NBC: 'Puritanical' Americans Must Become 'Anesthetized' to Sex Scandals
Appearing on Tuesday's NBC Today, advertising executive Donny Deutsch and psychotherapist Robi Ludwig both agreed that the American people should not stop being "shocked" by political sex scandals. Deutsch declared: "...we have to stop being shocked and amazed....when men who are conquerors by nature also chase women....we as a society have got to become a little more anesthetized to this."
Moments later, as Duetsch one again proclaimed, "Let's stop being shocked at this stuff!," Ludwig blamed American moral values for the attention the scandal received: "We're a very puritanical country and so we're a little bit sexually repressed. So on the one hand we like hearing stories about sex, but we want certain things from our leaders that maybe is not realistic and maybe that's the sad part."
While Duestch and Ludwig certainly thought Weiner's actions were wrong, they seemed more concerned with the negative public reaction to the Congressman's lewd behavior.
Anchor Natalie Morales wondered if Weiner could "survive this politically?" Deutsch seemed to suggest an eventual comeback: "Always when you're in the minute, 'It's over, it's over, it's over, it's over,' you know?" Morales observed: "Well, [former New Governor Eliot] Spitzer eventually had to resign with all the pressure." Deutsch countered: "Well, now Spitzer's got a big television show on CNN. Who would have thought that?" Morales conceded: "Talk about a comeback in a way."
Here is a full transcript of the June 7 segment:
9:09AM ET
NATALIE MORALES: And joining us now is psychotherapist Robi Ludwig and Donny Deutsch, chairman of Deutsch Inc. Good to have you both here.
DONNY DEUTSCH: Hey, Natalie.
ROBI LUDWIG: Good to be here.
MORALES: So when you all watched this press conference, Donny, your first reaction? I mean, too little too late? The cover-up worse than the crime, as they say?
DEUTSCH: My first reaction is we have to stop being shocked and amazed...
MORALES: Right.
DEUTSCH: ...when men of power...
LUDWIG: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
DEUTSCH: ...when men who are conquerors by nature also chase women. I'm not saying it's not right, but JFK, Martin Luther King, this almost goes with the profile. So that's-
MORALES: Why is that? Is – does power beget this behavior?
DEUTSCH: Entitlement or type of persona that feels-
MORALES: Ego.
DEUTSCH: Ego. It almost matches. Almost surprising when they don't. So we as a society have got to become a little more anesthetized to this. Obviously it's terribly wrong. Number two, obviously you got to just say, 'I'm sorry. I screwed up.' Do what he-
MORALES: Which he did.
DEUTSCH: Which he did.
MORALES: Was he tearful enough? I mean, was he emotion enough?
DEUTSCH: You know-
MORALES: Does that do anything? Does he need to be?
Mr. DEUTSCH: You need – there needs to be contrition. You know, one of the things that people think about Spitzer was he never showed enough.
MORALES: Mm.
DEUTSCH: And the third thing is, is we've got to understand now this technology is going to be a great undoing, particularly people our age who didn't grow up with it...
LUDWIG: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
DEUTSCH: ...politicians like that don't understand, don't think through what can happen.
MORALES: Mm-hmm.
DEUTSCH: So once again, though, let's stop being shocked at this stuff!
LUDWIG: Well, we're a very puritanical country and so we're a little bit sexually repressed. So on the one hand we like hearing stories about sex, but we want certain things from our leaders that maybe is not realistic and maybe that's the sad part.
MORALES: Well, let me ask you, Donny, do you think he can survive this politically? I mean, whether or not, you know, what happens with his relationship, his marriage, is a whole other question.
DEUTSCH: You know what's very interesting? Always when you're in the minute, 'It's over, it's over, it's over, it's over,' you know?
MORALES: Well, Spitzer eventually had to resign with all the pressure. At first he said...
DEUTSCH: Well, now Spitzer's got a big television show on CNN.
LUDWIG: Right.
MORALES: Yeah.
DEUTSCH: Who would have thought that? And, you know, talking about office again...
MORALES: Talk about a comeback in a way.
DEUTSCH: I think the – I think the thing that's going to hurt him the long – and this is so silly – is his name.
MORALES: The name.
DEUTSCH: It just is going to give – future going forward, I mean puts a smile on your face, it reminds the story. You know, we also have a continuum of what I'll call the sleaze factor.
MORALES: Mm-hmm.
