American Exceptionalism: Ben, Larry and Ashley

That Ben Roethlisberger would express an aspiration to be a role model for children was placed in context by last evening's (early last evening's) cable television programming.

Headline News (the even more pathetic cable sibling to CNN, whose Larry King dealt with his eighth divorce by leering at Pamela Anderson while asking whether she had ever engaged in sexual congress while standing and whether any underwear separated his thoughts from her genitalia) featured an extended segment during which Ashley Dupre, Elliott Spitzer's whore (left), dispensed advice on romantic relationships in response to viewers' inquiries.

That this programming would be broadcast before 9 p.m. is scandalous. It is possible a few adults are still watching CNN and Headline News at that hour.

UPDATE: Pam Anderson is omitted from the headline because, considering the condition in which washed-up TV bimbos sometimes wash back ashore, Pam is relatively respectable.