Commentary: Hollywood is clueless when it comes to Polanski

When the infamous Texas sodomy case was overturned by the SCOTUS many people predicted that it wouldn't be long before pedophilia was an accepted practice.
Well, you now have PROOF that a very vocal and influential group of people are in favor of it.
All these people trying to soft-sell this crime is proof that hollywood has no morals and sees a no problem with sex with underage kids as long as that person is like-able and has accomplishments.
It's further proof that Hollywood is an echo chamber and people who want to please others around them and that in their products they are gradually seducing the public into looser and looser morals by making movies that make the perverse OK.

I couldn't agree with more with Mr. Martin. It's truly a sad day when the Hollywood elites believe that because someone has artistic talents they are above the law. Polanski is a sick twisted little man who because of his wealth has been able to avoid the prison time any average person what have received. If he had been a black street person he'd be held in complete contempt. Shame on Debra Winger for calling him a victim. She should rot in hell with him.

Amen, Roland.

This writer is absolutely correct. It's nice to know that famous people such as Polanski don't get a pass from those who care about justice. He deserves years in prison for rape and extra time for fleeing the country. I hope justice is served....quickly!

Right on, Roland. Well said.

Only 84 days in jail for raping a 13 year old girl? That's what wrong with our legal system.

Thank you. Finally, a well written article that has the brass to call this man for what he is: monster. The opening paragraph underscores the lie and hypocrisy infesting those who support this admitted felon. As a victim of a similar monster at the same age, I encourage America and the world to speak up for what is right and bring shame to all who would support Polanski.

Every single one of the people on that petition supporting this rapist should be boycotted.

I will NEVER support another one of them. I will not watch their movies, shows, etc.

Hollywood is rascist! Had it been a black man who raped a 13-yr old white girl, the black man would've been hung! (Just look at the US history books for numerous examples of this.) But, somehow because Roman was white, that's OK?

I agree with you entirely. Any person that breaks the law, ecspecially against an innocent child, deserves to pay the price. These people that are showing pity for him should be showing pity to the girl he took from. People in this time have thier morals all backwards and should re evaluate themselves. If this were something that happened to one of thier daughters they would not take such a strong stand for this pathetic man. Who cares what he has suffered through? That is no excuse to get away with raping a child.

It's about time someone out there is getting it right!!! Good job, Roland!

Amen! Thank you for saying exactly what's been on my mind ever since the Hollywood-left took their stance for their favorite rapist!

The rapist belongs in jail. He plead guilty. He ran away to avoid his punishment. He should receive a stiffer sentence for running away.
It makes no difference if it was 1 month ago, 10 years ago or 50 years ago that he ran away. Who cares what a scumbag like Woody Allen thinks or says. He belong in jail too!

I really don't care about Polanski's movies.

I do care that he had arranged a plea bargain that he judge was going to do an end run on.
I do care that he was sentenced to a psych evaluation in a maximum security prison, hardly standard.
I do care that it has been over 3 decades since the crime was committed.

But mostly I care that the victim, now in her 40s and clearly able to make decisions for herself, want the whole thing dropped.

A forty + year old man invites a 13 yo to his home for nude "photos," drugs her, plies her with etoh, rapes here vaginally and anually. No wonder Woody Allen loves him. Is it possible that there is a serious problem with pedophilia in Hollywood. Gee. Ya think?

I have a feeling if this 13 year old girl was the daughter of Martin Scorsese, Harvey Weinstein,Debra Winger, Michael Mann, Woody Allen or Mike Nichols , they wouldn't feel the same. I have a feeling they wouldn't care what kind of talent he has. Well, maybe not in Woody's case, since he IS married to his daughter. Sick individuals

Roland,

Thank you for articulating the thoughts of 99% of America. Your brief narrative of the case with insightfulness of a rational human lets me believe there are commontators who still have a grip about realit...

Thank you again,

Dennis Twomey

My first time commenting ever on a blog...that being said...first time ever feeling so strong about what is right and what is wrong...and Roland...your spot on! Nice post.

Thank God I'm finally hearing some sanity in the opinions about this case. And thank you, Mr. Martin, for speaking up. Artistic ability shouldn't put anyone above the law.

Will Roman Polansky become famous as Michael Jackson when he dies? Not likely. But because of Roman's age and the length of time since this rape took place, he's being exonerated by his "artistic" colleagues in Hollyweird for deplorable and illegal acts that - if found guilty - would put any working class rapist in jail for many, MANY years. Such is life in la-la land. Perhaps with new technologies like YouTube, real people can start creating movies and content which will remove these high paid, high profile goof-balls from their public soapboxes. Whoopie! Shame on you!

Why is it that Jews think they are above the law?

If a gentile had raped a 13 year old girl and then fled the country, the Jews in Hollywood would be calling for his head on a platter.

But when one of their fellow Jews is accused of the same crime, suddenly it becomes an outrageous punishment that be brought to justice.

Why should Polanski be above the law? Because he made a Holocaust film showcasing the oppression of his people? How does that make him above the law?

It's disturbing that the legal system has become a place where there are one set of rules of Gentiles, and another, more privileged set of rules for Jews.

A mother lets her 13yr old child go to a famous Hollywood Directors home....and he is to blame? You people need to grow up. The man is a masterpiece in the making. How many times has a a 13yr old lied? I am a 2nd grade school teacher and children lie all the time....Oh, by the way how many millions did she receive? Hmm....seems funny, she does not want to bring this up anymore....hmm, maybe she lied. Get your facts before you blog.

Roland, thank you for standing up to this horrible man and to Hollywood...and for speaking the truth. My first thought when I heard about the petition was that these people are crazy! As a rape survivor, my heart sank everytime I heard about the support for Mr. Polanski. Mr. Polanski, it is time that you "man up" and turn yourself in. There are NO possible excuses for what you did to that young girl. To the Hollywood elites who support Mr. Polanski, I will be boycotting your movies and tv shows...and will tell all of my friends to do the same.

Mr. Martin,
I have disagreed with your politics more often than not. But on this one ..... I salute you ! I embrace every word you wrote. May you live long and prosper in otherwise holding political views contrary to many of mine. Amen brother!

excellent article mr. martin. and like yourself, it is beyond my comprehension why anyone in hollywood woudl stand up for this criminal. i'm am glad, however, that others in the industry are now voicing their opinions against polanski's supporters. when we become a country where we excuse the behavior of individuals who abuse children, we are lost. today, france withdrew their request to release polanski, citing that even 'he is not above the law'. and for those who've pushed forward the 'he's a brilliant artist' defence, my only question to them is, WHAT THE...! the choice to stand up for polanski is not simply a poor choice, but a completely inexplicable position to take. what distrubed me most where the women who were siding with this criminal. i wonder if polanski forced himself on their duaghters, sisters, mothers, friends, or themselves, if they'd feel the same way as they do now. thanks for helping give voice to what so many people have been thinking. polanski deserves to go to jail. he needs to be brought back. the original plea deal should be revoked b/c he fled. he should be charged with the original crimes. and finally, he should be further charged with evading the law. lastly, his name should be placed on a sexual predator list, with all the restrictions that come with it. i'm no expert, but i would think that the vicitm will finally gain closure once polanski is in jail.

You put it very well, Roland. I have felt nothing but disgust for Roman Polanski since his crime was first made public. Shame on Whoopi and Debra for championing his cause. As for Woody Allen–well, no surprise there that he supports a child rapist. When will people stop worshipping the Hollywood elite? They sure as heck do not speak for me. Roman Polanski never got what he deserved. He is a perfect example of the triumph of evil in our society.

Thank you, Roland. Thank you. This scumbag needs to stay in Jail. Rape is never OK!

And Roman, you should have known better than to do this. C'mon, dude. At least apologise to the victim and to all your fans out there. C'mon, dude!! Old Man!! Whatever you are? Director!!

Mr. Martin, I read with interest your explanation why Mr. Polanski should be facing trial in America, until I read your comment that "France accepted him with open arms". Are you implying that France is in support of criminals who excape the US justice system? I am surprised that a man of color like you do use such "bigot" arguments which builds anger and divise the people of this world. I do not find the "Martin Luther King" flavor to your argument... which I decided to ignore in my opinion for this news event.

We all need to boycott the hollywood celebs that signed that petition. Its truly disgusting.

