American Morning
Commentary: Letterman admission not damaging
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/02/am.intv.oneil.art.jpg caption="Tom O'Neil says Letterman's admission would not be damaging to his audience."]
David Letterman's dramatic admission on television that he had sex with staff members started with an uncomfortable moment when he said he was the victim of an extortion plot. His audience seemed to think he was joking but the case is no laughing matter. What does this mean for his image?
Tom O’Neil, senior editor of In Touch Weekly spoke with Christine Romans on CNN's "American Morning" Friday. Below is an edited transcript of the interview.
Christine Romans: It was nine minutes of television, there was some laughing from the audience at, what I would say would be, inappropriate parts. Maybe they didn't realize that it was a real confession happening here. What do you make of what happened there on Letterman last night?
Tom O’Neil: It was done in typical Letterman style where we were all put ill at ease while watching this. Was he joking when he talked about the terrible creepy things he did? At first it didn’t seem that way it seemed as if he was really confessing to us, then he built this like a good comic act to crescendo and then you think maybe this is not a big deal. Look, David Letterman just got married in March. For 30 years he was a single man, if this was consensual sex with his co-workers, maybe that’s not so bad. But we also have to wonder, is it that terrible that it gets into areas of sexual harassment?
Letterman reveals affairs with staff, extortion attempt
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/02/art.david.letterman.cbs.art.jpg caption="David Letterman on Thursday revealed an extortion attempt based on his sexual relations with staff members."]
NEW YORK (CNN) - "Late Show" host David Letterman acknowledged on his show Thursday night that he'd had sexual relations with members of his staff and that he revealed those liaisons during grand jury testimony for a case involving an attempted extortion.
"I have a little story that I'd like to tell you," Letterman said as he launched into his revelation.
"This morning, I did something I've never done in my life," Letterman told his audience. "I had to go downtown to testify before the grand jury" and "tell them all of the creepy things that I've done."
The 62-year-old funnyman said he received a package three weeks ago from a person who claimed to have information about Letterman's sexual dalliances, ultimately demanding $2 million to prevent public revelation.
Letterman said he went to the Manhattan District Attorney's office, which conducted an investigation and an arrest was made earlier in the day.
Obama makes 2016 Olympics sales pitch for Chicago
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/10/02/chicago.obama.olympics.art.jpg caption="President Obama personally appealed to IOC members for the 2016 Summer Olympics Games to be in Chicago."]
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (CNN) - President Obama urged the International Olympic Committee on Friday to pick his hometown of Chicago as the host of the 2016 Games, saying the city represents the American dream as well as the Olympic spirit.
Obama's address to the 106 IOC members gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, was the highlight of the Chicago bid committee's final presentation before the vote to choose the host city.
"Chicago is a place where we strive to celebrate what makes us different, just as we celebrate what we have in common," Obama said.
He pointed out that from hosting the World's Fair in 1893 to hosting World Cup events in 1994, the Illinois city has the experience needed to put on an Olympic Games.
"We know how to put on big events and scores of visitors and spectators will tell you we do it well," the president said.
Are Americans ready to elect a third party?
Rick Nagin. Candidate for Cleveland City Council. Registered Democrat. And member of the Communist Party. “I believe in socialism,” Nagin says. “I believe that corporate greed is the source of the problems in this country and we'd all be a lot better off if working people and their organizations were running things instead of big business.” Nagin, long considered a "fringe candidate" in Ohio, is hot this year. He survived the primary, and may win the November election. And while much of the country may be aghast - voters are seriously considering someone who espouses Communist beliefs.
Some say it's a sign of the times. “Voters are getting more and more frustrated with politics as usual,” according to independent political analyst John Avlon. “They want some alternatives.” Former presidential candidate Bob Barr thinks so. “I think the time is really ripe for that.” Barr ran on the Libertarian ticket in 2008. He lost. But, says today interest in the Libertarian party is at an all-time high. “There's a sense of unease among people in this country that the two major parties simply are no longer listening to them and responding to the people of the country.”
According to Politico.com, independent candidates are poised to "run serious campaigns for governor " in half a dozen states.Among them: New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Avlon says they have strong support. “The vast majority of Americans are independent and centrist. So that's where the sweet spot is for an independent candidate.” Back in Cleveland’s Ward 14, council hopeful, Nagin says he's offering voters who are suffering economically something different. And yet, something very much the same. “I consider myself to be a very patriotic American. I love this country.”
Just sayin’ – Are Americans ready to elect a third party?
We Listen – Your comments 10/01/2009
Editor's Note: The majority of Thursday’s American Morning audience supported more gun control measures. Those opposed argued that “most, if not all, gun violence is perpetrated with illegal guns.”
- Ken: As a society. we should talk about health care rights before we talk about gun rights.
- Bernadette: Wayne LaPierre and his powerful Gun Lobby are dangerous to my life and the life of my grandchildren. The U.S. needs and must have better protection against guns. It is about time for people to realize that guns with bullets kill. We are a very backward thinking society to believe that they are a means of protection.
- Linda: No one talks about the right to bear arms in the context of an early America where it really was wild–American Indians, wild animals, the need to kill for food, and I believe a historical context of bearing arms to defend against a tyrannical Great Britain which we were defeating in the Revolution. We are in the 21st century with guns more powerful than any early American could EVER imagine. Why do gun rights advocates need semi-automatic weapons, yet they will fight for their right to have them? Why do they need a loaded weapon at a Presidential event with our history of gun violence against Presidents and prominent figures? Last, I believe states and municipalities should have the right to reduce gun violence in their towns just like they did in our American west. Why does the Right argue states rights for everything but this?
- Ray: Please explain to viewer what the words, 'A well regulated militia' mean, and why it is always ignored in the understanding of the Second Amendment. Reading the one sentence Amendment it refers only to members of militia like the national guard having the right to keep and bear arms. It does not refer to Joe Bloggs keeping a gun for 'protection of the state' unless he was a member of a 'well regulated militia'. All to often only the last part of the Amendment is ever quoted destroying its total meaning. It was written at a time in history when all Americans had to muster against an enemy and keep arms in their farm houses etc. to protect land (state) against invasive military action.
- Wes: Gun control isn't about guns, it's about control. Most, if not all, gun violence is perpetrated with illegal guns. Why can't we focus on enforcing the laws already on the books and crack down on ILLEGAL guns and the people that deal in that. Self defense is a God (replace with your deity) given right, some would say obligation. What the media often doesn't do is emphasize that the gun used in the story is illegal, painting the entire gun owning community with a broad brush as being evil, but I'm the guy next door, law abiding and patriotic. If we lose the second amendment I expect the first will not be far behind. Semper sic tyrannis.
Who should be in charge of gun control – states or the federal government? How do you feel about the viewer’s statement that “most gun violence is perpetrated with illegal guns”?
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
