Howard Kurtz Slams Letterman, Loses Perspective

Howard Kurtz is a bit tardy to the party when it comes to offering his own brand of tsk-tsking David Letterman and the abrogation of our late night comedy sexx-laws, but at least he gives us a weird hypothetical to chew on:

If Letterman were the chief executive of a defense contractor, instead of a TV production company, would the media critics be so quick to let him skate on sleeping with the help?

I'm a bit taken aback by this. Defense contractors are subject to a dizzying array of regulations and must earn clearance from the Department of Defense in order to gain access to classified information and participate in lucrative contracts. Point blank: the prospect of a defense contractor being blackmailed is of much greater significance than a late-night teevee comedian. The two should not, in any way, be compared.

That said, would media critics let the defense contractors skate? Well, judging by Kurtz's own words, I have to believe that the answer is yes:

Egg Harbor Township, N.J.: Howie, Where do you rank this so-called ACORN scandal in importance when compared to the alleged politicizing of the Justice Department, non-existent WMDs, charges against the U.S. government of outsourcing torture and Blackwater?

Howard Kurtz: It's not as important as any of those, obviously. But that doesn't mean it's not a story. When the House and Senate both vote to cut off funding for the nation's largest community organizing group because of scandalous videotapes, that strikes me as a news story.

Mind you, the good people at Blackwater are best known for their drunken slayings and their killing sprees, crimes that far surpass in seriousness those of ACORN. And speaking as one who has, in fact written about contractor abuses, I can tell you that there are under-reported stories out there that will make your flesh crawl. I mean, why not compare the pretend prostitution rings of ACORN, to the actual prostitution rings of DynCorp, which no one is scolding, in media criticism columns?

But, you see, while ACORN is "not as important as any of those," it's much, much shinier! And in the media criticism game, it's the shine that makes it a story. And, hey, David Letterman currently gleams so brightly, that one can easily imagine him to be the equivalent of a shamed and chagrined defense contractor, who has potentially exposed classified information to blackmailers!

I think we are all better off with Howard Kurtz sticking to wagging his finger at comedians, frankly.

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Comments

[ProfessorDuh]

Kurtz is a right-wing shill posing as a "moderate," just like Broder and Brooks.

[Plus15]

Relative to Howard Kurtz's comment I refer him to the recent "Franken Amendment" and the thirty Republican Senators who voted against it and therefore voted to Defend Gang Rape The amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill would punish contractors if they "restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd8gVRMio_E - There is also a shameful video of these Senators excuses for voting against the bill. Interestingly many have daughters. Kurtz is a lightweight and keeps trying to get in on the Letterman story avoiding the Beltway issues that are his beat, but he's afraid of getting on the wrong side of the GOP.

[Pablo175]

You are totally missing the point. If a corporate CEO had a number of affairs with subordinates he would be thrown out and the media would demand it.

Not so with Dave.

[LittlePurpleUSA]

http://www.tmz.com/2009/10/14/worldwide-pants-sex-policy-david-letterman/

Read, then understand.

[InofTouch]

love how you link one think and link to another....link link link

[Mike949]

I agree that to compare Letterman to the acts of defense contrators makes no sense. Having said that I am again reminded of the double standards of liberals. Where is the outrage of a superior have sexual relations with a female subordinate? Where are the women who should be expressing their outrage? The message to me is that if your political ideology is on the left, you can do whatever you want without criticism.

[Archivist1000]

I am a woman, and I am not outraged.

Why?

Because for most women, having sex is a choice. We don't need anyone 'protecting' us from our 'choices' ..... for those women who have been harrassed, or treated unfairly at work, I am glad that they have recourse, but please, quit with the 'poor women' who are too dumb to know who they want to sleep with, most of us DO know.

Until one of the women involved brings allegations of harrassment against Letterman, I will believe they exercised their free choice, enjoyed their time with Dave, and moved on.

[StJames]

The Perfect response! Thank you. You are fanned.

[Pablo175]

How about bringing his girl friend on family vacations with his son and her mother? Is that a good thing too?

[MJinCanada]

As a woman who has occasionally worked for smart, funny, likable older men -- I'm not outraged that he got it on with girls on his staff. Just a little surprised that he was silly enough to make himself vulnerable and possibly screw up his long-term relationship. Rather than pressuring the girls, I dare say he dodged more than he got.

I think there's a certain amount of envy in the guys who act all outraged.

[Mike949]

I did not mean to imply that the woman involved with Letterman was “weak” in any sense of the word. There is no way for me to know one way or another. Whenever someone who has the power in influence someone’s career, (salary, promotion, etc.) a “relationship” is always subject to question. It does not matter if the superior is a male or female. Office “romances” between colleagues or different departments is an entirely different circumstance. Wow! I never expected to “whacked” for this kind of opinion.

[PatA]

Ye among you who is without sin, cast the first stone. (this may not be accurate, as far as phrasing, but it is accurate in actions)

[STILLPISSED]

Just Jimmy Kimmel....­..........­...

[wm1066]

For too long Howard has been the self proclaimed media watch dog. But that just doesn't wash anymore, he has shown his corporate bias over and over again. He needs to be held to account for that. Thank you Jason for doing your part.

[apolloguide]

Howard Kurtz has been the voice of defense contractors for 30 years. He was the guy who did in Gary Webb. He is a stealth contract writer for the DIA and the CIA. Not a credible bone in his body.

[Mutande]

The real question is, "Would Howard Kurtz have his opinion published if he were a defense contractor?

[JayDDrew]

To keep it all in perspective, Mr. Linkins, I've known of David Letterman since the 80's. Who the hell is Howard Kurtz? Has his 15 minutes of fame come yet, or did I miss it?
To put Letterman's private daliance involving a consenting adult in the same context as criminals at the corporate level isn't laughable, it's insane.

[annis]

Same goes for President Obama - He SHINES . So - even things are made up about him - collaboration and scheming with Osama with Bill Ayers, hiding the truth about the real circumstances of his birth, and not earning the Nobel Prize - too good for him etc etc etc.

N'est-ce pas?

[Schmice]

A really good post. Thank you.

[daedalus43]

Hmmm, Kurtz.... Wasn't he the chap that Conrad warned us about?

[elkabong]

I kept trying to write a more thoughtful comment but the simple truth of the matter is that Kurtz is a tool. He's a corporate-media, ratings-chasing, right-wing­-apologist tool. 'One in a long line, I'm afraid.

If you want the news, try CBC.