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Shallow Nation

September 26th, 2008 at 4:17 pm

Video: David Letterman John McCain Feud Monologue 9-25-08 & Letterman Top 10 “Top 10 Surprising Facts About Sarah Palin” 9-25-08

John McCain on Late Show with David Letterman, April 1, 2008

The McCain-Letterman feud continues. David Letterman was still talking about the John McCain cancellation, the next day, on the September 25, 2008 broadcast of Late Show with David Letterman, devoting a significant portion of his monologue to the abrupt cancellation; McCain telling Letterman he had to return to Washington to deal with the economic crisis, but instead remained in New York and appeared on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain (who announced his presidential bid on Letterman’s show in February 2007) last appeared on Letterman’s show on April 1, 2008, as pictured above, famously interrupting Letterman’s monologue to trade barbs. Last night, however, with no one to interrupt, Letterman had plenty to say about McCain. Here is an excerpt of Letterman’s monologue.

What a great American John McCain is. Unquestionably, as President Clinton said earlier this week, he gave almost everything but his life for this country. And a tremendous hero and a tremendous role model …a nd he was supposed to be on the show. So at the last minute he calls up and says, “Uh … I can’t make it.” And I said, “What is the problem?” And he said, “Well, the economy. The economy is about to crater.”

And I don’t know if you folks regularly get calls from United States senators, but I’m telling you, you feel like you’ve been deputized. And so he says, “I have to race back to Washington, D.C. … the nation’s capital.” I said, “I know that, Senator.” How dumb do I look? He says, “I have to race back because the economy is about to crater.” And, of course, I said, right away, “Whatever you need to do.” Am I gonna be the reason people are standing in bread lines? No. “Well, we’d have saved it, but I had to go on Letterman’s show … Everything would have been fine, but he wouldn’t let me out of the gig. That’s why it cratered. It’s Letterman’s fault. There he is. Get him!” So I don’t need that.

John McCain on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, September 24, 2008

So I’m scared. I’m starting to tremble a little bit because he said, “I’ve got to race back to D.C.” And I thought, holy gosh. … OK, everything’s fine. Don’t worry about it. The senator is on his way back to D.C. So, not only did he not go back right away, he stopped by to see Katie Couric on his way out. And then, OK, we looked at it and we said, “OK, I understand that. That’s news and this is nonsense.” But then after Katie Couric, wham-o, right to the airport … no. No. No. We found out today that he didn’t really leave until this morning. (Boos from the audience.) Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. So what we learned today is that the economy held on long enough –- just barely held on long enough for him to get back there.

Whereas, you can see, 24 hours ago, I felt like a patriot. I felt like I was helping out. I felt like I was doing my part. Part of the cause. Fighting the fight. Not part of the problem, I was part of the solution. I was going to help in my own little way get this economy out of the crater. And now I’m just feeling like an ugly date. That’s what I feel like. I feel like an ugly date. I feel used. I feel cheap. I feel sullied. I feel cratered.

Source: The Letterman-McCain feud continues: Day Two!

Paris Hilton on Late Show with David Letterman, September 25, 2008

Ironically, Paris Hilton was David Letterman’s guest, and during her appearance, she noted that McCain had dissed her, too. To which Letterman said, “You had a little run-in with him, too, didn’t you?” (See: Video: Paris Hilton Ad Responds to John McCain Barack Obama “Celeb” Ad)

It was McCain’s VP running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin who got the Top 10 list, delivered via satellite by residents of Wasilla, Alaska, her hometown of which was formerly the mayor.

Top 10 Surprising Facts About Sarah Palin

10. Sometimes Sarah calls John McCain “Grandpa.”

9. She stole that sexy librarian look from me.

8. Recently passed legislation to build a bridge to Funkytown.

7. Does great impressions of Tina Fey.

6. Favorite meal: moose nuggets and beaver jerky.

5. Working on “Knight Rider” spinoff about a talking snowmobile.

4. Favorite book? “Late Show Fun Facts” -– available at fine stores everywhere.

3. Once spent a week in the hospital after attempting to put lipstick on a pit bull.

2. To improve her foreign policy experience, she recently went to the International House of Pancakes.

1. Only person I know who’s not afraid to go hunting with Dick Cheney.

As Joe Garofoli points out, the Letterman-McCain feud is not insignificant:

John McCain blowing off his planned appearance Wednesday on “The Late Show with David Letterman” isn’t just a tidbit for the entertainment crevices of your news hole. It’s bigger. For nearly the whole show Wednesday, Letterman went off on McCain for his LHC — even calling out McCain’s leadership abilities. It was a highly unusual take by Letterman, who is generally an equal-opportunity-mocker. He’s still milking the Bill Clinton-as-horndog line of wisecracks.

So why should we care about a late-night comic when the economy is crumbling and the U.S. is fighting two wars? We explained this when “Saturday Night Live” did its first Sarah Palin skit. These shows are just as important in establishing a cultural buzz as “Meet the Press” and its ilk are in creating a political/Beltway buzz. When the funny folks turn on you, so does the mass culture, and so do the casual voters. And with 40 days to go, this is the season of the casual voter.

So McCain — who announced his candidacy on Letterman’s show — should be concerned that Dave got p.o.’d. Wednesday’s show was a beat-down. Big time.

Source: Lies, half-truths and contradictions: the significance of McCain blowing off Letterman (video)

Photo credit: Top photo: Reuters; Photos 2 and 3, CBS

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