DEUTSCH: You take the Schwarzeneggers of the world who are, you know, having children with their housekeepers and living in the house, so we also kind of start to go along a curve, a bell curve if you will, and you kind of almost say...
MORALES: Right.
DEUTSCH: ...'This is wrong,' but compared to some of the other stuff we've seen-
LUDWIG: But I have to say, I was thinking about this, because you're right in some ways, why are we shocked when we hear these stories? We hear them all the time.
MORALES: Right, the Schwarzeneggers, Clinton, Edwards.
LUDWIG: And I think if we look – right – if we look underneath the story, what we're also responding to is a selfishness.
MORALES: Mm-hmm.
LUDWIG: And these are leaders who are clearly showing that they are putting themselves and their impulses first, and then what's going to happen...
DEUTSCH: But I think the-
LUDWIG: ...in terms of their governing decisions.
DEUTSCH: I think the male rationalization is, you know what – and I'm going to take this thing out because this-
MORALES: Uh-oh.
DEUTSCH: No, no, no, I'm not going to – oh!
MORALES: I'm like, 'Where is this going?'
LUDWIG: Look at that picture!
DEUTSCH: Get rid of it! Get rid of it, get rid of it! That I think the rationalization is it's not real. You know what, I'm going to stay...
MORALES: Well, that's the question.
LUDWIG: Right.
DEUTSCH: ...I'm not – I'm going to stay faithful.
MORALES: Do you think he felt less guilty? Because in the press conference yesterday he said he did not have physical relations with women outside of his marriage.
LUDWIG: Right.
MORALES: But yet you're engaging in sexting, aren't you then having that emotional relationship?
LUDWIG: It is a betrayal, but many men – and, Donny, you can back me up on this...
DEUTSCH: Oh, I don't know – I don't know if I'm going to verify what you're saying.
LUDWIG: ...can tell themselves – can be in denial that if they're not actually physically involved, then they're not cheating.
MORALES: This makes it anonymous.
LUDWIG: And maybe this has to do with porn...
DEUTSCH: This makes it not...
LUDWIG: ...maybe...
DEUTSCH: It's not real.
MORALES: It's not real.
DEUTSCH: Whereas it's almost a fantasy...
LUDWIG: It's not real, it's fantasy.
DEUTSCH: ...it's a fantasy...
LUDWIG: A fantasy.
DEUTSCH: ...it's not real. So he was rationalizing – I'm not inside his head – along the way, `You know, I'm married'...
MORALES: Mm-hmm.
DEUTSCH: ...'I'm not touching another woman,' obviously it's wrong and obviously it is a betrayal, but this is going to change everything for every public figure going forward. This is – this is – it's a new world.
LUDWIG: But also – yeah.
MORALES: So let me ask you about his wife, Huma...
LUDWIG: Okay.
MORALES: ...because she was not there by his side and, you know, she hasn't been seen in the last day or so. But he did say that he had – Weiner had no intention – or they had no intention...
LUDWIG: Mm-hmm.
MORALES: ...of splitting up over this. What must she be going through right now?
LUDWIG: Well, I'm sure she's humiliated, angry, has a sense of shame. She's probably a little bit or a lot in shock. Who knows, you know...
MORALES: Mm-hmm.
LUDWIG: ...what she considered her husband to be before all of this, you know, became public?
MORALES: But it's interesting that he said, and we don't know if this is true or not, but that he said that she knew about relationships like this online before they were married.
LUDWIG: But when? Did – okay, so before one is married...
MORALES: But we, again, don't know if that's truthful or not.
LUDWIG: We don't know if it's true, and before-
DEUTSCH: I – speaking truthful-
MORALES: Is that the smoke or the fire?
DEUTSCH: ...I think – I think the thing that's going to hurt him the most is not that he did it but that he lied.
LUDWIG: Yeah.
DEUTSCH: You know, at the end of the thing, one thing I think we can demand of our public officials – I don't think we have the right to necessarily demand – we – and voters can do whatever they want as far as 'how – what you're like in a marriage, but don't lie to me. I voted for you'...
LUDWIG: Right.
DEUTSCH: ...'and if you were caught with your pants down literally and figuratively, come clean.' I think that's the legacy that's going to hurt him.
MORALES: Alright. Well, Robi Ludwig, Donny Deutsch, always interesting when you're here, Donny.
DEUTSCH: Oh, I can't believe what's coming on my – no.
LUDWIG: Can I see your BlackBerry, Donny?
