LETTERMAN AND SEDUCTION OF POWER IN THE WORKPLACE
Okay, David Letterman got a few giggles and grins, not only from his audience, but at water coolers in offices around the country for cavorting with several of his female employees over the years. There are those who say that he is still a ‘stand-up’ guy. Great for comedy clubs and his show, I suppose, but what about the impact on women in the workplace? The word ‘objectify’ should come to mind.
The seduction of power over subordinates is toxic in any work environment. Who doesn’t want to be the boss’s favorite? Speaking to women, I can only ask: Have you really come a long way, Baby? We, the mothers who raised you after hard-fought battles for equality and women’s rights, are sickened by the set-backs. And men, don’t for a moment think this cannot happen to you. Both women and men are hit on by their bosses. Do I sense a need for a new “Just Say No” campaign?
There are predators in the workplace. That power thing doesn’t just work on promoting people due to their merit as conscientious employees. Too often it works on promotions due to the merit of more sub-rosa abilities. It is the fusion of ego and libido, a molotov cocktail exploding in the face of exploitation. It goes something like this: You too can have your law degree paid for or go up the rungs of the career ladder faster if only…well, you get the idea.
I am not laughing, Letterman. Your apologies were a quick and well-planned strategy to ward off a blackmailer and to put a spin on the fix you’re in. It looked more like testosterone-filled self-aggrandizement. You are an over the hill clown who got some jollies by announcing publicly that you had sex-for-power fun while further exacerbating problems within the workforce. And there is that little matter of your wife. Was she impressed?
Those superiors to whom we must report have an obligation to employees to set the proper tone of conduct within a work environment. Get a grip Letterman. Oh no, not that way, I was talking about your character. And for heaven’s sake get a decent haircut.
—cher
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Well this kind of stuff has been going on since……well…..when has it not been going on?
I don’t have all the details with the Letterman situation. Certainly bosses take advantage of their power. Of course so do, professors, athletes, entertainers, CEOs, models, etc. The world works that way unfortunately.
Hopefully we can teach our kids to not seek approval in this way. It’s a dead end and only makes them feel worse about themselves.
Good Day Cher…
I have never been a Letterman fan…something about him simply does not appeal to me. I have never liked his arrogance nor his ways of leering or getting his jollies so to speak from the women he has on his show as guests.
His little adventure has cost him a few dollars and so it should.
‘The Guys’ comment was correct, in that this type of sexual harassment/control has been around since the beginning of time…
Except…
Now you would think these power/control players would realize that women today are also playing the game. If you want sex…you are going to pay for it.
Do I condone that way of thinking…NO…but there are times in life when you must fight ‘ fire with fire’.
As always it is the families that are the innocent victims in all of these so-called indiscretions.
~D~
THE GUYS,
You are right in that this has been going on ad nauseum. It is still wrong. No one should be reduced to ‘giving it up’ to get advanced. There are laws, however, against sexual harassment in the workplace. Too many women (and some men) are afraid to speak out for fear of losing their jobs. It doesn’t have to be that way.
D,
It’s true that families are the unwitting victims of these escapades. I think about Elizabeth Edwards and often wonder how she and her children are surviving emotionally.
I never cared much for Letterman either, but think even less of him now. He was not, nor will he be on our “favorites” menu.
Hi Cher how are you? I think that Letterman will have a lot of regrets, like being the biggest hypocrite of all time. All of these poor politicians that fell down the wayside that this man made jokes about. I can’t stand him, I think that he will lose favor among many women who watch his show.
Hi Marc!
Letterman did get a lot of mileage out of political jokes and jokes toward others who were, in fact, doing the same thing he was doing. I would hope he loses favor. Sometimes, the public is far too forgiving of those with “star” power.
Have a great weekend!
I think people will generally forgive anyone who sincerely apologizes. I think Dave will see this blow over, for better or worse.
Cher, I wrote you a comment/story in the Comments of the 10/7 Steelers post.
Can’t believe you’ve been to Segnari’s too… it’s such a small little place… unlike their fish sandwiches!
While the whole thing is quite appalling, the fact that he made TONS of jokes out of other men’s affairs and infidelities…all the while conducting himself in exactly the same way….really gauls me. And so NOW what (and who) will he make his jokes about?
Everyone deserves to feel safe in the work place regardless of their role within an organisation, their gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
bluzdude,
The Letterman thing probably will blow over, you’re right. People have an acceptance-level of bad behavior in celebrities. I’m not sure what that says about the viewing public.