I completely agree with Mr. Martin's sentiments. Polanski was convicted of a heinous crime, which should not be overlooked. There is also the appalling issue of such a incredibly brief sentence. But I take great exception to the comments of Eyes Wide Open – the statement by a handful of prominent people is not proof of anything about Hollywood or the evolution from the dismissal of a Texas sodomy case. I am a card-carrying, died in the wool pinko Liberal (and proud of it) and find Polanksi's act of rape and subsequent flight to be unquestionably wrong and apalling. As are the feelings of most of my "ilk." I suggest Eyes Wide Open develop a better sense of when to call something "proof." You seem to be just looking for so-called evidence for your pre-concevied opinions!

This is not a black and white case. There are a lot of grey areas here and btw, I don't recall Michael Jackson spending time behind bars. This is a wonderful case for an ethics class though. I think you should watch the documentary and realize that nothing in life is ever exactly as it seems. RP was fed up with the treatment he was getting from the system. And yes, he had money. There are a lot of child molestors, rapists, and murders who still run the streets. Why don't you concentrate your energy on them. Roman Polanski has contributed to society. Those other bad guys continue to rape, molest, and murder. As I said, it is not black and white.

Well said Mr. Martin and I lean about as far to the left as anyone can.

This man should stand up and face the music. You play, you pay.

Where is the petition for the people who SUPPORT the arrest of this child rapist to sign?

Your article hit the mark and I applaud you for being so vocal. I have lost all respect for the Hollywood scum who have supported him and I will not support them ever again. Perhaps we need to need to inundate the studios/network stations/advertisers who support those Hollywood scum to let them know this is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

I guess these people who are defending this sicko creep must also be for letting all the priests and ministers who have done things to children off too. After all they provide comfort to other people. Sheesh get a brain people, rape is rape....no matter who is doing it.

Roland, Thank you. I was very worried that my family and friends were the only people in America who felt that what this man did was terribly wrong and that he needed to be punished. It is sad that these people who signed the petition in support of this monster are the ones that are shaping much of the next generation's morals by making movies and tv shows that support their agenda. I hope America wakes up!

I don't agree with a many of your editorials, but this one is spot on. Well said young man!

Mr. Polanski could have dealt with this issue years ago, but instead, he chose to skirt his punishment. This could be a lesson for us all; oddly enough, Hollywood misses the symbolism.

Matt ... He already confessed to the crime! He had pictures of his actions and none of this was in dispute ( hence the pleading guilty part) . I cannot believe you are a teacher. Maybe someday I can be a " masterpiece" as you say, so I can destroy lives and be adored for it.

And may my children never be in you class

I cannot understand why anyone would go out of their way to defend this man.

Clueless describes it in a word. I am stunned to think that *anyone* would be on Polanski's side on this issue. Do these people not have kids of their own? Can they not remember being 13 themselves? I just scratch my head in wonder...

So Roman Polansky has talent!!...to drug, rape, escape, flee justice and mock the US Judiciary System. Martin Scorsese, Harvey Weinstein, Debra Winger, Michael Mann, Mike Nichols and Woody Allen denounce his arrest and recognize his talents. Someone should launch an investigation on these talented fellows. We could all learn a few things about their talents.

So many times in the past I've disagreed with Mr. Martin but in this case his opinion is on the money!

Polanski not only was convicted, but he pled guilty in order to receive a lighter sentence. Having a 13 year old daughter, my husband would be waiting outside of the jail after 42 days if this happened to her. Justice was not served in allowing Polanski to continue to enjoy the freedom he illegally sought. What are we teaching our children if we allow him to skirt the system?

If the Hollywood elite continue to stand by this man then the public should boycott their work in mass. Wakeup Hollywood and consider the real victim of such crimes!!

@Matt: "A mother lets her 13yr old child go to a famous Hollywood Directors home….and he is to blame?"

Its not about consent Matt. YOU know it. Even if it was consensual it was wrong AND illegal.

That's the point of the celebrated "To catch a Predator" Dateline series. In those episodes, the producers set out to entrap scums like Polanski by having seemingly minors invite johns over for some "fun". If people who got entrapped who didn't actually break any law except for showing up get the slammer. Polanski who actually committed the act should get a MUCH stiffer sentence.

Maybe those Hollywood idiots that support this monster should talk to a child that was molested by another monster and hear the devastation inflicted first hand. Unfortunately there are enough children out there that they can speak with. Maybe they should hear how innocence was lost, light was dimmed in a young persons eyes and trust was forever banished. Maybe they will understand how wrong they are, just maybe....

Thank you for saying this. As a mother of teenage girls i can't even read the details of this case. Rape is rape, it is a heinous crime and anyone who confesses to it or is convicted should be punished accordingly.

Shame on you, Matt.

His guilt isn't in question. He's already admitted to his shameful act. What's in question is how to handle it now. And Mr. Martin, i agree with you with all my heart.

Shame on you, Matt. I hope the parents at your school know who you are.

Thank you for a well thought out commentary. The victim should be applaude for recovering and making her life whole. Polanski should ( must ) do his time like a man. Accepting responsibility is the only thing that will set him free.

Kyle – your points are well-noted and I agree. Hard to stand up to the 'stoning committee' here. Although what took place was certainly wrong and punishable, I don't buy the forcible rape implication which the media and all these respondents love to shout! What took place was wrong and misfotunate for all, but there's more to the story. The victim wants it over and I dare say, if a purely "forceful" act took place, I deny she'd take this stance. Is it right to entice or coerce a pubescent teen into taking a drug, alcohol, and having sex? No, of course not, but I do believe there was some culpabilty on the part of the victim. And her admission that the courts 'have done more harm than Polanski' speaks volumes.

To Michael Hsu and La Viro How did this turn into a discussion of race or ethnicity? This is a discussion of right and wrong and rape is wrong no matter the ethnicity of the perpetrator. Stick with the discussion which is a rapist was allowed to go free because he is famous and has money. And for Matt the second grade school teacher, I don't know where you teach, but you need to be in another profession if you believe for any reason that a 44 year old man, under any circumstance, is not responsible for committing rape by having sex with a 13 year old, whether consensual or not. I hope to hell you aren't teaching anywhere near any of my family members and I hope you rot in hell with Roman Polanski for advocating the rape of young children,.

I too call for a boycott of all who signed this petition. Don't watch their movies and tv shows, don't buy their products, and don't buy their dvds. Better yet find out the names and contact information of the corporations and studios who pay these jerks and tie up their phone lines. Let them know we won't spend our money on rapists and their supporters. Harvey Weinstein, Whoopi Goldberg, Natalie Portman, Woody Allen (of course YOU would sign the petition), Michael Man, Tilda Swinton, and all the rest. You should be ashamed but of course one would have to be human to feel that emotion.

Thank you Mr. Martin for this commentary. I do agree with everything you say. The message supporters of Mr. Polanski send to young girls is that 'Hey if the guy you are with is a celebrity, it is ok for him to rape you'.
In my eyes the only person allowed to support Polanski is the victim. And not because he made beautiful movies, but because she finally wants to live her life in peace.

Raping and sodomizing a drugged child deserves a life sentence. Full stop.

If this behavior is acceptable for Mr. Polanski because he is a genius movie director, and his accomplishments excuse him from his behavior, why is it not then true that dopers who do cirmes cannot use their impoverished upbringings as justification for the crimes they do?

My daughter and I wonder how all those Hollywood stars and Polanski feel about lettting the Manson family members go, after all that crime is now very old – they regret their actions, it appears, and are begging to get out

Thank you Roland for speaking the truth that some are unwilling to hear-

He spent 42 days locked and he feared another 48 days behind bars, yet the Hollywood crowd makes it sound like he faced the death penalty. A meager 90 days for raping a 13 year old! Yet another example of a woeful criminal justice system that unleashes pedophiles on children like Elizabeth Smart and Jaycie Dugard.

Hey Matt

He CONFESSED to the crime! Get your facts straight before you blog.

To all:

Boycott all the Hollyweirds who signed the petition in favor of the rapist!

Thank you Roland for expressing so eloquently the thoughts of most of the citizens of this country. Your logic is irrefutable , except of course by someone with an immoral agenda.

