Sexual Harassment, Again

Law Professor Ann Althouse had these paragraphs on Funnyman David Letterman in her blog (this extract starts with an anonymous quote from another staffer):

"The creepy relationship that Letterman maintained with Stephanie was obvious and not normal," an insider said.  "She was able to do anything and everything ... It was pretty well known that Stephanie was the one that Letterman was having fun with."

And there you see why we speak of "sexual harassment" even when the employee getting the sex is eager to receive it.  It hurts the rest of the employees.  It skews the work assignments in a way that feels unfair.

But perhaps an exception should be made for a great late night talk show host.  The funnyman's mood and ego need boosting.  Just as he must have an office full of people who can write jokes and comic routines — who must share a lot of not-that-businesslike comraderie — he needs pretty ladies to keep his senses well-honed.  It's part of the structure of a business that revolves around a performer.  The funnyman needs his supply of sex, and the paying career positions on the staff can be used to create a pool of potential sexual partners who will keep the old man bolstered up.

Perhaps, I said.  Perhaps.  Please discuss.  And take into account the other examples we've seen lately of great men to whom the rules arguably do not apply:  Roman Polanski (movie director might be allowed to rape), Harvard students (elite collegians might be allowed to stalk), Richard Prince (important artist might be allowed to display child pornography), Brian David Mitchell (man of God might be allowed to rape).  And not so recently:  Bill Clinton (Presidents of the United States might be allowed to have sex with subordinate employees).

You have to go to the link to get all the links for some of the folks she mentions in the last paragraph.

You pretty much know where I stand.

Regards  —  Cliff