Question of the Day | 10/05/2009 12:30 pm
Should Roman Polanski go to prison?
Candice Bergen, Liz Smith and Joan Ganz Cooney discuss the fate of Roman Polanski.
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I’m disappointed in you, too, Candice. This man drugged an raped a 13 year old girl. He may be brilliant, and he may be 75, and he may have children, but he DRUGGED AND RAPED A 13 YR OLD GIRL. Had it been his child that was assaulted, would he feel that leniancy be in order? That he not have to pay for his crime as any other citizen would? I will never understand this worlds’ slanted view that anyone with fame and money be treated differently than the rest of us “common” folk.
House arrest? Seriously??? I can’t believe you would be advocating such a sentence for a similarly charged "Jim Smith" that committed a similar crime and then fled the jurisdiction for 30 years. Roman Polanski deserves no special treatment. He should be sentenced as he would have been 30 years ago - and charged again for fleeing and have to serve that sentence, too. In a US prison. I’m sorry that it will be a hardship to his children - but I’m sure that is true of the children of any prisoner currently in the system. He did the crime - he was ready to plead to it - he needs to do the time. No excuses.
Dear WOWOWOW panelists,
I just don’t understand the way you all are doing things these days. First, you ask a very provocative question which you know will meet with great passion. Second, only 3 of the entire panel answered the question. Why not request that at least half the panel help pay for this site by answering some of these tough questions. By having Candice, Liz and Joan answer this question, they lay themselves open to being criticized because they are part of t.v., Hollywood or entertainment in some form. I’d really like to see some of the people who are not "in the industry" give their beliefs, thoughts, opinions on this Roman Polanski issue. Why not?
Just because Roman successfully evaded prosecution for decades, does not mean that he should be able to evade due process. Should we reward him because he had the means and wherewithal to live outside the reach of the law? The fact still remains: He drugged and sexually molested a 13-year old child. He should not be exempt from paying for his crime.
My question is - what was a 13 yr.old doing at a party at Jack Nicholson’s house anyway? Seems to me that what happened was bound to happen with alcohol and drugs and a Hollywood party. This is not to let Roman off the hook, as he needs to be punished, but the entire thing has some unanswered questions surrounding it after all this time.
Yes, Polanski should be brought to justice. There’s no excuse for drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl, which is a horrific crime. His status as a distinguished director is immaterial, as is the lengthy period of time that has passed since the crime was committed. Debra Winger should be ashamed to term people "philistines" who want Polanski to pay for his crime.
People get sided on his age, time gone by, the all is forgiven syndrome etc. If this was a black men this conversation would not be news worthy. Its circus time because its a celebrity. He’ll get his hand spanked. I believe he’s already paid $500,000 in fees. In a few weeks he’s back in French and his life will continue.
To me, it’s sort of a textbook study of the ways in which the criminal justice system treats those with, and those without, financial and social resources differently. This was not a ‘youthful mistake’ or a he said/she said debate or a ‘set-up’ of a public figure. Rather than a film director, if he had been Mr. Polanski, a 44 year-old math teacher, who had given drugs and alcohol to and repeatedly sexually violated an eighth grader, would we be having this conversation? Would his genius be invoked? Would we have allowed decades to go past? It’s not about who he is but what he did. At least, it should be.
The fact that Roman Polanski is an "artist" has nothing to do with it, and I am stunned that so many in the entertainment industry have rushed to his defense because of this. Bill O’Reilly is a writer. If he had raped a 13-year-old would those same people be rushing to his defense because of his "body of work"? With all respect to Candice, age and fatherhood just isn’t a consideration. Most predators are married with children. Polanski wouldn’t be sitting in jail today, and wouldn’t have had to live in exhile these many decades if he had faced the consequences for his behavior initially. If there was judicial malfeasance - and this was never proven - a good attorney would have gotten the sentence changed. Instead, he fled so that he could continue living on his own terms. Polanski’s self-absorbed and entitled approach to life has caught up with him.
Did I miss something? Back in the 1970s, were 13 year olds at the age of sexual consent? Was it the norm for them to drink, take drugs, and have consensual sex with men in their 40s?
I know what to say.
He drugged and raped a 13 year old girl. What else is there TO say. His victim can’t escape the memory of what he took from her, so why should he be allowed to live free for one more day. Just because he’s famous and professionally accomplished, there’s a debate regarding his fate? His personal history indicates that he’s a sick predator who criminally violated a young girl. I don’t care who you think you are to the world. You don’t get to do as you please. No debate.
This past Sunday, Canadian radio journalist Michael Enwright declared that if Roman Polanski had been a priest (Father Polanski), we would not even be having this discussion.
The fact that Polanski didn’t come back for his final hearing is reason alone to make sure he serves his time. Anyone else would.
Bottom line. Polanski come back to the U.S. voluntarily. It will no doubt be a slap on the wrist. Just think then you will be able to stay in Hollywood and enjoy more stays at Jack Nicholsons’ house. The thirteen year old has forgiven you(thanks to a money settlement). Why are you worrying?
He should be subject to the same laws that any other American citizen would be subject to . Hopefully that would be jail as he raped a child.
Whoopi surprised me on the View when she said it was rape rape and not rape - appearing to me to give him support of some kind. And she proposes to be a child advocate. -Pam Stewart
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