I say, move on. As a taxpayer, I do not want to pay for some prosecutor to get into politics by jaling a famous man. Isn't the point of justice to right the victim? Where is the victim here? Isn't she the one begging to let this case to rest?
There are many comments here condemning Polanski. What about the girl's mother? The mother who sent her child to Jack Nicholson's party house ALONE? Many of you have teenage daughters. Would you send your daughter alone for a photoshoot to Charli Sheen's house during his drug fueled sexcapades? And if you did, would your motive be other than money? Can you think of another one? If someone is cynical enough to sell their own child, do you really believe they make a point of advertising child's real age?
I say move on. The girl, now a woman, moved on. What's the point of this sharade? Nothing in Polanski's life after this crime suggest he's a pedophile or a sadist (by the way, I cannot figure out why he was referred to as sadist).
So many Christians here, so little forgivness...

have you read the CNN news piece interviewing the victim, that she forgave him long time ago, and this whole current publicity does her harm that makes the past crime pale in comparison?

have you read about the prosecutors who made a deal with Polanski's attorneys, and it was not honored by the justice system? and that the accused one fled because he was afraid that the judge would withdraw from the previously reached agreement?

you are so two faced, ignorant, opinionated, and narrow-minded. do you see any difference between "rape" and "having sex with minor"? visibly not.

and you have no compassion for others, especially for the victim. you think that if even the victim calls for dismissing the case, you don't care about her.

people like you follow books to the letter, not trying to understand the meaning behind the letters.

For several years now I have been sickened by the way the US legal system has become more and more biased. In the 21st century, fame and fortune are now the basis for immunity to prosecution. Roman Polanski will likely walk away from this with nothing more than a slap on the wrist, and probably much less than that if we look at the law's track record with the likes of Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant, OJ, etc.

How many of these people need to get away with sickening crimes before the country wakes up and does something about it? How, you might say? This one is easy. The one thing that will likely have the biggest effect on this case is the ridiculous petition being circulated around Hollywood. Does anyone know if a complete list of those who have signed this petition has been posted yet? Once it is, I recommend a boycott of any project associated with these sick self-important egotistical rape-supporting degenerates.

Somebody needs to "out" all the celebrities who are in favor of dropping the charges so those of us who still have our morals, brains and wits about us can boycott any TV, movies, etc. that these idiots do.

"Power, Privledge and Justice" eh? Sounds like they need less Power and Privledge and a good old open can of whup Justice opened on them.

I do feel for the victim – who says she's moved on and does not need Polanski to be punished – who is forced to re-live this publicly again and again. But...if Polanski had manned up years ago and faced the legal system, this wouldn't have dragged out for so long. So that's his fault too.

It seems weird to me that Michael Jackson, who was never convicted, got a reputation and was mocked as a child molester (and of course I don't know what really happened there), yet Polanski, who not only admitted guilt for certain, and then ran away, is still revered by his peers.

Why did it take this long for a mainstream newsperson to face up to this? Thank you, Roland Martin, for being apparently the only one with the courage to state what we average people immediately recognized as the truth of this matter. I'm ashamed of the rest of them.

Its clear to me Martin doesnt have the facts as usual hes posted on his blog only those who agree with him , lets see if he posts mine ?

Its very clear that Martin has not read nor seen no asked questions but has only relied to what hes heard or seen on tv all the gossip shows and now I consider CNN in that group .

Try to investigate before you blog Martin .

I believe he should face justice. Absolutely. And so should the priests who abuse children and when found out are only removed from their parish or relocated or the pastors who indulge in illegal behavior, be it drugs or sexual misconduct. And so should everyone who doesn't abide by the law. That is why the law exists. That someone is talented, famous or well-respected, doesn't excuse their criminal conduct.

I agree, Roland. Roman Polanski has suffered immensely in his life, no doubt about that, and I hope the best for him, but he cannot be allowed to escape consequences for what he did to that girl. He has to face up to it.

Very weird that most commenters here write something about how bad everything is and how rotten Hollywood is and how Mr. Martin is right and then they suggest .... to go AGAINST the wishes of the victim who says that it only hurts her more to continue this whole thing. If the victim wants it dropped, why are all of you unable to finally chose the side of the victim? Isn't it about time to think about the victim? Why is revenge so much more important for you than the well-being of the victim? Normally when the victim drops the charges the case is over. So don't sit there pretending to be such great people if you are the ones who now want to hurt the victim more.

Martin,
"Hollywood" is the capitol of solipsism. What else do you expect?

Can someone give me some hard info as to how I could join a legitimate boycott of all who have defended this guy? Please tell us how to really make the studios and theaters financially wince that promote stars that think talented pedophiles should not be prosecuted. Can someone really start a grass roots plan to really make this boycott something that makes stars think twice....number one hit them in their paychecks by heavily boycotting their output and products and hit them again by denying them any positive publicity.

Matt says:
"A mother lets her 13yr old child go to a famous Hollywood Directors home….and he is to blame? You people need to grow up. "

Well yes, Matt, he *is* to blame. The mother certainly is not to be admired, and should almost certainly be charged with neglect, and certainly if the child was still a child, then some intervention on the part of the relevant protective services agency would be warranted.

But none of that excuses the fact that Mr. Polanski, a respected member of society at the time, chose to commit a despicable crime. None of that absolves him of guilt, or responsibility...nor does being, as you put it, "a masterpiece". None of that makes him any less than 100% responsible for his actions on that night.

Put another way Matt, I'm a musician, a drummer in a rock band no less. According to some, there's no more depraved class of people in existence. Yet I'm still entrusted to be around children; I still know right from wrong; and were I to harm any of those children, I think I'd spend a long, long time in prison, and I don't think telling the judge that "her mother really should've known better" would win me any time off.

So tell me, Matt, if a mother of one of the children in your class was to leave her child in your care, are you saying that it would be perfectly excusable for you to drug that child and have sex with him/her, and it would be the *mother's* fault? Perhaps Child Protective Services needs to be looking into YOU....

Thank you, Roland for this well-articulated, reasoned response to this circus of a case. What part of 'drugged and raped a thirteen year old girl' do these people not understand? I don't care how long it's been and it doesn't matter if the victim has 'forgiven' the perpetrator. The LAW was broken and he fled rather than face the consequences of his actions. I don't care how 'artistic' this pedophile is or what horrors he survived (and they were horrific). But he turned around and victimized a child, in spite of his own experiences, which makes the crime that more heinous. He should die in jail. There are plenty of would be actors, directors, and other creative types behind bars. Doesn't mean the deserve a pass for their crimes. Woody Allen should be in jail too.

Thank you for being so clear in your condemnation of Polanski's sick criminal behavior.
There is no gray area in this case.

I agree....Amen Roland!

Hollywood? That's why they invented the Atomic Bomb. Whoopi and the other supporters that believe rape is okay and they're immune from the law like Leona Helmsley.....come back to the real world or leave completely.

There are a lot of questions about the plea deal in this case. Prosecutors do not simply offer plea deals of a much lesser charge when they know they have an open-and-shut case, so there is probably more to this than we know. This never went to trial and there was no testimony, so all the "facts" about this case are after the fact comments with no accountability.

The original judge should have honored the plea agreement instead of threatening not to after Polanski agreed, plead guilty, and was convicted in accordance with the plea bargain. He did not plead guilty to rape, and was never convicted of rape. Perhaps he would never have been convicted of the original charges in court...we will never know.

That said, he certainly needs to face the consequences of his actions. His fugitive status did not put his arguments in a good light, or him in a position to try to right any fault in the court system he may have perceived. He certainly moved freely around Europe for decades, and I find the statements that the prosecution made that they couldn't find him preposterous. When he was on-set making a movie, everyone in the world knew where he was...and they knew the address of his home in Switzerland for decades. It is odd for this to become such an immediate issue after all this time. I hope it is resolved soon for everyone closely involved.

Those who support him should be boycotted, as well as the companies who support them.
Regarding the post about the victim wanting all of this to go away: Of course the victim would want this all to go away, who wants to hear that famous and influential people support the criminal and have the world engaged in your life? – according to your comment, domestic violence is okay because the person stays?
No one should be above the law and there should never be a precedent set that if you have the money and influence to flee, you can get away with a crime.

