…How is this offensive, exactly? Brother, I was expecting some kind of awful, insensitive jab, not an implied sexual encounter.

I can't believe that so many of you missed the joke. Allan is going crazy because he realizes he hooked up with her, without knowing she was transgender. It's not that it's “icky” it's playing off a situation that is weird in real life, no matter how progressive you are.

I was expecting something highly offensive, but nothingoffensive happened. The joke made fun of the man's silly overreaction. Many people will overreact when hearing the news of a transgendered person being appointed by the President to a governmental position. Letterman didn't say anything offensive about Amanda at all. Why are people making such a fuss?

Erm, no. You might as well argue that Blazin' Saddles' “The sheriff's a nig…!” jokes were anti-black.

Well, this has got to be a real shock for all the people in America that didn't already know David Letterman is a giant asshole. Yep, I'm sure all 3 of them were very surprised.

After all the hullabaloo I expected something, I don't know, offensive.

It's not funny to act like trans people are “others” and “gross”. How would people like it if the joke was “She's a [insert minority here] person? Disgusting!!!” It's not okay to make fun of someone simply for being who they are. It's a very positive event that Amanda has made it this far in politics. This should be cause for celebrations, not put-downs.

who gives a fuck?! whats the big deal?! the joke wasnt funny anyhow. if your trans gender and you cant take a joke then you have a problem.

I CAN HAZ OVERREACTION??!!1

David, you're an idiot. So is anyone who thinks this joke is offensive.

This is disappointing. People in the audience are actually clapping (though it makes sense because these people think this has-been is actually funny) at what someone has chosen to do with their body. Amanda has done nothing to be ridiculed. The saddest part of this is that they are not acclaiming her for her work, but focusing on the “weird.” Is America really still just a bunch of elementary school kids poking fun at anyone who is different? Disgusting.

Meh. Not funny, not offensive. Letterman tells mostly ham n' eggs jokes. His forte is reacting to crazy shit like Joaquin Phoenix or Sarah Palin getting pissed at him or his sex scandal.

i've never been a fan of letterman…i just don't think he's funny…though it's clear that he thinks he's funny. i didn't really laugh at this joke, though i didn't find it offensive. but i couldn't help but wonder why any transgender person would call herself AMANDA…cos all i could think of was A MAN, DUH…

To those who don't understand why this is offensive:
it's offensive because the entire joke is predicated on the idea that transgender people are disgusting. It's not clever, it's not relevant, it's not even subversive. It's just blunt and cruel. If you think this is funny then you must be the type who thinks “your mother is a whore” is a witty and hilarious comeback.

I've never been a fan of Letterman's but that made me laugh. That wasn't even as harsh as I expected it to be… pretty tame in fact.
And since when were we not allowed to make fun of transgenders? Is everything sacred?!!!

If you thought this was offensive, you'd freak out at the clip where they put Chaz Bono in the “Will It Float” tank.

The only time Letterman's entertaining is when he's forced to admit he bangs his workers.

what's the controversy over?

And they're still funny now!

Matt, Letterman continues to be one of the worst late night hosts in the history of the genre. This “joke” is tasteless and pointless. Thanks for giving us a chance to renew our disfavor for this type of “humor.”