Director Roman Polanski in Swiss custody on 31-year-old U.S. arrest warrant

Polanski's life, if you look at it, has been filled with absolute horror. He'll get out... I just hope it's not after too much trouble.

It's nice to see someone finally taking responsibility for his actions. Running and hiding is pure foolishness.

-I do feel this case is over and should have been over long ago. +Stay away from drugs.

I just hope it's not after too much trouble.

Why? Because he's had a tough life?

"Samantha Geimer"

I've seen photos of her when she was 13 and more recent ones. She's gained quite a bit of weight since she was 13.

A 44-year old man drugging and raping a 13-year old girl is scum and deserves jail time. I hope he gets a taste of his own medicine while there.

Glad his evil-deeds have finally caught up with him...drugs and artistic brilliance are no excuse for paedophilia. And by the way, 'Sarge'... WTF does the victim's current appearance have to do with anything??? An odd comment at best.

Maybe when the Obama justice department or a liberal judge lets the guy off scot free, Obama should invite him over to stay at the White House.

Maybe when the Obama justice department or a liberal judge lets the guy off scot free, Obama should invite him over to stay at the White House.

It must be a truly painful burden when your every waking thought is consumed with a desire to view everything through an obsessive hatred of a single person -- particularly when that person has nothing whatsoever to do with the above story. Get help, son. And soon.

I'm glad they arrested him.

I've looked at a couple of cute teenagers in my life and thought, 'WOW...what if...' and then I slapped myself back into reality. I've scared myself straight because I don't want to go to prison. That would scare me to death. That keeps my feet well planted.

Roman Polanski needs to taste what is the penalty for going beyond moral and legal boundaries. Him being prosecuted will keep other moral men out of prison. < :-)

"She said that, despite her protests, he performed oral sex, intercourse and sodomy on her"

You know, I am ashamed to admit that for most of my life, I had thought that the ONLY charges were statutory rape of a teenager, and I had in my mind something like a 17 year old and that things were basically consensual. Or Charlie Chaplin's "consensual.. I am going to marry her" 15 year old. I was misinformed.

Now that I find that it was a 13 year old, with drugs and alcohol, and involved much more than run of the mill "pseudo-consensual" relations, it boggles the mind that he has been allowed to run around all these years as a free man. I am thinking back to all of the wink-nudge stories I have heard about Roman Polanski, and I am wondering how anyone could just let this go. Where was the gray area? Artist or no artist, that is pretty messed up.

It also underscores that even if the victim forgives him, society should not. I am glad that she has been able to move on, but Roman should have faced up to this long ago.

I believe society should respect the wishes of the victim in this case, seeing that, in 31 years, no other person has come forward to indicate that he was a repeat offender.

Yabits - Yeah right, Polanksi should get credit that he is only known to have anal raped one 13-year old girl after plying her with drugs and alcohol. Polanksi is the epitome of selfishness. One would have thought that the murder of Sharon Tate by the Manson Family would have shocked him into a more conscious and reflective state of mind.

Polanksi should get credit that he is only known to have anal raped one 13-year old girl after plying her with drugs and alcohol.

Get credit? Are you out of your mind?

So long as Mr. Polanski is not a threat to society, the wishes of the victim should override anything that a sadist out for punishment might want.

Polanksi is the epitome of selfishness.

So are most of the people that we encounter on an hourly basis. I consider it just as selfish to seek revenge contrary to the wishes of the victim in this case. The thing that can be said in Polanski's favor is that he, in his own sick mind of 30+ years ago, was not intending to harm the young girl.

The same can not be said of the sick people wishing harm upon Polanski. It is just as much a perversion of justice as Polanski's acts were a perversion of love.

yabits, for the most part I usually agree with you, but this post I have to disagree with.

The same can not be said of the sick people wishing harm upon Polanski. It is just as much a perversion of justice as Polanski's acts were a perversion of love.

I think my reasoning for having Polanski taste his medicine is very simple. Enforce the laws as written, the way they would be applied to me if I had taken these indecent liberties with a helpless girl. But, you're entitled... < :-)

Enforce the laws as written, the way they would be applied to me if I had taken these indecent liberties with a helpless girl.

Well, if you were able to get away somehow from having the penalty imposed you and lived a decent life for 30+ years, AND your victim was pressing to drop the case, I would be supporting your right to remain free as I am Polanski's.

