Comments on: WaPo’s Anne Applebaum Botches the Facts as She Whines About Polanski

By: We Stay On The Subject Of The Mainstream Media And In The WaPo Offices For Yet Another Blogger Ethics Panel « Around The Sphere

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:09:33 +0000

[...] Patrick Frey, an assistant district attorney in LA whose office is seeking Polanski’s extradition, notes that Polanski “pled guilty to unlawful sex with a minor, in return for the agreement to dismiss several other charges, including rape and sodomy.” He and a co-blogger remind us of the graphic details of the case, which belie the notion that Polanski is some sort of victim. Let’s just say that the girl in question was drugged and the encounter was otherwise decidedly less than romantic. See also the victim’s grand jury testimony, which makes clear the sex was forcible and that, even drugged with alcohol and Quaaludes, she explicitly denied consent. Which, of course, a 13-year-old can not give under the law. (In a separate post, Frey notes that Applebaum’s husband is Poland’s foreign minister, who is lobbying for Polanski’s release.) [...]

By: Patterico’s Pontifications » Anne Applebaum: Patterico Is “Not Quite As Offensive” As Reader Who Expressed a Wish to Rape Anne Applebaum’s Daughter

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:41:21 +0000

[...] quotes (but does not link), not the post where I actually discussed her omission, but rather an earlier post that I updated to include a link to that post. That allows her to say: Well, well, it turns out [...]

By: Mona

Mona — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:18:37 +0000

Patterico has this basically correct. Altho, I have not seen any left-of-center blogs defend the idea that Polanski is being mistreated — except for a very strange approach being taken by Jeralyn at Talk Left. Most such sites are not amenable, at all, to Applebaum’s sick apoligia. (And Applebaum is not a leftist.)

Personally, I am dubious of statutory rape laws per se, when the “victim” is post-pubescent and consenting, unless the perp is in a position of authority — say a step-dad or a teacher. But in this case, (in which there WAS NO TRIAL, because Polanski accepted a plea agreement), it seems Polanski fed the 13-year-old a Quaalude in her champagne, and she consistently said “no” to all the things he did to her. That, my friends, is non-consensual, aka, rape.

Ok, maybe the prosecution back then engaged in some untoward conduct. But that does not mean Polanski should not be sanctioned under the CA penal code, as would anyone else under identical circumstances.

By: Amphipolis

Amphipolis — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:22:34 +0000

So you can wipe off the grin, I know where you’ve been

Its all been a pack of lies

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/phil+collins/in+the+air+tonight_20108005.html

By: Advocate for Change

Advocate for Change — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:03:19 +0000

He did commit a crime, but he has paid for the crime in many, many ways: In notoriety, in lawyers’ fees, in professional stigma.

Legal fees are now considered part of paying your debt to society? If that is the case, we might as well empty the prisons today and reserve them only for people who don’t pay any legal fees during their trials.

By: Below The Beltway » Blog Archive » Roman Polanski Fighting Extradition While Apologist Choir Warms Up

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:24:36 +0000

[...] Moreover, Applebaum’s recitation of the facts of the case omits the fact that Polanski pled guilty to avoid more serious charges, including rape and sodomy. [...]

By: Roman Polanski Arrested, Fighting Extradition

Roman Polanski Arrested, Fighting Extradition — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:50:42 +0000

[...] Patrick Frey, an assistant district attorney in LA whose office is seeking Polanski’s extradition, notes that Polanski “pled guilty to unlawful sex with a minor, in return for the agreement to dismiss several other charges, including rape and sodomy.” He and a co-blogger remind us of the graphic details of the case, which belie the notion that Polanski is some sort of victim. Let’s just say that the girl in question was drugged and the encounter was otherwise decidedly less than romantic. (In a separate post, he notes that Applebaum’s husband is Poland’s foreign minister, who is lobbying for Polanski’s release.) [...]

By: L.A. Times Defends Monster Child Rapist Roman Polanski : Stop The ACLU

L.A. Times Defends Monster Child Rapist Roman Polanski : Stop The ACLU — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:04:25 +0000

[...] More media apologists, and some with major conflicts of [...]

By: What the Washington elite thinks | Hoystory

What the Washington elite thinks | Hoystory — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:17:22 +0000

[...] others have noted, Applebaum gets her facts wrong in her efforts to soft-peddle her pro-child rape post. Polanski [...]

By: Sara (Pal2Pal)

Sara (Pal2Pal) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:08:28 +0000

#64.

I do not mean to sound as if no one without such horrible experiences has a right to comment or have an opinion. It was not my intention to imply this, only poor writing.

It is also not my intention to imply that a victim’s wishes, in ordinary circumstance, should have preference over the larger societal needs.

It is my intention to say that these are not ordinary circumstances due to the over 3 decades gap that is part of this case and the fact that the world is very different today than it was back then.

In ordinary circumstance, say the same crime, but the perp wasn’t caught, the statute of limitations would have run long ago and the victim would have no recourse. In ordinary circumstances, if the perp were an everyday Joe, no one would give a hoot in hell about this case. It might merit a one-liner in some local rag and that is about it. This is a BIG story because of the celebrity of the perp. In fact, it is a much much bigger story right now today than it was 31 years ago.

It doesn’t make it right how it used to be, but all child abuse and sexual predation is a far bigger story today than it ever was before the Internet and Cable news.

I do realize that not all victims of sexual violence or really any kind of violence against their person will think as I do, but as one who spent several years as a volunteer counselor for domestic violence victims, I do have some knowledge of what it takes to start the healing process and how fragile that healing can be when one has to relive. I’m very familiar, both personally and as a counselor, with what PTSD is all about and how you can think you are healed and then have some stupid event, remark, news story, or even a sound or smell, bring it all back.

Anyway, sorry if I stepped on anyone’s tender toes, but it is hard enough to talk about this crap, if I do, I refuse to be intimidated. It has to be that way.