DEUTSCH: Not sure – no.
MORALES: Okay.
LUDWIG: What-
MORALES: We're not even going to go there. Thank you.
- Kyle Drennen's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Why isnt' the guy mentioning how Wiener lied about this
Submitted by Lipton on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 5:40pm.
in the first place. Where was this segment when the guy from Craigslist had to resign?
no doubt!
Submitted by OuttaMyWay on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 6:48pm.
so shirtless guy more disgraceful then pantless dude... or a better standard of morality!
Helluva campaign slogan there, Deutsch.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 5:41pm.
"Vote for me. I publicly distribute photos of my boner, and I'm telling you upfront."
See this is why he is an advertising genius.
"does power beget this behavior?"
Submitted by Newsbubba on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 5:42pm.
No. This behavior begets power because they want that power to have unfettered access to sex!
These people are rutting whore dogs; goats in heat; hogs in a wallow! Call them whatever you like, but they are uncivilized scum. Every ounce of blood in their tiny little brain drains directly south at the sight of a hot woman.
It is the difference between being civilized and being a savage. As Danny said, men are "conquerors by nature." That is true, but that is what "civilization" is supposed to temper in people. They must have the strength of character to overcome their natural tendencies.
Men being whore dogs, I get it. Been there, done that. What I don't get is how we keep electing these morons who can't control their own hoo hoo, but think they have the brains and character to tell the rest of us how to live!
If these bastards want to get laid, let them do it on their own dime. Not ours.
sexually repressed?
Submitted by paragrouper on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 5:43pm.
Speak for yourself.
I just don't 'share' on Twitter.
I'm surprised that...
Submitted by TempusFugit on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 5:43pm.
...they didn't start lecturing us about how superior Europeans are when it comes to sex scandals. "Those Europeans are so enlightened, they have fast trains, universal health care and they don't bat an eye when their leaders do morally reprehensible stunts like this. Americans are so bitter that they continue to cling to their guns, religion and repressed sexuality". Yep, being a morally upright country just flies over the heads of liberal elitists.
Tolerance
Submitted by jon_torlin on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 6:04pm.
Once again, liberals attempt to re-draw the line for tolerance.
-Jon
Chesterton said...
Submitted by almostacowboy on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 10:40am.
Tolerance is the luxury of a man without conviction.
I would add, "or morals".
Why do I get the impression....
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 6:08pm.
Why do I get the impression that Donnie Deutsch has never been faithful to anyone?
I don't expect our elected representatives to be perfect. I would like to see a higher standard of morals though, the higher the politician goes up the food chain. Yes, I would like to see our President be a moral role model to the youth of our nation. But if he/she can't be, I'd like them to at least have some discretion about their dallyences. At the Presidential level, that's probably no longer possible.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
Is this supposed to be expert commentary?
Submitted by greggy on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 6:11pm.
The so-called insights that these "experts" offer, collapse under their own illogic. First of all, the assertion that this country as a whole is "puritannical" about sex, is absurd, and a myth. Consider the widespread availability of porn, both online and in shops, the sexualization of advertising and television and film programming, the relatively small percentage of women saving themselves for marriage, the frequency of adultery, the prevalence of strip clubs, the commonality of premarital sex, Victoria's Secret and myriad other lingerie shops in malls, the KY lubricant commercials on nighttime television, shampoo commercials featuring women climaxing while washing their hair, the frequency of teen pregnancy and unmarried pregnancies and abortions in this country, the endless stories about celebrity sex lives, the obsession with sex in the women's magazines on display at your grocery store checkout..what are these people thinking when they claim that America is puritannical about sex? It's just an imbecilic assertion, it's absurd. Is it "puritannical" for a large segment of the public to be offended by the indecency and stupidity and poor judgment of an elected official engaging in this type of conduct with women who are basically strangers? And would this have become the story it did if The Weiner hadn't made the spectacular blunder of posting the pic to his Twitter account for public consumption? No. And even if one accepts the false premise that America is a puritannical nation when it comes to sex, why should the nation's citizens be expected or admonished by these people to lower their standards for the conduct of our elected officials? Why is it the responsibility of the populace to lower its standards, rather than the responsibility of the elected official to avoid engaging in such conduct while in office? In what world does that make any sense? In what world does conducting oneself in a reasonable and decent manner constitute a "puritannical" attitudeabout sex? The whole thing is just stupid.