Even a document as eye-for-an-eye as the Old Testament made provisions for places of refuge for people accused of crimes, where, if they could make it to them, would be safe from punishment. I think most people today can be as fair minded as the Old Testament folks.

Even a document as eye-for-an-eye as the Old Testament made provisions for places of refuge for people accused of crimes, where, if they could make it to them, would be safe from punishment.

In other words....France.

Chinatown is a great film!

"One would have thought that the murder of Sharon Tate by the Manson Family would have shocked him into a more conscious and reflective state of mind."

One could also argue that the murder of his wife and child by Manson could have pushed what may have been a relatively normal person over some precipice. Honestly, bringing the brutal slaughter of his wife into this has very little to do with anything.

In retrospect, the the terms of his release should have likely included restriction of travel, but considering his fame, as well as the fact that he'd been cooperating with authorities 100% up to the point he fled, including spending over a month in psyche evaluation, I can't see any reason the authorities would have or could have expected he would flee the country. No way to be sure 31 years later, but judging by the single-minded zeal with with L.A. prosecutors are pursuing this case even now, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised that something wasn't quite above board.

Rumor has it there were irregularities in the way the prosecutors office handled Polanski's initial guilty plea, including a plan to reneg on the initial agreement and lock up Polansi for far longer than the agreement worked out between his lawyer and prosecutors.

I agree with Samantha Geimer, however, that after 31 years, this has gotten to a point where any amount of effort to prosecute this case is just going to cause undue pain for the victim. She's let it go. She wants to let it go. She needs to let it go. And L.A. prosecutors are literally forcing her to relive the horrific experience all over again. There is something distinctly unjust about that.

If the prosecutors could have found some way to make Polanski pay for his crimes that didn't involved infringing on the privacy rights of a person who neither wanted nor asked to be a victim, then I'd support his prosecution, but they're handling this like fools.

Allowing anyone to be extradited to Los Angeles, California, for a crime less than murder one is a crime in itself. The Swiss government should have warned Polansky he was persona non grata and subject to arrest and deportation. Their not doing so makes them complicit in this sleazy affair. Shame on Switzerland! I'm boycotting Toblerone chocolates and Omega watches for the duration.

This is a bit of good news to start off the week. I hope they throw the book at him for this one. They should also tack on 5 years for absconding. Indeed, it would not worry me if he ended his life behind bars, because at the end of the day he is nothing more than a child-drugging pedophile.

And yes, there is a lesson to learn here. If you the crime, you should be prepared to do the time.

So long as Mr. Polanski is not a threat to society, the wishes of the victim should override anything that a sadist out for punishment might want.

I don't know whether he has raped other girls, but I do know he is a very sick man. This sickness does not just go away. Just because he was able to bribe the victim does not mean he should not be punished and receive treatment.

How can anyone be willing to encourage this perve and pay to see his movies or agree to work for him?

Sarge. This was a child victim of rape. And all you have to say is:

I've seen photos of her when she was 13 and more recent ones. She's gained quite a bit of weight since she was 13.

Can you see why people argue with you so much?

I say throw him in jail, all the cash he makes from movies and has made to date, get taken away.

now while we are at it, when are we going to start a campaign against this in places that allow daughter to be given away as brides as young as 9?

What the article does not mention is that the girl was vomiting and then passed out, so instead of seeking medical attention for her, he raped her.

Put his ass in jail. He was convicted and left the jurisdiction to avoid confinement

Put his ass in Jail. What is the issue? He was convicted and left the Jurisdiction to avoid confinement.

Isn't France wonderful! If you're wealthy and famous, they're happy to have you. Doesn't matter if you're a child rapist. And they get oh so upset that anyone would dare to arrest a rapist, who has successfully avoided paying for his crimes for more then 30 years.

Myself, I hope they toss his worthless butt into prison for the rest of his natural life. Treat him like the criminal he is. Its time for him to finally pay for his crimes.

I don't get guys like him. He was famous and rich, probably could have gotten any girl he wanted. Why would he want to have a 13yo at his age?

The victim is living her life...she has moved on, marriage and family....Ok boys/men..how many of you have had under age sex with your girlfriends, in your younger days ????...The LAPD have enough on their hands to handle without Polanski...gangs, drugs, MJ, and writing speeding tickets....leave him in Europe...California can't afford to house another "special treatment" prisoner...remember OJ ???

