Letterman Faces Another Extortion Attempt, had Sex with Staffers

[Terrell]

Jesus you people must be perfectly moral and upstanding adults. You do realize pre-marital relationships are just that. Relationships. They aren't bound by vows or legal papers. None of you know what the level of comittment Dave had with his girlfriend at the time of the affair so you really need to end your holier than though moralizing.

LOL! Ironic coming from the guy who posted a sanctimonious, self-righteous rant in my Kate Beckinsale thread, whining about a few porn ads in the link and the content of my thread, on a forum that used to have porn discussion section. You don't need to be lecturing anyone on holier than thou moralizing.

[Count Dooku]

Originally Posted by JasonF

I don't know the details of Letterman's relationship with his wife, and I'm not going to pretend to speak for her. But the fact is they've been together since the 80s. It's some mighty fine hair-splitting to say it's OK for him to sleep around on a 20-year relationship before a wedding vow, but not afterwards.

Originally Posted by cungar

Jesus you people must be perfectly moral and upstanding adults. You do realize pre-marital relationships are just that. Relationships. They aren't bound by vows or legal papers. None of you know what the level of comittment Dave had with his girlfriend at the time of the affair so you really need to end your holier than though moralizing.

Adultery has a definition. It's not hair-splitting.

I'll just add to cungar's response that relationships do in fact exist where people live together for many years, express and proclaim their love for each other, AND have sex with other people (with their partner's knowledge and consent).

[Count Dooku]

Originally Posted by spainlinx0

The Ten Commandments? First of all premarital sex is a sin in Christianity so he has "sinned" here if you want to talk religiously.

Be sure and let me know the next time a politician or preacher publicly confesses to the sin of having pre-marital sex.

Originally Posted by spainlinx0

Also, people in a relationship have an understanding even before they walk down the aisle. I hope you tell your future wife that you plan on fucking someone the night before you're wedding, and it's OK because it's not adultery. I'm sure that would go over well for you.

Personally I don't know why a rich and powerful man would ever get into a relationship where outside women weren't accepted. It's just a matter of fact that it is going to happen. You need to have a wife who is OK with it, and maybe even is into it.

So, you're saying that a rich and powerful man shouldn't get married without his wife understanding that he is going to have sex outside the marriage...

But, it's impossible that a couple who are just living together would have an understanding that the man is going to have sex with other women.

[Deep_lurk]

Sounds like Dave was tapping Smitty. To which I can only say "way to go, Dave!"

(clip o' Smitty)

[Count Dooku]

Originally Posted by Terrell

LOL! Ironic coming from the guy who posted a sanctimonious, self-righteous rant in my Kate Beckinsale thread, whining about a few porn ads in the link and the content of my thread, on a forum that used to have porn discussion section. You don't need to be lecturing anyone on holier than thou moralizing.

Seriously.

Don't post links to sites with porn ads and/or porn pop-up ads.

[Count Dooku]

Originally Posted by Deep_lurk

Sounds like Dave was tapping Smitty. To which I can only say "way to go, Dave!"

And he may have paid her tuition to law school; so he really took advantage of her there, too.

[Bill Needle]

Originally Posted by Count Dooku

Adultery has a definition. It's not hair-splitting.

Where has he been accused of adultery? You are the only one on this thread or anywhere else for that matter I have seen use that straw man in relation to Letterman's current situation. He is being accused of douchebaggery, and he is guilty by his own admission.

[Bill Needle]

Originally Posted by Count Dooku

And he may have paid her tuition to law school; so he really took advantage of her there, too.

So she was compensated for her services? All's well and good then.

[cungar]

Originally Posted by Terrell

LOL! Ironic coming from the guy who posted a sanctimonious, self-righteous rant in my Kate Beckinsale thread, whining about a few porn ads in the link and the content of my thread, on a forum that used to have porn discussion section. You don't need to be lecturing anyone on holier than thou moralizing.

You mean the one that linked to adult pop ups, had an ambiguous title and and was closed my the moderator? Great work there dude. And FYI I was not moralizing about the adult pop ups, I was complaining about adult pop ups because NO ONE LIKES ADULT POPUPS. Not even porn addicts. And you're so proud of it you even want to mention it here.

[Count Dooku]

Originally Posted by Jack Straw

Who was the PR person who (I assume) signed off on allowing Dave to say

"I had to go downtown to testify before the grand jury and tell them all of the creepy things that I've done".

That person s/b fired. There were countless ways to convey that piece of information in a less sinister sounding way. He made himself sound like a predator. While I did not see the broadcast (but plan to) of this confession, on paper it sounds really wrong.

When you watch it, Letterman's choice (and it was all Dave) of the word CREEPY comes off as weird and humorous.