"European" Model
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 6:25pm.
I think people like Deutsch and his ilk would like to see the American public become acceptable of the "European Model" of marriage and fidelity and relationships among the elite.
1. Professional wife - A marriage is more for reasons of career advancement then it is for love and romance.
2. Romances outside of marriage - It's perfectly acceptable, if you are an elite, to have as many affairs as you want, but it's preferable if these affairs are sequential and not concurrent. It's historically been seen as acceptable, particularly among royalty, to not be romantically in love with your spouse, as those marriages were arranged for political purposes. The tradition continues in Europe among the elites.
Respect your betters. They are allowed to do pretty much whatever they want.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
So NBC is advocating that we
Submitted by ForeverOnTheRight on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 6:41pm.
So NBC is advocating that we be more accepting of corruption? H*** NO! This country will and should not go down that road!
No, Donny
Submitted by ProudAmerican58 on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 6:54pm.
We're not "shocked" -- we're DISGUSTED -- rightfully so!
And I do not expect my elected officials to be perfect, but I do expect them to behave like mature responsible adults. I see nothing puritanical or unrealistic about that.
Big News Flash!!!!! The Puritans had sex.
Submitted by VanPastorMan on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 7:38pm.
I get sick and tired of the puritans being lambasted by people today in the media. If you ever read any of their writings you will find that they were some cool people. Sure they had biblical morals, but they were not stuff shirt types. They were known as people who knew how to have a good time. They enjoyed life.
These people in the media want to make sin sound cool so we can accept it. I will never do so. Never ever forget that the Puritans had sex,lots of sex. They celebrated sex. But here is the point. They celebrated it within the confines of marriage. Of course this produced, "little puritans". And it produced a lot of love for the marriages that they enjoyed. If Anthony Weiner was having more sex with his wife instead of doing his internet garbage I will guarantee you that he would have been more happy. We might even call him a puritan.
Well as always, the lie is
Submitted by Liberallies on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 7:12pm.
Well as always, the lie is worse than the sexual escapades. How can you trust Weiner, Right or Left, after he lied to his friends, Kristine Powers and others, who were defending the man's honors because of what he told them?
that is the real question. This is what the Left has never understood. If you are willing to lie to your wife, to your best friends whom you know so well, why wouldn't you then lie to the public whom you do not know at all?!
It shows a lack of repentance on the part of Weiner, just like with Clinton and so many other politicians, Right and Left, and private citizens who are caught cheating and instead of admitting to their immoral and poor behavior attempt to cover it all with lies, lies, and then many more lies.
However, I think, like Clinton, Weiner took that extra step of attempting to destroy, malign, besmirch
and let us not forget that Weiner was more than willing to destroy two businesses' reputations, YFrog and Twitter, in order to cover up his sexual escapades.
We are all human and I have zero doubt that we have committed sins. We have all committed great and small mistakes. The problem is when you are unwilling to admit your short comings. Why? Because how can you improve as a human being if you are unwiling to admit that you have huge short comings.
The sexual aspects of this...
Submitted by beauxdog on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 4:03am.
I really don't care about.
Lies are bad, but you have different degrees of lies... no, honey, that dress doesn't make you look fat verses illegal aliens will not be covered by Obamacare.
The problem I have with this type of thing is the BETRAYAL of his wife. He made vows to her... he made vows to us. He thought nothing of betraying his vows to his wife... do you really think he will think twice about betraying us?
If Weiner was single and unattached? His online sex life should be his own business.
I googled "Weiner erection" . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 7:14pm.
. . . and Donny Deutsch's picture popped up.
Here's the test, Deutsch: If Weiner sent an unsolicited photo of his erection to your daughter, would you mind?
I don't remember this level
Submitted by deerjerkydave on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 7:24pm.
I don't remember this level of apologetic psychoanalysis when Schwartzenegger got caught with his scandal last week (or any other Republican sex scandal for that matter). Once again these "journalists" expose their political bias.
------------------------
"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal Government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State Governments are numerous and indefinite. -James MadisonAre you talking about....
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 7:35pm.
....Arnold Schwartzenegger, Private Citizen?
Q. What's the difference between Weiner and Schwartzengger?
A. Arnold was smart enough to wait until he was out of office before his scandal went public.
You have to admit Weiner was about as stupid as you can get. When the scandal broke, he would have been infinitely better off if he had just said: "My personal life is my private business!"