It really makes France look bad, doesn't it?

If you love drugging little girls, then raping, sodomising, and generally sexually molesting them then please, come and be a good friend of the French president and all the little French political personalities.

If France had behaved like a civilised nation with moral scruples in the first place he'd have served his time long ago and probably restarted his career without having to hide.

As for the victim, there are only 2 reasons why she wants the whole thing to go away and be forgotten. 1, he's already privately compensated her and she doesn't want the issue further complicated, and 2, all the publicity directly affects her and her family (although that's only because she identified herself.) That doesn't mean he shouldn't get jail time still, and you can't keep letting people get away with horrendous crimes just because they can claim the title holocaust survivor. It's unfair on the rest of humanity.

It really makes France look bad, doesn't it?

Yes, to a certain extent. This case should make look bad any person who paid to see any of his movies.

No means no, right?

The victim says "no" to further prosecution, that should be respected. Right?

She was underage -so the prosecuters take the case on her behalf. It is also a criminal case --> must prosecute the crime.

This case should make look bad any person who paid to see any of his movies

So, it's okay if they saw them for free?

Anyway, I am glad that he was finally caught. He seems like a pig.

This case should make look bad any person who paid to see any of his movies" I never really look at whose the director of movies, especially old ones. I did see Rosemary's Baby, but I don't know what else he has done that I saw, and I what I did see was on TV.

Shanabelle - He has never been accused of paedophilia; that is a different crime. I hope he is extradited and given the maximum sentence prescribed by the laws of California but I fear he will get off without further sanction.

It seems to me that many prosecutors in Western countries these days really go after "average Joes" with everything they have and take it easy on the rich and or famous. An 18 year old man that slept with his girlfriend would be in big trouble but I bet they make a deal for this guy.

Bah, what a storm in a tea-cup and what a waste of money.

Even the victim has filed appeals to have the charges against him dropped.....

Good to see the references here to Roman Polanski being a holocaust survivor. And this excuses him for his actions? I think not.

If you believe that Polanski should get some form of concessions just because he survived the Nazi scourge, you should ask yourself if Anne Frank would have committed such acts....

USNinJapan2: "Why? Because he's had a tough life?"

Hmmm... I guess my comment was a tad light. What I meant to say is that I hope that people are no harder on him than they would be with anyone else who did the same thing. The US has been frustrated with the pursuit of Polanski, so it's easy to picture people being a little eager to dole out heavier punishments. If the woman is not pressing charges herself, the man should be let go without too much 'trouble'.

timorborder: "If you believe that Polanski should get some form of concessions just because he survived the Nazi scourge, you should ask yourself if Anne Frank would have committed such acts.."

Come on, bud. I agree with what you're saying -- that he should receive no special concessions because he's a Jew who survived the holocaust -- but giving Anne Frank as an example of how wrong the man is? Cases of women raping men (and being convicted) are EXTREMELY low as it is, without the holocaust references.

I could careless what type of life anyone had. The moment you reach over and commit a crime against another wipes your sympathy slate to zero. Never, never, no excuses. And if he were really a survivor, I think they should throw him back in.

sorry to offend people, but I have a zero tolerance policy to murder, rape, and pedos.

smithinjapan

If the woman is not pressing charges herself, the man should be let go without too much 'trouble'.

The case which Polanski ran from wasn't a mere civil suit filed by the victim; he was being prosecuted by the State of California for committing rape. The outcome of this case isn't up to the girl nor was it ever. How a victim of rape, especially statutory rape, feels after the fact shouldn't affect the prosecution's case. A heinous crime was committed and the perpertrator must be punished, period. Unfortunately for Polanski he chose to rape a child in a country which doesn't have a state of limitations on serious crimes and now his past has finally caught up to him, rightfully so in my opinion.

This sums it up for me: “I know his films, they impressed me very much,” she said, but she underlined that Polanski could not be given special treatment because of his artistic talent, especially because the warrant was not for a trivial complaint.

USN,

"Unfortunately for Polanski he chose to rape a child in a country which doesn't have a state of limitations on serious crimes and now his past has finally caught up to him, rightfully so in my opinion. "

I'm not denying his crime, but surely the fact that he's been on the run for over thirty years - coupled with the fact that even the victim has been pressing for the charges to be dropped should mean that taxpayers dough shouldn't be spunked up the wall in this manner?

