While Mr. Letterman's consensual sexual relationships may not fit the moral values of the monogamous society we live in, extortion is a crime.

The more interesting question to me is why he felt he had to make a public admission to private matters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vWhdz5svvQ

why he felt he had to make a public admission to private matters.

Easy. Take the tool away from the blackmailer.

Ah, yes Wicca, but that doesn't answer why the blackmailer has the tool in the first place.

Agreed wiccantexan. But I also think that the Clinton/Lewinsky affair served as a lesson to those in the public eye that when it comes to sex, telling the truth is best policy.

Most of us wouldn't know the truth if it slapped us up side of the head with a two by four.

People don't tell the truth to their spouses, friends, and most importantly themselves, for something as simple as breaking a dinner engagement.

why the blackmailer has the tool in the first place.

The grapevine, inside connections, who knows? The same thing happened to Louie Anderson, who also made the decision not to be exploited. The only thing I see is, Letterman made a very brave and risky decision to go public, and take the steam out of anything that might leak out otherwise.

Geeze, do you really think that's true Debby? That's a pretty sad state of affairs if it is.
Personally i always search for the truth inside myself, at least for the last few years, anyway.

Good for you Lolli

Our culture is set up not to rock the boat. Telling the truth to ourselves or someone else when it's frightening or unpopular, sometimes makes us ignore it, retreat, or hope it will go away.

@Wicca,

The tool I'm referring to is the ability for others to make moral judgments upon those who do not fit a societal value system. In other words, the blackmailer thought Letterman would be so afraid of a public fall out that he would pay up. I don't think it's just about protecting his family and the other women, although I feel that is a large part of it.

According to what I heard in the news, the blackmailer ex-girlfriend was one of the women Letterman had slept with and she had proof of their affair. She took the proof with her when she left CBS and it ended up in the hands of the blackmailer.

Dave has seen his share of scandals during the years. He knows that a show of acceptance and contrition now, especially when he has been the victim of blackmail will shift the public's attention toward the blackmailer and away from himself.

So double TRIPLE EPIC FAIL for the blackmailer: no money, no public humiliation and now is facing jail time.

Maybe R.J. Halderman thought he was H.R. Haldeman.

I think Halderman might have thought he was going to get paid for what Letterman got for free.

Apparently one of the women was a girlfriend of Halderman. Jealous, Mr. Halderman?

The plot thickens, eh Wicca?

Do you have that source Rat?

I'll hunt it down for ya debby.