Letterman Sex Scandal, Madonna, Pedophilia and Polanski
If there ever was a time when late night ‘variety’ show host David Letterman possessed any credibility as an observer or commentator on American culture and life in general it has expired. Sure, the David Letterman Show was merely the CBS response to The Tonight Show on NBC that has been reduced to nothing that resembles the earlier work of veterans Johnny Carson and Jack Paar. Another testament to the notion the Golden Years of Television may be a figment of someone’s imagination. Not unlike the idea that celebrity status is an achievement that bestows a rank and honor worthy of the owner’s display of class and taste.
News stories reported over recent days dominating gossip columns feature perhaps the number one celeb story about Roman Polanski. Barring some revelation vindicating this Hollywood sleaze from his despicable transgression decades ago justice is embarrassingly overdue for this common pedophile. And this week’s report that a CBS employee attempted to extort $2 million from David Letterman for sexual encounters with other CBS employees which Letterman admits adds to the lack of a code of conduct in the ‘entertainment’ business. Perhaps by coincidence this week’s guest list for Letterman included another ‘celeb’ with an equally bankrupt character. Madonna Louise Ciccone arrived on the show via the New York Rangers like the straight man to setup the relevant one liner describing her lifestyle choices. The fawning audience responded favorably to Letterman’s introduction of Ciccone which included a list of her commercial success.Undoubtedly they also approved of everything else ‘Madonna’. ( a name choice bordering on blasphemy given personal history)
Just like that audience various well-known and not so well-known Hollywood types volunteered their voices to rise in defense of Roman Polanski. While politicians who fall from grace are shamed under an avalanche of well deserved criticism and others in their ranks distance themselves from the offending entity no such ritual exists with Hollywood celebrity. For Hollywood it is more like a badge of dishonor than is adorned by the owner and increases their celeb status contrary to the shame that would attach to an ordinary human once they understood the error of their ways.
Dishonor for most people requires accepting the consequences for your behavior and providing some sort of restitution as part of the process of learning from your mistakes. Some mistakes may be too egregious for this simple atonement or ritual for righting a wrong. Not that anyone should adopt the dishonor routine observed by some in Eastern cultures that results in the demise of the culprit but the celeb world takes it to the other extreme. It’s okay. It’s cool. Fans love us for it. And that’s the problem.
For every pop culture icon or Ho_lywood celebrity who embarks on a personal crusade to save the world they would do well to look inward and cleanup their own backyard before engaging in publicity stunts to hide their own demons. Maybe that is why celebs fawn over President Obama. They see vindication for themselves in the Obamanation. A place that recruits from the most corrupt venues like The Chicago political machine. Celebs audacity is only trumped by the Messiah’s using Saul Alinsky’s rules for radicals. Promoting their morally bankrupt agenda while criticizing those favoring an adherence to traditional values and a return to founding ideals that built our nation.
For celebrities and members of the Obamanation who claim America’s image needs to be repaired you might start with introspection. Maybe America’s image is just fine. Maybe your’s is the one in need of repair.
Stanford Matthews
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