The state of California is skint. Why bother other than the fact that some see justice in stars in court. Remember Whacko Jacko's court appearances.....

...how many kids could have been fed for the price?

This case should make look bad any person who paid to see any of his movies

what a dumb comment

Madverts

You evidently put a price on justice. I don't.

At the end of the day, Polanski is worried about going to prison in the United States. Knowing his luck, if he is found guilty he might get sent to Corcoran State Prison where prisoner #B33920 would just love to drop in a say hi. Who knows, they might even get together for a bit of home brew and discuss mutual friends, dear departed.

Remember when Michael Jackson was being accused of wrong doings with minors? Remember where in one incident he paid the family a reported $20Million? By popularity and money Michael Jackson avoided prosecution. I never agreed with that. So Samantha Geimer has forgiven Polanski and want's him freed. I have to ask what she received to be so forgiving?

How many times have you watched the news and heard a family member of a shooting or some other attack and forgiving the perpetrator? The family may forgive the attacker, but the state still prosecutes the bad guy.

So I'll just watch the press with you guys and see what happens. < :-)

USN,

Thirty years later......?

When even the victim wants the chatges dropped?

That 'aint a price for justice. It's pernicious stupidity IMO.

Madverts

Thirty years, forty years, the number of years doesn't matter. The weight of the crime doesn't change with the passage of time. Again, can't you get it through your head that the victim's feelings, opinions, etc. don't figure into the equation at this point? Polanski plead guilty then he fled the country so he wouldn't have to serve his sentence. He should be legally pursued just for that. Saying that the victim has forgiven him or that she doesn't care anymore if he's still prosecuted for raping her doesn't change the fact that he committed the crime then skipped bail. Rationalize it all you want, it doesn't change who he is and what he did.

Here is the reality. He raped a little girl. That deserves a punishment. Regardless of how the circumstances have changed. The man also fled to avoid paying for his crimes. For 30 years. That also deserves punishment. Therefore, I suggest that he be remanded back into custody, to serve the MAXIMUM penalty allowable under the law for his previous crime.

The man should spend the rest of his life in a cage.

USN,

When I see rapists here in Europe doing minimum time, i.e months rather than years and I see bank robbers that injure no one getting thirty year stretches then I'm as emotive as you.

I disagee with you entirely on the grounds that what the victim desires has no bearing on the issue. The victim, 31 years on has a husband and her own children and this witch-hunt is making her suffer, again.

Answer me honestly - if it were Jean-Pierre Bloggs who had raped someone 30 years aho in the US and bogged off back to France to live in obscurity - do you think there would be an interest in re-capturing him now?

"Here is the reality. He raped a little girl."

Why is it that the far right always descend into spicing up the crime to prove their point, as if the crime in its' acutual form weren't bad enough? 13 years old is not a little girl (as my associates 13 year old) bad'un proves every time she can abscond on a Saturday night....

Ok boys/men..how many of you have had under age sex with your girlfriends, in your younger days ????...

Ummm..well, being 15 and having sex with your girlfriend of 14 or 15 is a different kettle of fish than a 44 year-old having sex with a girl of 13. If you cannot see the difference then perhaps you should turn yourself in now.

13 years old is not a little girl (as my associates 13 year old) bad'un proves every time she can abscond on a Saturday night....

No, 13 is a little girl, or at least very young. Just because kids today are physically maturing more quickly (at least seemingly) that doens't make them actual adults. Not to sound like some moralistic Jerry Fallwell type, but if you think having sex with a child of that age is okay, I think you need counseling.

My wife is a therapist and works with sexual assault victims, so I speak with second hand knowledge on the subject. Just because he never got caught again, anyone that would do such a thing once would do it again, as research has proven. And having a tough like or being a 'victim' yourself is not a valid excuse for rape or abuse of any sort. It can be a cause, but not an excuse.

that's 'tough life' - sorry

"No, 13 is a little girl, or at least very young"

Right, so 13 years old is not "a little girl" - that was my point - not whether it was right or wrong or at what age is is acceptable. A young girl or even a teenager is what this lady was when Polanski forced himself on her.