I do not care that this man is so accomplished. This man drugged and raped a 13 year old child. He was given a plea bargain deal but didn't like that scenario so he skipped the country. It doesn't matter that the victim wants this to go away. A lot of rape victims don't press charges: the sleazy criminals go free to repeat again. I will personally boycott all of his supporters. Polansky is a pedophile, make him serve his sentence and then kick him out of the country! P.S. I am sick and tired of people pulling the race or ethnic card!

Does anyone watch what comes out of Hollywood? The "sexing" of younger and younger actresses. Put iCarley in a bikini, if you haven't kissed by age 10 you are a prude, etc. This is what they are pushing on us. I've just thought they were stupid, but maybe there is a sinister plot to make sex with minors allowable.

And Woody Allen is on his side? Can we say incest. Good grief.

Michael Hsu October 1st, 2009 8:05 pm ET

"Hollywood is rascist! Had it been a black man who raped a 13-yr old white girl, the black man would’ve been hung! (Just look at the US history books for numerous examples of this.) But, somehow because Roman was white, that’s OK?"

Michael Hsu...I have two words for you before you get on your race soapbox...."MICHAEL JACKSON"

I agree.
I’m sick of their lame statements. It’s a 30 year case because Roman Polanski made it a 30 year case. He’s had hard times. So have a lot of other people and they’re not raping children.

And the argument that they don’t want him to do prison time out of consideration for the rape victim. Give me a break! Give me a break!!

I don’t think I’ve ever read anything more narcissistic than that petition complaining that the police dared to interrupt their film festival and plans to honor a rapist. Hey, child rapists interrupt a lot of lives. God forbid this rapist interrupts their lives . And then they blame the police.

Mr. Martin has written an excellant article. The law is the law........no one is above the law. Whether or not someone is famous, a member of clergy or a politician or any other person, they have no right to break the law, especially such a violent crime involving a child. People who support Mr. Polanski's position should ask themselves if they think it would be alright if he violated their child?
The law require that Mr. Polanski be returned to the USA to stand before the court.

There are actually 2 petitions for support of Polanski. You can find both by using your search engine. I would list the names of the people that are famous to the U.S., but I am guessing that my post would not reach the blog. I, too, am interested in a "grass roots" effort for a boycott. Does anyone have a suggestion to get the boycott started?

Mr. Martin, it's refreshing to see that even a liberal apologist for Obama can be right one time out of a hundred!

To those point out that the victim has "forgiven" Polanski, know this... statutory rape has never been about the victim accusing the perpertrator. The point of statutory rape is that the victim is too young to know better.

It doesn't change the crime even if the victim changes her mind when she becomes an adult.

Every year countless adults get prosecuted for statutory rape AGAINST the wishes of the child, yet nobody in Hollywood stands up for them. No one in Hollywood says "aww shucks, that 13 year old is so in love with her 45 year old school teacher... why don't you just let them be?"

Matt, you must be some piece of work. You claim to be a second grade teacher and then infer it's OK for reprobates to rape young girls because they probably lie about the details. Are you sure your not a second-grader? I don't think you have the intelligence or the sensitivity to be a teacher.

Anyone who takes a bite out of his heart would die from the poison!!

People have lost all sense of proportion, common sense and realism.
Today it's all extremes, either one way or the other and the media know so well how to whip up everybody's lurid imaginations and make money off these sensational stories. How chivalrous of you guys to come to the aid of the poor 13 yr-old girl when not that long ago women were men's properties. It's a good thing those times have passed but don't be fooled, there are 13 yr-olds and there are 13-yr olds and some 13-yr olds who want to be famous like to play with fire and know how to flirt and twist men around their little fingers. But when their game becomes serious how well they know to cry rape and their mothers see a nice cash cow. And yes, guys there's rape and there's rape. It's totally different when you're raped by some disgusting, stinking criminal holding a knife to your throat and body parts where you're terrified for your life, and rape that's more like an unwanted and shameful act of seduction and degradation. He didn't threaten her or cut her up, who knows if he was even fully aware of what he was doing given his state of mind following his wife's murder. He was in prison for 42 days, was evaluated as a non sex deviant, there was a plea deal that the media hounding judge reneged on, a settlement with the victim, who herself begs everyone to DROP IT! But all you self righteous strangers who have nothing to do with the case, you puritanical, judgmental hypocrites, you know better and all of you are absolutely sure that this guy is a horrible criminal rapist and must be brought to justice to the good ol' U.S. of A. where justice is always done. And then what, how many millions will be spent to give him probation, or maybe put him in jail for 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, so he can die there, to assuage your sense of outrage, all the while the really horrible rapists, those keeping their captives in their yards for 18 years remain free, continuing their crime spree. Grow some common sense, people!!!

Excellent commentary Roland. What I find most idiotic about the Pro Polanski argument is that it's been "30 plus years get over it". Well it's been 30 years BECAUSE POLANSKI RAN AWAY from his punishment. He cowardly ran away just like a pedophile. They can prey, attack and kill a child, but when it comes time for them to face their own punishment and suffering, they run and hide.

This man is a disgrace and I'm glad to hear that his supporters are decreasing in number. I hope they throw away the key to his cell.

Here, here I agree whole-heartedly with Mr. Martin...Pay the price buddy, I don't care who you are!

Roland Martin, as a loyal Republican, I officially take back every criticism I ever leveled against you. You are THE voice of reason on this subject. You give me hope that Repubs and Dems can see eye to eye one day! Keep fighting the good fight!

I agree!!

The petition signers need to go in front of a room full of child rap victims and explain why it's OK to let him off the hook.

your comments are right on .. any support for Polanski is beyond pathetic and reprehensible ..

Roland, thank you for expressing so eloquently what every decent person is thinking.

Blah, blah, blah!

While I agree with all that has been said, it won't amount to a tinker's damn if we all keep spending money on Woody Allen, Debra WInger, Martin Scorsese, and Whoopi Goldberg films. These folks know where their next job is coming from and it ain't from people who know right from wrong.

Thank you Roland! Well put. I like you comment about Woody Allen too Joy. Put them in adjoining cells.

Right on. I don't think it could have been said better. I'm not sure Polanski should be sent up the river til he dies, but he must accept whatever sentence he gets.

Roland thank you for speaking up! You are absolutely RIGHT!

At long last, a voice of reason. Brilliant piece, Mr. Martin. Roman Polanski is a pathetic individual who should spend the rest of his life behind bars paying for his heinous crimes–end of story.

What the heck is rape-rape???
What does that even mean?

100% agree with you and would like to add that Hollywood is clueless on so many issues. They live in fantasy land and should keep their months shut when it comes to any issue of any importance.

As much as I do agree with what was written, there is alot more to the story. The girl looked alot older than 13 and polanski had no idea she was underage. It was the 70s and everyone was always high/stoned and having sex everywhere. I believe the girl at the time lied about her age and that's why they tried to settle i think out of court as well.

give the man a break!

his "victim" is over it why aren't you all???

and this has really nothing to do with Hollywood>

And who is standing behind him? None other than Woody (take your daughter to bed) Allen. Priceless! Not a one of his vast supporters has the backbone to honestly declare what they think. Afraid of their own seedy lives being exposed. It takes some wonderful adults and parents to stand up and point a finger at a 13 year old, like she asked for it, but there we have it. We also have Polanski grinning like a man that has gotten away with something that most of us in this world still find precious...a child's soul, childhood, honor, quality of life, reputation, and future...not to mention a few others. But damn...he's got talent!

Great article. Couple more observations:

1. As a check on potential abuse, judges are not bound by the plea agreements reached between the prosecutors and defense attorneys. The judge is an independent entity that decides what's appropriate - s/he'll consider the prosecutor's recommendations but s/he is not required to follow it. So those of you saying RP was abused by the judicial system are wrong.

2. Woody Allen's endorsement here is laughable - didn't he leave his wife for his adopted daughter?!?!?!?

3. RP was arrested on his way to an awards ceremony - what a narcissist!

4. His flight from the law is by itself reprehensible, as is the french govemment shielding a confessed child molester.

Let him rot!

Right on Roland! Well said.

Mr. Martin...right on

totally agree with martin. we have laws to protect children from being harm by pedophiles. Hollywood is giving the Fox news machine ammo for sticking up for Polanski.

