There will always be more to any big-name story on philandering, but this is still a separate issue from the extortion. I am not a Lettermna fan and never watch the show, but I confess that I don’t fully understand the rising shrieks of indignation against him, while Halderman’s name scarcely gets a mention. Why is that - is it because women identify more with the wronged woman as victim, than with the extortion victim?  Does the target of women’s outrage here reflect our own fears, rather than which actions were truly criminal?

Letterman’s actions may well lead down the path of divorce, alimony, child support, and negative impact on his career.  

Halderman’s actions may well lead to jail.

Uh oh, cue the choruses of "a-HA!" "I KNEW it!", and "Ann Landers would have seen through this right from the beginning!" ;-)  

I do feel even more sympathy for his wife, because (if true) this situation continues to become more and more humiliating for her.  But at the end of the day I still believe that I’m not the one to whom he has to explain himself.  As bad as this is getting, I look to talk show hosts for entertainment, not moral guidance.  At the same time, I wouldn’t begrudge anyone else who decided they couldn’t watch his show anymore after this.  I don’t watch the show now, so it won’t change anything for me.      

I don’t know where anyone is getting their information from, but according to Letterman’s own staffers everyone was treated the same in the office regardless of whether they were sleeping with him. Ms. Burkitt, the "young lady" in the middle of this scandal, was born in 1975, making her 34 this year. At one time, she was Letterman’s live-in girlfriend. She also had a reputation prior to getting involved with Letterman as one who sleeps her way to the top, search the NY Post for this information. She started working with CBS on multiple programs, including Late Show, in 1996, when she was 21, working as an intern. It was sometime later that she was full time on the Late Show. BTW, in 1996 Dave would have been 49. No where have I read exactly when he was involved with Ms. Burkitt, but if she was his live-in girlfriend it only stands to reason that he wasn’t yet with the woman who is now his wife. If he was, then that would make his wife “the other woman” who broke up Letterman and Burkitt. Come on people, the bottom line is this is a personal matter to be handled between husband and wife. I’ve been in her shoes, though thankfully not in the public eye. It is possible to forgive and move forward, and it is possible for one who committed such an indiscretion to never do it again.