I've already said I don't think it's right, my problem was with molenir attempts at making it sound like he'd raped a four year old to prove his point, when the initial crime quite frankly is serious enough.

I see your point, but to me a child is a child. 4 or 13 is irrelevent to the crime.

If somebody raped my 13 year old daughter, I'd go berserk. 13 is a child. A 13 year old child girl is going through so many natural changes and when an adult takes advantage of her, that's a serious crime.

It's rape folks.

Nobody has ask the parents of Samantha Geimer if they have forgiven Polanski. Ask them if they are as forgiving as she is. < :-)

@Madadverts

A definition of a child from Websters dictionary:

Child : a young person especially between infancy and youth

First, the girl was a child. Second the child was drugged and passed out. Third, she was was raped including sodomy. What is the defense for Mr. Polanski? Thirteen isn't a child. Or it happened a long time ago.

I say get his a@#!

@Everyone else

It sounds like some of the folks here should be in jail with Polanski. I wouldn't be surprised if some of these same folks who are defending him also cruise third-world countries. The same countries where 13 year-olds work in one the world's oldest professions. It seems quite revealing in their postings.

biglittleman. I disagree with just about everything you say. Normally. However in this case, you're spot on. Anyone who is defending this guy ought to be locked up with him. I have very little tolerance for rapists at the best of times, the fact that he raped a 13 year old girl, when he was 44 makes the crime that much more egregious. And yes, to me, a 13 year old is a little girl. No, shes not an infant, but a child yes.

He ought to be locked away for the rest of his natural life. Had he simply done his time this would all been in the past. He probably would have gotten about 15 years, been out in 8. Instead, he puts everyone particularly the victim through this 31 year ordeal by fleeing to avoid paying for his crimes. Now that he has finally been arrested, its time.

My niece is 13 and she's a child. She's been sheltered all her life and this kind of attack would devastate her. Something like this happened to me when I was 11 and it throws your world into a major major spin. It took me years before I could trust men again. You expect that they will do something to you. Suddenly the world is no longer safe, and you're no longer a child. You know evil. You believe you're now "dirty." It takes a while to get your confidence and strength back and to get your world outlook back to normal. Polanski should be charged with providing alcohol and drugs to a minor, also. He should be charged and punished like anyone else. Her civil suit against him / settlement is a totally different matter. I do like his films, but not him personally. And Sarge is right. Samantha Geimer should've remained attractive. Rape victims should always remain attractive for the camera interviews.

I've made my point regarding age clear enough.

molenir,

"What is the defense for Mr. Polanski? Thirteen isn't a child. Or it happened a long time ago."

If you'd bother to read my posts, the only thing irking me apart from your use of the phrase "little girl" to twist the facts, is the waste of money in an affair that we all know this guy is going to walk away from. If the crime had been perpertrated by a nobody thar went into hiding all those years ago, we wouldn't be discussing it today.

@Madverts

If you'd bother to read my posts, the only thing irking me apart from your use of the phrase "little girl" to twist the facts, is the waste of money in an affair that we all know this guy is going to walk away from. If the crime had been perpertrated by a nobody thar went into hiding all those years ago, we wouldn't be discussing it today.

This isn't a direct attack on you but the mindset that we shouldn't bother because it is too much trouble and we could spend our time doing something else is quite foolish.

You only do things that you know are easy? They maybe your personality but wrong is wrong.

If you saw someone getting attack on the other side of the freeway, possibly being murdered. Would you just let that slide too because it is too much of an effort to cross the freeway and reach them.

Would you really give up this easily if this was your 13year daughter who was drugged and raped by a 44year man?

What makes me really angry is the people in the media (eg the presdent of the toronto film festival panel of judges) defending him. The next thing that makes me abgry is that he drugged and raped someone. This alone is a terrible crime, lets not get into arguments about how to classify a 13 year old. Isnt rape by itself bad enough? Lets get him for that first, then add a few more decades onto the sentence for the whole underage bit. BTW my personal opinion is that 13 is a child and that he should be punished as a pedophile would be. They are playing interviews of him on cnn and he is absolutely sickening, the interviewer asks; do you like young girls? and he says; dont all men? with this arrogant horrible smirk of achievement. This guy has undeniably had a tough life, but having a tough life doesnt mean that you can go out and rape a 13 year old and get away with it.