Thanks Roland for being the voice of reason and finally someone saying Hollywood is wrong

victim says move on. it was 40 years ago. LA county does not have budget to fight a high profile case (and what if it LOST?).

make him pay a big fine to the victim and let's all move on.

Amen. This man is a filthy predator and should be condemned as such by everyone with any heart.

I am ashamed for Hollywood and mortified that the victim herself is now saying we should just let it go.

Had the man just taken his punishment when it was given, he might have been worthy of forgiveness. Running like a coward just goes to prove that he is a man without conscience or soul.

And Mr. Martin, you are right. Had such a thing happened to a child of any of the mentioned celebrities, I daresay not one of them would rest until the criminal was buried under the jail.

Yes, oh famous Hollywood people, he is a brilliant film maker – but ask yourself...would you leave your children alone with him?

For those who have posted saying " the victim wants to move and and drop this" , How can you even say that? This crime is a felony. This is not just a crime against our society. Ii makes no difference that it happened years ago, it is a sick, gross, disgusting crime, that under no circumstance should go unpunished.
There is absolutely no circumstance that would mitigate the fact that a 44 year old man drugged and raped a 13 year old girl. At the time of the crime, she was legally, morally, and ethically unable to consent. He fled the country to avoid prosecution of a felony child rape case that he pled guilty to. Please dont defend this piece of trash.

BOYCOTT ANY ACTOR OR MOVIE STUDIO THAT SIDES WITH CHILD RAPIST POLANSKI. BOYCOTT THEM AND GO ON OTHER WEBSITES AND ASK OTHERS TO BOYCOTT ANY FILM MAKER THAT SAYS IT IS "OKAY" FOR AN ADULT TO RAPE A CHILD.

Thank you for finally telling it like it is. Ask any one of these left-wing liberals if it was their 13 year old daughter that some 46 year old pervert gave alcohol and qualudes to and then had sex with her if it would be ok because he is an "Artist'". They think that the rules don't apply to them because the are a bunch of spoiled rich babies. But if it were their child and the tables were turned, they would be singing a different tune.

I have worked in the film industry for nearly 20 years, both in Hollywood and outside of California. I can honestly say that the majority of people I know want to put Polanski under the jail and not because of personal grudges with him – but simply because of what he did to this little girl.

Hollywood is filled with a bunch of idiots – why do we, as consumers feed their lifestyles?? We buy movies, watch them, get entertained, and somehow, someway have some kind of esteem for these goofballs – like we somehow know them or think that they deserve our respect. Hollywood seems to be our modern day Sodom and Gomorrah and remember what happened to that city. Hollywood = Perversive Tolerance and in some cases encourage lude, grotesque behavior.

I mean is anyone really surprised that WOODY ALLEN would jump to his defense? Both of them are nasty dirty old men.

PS: the reverse racism on this one from blacks in the media is sickening. what about your hero, Michael Jackson? I guess it's okay for a man to molest children (homosexually, in that case), over decades and decades, so long as he's black (or at least was as a child himself before doing everything he could to distance himself from being black).

Who in the world do these Hollywood people think they are? Are we supposed to say, "Oh! Hollywood said set Polansky free, so I quess that's right thing to do."

They also said, "Vote for Obama!" I didn't.

They have this attitude that they are always right (or should I say left).
But, there are more important people in this country than movies stars. Have you ever seen how high garbage can pile up on the side of the street when Garbage Men go on strike.

I can live without my movies and their stars, but I can't live (and may even die) if my garbage is not picked up on a regular basis. And, you know what? The Garbage Men never assume that their jobs give them the right to say what is right.

And by the way, what in the world is "Rape Rape". Goldberg needs to come back down to reality.

Finally, somebody has hit the nail on the head! It does not matter how connected a person is; rape is rape and to rape a child is as low as it goes. Drag Polanski back and make him finally pay for his crime, regardless of whether or not the victim feels he should do so. God bless, you Roland. You're spot on.

I couldn't disagree with you more. The other people at the house that night thought she was older than that, she received gobs of money from him, and most importantly, she wants it dropped....

....bad things happen under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and under these circumstances it's ok to let this man go, whether or not he's Roman Polanski or Joe the Plumber

Mr. Martin:

Thank you for this ... For the life of me I cannot see why these hollywood folks are rallying to his indefensible actions...

more reason for nuking Hollywood from orbit

Absolutely phenomenal article! NOBODY deserves special treatment! Everybody is talented in their own way. Most are more talented than the pathetic idiots that call themselves stars. I hope they throw him in jail for 50 years! And they should put all who are coming to his defense in jail too!

To LA VIRO aka non-thinking individual, who asked

"Why is it that Jews think they are above the law?"

I probably should not even dignify your ignorance, but I know plenty of Jews who think they are not above the law, and plenty of gentiles who do. People are people.

But to answer your direct question, maybe because this is a HUMAN thing to do, and HUMAN beings (similar to yourself) do ignorant things.

Crawl back under your rock.

Thank you for being brave and smart enough to print the truth. I'm quite tired of the "Golden Hollywood Ticket". Shame on anyone who has the guts to protect someone who has performed such an unthinkable and horrific act. It is a test of integrity when someone is asked to weigh in on a case such as this. Do they have any? Clearly Hollywood has shown that many supremely lack it. And what if you were that child's parent? Then what? Forgive and forget? I think not. There is never a good enough excuse to violate a child. Never.

I agree 100%. Too many think that childhood sexual abuse is a "little thing that happened a long time ago". As a survivor myself of sexual abuse, the scars, disfunctional behaviors, self-hatred and lack of faith in anything or anyone can go on for decades or even an entire life if the person does not get good therapy.

Polanski should be prosecuted just like any other pedophile. He is amongst the criminals that even murders and hardcore felons are smart enough to despise.

Smarten up Hollywood, you all are not above the law!!

Mr. Martin,

Thank you for writing a succinct piece on this topic. Could you possibly publish the names of the individuals who signed the petition "demanding" the release of Polanski? I would like to boycott their work – something tells me I won't be going to the movies any time soon....

Finally, someone in the media who sees this for what it is. Good job Roland.

Did he spend 48 days in jail or prison ? Just want to get things right about what happened then.
I agree that this fugative pedopile should serve whatever time the "guidelines" for raping a child suggested at that time. He also should serve some additional time for running out of the country to avoid sentencing and serving his time.

Amen Roland!

PA: Just because we are calling for his prosecution does not mean we are not thinking about the victim or that we just want revenge. We are thinking about all the future victims Roman Polanski could have and protecting them. We are thinking about fairness which occasionally, and in this case, involves punishment. We are thinking that he committed two crimes, the other being that left the country and that THAT needs to be punished as well.

Roman Polanski is a sex offender and should be treated as one.

PA apparently doesn't understand the American justice system. The crime is ultimately against the state. The victim doesn't bring charges...the state does. She can choose not to testify but she can't choose to drop charges.

For those who see this as a racial issue and believe had Mr. Polanski been black he wouldn't get away with it, let's simply recall the OJ case in which a famous black man got away with murder. The Polanski case is hardly about race...it may however, be about Hollywood elite since Robert Blake also got away with murdering his wife. Frankly, it was surprising Phil Spector was convicted!

Regardless, I, too, am 100% in agreement with Mr. Martin's position. He is absolutely correct. Those that believe Polanski should not be held accountable for his crime against this 13 year old and society, need to reexamine their value system. It is seriously askew.

(And for the record, I am about as far from conservative as they come.)

Martin, it is rare that I ever agree with you but on this occasion I could not have said it any better. She was a child. Rape is Rape. He should pay the price. Role on Roland.

Roland,

I, too, have not agreed with you in the past on certain politics but you absolutely drove the correct point home in this piece. We are a society of laws and those laws are suppose to be blind to race, sex, age and social status. Polanski broke the law and he should pay for his crime. Hollywood is radically out of touch with most of America at this point. Its very clear to me. I do wonder if Polanski had raped one of Hollywood's elites 13 year-old daughters if that would be approved of? Who knows. With Hollywood today, it just might be seen as "ok" which is truly sad.

Thanks again for a great piece.

Well said! I completely agree. A committed felon should never be held in the lime light. Polanski is where he should be....in jail!

You are absolutely 100% correct sir. He commited a heinous crime, and should face the judge like anyone else would!

it shows our stupid everyone is. MOre people were upset over Kanye dissing Taylor Swift at the MMA's than they are at a perv who "raped" raped a 13 year old girl.