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
In an indirect way, I sort of agree with Deutsch & Co.
Submitted by Dave. on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 8:20pm.
While much of America has been obsessing over Tony's organ, the following has happened:
If you ask me, given all of that, Tony's weenie pretty much shrinks to insignificance.
Hell, it's damn near invisible.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
So...
Submitted by Franksam on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 6:57am.
are you saying saying that Obama is waggin' the Weiner?
So remember if you're job title is "important" enough
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 8:34pm.
it's okay to be a lying cheating piece of excrement.
This kind of view is really instructive. These are the ends justify the means crew that has no problem lying to you to get their poisonous agendas forcing them down our throats.
It's also reminiscent of the rule in izzlam that it's okay to lie to the infidels. You see, if your not a lib, you're an infidel.
Perfect Timing...Anesthetize This
Submitted by the struggler on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 8:45pm.
Ted Nugent swings in stage left,sans loincloth,and knocks Metro-Donnie off the couch.
The message is that NBC
Submitted by fatboy on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 9:02pm.
The message is that NBC wholeheartedly supports, protects and advocates on-line sexual predators of young girls/women. I hope everyone understands this.
Two points: 1) When the
Submitted by Rusty Shackleford on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:08pm.
Two points:
1) When the mainstream media practices what it preaches then maybe I will take their comments seriously.
2) Who was the person who decided that the exploration of the orgasm is the end-all be-all height of sophistication? Has anyone else noticed that the things the left finds so incredibly intellectually stimulating: celebrities, socialism, fashion, orgasms, etc is the exact same thing kids in the 7th and 8th grade find so fascinating?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Matthews: The Joy Behar of MSNBC.
Bill Maher: The Joy Behar of HBO.
Paul Krugman: The Joy Behar of The New York Times.
There is a simple solution......
Submitted by Herbster on Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:30pm.
Douchebag Donny and this "Psycho-therapist" Ludwig creature are so far ahead of us, "Just folks" with their non-judgmental moralizing, we should consider their ideas and put them into action.
There is a simple solution here.......Let's get Weiner to weiner Mrs. Donny and Ludwig's teenage daughter. Hey, no big deal....get over it. No more sexual repression.....no more Puritannical outlooks......get anesthitized. Then, invite these two back on the Today Show for a discussion on the two weinering events. It would be very interesting to hear their reactions.
Remember the definition of a liberal......."Someone who knows what's good for YOU."
Again, the media spins
Submitted by dreamsincolor on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 12:13am.
They did it for Bill Clinton and they are doing it for AW.
They want it to be all about "just sex", once again the issue is NOT sex, it is an issue of low moral character.
When our politicians are caught openly lying and are not recalled, what message does that send to our enemies, our allies and our children?
-- sigh --
NBC
Submitted by jessieH on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 9:31am.
Hey, if NBC wants to raise their young with slimeball mentality, who am I to gripe? It's the Soros way and he owns them.
Evolutionary thinking has set us back
Submitted by Dave81 on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 10:04am.
The decline in morality can be directly linked to an increase in evolutionary thinking. People don't feel the need to live up to some higher standard when they're just another animal. Problem is, it's going to (and already is) undo some of the progress we've made in recent decades.
Most notably, women's rights. If men are just "conquerors by nature" then they can't be blamed for chasing tail in the office or sleeping with their friend's wife. It reduces women to meat which undoes everything they've fought for, but you have WOMEN defending this sort of behavior. They have to if we're all just animals.
Let's get back to living by higher standards than George of the Jungle.
Taking this to the logical conclusion.
Submitted by almostacowboy on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 10:49am.
Being anti-Israel and pro-........pro-....... actually, Progressives are pro-evil if one believes, as I do, that conservatives are right and promote good over evil, they will ultimately tell us that we have to "get over being shocked" at the Jewish Holocaust because that was a long time ago and no one is doing it now. And at the same time, they are supporting those who advocate wiping Israel off the face of the Earth. What do they think is going to happen to THOSE Jews?
People aren't "shocked",
Submitted by redfish on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 11:06am.
People aren't "shocked", that's a myth. Moral reprobation isn't the same thing as shock.
On the other hand, I think the media has covered the story way too much to the point its beating a dead horse, and its taking away from more important stories. But that isn't the public's fault, or "puritanical" conservatives' fault, that's the media's fault. Including Fox News, which -- despite being the official conservative network -- like all other networks today resembles a tabloid.