If he were a politician, professor, or pastor, his sponsors would have dropped him like a hot horseshoe. But by all accounts comedian David Letterman’s admissions of multiple affairs with co-workers (spelled “underlings”) have caused nary a dent among his advertisers. Should we have widely different sexual standards for public figures regardless of their profession?
The social and legal climate of our culture allows for no hint of sexual harassment, which includes creating a hostile work environment, because of unwanted and unsolicited remarks of a crude or sexual nature by either boss or co-worker. The environment gets even hotter and more hostile if the advances come from a boss, which Letterman certainly was in the NBC studios.
But he jokes on. He, of course, spins this all for maximum humor and audience ratings.
And we watch…and laugh. Have we no shame?
The prophet Jeremiah talked about a time when God’s people would not even know how to blush: “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain…Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush” (Jeremiah 6:13, 15).
I’m reminded of the apocryphal tale of the ancestor of one of our current national figures. Remus Reid, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889.
The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows in Montana territory. On the back of this picture is this inscription: "Remus Reid, horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889."
When confronted by the story, this public figure’s PR office sent back this spin on the same story: "Remus Reid was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed."
Letterman couldn’t have spun this story any better. And we laugh, because we’re still suckers for spin and refuse to show shame.