Excerpts of the grand jru hearing can befound at smokinggun.com The victim was asked why she didnt do more to fight him off – her answer was that she was a afraid of him. THATS RAPE.

In this case, the Hollywood folks are forgiving because many of them (not all) empathize with Polanksi's plight. Many of them have lived, and are likely still living, depraved, excentric lives...loaded with drugs, bizarre and oddly extravagant sex, not to mention the excessive opulence. This leads to the arrogant, delusional attitude the Hollywood folks so proudly display. Bottom line...of course they understand Polanski...there's a little bit Polanski in all of them.

Thank you Roland. This just demonstrates that there are still 2 classes of people in this country and their are still two sets of laws. One for the "Haves" and one for all the rest of us. I seriously doubt that the Hollywood folks would be making such a stir over this were it one of us "rest of us" folks. I can see them jumping on the "rightous indignation" bandwagon if they thought it would get them some free publicity however.

Perhaps we could go to one set of laws applied equally to everyone. I realize that is radical thinking but maybe we could try it.

Like one of the other bloggers, I do not always concur with your opinion Roland, but on this occasion, I salute you for exposing the Hollywood sycophants who live in a world other than ours. I respect the fact that you laid them open and that you injected into the conversation your faith. I do not wear my faith on my sleeve, but it guides me in all I do and is the underpinning to my values and my morals. Thanks, and good job for defining a moral platform from which to proceed. Keep swinging!

and by the way WHAT 13 year old would ever agree to anal sex with a virtual stranger? For this the scum gets a little over 40 days in jail??

Right on Roland!!

Thank you! I was beginning to think I was the only one who thought he should be brought back here to face his punishment. I wonder how his supporters would feel if it was their 13 year old daughter that was raped and sodomized by a 40 year old man. Makes me sick!

Oh by the way James get your facts straight before you blog. I suppose your a pedifile too! Oops maybe I don't have my facts straight. None-the-less a confession and he ran off to avoid the consequences, a coward too. I hope he gets life and in his case that shouldn't be too long. Perverts like this belong behind bars. God only knows how many others he has done this to. I used to think Angelica Huston was a great actress and film maker now I will never watch another one of her films along with the others on that list. For her to standby and let this happen is horrible. She, the filmers, and everyone else there should have been prosecuted, the mom too! By the way where was the mom. Even if they didn't know how old she was, they knew he plied this girl with alcohol and drugs and then forced her to have sex, that's rape period!

Here is another case of people in Hollywood feeling they are above the law. Roman Polanski needs to face up to his actions and take punishment like a man....oh wait, there are NO real men in Hollywood.

Thank you Roland for the best written article this year.

Roland, you are a moron, along with so many folks commented here. "His wife was the victim of a brutal crime and so was Samantha Gailey." Are you crazy comparing this with a murder of a woman and unborn child? You call him "sadistic". Were you there? How do you know? Our country and Hollywood continues creating masterpieces exactly because they are "out of touch" with the likes of you.

Quite straightly put, and quite on the mark, No matter what, he fled the jursidiction after comitting rape upon a young girl. My feeling is that he has not stopped such behavior, and has continued in the same pattern. I don't care what his alleged "artistic" talents are purported to be. He committed a crime, fled the punishment, and foreign governments and celebrities have ignored that very real fact. I have no concerns about France, Switzerland, Hollywood, celebs or other opinions. He did the crime, fled responsibility, and must account legally for his actions. Extradite, try, sentence and undertake the punishment which is his responsibilty to serve. Jewish or not, the man is a pedophile, commited to crime, and it's about time the arrogant pederast faced up to the consequences. We hunt Nazis to the grave. He is no different.

I couldn't agree more with Mr. Martin. Amazingly enough I've debated with people about this same issue...most of which are on Polanski's side. Their arguments have been that he's paid his dues because he's had to flee for 30+ years and that the victim doesn't want this case to go forward so we should all just let the man be.

Are you kidding me?! I don't understand this sort of thinking quite honestly. He's been living FREE for 30+ years and there is no telling how many more young girls he's raped/molested who haven't and will not come forward. People say he's been rehabilitated. HOW?!

Honestly, I am amazed at how many people are on this man's side. It's really disappointing to see how lax people are about the whole thing. I truly believe these same people would feel completely opposite if the man weren't such a famous and brilliant 'visionary'. If a normal guy committed this crime the torches would be burning and stones would be thrown.

And all of this comes from a fan of the man's work...but no one, and I mean NO ONE is above the law. I hope he rots in prison.

Right on Roland! Coiuldn't agree with you more. I was once a huge fan of Ms. Winger but no more. Cannot repsect someone with those strange values and views.

La Viro – so, several people who are Jewish represent all Jews? Sheer idiocy. By the way, get your facts straight, last I heard Martin Scorcese and Whoopi Goldberg (last name notwithstanding) aren't Jewish. Believe me, there are many, many Jews, myself included, who deplore what Polanksi did, and do not support in any way his being exempt from justice. Don't blame an entire group for what a few individuals say and do. But, I have a feeling you won't take this to heart - you appear to be driven by hate and not facts.

Others have been criminally prosecuted for raping a minor. And Hollywood thinks this man is above the law? I'm sure other offenders have been equally intelligent, creative and opportunistic. Does Hollywood not not believe in justice for all? Or justice for those who aren't smart enough to get away with it.

Thank you for expressing exactly my thoughts on this case. Rape is rape and a pedophile is a pedophile, regardless of the "art" he may create.

Thank you Mr. Martin for this article. i was beginning to think that i was in the minority for wanting justice to be served to this admitted, CONVICTED child sex offender. He needs to be punished severely for his offense and for his cowardly act of fleeing the country to avoid repaying his debt to society as well as having his face plastered on the registered sex offender web-site like the rest of those monsters. Some individuals are commenting on here about "If it were a black man that raped a white kid he wouldve been hung" well get a clue dude this has nothing to do with race so dont try to make it about that. This is a case of a HUMAN adult that stole the innocence of a 13 yr old HUMAN child race is not even in the disussion. Thank you again Mr. Martin for this article it let me know im not the only one that feels exactly like you do!

He's a paedophile plain and simple, i dont care how famous, how talented or how rich or for that matter how long ago this happened...
and anybody that comes out in support of this sicko are themselves supporting paedophilia....

How much do you want to bet this guy has done this a few times since then. Matt, you are sick individual and it scares me to think that you are a second grade teacher. You seem to have an issue with kids and it bothers me to think that you somehow understand this other sicko. I hope and prey that you are not doing any weird things with those second graders.

The facts are very simple. 1) while the DA and Polanski's attorneys reached a plea agreement that does not mean the judge has to accept it. He does have discretion.
2) Polanski did not fulfill the requirements the justice system laid before him. He decided to become a fugitive. He must face the consequences. If he didn't like it, appeal. NOBODY is above the law.

Wow the system, and justifiers keep getting worse!!!! Sounds like the same crap that came from the court system and the Jury that even though my ex admitted to touching my 6 year old daughter and open court let him go saying ....he was nieve and admitted it was wrong. RAPE IS RAPE. ANYONE THAT JUSTIFIES THIS BECAUSE OF SOCIETY INPUT OR FAME GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL. AND MAY YOUR WIFE OR DAUGHTER EVER HAVE IT HAPPEN TO THEM!! IF IT DID YOU WOULD BE ON CNN SO FAST EXPECTING JUSTICE!!!!!

Roland,
I find your comments to be intelligent, insightful, well informed and well researched with some old fashioned common sense thrown in for good measure. Sadly, I was surprised to see your uncharacteristic derogatory reference to France. Seems you lost your footing there for a moment. Otherwise good post as always.

What I express does not lessen the severity of such heinous crime but there is one crucial fact that Roland overlooked in his commentary - As an adult, Samantha Geimer, the victim, begged/demanded that the case be dropped.

We must respect her wishes. You & I are no one to pass judgment or second guess her. We can't punish Polanski for all rapists' crimes more than we do those Boston child abusing priests. And don't we have different standards wrt the Boston child abusing priests, here? The bottom line is, whether we like it or not, we must respect the victims' wishes, especially in this case.

