David Letterman
So Late Night host David Letterman discussed his blackmailer, and the charges, on his show last night.But the point that detractors seem to miss is that it's not that Letterman availed himself of freely-offered favors. Oh yes, these favors were certainly offered, if not thrust upon him, in his position as a wealthy, powerful and successful show runner.
Monica Lewinsky's pursuit of Bill Clinton comes to mind, as a reminder what women will do for their career. Or more kindly, out of boredom and desire for excitement.
What happens afterward is the point, where integrity separates the men from the scumbags. Do the women with stars in their eyes (to give them the benefit of the doubt), actually get preferential raises and promotions that others less intimately acquainted with The Boss don't? Were they retaliated against if the affair crashed and burned? Was their job just an unimportant detail to the Powers when action was taken?
There will always be staffers eager and willing to cultivate, not to say initiate and pursue, a relationship in which the man is alluring because of that magnetism consisting of money, power, and ability. Notice that none of the women are coming forward to complain---evidence enough that these were consensual relationships.
How the man treats them afterwards is the proof of the pudding. And presuming no women are utilizing this public forum to stand up and say how poorly treated they were, you have to assume Letterman is a stand-up guy.
Moo!
posted by The Topiary Cow at
8:19 AM
5 Comments:
moo
a very strong and well written post.
I'm glad Letterman refused to submit to blackmail. Poor Monica was actually infatuated with Bill, I don't think she wanted anything from him other than straight sex (which she never got).
The Monica and Bill thing was a bit sad. I think she was villified a bit because, at the end of the day, he was the President and you would think would have some more self control, and she was a young gal with stars in her eyes. But we are all just human beings doing our best, even in the Oval Office.
I think Letterman was good not to cave into black mailing. Who knows what goes on in people's private lives and it is none of our business anyway.
Oh, how I wish the days of yore would return. When gossip was whispered and not shouted. Where people kept their mouths shut. And everything was heresay and not on a late night tv show.
feel badly for his wife and son. clearly, he had these affairs while living with his now wife. makes me sad.
also, some of these staffers appear to be (or were at the time) much, much younger than Letterman. that always kind of grosses me out.
absolutely, none of the staffers have complained. it was all consensual and legal. nothing should happen to Letterman.
i just feel sad for his wife
RJ--why thank you! Some stories just move Cow to eloquence (chewing modestly and rustling Topiary)
Gorilla: yes, Monica was very dumb. And it took guts for Letterman to admit everything on national tv but that was the brave thing to do. Cow wishes him well.
Linda: You are right, we are all just trying...imagine if everyone had their every failing on tv for all to look at!
Cow would be hiding in shame.
Cow doesn't support, of course, the abuse of power, or retaliation, but it just seems that this was consensual, and especially since the girls talk about "being in love with Letterman." Not the comments of someone who was coerced.
Hate to W: you are right. But if indeed she knew he was like that, and since she worked for him too, how could she not know, since office gossip seem to have eternal life---she knew going in. And chose to dive in anyway.
At least he did finally marry her after she got pregnant. That's more than some famous guys do.
Moo!
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