Segnari’s! I was so blown away when you mentioned that place. I sat back in my office chair and smiled with the great memories you brought to mind. Their fish sandwiches are so delicious—and huge—that when my parents would take my brother and me there, they bought only one for us to split, but they each savored an entire sandwich. I also remember the laughter and cozy, home-style feel to Segnari’s. The story you did about your Dad’s surprise party makes the reader feel as though they were there. You Dad’s line was classic!
Your stories about your trip to Pittsburgh were my treats of the week!
willoaks studio,
I actually did watch Letterman out of morbid curiosity last night. He interviewed the male star from Mad Men and several times the conversation between them was uneasy. When Letterman did make jokes, it wasn’t done with ease. He is not worth my viewing time. Another old coot with errant ways.
WalkTalkTours,
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a sneaky devil. And you are so right, no one should have to put up with it. It causes such anguish for the victims and that’s why there are laws against it. Apparently, Letterman thinks he is above these laws.
I find this whole Letterman situation hypocritical at every stage. Letterman himself, had a field day on his show with every sex scandal that hit the news. At the corporate level, the policy within CBS is that any manager would be fired for having an affair with a subordinate. This is obviously not going to happen because he is David Letterman, but really he should be held to the same standards as the other high ups within the organization.
Tina T,
It is kindred to the Glenn Beck situation at FOX. They have lost many advertisers since Beck went on his racism campaign against the president. Unfortunately the public has a salacious appetite, so Beck’s numbers are through the roof, and no doubt he will remain. Ethics, principles, upholding laws (i.e. sexual harassment in the workplace) are disregarded in media. Letterman will keep his job until he is old, doddering, and all the young girls have left his pitiful side.
I did not like what Letterman did, considering his public status. Unless women are not vigilant in enforcing their rights, this sort of things will always happen.
Of course, it will be different when consent is involved; because here, psychology dominates. Power attracts.
Walter,
You made an excellent point in that women need to be vigilant. As I said in the post, women worked vigorously so that the workplace is a safeplace and merit on ability should trump sexual favors. Women who “consent” do a disservice to other women.
Dear Tiff,
I would not blame Letterman’s wife. He chose to marry her, pregnant or not, and (consider me old-fashioned here) those vows are sacred. Many women become pregnant prior to marriage. There are no more shot-gun weddings. Once that has been consented to, then the vows should binding.
Again, the premise of the post was about seduction of power in the workplace. If women just turn their heads to it, then they have no right to complain when they are passed over for a promotion. Letterman actually paid for one of his “girls” to go to law school. Maybe he should have paid for higher education for all the females on his staff! Or—he could have set the money aside and agreed to a nice, neat divorce.
On another note, I will never understand women who stay with men who cheat. Women have many choices these days, and there is always another train to ride, perhaps one not so bumpy.
Thanks so much for weighing in on this. Your thoughts are a good indicator of a younger generation.
Thanks so much for the kind words. It’s people like you that keep me writing!
There was a time, when I was much younger, that I would eat TWO of those sandwiches. They were just too good to eat just one. Of course, I’d be packed to the gills by the time I left. But happy. I can’t do that any more, so I just savor my one sandwich now. And buy a couple for take-out. SOMETIMES, they all make the trip home…
One followup comment on the Letterman brouhaha…
Not to condone what he’s done, but I don’t see the charges of hypocrisy adding up to anything. The guy is a late night comic, not a legislator that holds himself up as the paragon of virtue, and actively legislates to make life tougher for those that do not match his idea of virtue.
It’s his job to make fun of people. At worst, he is a bad husband, and the American public is entirely too far into his own business. This is something he and his wife need to work out for themselves. Perhaps justice will be served and she’ll take him for half of the Ed Sullivan Theater. (including his “secret bedroom.”)
bluzdude,
It is always a pleasure to read your blog. You are a story-teller extraordinaire, so finding you—(or you finding us, I forget how it happened!)—was a pure delight. I would certainly encourage our readers to click on your link in our Blogroll at Darwinfish2-Bluzdude.
As to Letterman, my issue is not so much with him as it is with what ills can befall people who succumb to being sexual objects in a work environment with those who yield power over them. Seldom does the power-person suffer negative ramifications, but often the person who was “objectified” does. They can lose their job at his/her whim and suffer not only emotional but economic consequences.
We will be “talking” with you, bluzdude, very soon I’m sure!
Hopefully because his actions have become so publicized and everybody is talking about this, it will serve as a sort of “sadder but wiser” cautionary tale to men and women who may be on the verge of getting involved in a similar situation.
Tamara,
I do hope you are right and that some positive awareness may come out of this.