The most we could do with Polanski is to punish him for jumping bail. But since the victim have dropped all charges, this became a slippery slope.

There are bigger fish to fry. It'd be more effective that we channel our energy and go after more serious perpetrators.

You rape, you get found guilty, you flee because you dont want to go to jail. When you get caught, you pay the price. This is very simple common sense. Reasons and excuses? There are none for having sex with a minor and there are none for rape either. Its basically an open and shut case, to which Polanski plead guilty. Far as i know he was judged sane so that he could be tried in the first place. So all potential excuses have been dismissed and It matters not that Polanski suffered thru the holocaust or his wife was killed. Its unfortunate and even worse than unfortunate but not an excuse for underage rape. So my wife gets murdered in our home when someone breaks in. That makes it ok for me to drug and rape a child? I hardly think so. And it doesnt matter when the act took place the punishment has to be taken, so Polanski has to step up to the plate and take his punishment like the man he is obviously not.

Right on!!!!!!!!!! This guy should face the consecuences for his actions. That's all there is to it.

The people that defend those criminal actions should be ashamed of themselves. Whoopi saying "I don't believe it was rape-rape"...say what? I would like her to explain what other type of rape exists...or maybe she means there are different degrees of rape. Maybe she can explain that to us in her next program.

I wonder how rape victims feel when they hear this "intelligent" coments.

Go get 'um! He pled to the crime and skipped out on the punishment. Make him do his time! You hit the nail on the head – he shouldn't be given a pass just because he's famous.

To Matt who commented at 8:13- If she lied, why did he plead guilty? I'm 19 and would never imagine doing this with a girl that young. He was 44. Its sick. He belongs in prison. I hope he rots in a jail cell for the rest of his life and in hell for all of eternity. It's times like these that I curse our justice system for not having cruel and unusual punishment because this is definitely someone who deserves it. He should be happy he got away with it for 32 years. Its time he face the music.

If he did the crime, he needs to step up to the plate and take his lumps, just like anyone else would have to. It doesn't matter that he's "famous director" or that it's been 30 years. He needs to take his punishment, like everyone else.

I love how being a member of Hollywood makes stars think we care what they think, they probably can't even spell rape.

Matt, who identifies himself as an elementary school teacher, needs to have his teaching license revoked. Anyone in his position who would blame a drugged 13 year old for being raped and sodomized has some serious problems of his own to deal with. And he sure as hell won't be teaching my kids.

Roland ... great article and you're absolutely correct. If he had raped my thirteen year old daughter, I would have gone after him myself and brought him back to the U.S. Or worse!

Roland,
I often disagree with you, but you are spot on on this case. And for those of you who claim this is case about race or ethnicity, I disagree with you. I don't think racism or semitism plays any part in this case, and maybe you should examine your own prejudices before you attach the label of racism on everything.

That being said, I do feel that the hollywood elites feel that their money, prestige, and percieved "contributions" to society place them above the law. Since Polanski is a friend and colleague of theirs, he is above reproach in their eyes.

It does not matter that the victim does not want this brought up again. While I have nothing but sincere empathy for her, this case goes beyond her. Justice serves a purpose beyond making the victim feel vindicated. A good portion of society must feel that criminals will be punished. If people percieve that criminals go unpunished, then victims and victims family will cease to trust the legal system to provide them with retribution/closure/etc. That is a recipe for rampant vigilantes. A society where vigilantes are the preferred method of justice can no longer survive.

JMHO

chemfro

This doesn't happen very often, but I agree with you wholeheartedly.

Let keep this simple. Regardless of the crime, person, situation, etc…. he fled the country before sentencing. Anybody who flees sentencing has committed a crime of it’s own. This person should answer for his original crime and face the charges for fleeing the county.

There is no black and white when it comes to abusing children. Michael Jackson was never convicted, and this makes a difference (which is not to say that he shouldn't have been). Roman plead guilty. Absolutely no shade of grey there. And I feel sorry for the victim which is continually raped by the media. I understand her wanting to forget about all this, but I hope her main abuser will be brought to justice.

This is a sorry state of the world. Just the other day CNN reported on a case where a family had their children taken away because a concerned employee of Wal-Mart saw naked photos of the kids in the bathtub. Big Problem!

The Penthouse magazine containing and all consensual films starring Traci Lords made prior to her 18th birthday are considered kiddie porn and should have been destroyed. Big Problem!

Newer prints of Pretty Baby starring Brooke Shields has been cut to remove the full frontal nudity scenes. Big Problem!

In 1977 Roman Polanski forces himself on a 13 year old. Big Problem!

Now let's play devil's advocate for a moment. Say we forgive his "little mistake" at the request of the victim, does noone remember that unlawful flight to evade justice is still a crime?

The "Industry" thinks he should be let off the hook because of his genius, but can Hollywood justify locking anyone up? After all wasn't Hitler was a genius in the minds of his countrymen? Bernie Madoff did make some people rich so why not excuse him? Why is Phillip Garrido being held for raping Jaycee Lee Dugard? After all he was providing her with free room and board.

Polanski, along with Scorcese, Winger, Whoopie, and the other idiots should be gang raped and have a documentary made about it.

That's a $12 ticket I'd buy.

In response to Matt, if you truly are a 2nd grade teacher then by your statement alone you clearly should be fired. Any man who says that a 13 your old girl could not have been raped because she went to this directors house should not be around children. The facts in this case are simple and are NOT DISPUTED, even by Mr. Polanski. He gave a 13 year old girl drugs and alcohol. He then precided to take nude pictures of her (child pornography), perform oral sex on her (she said no), have vaginal sex with her (she again said no), and then have anal sex with her (she again said no). As far as I can tell Mr. Polanski is guilty of child pornography, drugging a child, giving alcohol to a child, and raping a girl. Even if she had been willing, it would be statutory rape. (He was 41, she was 13). The fact that any human being could even begin to think it is okay to defend this man is horrific.

This is the first time I'm commenting on cnn.com. Just because I feel so strongly about this case. I couldn't agree with you more. At a time when rape (including child rape) is being used in certain war-torn parts of the world to punish civilians caught in conflict zones, any attempt to trivialize rape makes me feel sick. And it is child rape we are talking about here, which is one of the most heinous of all crimes.

This situation is purely bizarre and disgusting that the cogniscenti of Hollywood are backing this rapist – ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!

WHERE IS THE SITE OR PETITION BLACKLISTING ALL THE MOVIES WEINSTEIN, WACKO-WOODY AND OTHERS INCLUDING BRAINWASHED FEMALES, HAVE MADE – SIGN ME UP.

Well written article. I just need to find the full list of those who've signed this petition in support of Polanski so I'll know who to boycott going forward. What an absurd stance for people to take. You'd think that if these folks had any common sense they'd opt to just remain silent on the matter. I'd imagine their agents are pulling their hair out realizing their 'star power' will diminish, along with the salaries they might demand. Interesting that Jack Nicholson and Angelica Huston are remaining mum. I bet they're cowering at home, trying to hide from any microphones. I hope Polanksi will spend a very long time in jail for his crimes.

+1 to roland martin's words ... i am a left leaning centrist all for free speech and creative blah blah blah ... but my tolerance stops at criminal behaviour .. i hope RP gets extradited and spends a long sentence in a hard prison for the rape and the evasion of justice

the "victim" doesn't want this prosecuted.. the judge was a corrupt power seeker.. Justice wasn't beign served then.. or now. Maybe you should worry about inmprotant thigns.. such as all the 13 year old kids who can't read, write.. or have food to eat

I can't believe Whoopi made the comment she did on National TV. She really lost it this time! She said, "I don't know what it is.." and "It wasn't rape-rape". If she didn't know what it was, then she's an idiot, and should have kept her mouth shut. Just what is rape-rape, as opposed to rape? Jeesh!

CNN or someone really needs to find out who this freak "Matt" really is. As a father of three girls, I am thoroughly frightened by the fact that this sicko is a second grade teacher. Someone like this does not deserve privacy on any blog or other media.

Hollywood has to see that he is free. Remember these are people that pass around their ex wives and husbands like candy.
As part of their job they have simulated sex and affectionate acts with strangers, as part of their role playing. They must do this AND try and go home and pretend it is nothing. They must convince their spouses, family and us that it's just a job.
At times they must play vile characters as part of their job and be alright with it.
If there is truly a lost civilization, it is Hollywood. They have no clue, will not get a clue and there is a wall to keep YOU out. It is a small club and those that get in are so grateful that they will say what they need to in order to stay in.

