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Home › Entertainment

Candice Bergen | 10/30/2009 12:00 am

Candice Bergen on How the Sex Scandal Turned Letterman Into a 'Mensch'

By Candice Bergen RSS
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In response to: David Letterman vs. John Edwards: When someone comes clean about their wrongdoing, are you more willing to forgive them?
Candice Bergen

The wrongdoing thing is interesting because it can diminish people in an instant. Clinton crumbled. Edwards — roadkill. Letterman, on the other hand, has so far emerged greatly enhanced. We happened to be watching the night he made his confession and it was masterful. Spellbinding. He handled it brilliantly. Honest, intelligent, articulate, humble.

Speed is also a factor. How quickly and decisively someone responds determines the reaction. Letterman emerged as more humane, more manly, more of a mensch than before.

Read more about: Corruption, David Letterman, Don Imus, Forgiveness, Infidelity, John Edwards, Martha Stewart, Scandals

10 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Sarah Burris
I would say too that if they lie about it is also a factor.  Clinton, Edwards, so many others made it so  much worse by thinking they could lie about it and get away with it.  Rule #1 in politics is don’t lie, ever… ever… because someone will find out.  I guess there is some comfort in knowing there will always eventually be some some acknowledgement of the truth.
By Sarah Burris on 10/30/2009 9:11 am
albert miller
The entire success of politicians is based on their ability to lie successfully.
By albert miller on 10/30/2009 1:15 pm
Ann McGinn

You cannot be serious, Ms. Bergen.  Letterman is a sleaze of the worst kind.  He may talk a good game, but that doesn’t excuse his behavior.

At the least he should be pursued for creating a sexually biased and discriminatory workplace.  He gave favors, monetary and otherwise, to his mistresses on the staff.  Those not so favored were discriminated against.  No doubt they don’t speak up for fear of losing their jobs.  To praise Letterman because he claims to be remorseful is an insult to all working women.

By Ann McGinn on 10/30/2009 6:53 pm
Jane Bouvier
I totally agree with Ms. Bergen. Letterman is in a different situation, the women he had a relationship with I’m sure went into this with their eyes open, his wife was one of his staff! I believe he is doing the right thing and I respect him for the way he had handled this mess.
By Jane Bouvier on 11/01/2009 6:35 pm
V B

I totally agree with Ann McGinn.   Letterman cooked up a witches brew of bull shit and spewed it from his bully pulpit. America bought it, because Joe Halderman doesn’t have a nightly TV program to refute it.

By V B on 10/30/2009 8:26 pm
Patricia McFadden

I totally agree with both of you , sick of these men pleading their cases b/c they were caught ,not that they would have continued if the truth hadn’t surfaced.

Women ,WAKE UP !!!!!

By Patricia McFadden on 10/30/2009 11:51 pm
MARY STACK
"emerged greatly enhanced" CANDICE, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING.  I DON’T CARE HOW MUCH YOU SUCK UP TO LETTERMAN THE LIKELIHOOD HE WILL HAVE YOU ON HIS SHOW HIS NIL. (WE ALL KNOW HOLLYWOOD LOVES WOMEN OVER 30.) THE MAN HAS NO FEMALE WRITERS ON HIS STAFF AND IN THE PAST HE WAS INVOLVED WITH ONE AND CHASED THE OTHER OUT THE DOOR. SUCH AN IRONY THAT WOMEN WHO CAN WRITE: "CAME CLEAN","HANDLE IT" AND "BE WELL"  ON WOWOWOW WILL NEVER GET TO DO IT ON HIS SHOW!   
By MARY STACK on 10/31/2009 4:30 pm
Marion Orr

The important difference about the situation with the three men mentioned: Clinton was President of the United States; Edwards was running for President of the United State; Letterman is an entertainer.

No matter what Letterman did or didn’t do and how he handled it does not impact our lives.  We can turn off the TV if we don’t like it or keep watching him if we don’t mind about his personal life. 

What the President of the U.S. or any candidate for that office does, should matter to the citizens.

By Marion Orr on 11/01/2009 12:02 pm
Pat Loetel
Agreeably, honesty is the best policy. However, the fallout did put to rest the nagging thought that he seemed to be overly attentive to female celebrity guests on his show.  His attention seemed beyond just being a polite host. Guess it was an overt example of what he was doing covertly.  The worst part of all this is the public information of long standing philandering.  This wasn’t just a one-time event.  Bottomline, the numerous affairs show just how human, not humane he is; and, that he’s just a "man", not manly—and he continues to be an entertaining schmuck, not a mensch.
By Pat Loetel on 11/03/2009 1:08 pm