Yop, got him... Let him face the penalty...

To be fair, I don't believe it was him that actually provided the drugs to the girl. However, the fact that she is involved in this at such a young age speaks more to her parents then anything else. This aside, no one deserves to be raped. Particularly not a 13 year old girl.

Madverts - If you'd bother to read my posts, the only thing irking me apart from your use of the phrase "little girl" to twist the facts, is the waste of money in an affair that we all know this guy is going to walk away from.

Calling a little girl, a little girl isn't twisting the facts, its facing reality. You're attempt to pervert things by claiming she is an adult, despite being only 13, is whats wrong here.

If the crime had been perpertrated by a nobody thar went into hiding all those years ago, we wouldn't be discussing it today.

You're right. We wouldn't. Because he would have been arrested, and sent back to face his punishment years ago. Instead because hes a rich and famous director, he has successfully evaded punishment for years.

I am shocked by the waste of time on that lunatic. When I saw Emmannuelle Seigner was marrying him while that drug and rape story was known, I wondered why her family didn't take her to a psychiatric ward.

Until last week, he had not gotten any favor from France. My country was forced to accept him because he is a national. Being born in Paris, with at least one parent of French nationality, even if he had not visited for 40 yrs, he could obtain a French passport automatically without background check. We have guys we have taken back after they left Guantanamo or other jails. No choice, it's our garbage. Then France doesn't extraditate its nationals to the US, because it's reciprocal. That doesn't mean such people all escape punishment. They can be judged in France. There were many cases of pedophiles going to French courts for their crimes in Africa and Asia. French judges would have been delighted to get Polanski's case. The thing is nobody sued him in France, neither the victim's family nor Californian authorities did anything until 2005. Obviously he had given enough money to the girl's family. He could have stayed free and go anywhere except to the US until his death.

Around 2005, they restarted it all because of Polanski's provocation. He is a cynical idiot. As he regularly says in interviews stuff like : "I don't see why I should be punished for my taste for very young girls...". He doesn't get it. He doesn't understand the laws about children, rapes, drugs, etc. He is a sick man. And he believed -just like Paris Hilton did- that he could just walk away from courts, tell them to get stuffed, and later send lawyers and money to arrange things. When he asked the case to be re-opened to allow him to visit Hollywood, and his biggest argument was : "I'm rich and famous. So I have all the rights. You bothered me for nothing during 25 yrs, now let me.". Since then, the US authorities have asked all the countries they have agreement with, to put him on the list of "arrest and extraditate". He still decided to go to a festival in Switzerland. He has chosen to get caught, he shouldn't complain that was a trap.

BTW, for what he did, he could go to jail like Michael Jackson or like Woody Allen ?

I hope that he is finally extradited, and that he serves time for both the child rape and fleeing from justice. I hope that he serves years in prison.

From the court:

"[T]he defendant has been convicted of a felony sex offense involving a child under the age of 14 years...[and been] alleged to be a Mentally Disordered Sex Offender, in that you are a person who, by reason of mental defect, disease or disorder, are predisposed to the commission of sexual offenses to such a degree that you are dangerous to the health and safety of others."

From the victim, after being plied with a sedative and alcohol:

"I was mostly just on and off saying, 'No, stop.' But I wasn't fighting really because I, you know, there was no one else there and I had no place to go."

The victim in this case has been quoted as saying that she is being hurt far more by the justice system than what Polanski did to her.

Of course, sadistic types only care about victims' rights when it means harsher punishment.

yabits

Prosecution of a criminal offense is not driven by the wishes of the victim. Never has and never will for good reason. Civil suits are a different story, but how a victim feels later about his/her assailant and how he/she feels as a result of the publicity is immaterial to whether or not the criminal should be prosecuted for breaking the law.

agree with USNin, one of the few times.LOL

Right wing rhetoric is reaching disgusting new lows. They are saying things like "If he was FATHER Polanski the Hollywood elites would be baying for his blood."

Real funny, wingers.As usual, they have no arguments and are just jealous about President Obama going to Copenhagen. About as persuasive as Glenn Beck.

Right wing rhetoric is reaching disgusting new lows. They are saying things like "If he was FATHER Polanski the Hollywood elites would be baying for his blood."

