]

FOX: Shouldn’t he be held to a different [lesser] standard because he is a comedian?

[How many millions of people - young people - males - watch Letterman?]

No. Absolutely not.

I think he has to held accountable — whether he is fired, whether he is suspended or whether he makes a heartfelt and full-blown apology.

I think certainly our country has got to establish some standards of civility.

When David Letterman made those comments, I didn’t find them funny at all. I found them offensive. And, quite frankly, many of the people I’ve talked to across the state and across the country feel the same way.

I think CBS has to take a stand as a corporation and hold him, as an employee, accountable – just like they would any other employee of their organization.

FOX: Has CBS responded to you yet?

No, he has not.

We dropped the letter off Friday afternoon at the offices.

[One wonders why it took him all week to act. Important thing is he did - however delayed. In addition to being a husband and a father, he is an elected official.]

But I have not heard back at all. Of course it’s only been a couple of days.

I would hope he would at least call me, and at least give me his side of the story, and why he believes Letterman should stay or go.