Spoiler:

Like this:

[Groucho]

Originally Posted by The Bus

In TV, unlike film, Exec Producer usually means that you're the boss or one of the bosses. I don't see Dave having a boss.

Not necessarily. They often throw an "Executive Producer" credit at lead actors as part of contract negotiations. I doubt Kiefer Sutherland is calling the shows at "24" or Michael C. Hall at "Dexter".

[JasonF]

Originally Posted by Count Dooku

Adultery has a definition. It's not hair-splitting.

I'll just add to cungar's response that relationships do in fact exist where people live together for many years, express and proclaim their love for each other, AND have sex with other people (with their partner's knowledge and consent).

I didn't say he committed adultery. I took issue with comments like this one, from you:

Letterman is not an adulterer, so I have no problem with his behavior.

And yes, relationships do exist where people live together for many years, express and proclaim their love for each other, AND have sex with other people (with their partner's knowledge and consent). Some of those relationships occur between married people and some occur between unmarried people.

I do not know whether Letterman and his wife have such a relationship now, or did before they were married. If Mrs. Letterman was OK with Mr. Letterman sleeping with other women before they were married, that's their business. If she's OK with him sleeping with other women now that they are married, that's their business too. What I don't get are the people who agree that the pre-marriage stuff is none of our business, but insist that the post-marriage stuff is terrible.

[Count Dooku]

Originally Posted by Bill Needle

Where has he been accused of adultery? You are the only one on this thread or anywhere else for that matter I have seen use that straw man in relation to Letterman's current situation. He is being accused of douchebaggery, and he is guilty by his own admission.

You have a short memory, Mr. Needle.

Allow me to refresh it.

Originally Posted by Bill Needle

Wonder how many Top Ten lists he's going to do mocking his failures as a father and husband.

[Count Dooku]

Originally Posted by JasonF

What I don't get are the people who agree that the pre-marriage stuff is none of our business, but insist that the post-marriage stuff is terrible.

When most people get married, they make a vow of fidelity before God.

[scott1598]

i was riveted by those ten minutes last night. i thought it was very admirable for him, David Letterman, (probably one of the more private celebrities there are) to admit and show a genuine humaness in that little speech.

yes, it was peppered with humor, but to boldly admit those failings (of which i am not condoning) shows integrity and has to be admired.

[Bill Needle]

Originally Posted by Count Dooku

You have a short memory, Mr. Needle.

Allow me to refresh it.

Still searching for the accusation of adultery... Nope, that was your spin, as apparently it is your contention that adultery is the only way to fail as a husband...and that anything someone does even up to the hour the vows are taken cannot possibly impact a marriage.

[chino77]

maybe they had/have an open relationship? will smith does. not everyone adheres to the only one partner rule.
and really who cares if he did cheat. hes an entertainer i didnt know he was supposed to be a figure for morality.

[Count Dooku]

Originally Posted by Bill Needle

Still searching for the accusation of adultery... Nope, that was your spin, as apparently it is your contention that adultery is the only way to fail as a husband...and that anything someone does even up to the hour the vows are taken cannot possibly impact a marriage.

If someone's failure as a husband is demonstrated in their act of having sex outside the marriage, please explain to me how the accusation of failure is not an accusation of adultery.

I realize that I made the conceptual leap of looking at 2+2 and seeing 4, I apologize for assuming that you would be able to make that leap with me.

[creekdipper]

Originally Posted by dolphinboy

I wonder what kind of evidence this guy could have gotten from Stephanie (or anyone), because certainly just her telling him about it couldn't have been enough for this guy to ask for 2 million dollars.

Maybe she pulled a Lewinsky & kept the semen-stained blue dress Dave liked to wear.

For those saying that what Dave did was not akin to adultery (violating the spirit of the law if not the letter), I assume that you do not subscribe to unmarried domestic partners being allowed to obtain spousal benefits (which I'm sure Dave's company or CBS offers to its employees). A sports article in today's paper mentioned a professional baseball player accused of assaulting his "common-law wife" (so the term isn't archaic). Letterman & his wife had a relationship for over 20 years, had a son together (who is now six, I believe), and lived together before they were married. When & where the acts took place is unknown, but it's a pretty good guess that they took place sometime during his 'steady' relationship (if you think that doesn't matter to most women, observe the tv commercial in which the guy is eating the hamburger in the garage while his car is being sanded to remove the "Cheater" signs all over the car). Maybe his girlfriend (now wife) knew about the affairs & allowed him to enjoy them. If so, she would probably be in a minority of "understanding" girlfriends who can look at this through uncaring eyes. Most people would view both her & Dave as being pretty jaded. This would put their relationship closer to Hugh Hefner's than what most of the audience probably expected.