I'd like to think that regardless of who the man is, or what hes accomplished, if he raped a 13 year old girl, he would have to pay for his crimes. Apparently there are a lot of loons and wingers on the left who feel differently. They think its ok that hes a child rapist. Hes a good socialist, so he should be treated differently. Thats not an argument that carries any weight with me. To be honest, I don't see how anyone can feel that way. Its not something that makes any sense to me. How can you justify letting a child rapist walk free, merely because he managed to evade the police for 30 years. That should call for a harsher punishment, not a lighter one!

Yabits, those are good points, as always my brother.I think it was Whoopi Goldberg that summed it up best for most of us, those of us who know Glenn Beck is just an actor and not a serious reporter, Polanski's actions with the girl that night weren't "rape-rape". Sheesh. It 's not like Polanksi is some kind of Mark Foley or anything.

This is an interesting article.Presumably Polanski will be in for this treatment if he is not extradited to the US ."France is considering the compulsory "chemical castration" of sexual criminals"http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10601250

Recent credible polls demonstrate that the overwhelming number of ordinary French citizens also want Polanski to be prosected and punished for premediatively planning and then executing the drugging, raping, and sodomizing of a 13 year-old girl in LA, and then fleeing prosecution.

The victim was apparently not compensated until sometime in 2003 when she again initiated legal action. Although Polanski had agreed to a $500,000 settlement back in 1993, the terms of which required silence and non-disclosure, the terms became public record when he refused to pay the money, filing legal actions to avoid payment that stalled things for 2 years. As of 1996, public records related to the case show Polanski owing over $625,000 to the victim, including interest due.

What this demonstrates is a lack of remorse; a crass, penurious, arrogant little man of great wealth who still felt it his right to indulge his admitted taste in very young girls, whether or not they wanted his attention. Natasha Kinski, at age 15, was a subsequent Polanski "sexual experience". How many others were victims whose parents chose to accept "quiet money" or were afraid to pursue the famous, wealthy, well-connected "big man" we will probably never know.

Let Polanski be brought back to face the lawful judicial system and process he fled from 31 years ago. He will get his day in court, and have a chance to plead his innocence or ask for forgiveness and mercy for his guilt.

M>>Maybe when the Obama justice department or a liberal judge lets the gguy off scot free, Obama should invite him over to stay at the White HHouse.< A AActually, it was reported in the Washington Post that Polanski has hired iinfluence-peddling mogul and power attorney Weingarten to represent him in seeking to get the Justice Dept. to block the provision requiring it to provide the offical government extradition request documents within the 60 period following the LA prosecutor's original extradition filing. W WWeingarten is reported to be a very close friend of Obama Administration AAttorney General Eric H. Holder.

Reid Weingarten "Mr. Weingarten is expected to mount a legal effort to block Mr. Polanski’s extradition before the issue works its way through the Swiss legal system, according to people who were briefed on Mr. Weingarten’s involvement, but spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

A critical step will most likely be a move to stop the extradition before United States authorities send the required documents to Switzerland."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/us/30polanski.html

“Roman Polanski deliberately, in his mid-40s, set up a young 13-year-old actress to come to his home, drugged her, got her naked and raped her,” said Paul Petersen, president of A Minor Consideration, a foundation devoted to the protection of young performers. “The Hollywood community is protecting him. It makes me crazy.”

But not all filmmakers are supporting Polanski.

Luc Besson, a prominent French film director and producer, was not on the list, though he describes himself as a Polanski friend.

“Our daughters are good friends,” Mr. Besson said in a radio interview with RTL Soir. “But there is one justice, and that should be the same for everyone.”

He added, , “I don’t have any opinion on this, but I have a daughter, 13 years old. And if she was violated, nothing would be the same, even 30 years later.”

interview Polanski gave to the novelist Martin Amis in 1979, the year after Polanski went on the run. The interview originally appeared in Tatler and is collected in Amis’s excellent book Visiting Mrs Nabokov.

Here’s a section of the first quote it contains from Polanski at a filming at the Poland National Tourism office in 1979.

Roman Polanski: 'Everyone else fancies little girls too'

“If I had killed somebody, it wouldn’t have had so much appeal to the press, you see? But… f—ing, you see, and the young girls. Judges want to f— young girls. Juries want to f— young girls. Everyone wants to f— young girls!”

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/39632107.html