The point is that one doesn't have to be a "Thumper" to view long-term relationships as being comparable to marriages...especially celebrities. Wanna debate the issue with Pitt & Jolie, Robbins & Sarandon, or any number of other cohabiting couples, especially those who have kids together? Ever since "palimony" became a legal term, even the law recognizes the legal commitments & 'spousal' rights of such relationships.

As far as him "admitting his failures", I must have missed that part. It seemed that he was only concerned about negative publicity toward the women, his family, and himself. Did he come out & say that what he did was wrong?

Although the rules are often ignored, most companies have strict rules...at least on the books...about the boss fraternizing with the staff. Doing this leaves both the boss & the company wide open for charges of sexual harrassment, pressuring employees into providing sex in return for favors (or worse, as a requirement for keeping or obtaining the job, etc.).

As far as him not passing judgment upon others, I would think that he & other comedians do that when they mock other's sexual foibles, whether they be politicians, clergy, or celebrities. Letterman certainly made a lot of hay out of Sarah Palin's daughters, which makes him look pretty sordid & pathetic now to a lot of people. Although he called the blackmailer's bluff, it certainly seems that he would have preferred that this information not come to light...which indicates that he thinks that he knew his behavior wouldn't be acceptable to many in the audience.

As good ole Rev. Wright might say, "The chickens have come home to roost!"

(If Dave really doesn't think he's done anything wrong, he ought to refer to this incident from time to time as he did with the butt of his jokes. Maybe he will do a series of Top Ten lists mocking the entire thing. That would demonstrate his attitude much better than saying that he doesn't intend to comment on it further).

I would be surprised if Leno & O'Brien pursue this in their monologues.

[JasonF]

Originally Posted by Count Dooku

When most people get married, they make a vow of fidelity before God.

Well, that's really between the Lettermans and God, isn't it? I still can't see how it's any more or less your business just because they got married.


By the way, do you know for sure that the Lettermans had a religious ceremony?

[Count Dooku]

Originally Posted by creekdipper

As far as him "admitting his failures", I must have missed that part. It seemed that he was only concerned about negative publicity toward the women, his family, and himself. Did he come out & say that what he did was wrong?

Let's be clear about this point:
Dave wasn't admitting things. He was announcing things.
I'll leave it to you to find a dictionary.

He called the things he did "terrible" and "creepy".
He may not have branded his actions with the word WRONG, but he certainly described them negatively.

Originally Posted by creekdipper

As far as him not passing judgment upon others, I would think that he & other comedians do that when they mock other's sexual foibles, whether they be politicians, clergy, or celebrities. Letterman certainly made a lot of hay out of Sarah Palin's daughters, which makes him look pretty sordid & pathetic now to a lot of people.

I'm not sure what the adult Letterman having sex with adult women has to do with the fact that Bristol Palin was an underage whore.

[Count Dooku]

Originally Posted by JasonF

Well, that's really between the Lettermans and God, isn't it? I still can't see how it's any more or less your business just because they got married.
By the way, do you know for sure that the Lettermans had a religious ceremony?

Actually, I know that Letterman did not have a religious ceremony.

A great majority of the people who get married do so in a religious ceremony in which they make a vow of fidelity before God.
That is why I think it is acceptable, as a general rule, to consider adultery a serious wrong.
Then, one can examine a particular situation and make a more informed judgement.

Similarly, whenever someone kills someone else, it is investigated as a crime, but further examination of the particular situation can reveal that it was an act of self-defense, and thus the killing was acceptable.

Let me just add as an aside, that in the US it is constantly being reaffirmed by laws and elections that other people's marriages are everybody's business.

[Bill Needle]

Originally Posted by Count Dooku

If someone's failure as a husband is demonstrated in their act of having sex outside the marriage, please explain to me how the accusation of failure is not an accusation of adultery.

I think if you reread that a few times you'll see the logical fallacy in that statement.

And despite comments such as

Letterman is not an adulterer, so I have no problem with his behavior.

you don't actually have the slightest idea whether he committed adultery or not.

I'm not sure what the adult Letterman having sex with adult women has to do with the fact that Bristol Palin was an underage whore.

And...scene.

[chino77]

who gives a fuck if he was an adulterer! he is a tv personality.

[rennervision]

During Dave's confession, I'm sure a good portion of the audience thought he was setting things up for some goofy comedy bit. (And if I hadn't known before hand what he was going to say, I wonder if I might have thought the same.) Just makes it even more uncomfortable to watch when he's telling everything that's happened the last three weeks and people are laughing.

At first, there's no way to know whether or not he's telling the truth, because he's telling the story in a jokey tone with no real indication of shame or apology in what he's saying. Seems kind of inappropriate to me to be describing events that may have destroyed his family in such a casual manner.