Mr. Smith, you are a fence sitter. You know what I'm talking about, loud and clear.

Thank you, thank you, thank you...I am appalled & disgusted at the elitist attitudes displayed by some key Hollywood players who have come to the defense of Polanski. It's high time he paid for the crime he committed. I too will not spend one dime, minute or otherwise viewing any film or other work by any of those mentioned above. Maybe this should be a wake up call to the "holier than thou" – you people are NOT above the law and there aren't a separate set of laws for you and another for "us." How sickening.

I agree completely w/ Mr. Martin and I think it's sad and absolutely sickening that there are actually people out there that would condone Polanski's actions. It's no surprise that these individuals are Hollywood stars that are so out of touch w/ reality they think that the rest of the world has a similar moral code as theirs, or lack thereof. They should all go to jail for being stupid.

I agreed with him over everything until he brought up GOD.

I have to add that this all happened during the hippies era. It was wrong. It also was so long ago. This person paid for his mistake by being hunted all his life. Worse then 48 days in prison he was expected to serve.

This is to all the people saying the case should be dropped because the victim wishes it. Sorry, but that is not how our judicial system works! And for good reason. Otherwise you run into situations where victims are threatened or paid off or whatever to "want the case dropped." If you asked some children of abuse if they wanted the case against their parents dropped, many would answer yes because they love and want to protect them. Yes, this woman is now an adult, but that is still not how it works! That's great that she can move on and has forgiven him. But justice must still be served. For everyone! No one gets a free pass no matter how the victim feels about it. Why is it so hard for people to grasp this basic concept of our legal system?

Excellent piece, excellent!!!!

What is rape-rape? This term has been used by several people and is very scary. He raped a child. No two ways about it. Is there really a type of rape that is less tragic, hurtful, life altering and illegal?
I'm afraid it's not just Hollywood that thinks this man has a free pass. It's frightening that we don't protect our children and women as well as all these people want to protect a criminal.

Like the church circling the wagons to protect the priests, Hollywood is protecting one of its own. When I heard what Whoopi said, I had visions of Bill Clinton saying "it depends on what ":is" is....its not rape-rape, it was virtual rape or near rape, but not rape-rape...C'mon he made some good movies......What the flognotz is that ?
Shut up and make tv shows and movies and let the law handle the pereverts....who asked these idiots anyway...
I can see it now... yes your honor, I call Woody Allen as my character witness, yikes!!

Hi Roland,

You are eactly right on this one, and Thank-you! Being a mother and a women cannot believe that this guy has been free so long and has been allowed to go on with his entitled life without being held accountable for his disgusting selfish actions towards a child. I don't care who he is or what he has been through........... it was wrong wrong wrong! No excuses!!!!

polanski violated the law, he should go to prison.

We didn't need another reason to dislike Whoopie, but we just got one! What an idiot!

I find it very sad that the left wing hollywood radicals that get mad as hell about the injustices of the world, can dowgrade this admitted rape by Mr. Polanski. What about that young lady's rights? What about him paying for his attack on her? How would they feel if it was their daughter who was raped?
Thank you Mr. Martin for expressing what I have been thinking since this story broke.... and yet no one took the side of the victim in the mainstream media. Kudos to you Mr. Martin!

Whoopie you've lost it. Please say you didn't really say

“I know it wasn’t rape-rape. I think it was something else, but I don’t believe it was rape-rape."

Whoopie, it was rape, rape, rape, rape, rape, rape. :

– She was 13
– He got her drunk
– He gave her ludes
– He scared her
– He did her
– She didn't like it

Great cast of characters weighing in on Polanski's behalf. The only ones missing are Jose Garrido and the sick freakshow who kidnapped and raped Elizabeth Smart.

Thanks Mr. Martin,

Steve R

Roland is spot on and is any one really surprised at the response coming out of Hollywood?

Hello...Woody Allen, Rob Lowe are just two names of the Hollywood elite who were caught with there pants down engaging in sex with minors.

Couldn't have said it better myself! Most hollywood actors are idiots, and their behavior in this matter proves that!

I can't help but feel that all this proselytizing is just an expose of your cultural indoctrination There's no reason to suppose that those who are 'defending' polanski against extradition are somehow supporting the idea of taking advantage of a minor, of dominating someone's will with your own - rather, in practical circumstances, wasting resources on court precedings and extradition is for little more than boosting the ego of the self-righteous such as the author of this opinion piece. It will not restore the victim, it will not 'cure' Polanski fo any affliction that he doesn't seem to have at this point. The victim has even requested the case be dropped so she herself can stop being strained about it. If the victim and her family don't care, who are we to take on the guise of judge and executioner? If Polanski ended up in the states incidentally, then yes, the local police are obligated to arrest him, it's their job. But the State Dept has better things to do than make you feel good about your righteous fury, backed by a passion that is better spent elsewhere. It's not that what he did is right; it was definitely wrong. But it is certailny none of your business, and you are not acting on the part of the victim (who has not requested this) or the criminal (who has long since moved beyond this debacle to a health family life), you're working for yourself. In short, butt out.

Labels, labels, labels.

As a member of THE MEDIA, Roland, shouldn't you be wary of slinging around all-containing titles like HOLLYWOOD? It's all so tiresome, lumping everyone into big, easily digestible groupings.

you know, like...

MEDIA.

HOLLYWOOD.

MUSLIMS.

JEWS.

BLACKS.

the beat goes on. and on. and on...so tiresome.

Roland you hit the nail on the hammer!!!!!

Right on, Roland.

I think Whoopie came out in defense of Michael Vick as well.
Hollywood has it's head up it's own butt! An I live there, so I know!

AMEN!!! Of all the comments I've heard in support of this piece of shiz, none in any way excuse his actions. For all the hollywood nutjobs that think his life's work somehow excuses this behavior, here's a straightforward analogy: fire-fighters and policemen/women save lives for a living. Do they get off any easier for homicide/rape/child molestation? Can anyone in their right mind say they should?? No and no. God people are so stupid...boggles the mind.

Mr. Martin has said it all.....what more needs to be said ? Polanski has been a fugitive from justice, plain and simple....Hollywood out of touch ? Now, more than ever !

Absolutely spot on assessment, imo. Great article.

Hollywood isn't stupid, nor are the majority of actors and directors. Their support of Polanski is purely political. People in the industry are afraid of a backlash if they speak out. Hence, the lovefest commences and they praise Polanski for his talents.

He fled the country prior to sentencing and he should be held accountable for his crimes. It's as simple as that. Hollywood is just throwing a smokebomb into the mix and trying to confuse the issue.

Thank you Mr. Martin!

BTW will someone please explain to me just what "rape rape" is? I always thought rape was rape period.

This guy ran after admitting the crime. No excuses please.

I agree that this man performed a despicable act on a young naive and probably star-struck teenager, and I believe he should pay for that. Despite what everyone is saying about his opulent living arrangements since going on the run, do you people really believe that he wasn't constantly worried about being brought back? How many would actually want to be running from the law? Would that be fun, or would it not be as stressful as serving a jail sentence?

He was only looking at less than two months, probably at the most, but he has spent decades on the run; that’s a sentence in itself.

Maybe this is too important a crime, maybe California doesn't have this option on its' books, but there is such a thing as deferred prosecution and deferred adjudication that is handed out to those the law considers add more to humanity by being given another chance. Everybody deserves at least a second chance, and many receive chance after chance after chance. This man does more for society than he does against it – far more.

The victim in this matter wants it to go away, because it is again making her even more of a victim. I would think her wishes should count.

Is this simply a case where once you run from the law, they want a piece of you really bad? I always did think it was a stupid idea to run, and I think that has got to be what this is mostly about. Remember the line, “What we have here is a failure to communicate”? The law must never be made to look like you got one over on them – right?

Like most of you in this comment area, I am taking note of all the Hollywood elites supporting Polanski, or down-playing this serious crime. I hope they are never in a position where their children or grandchildren are rapped by a 40-something year old man after he drugs them and photographs them, because that support will come back to haunt them. France's 'outrage' just shows how uncivilized that country is thinking it is okay to rape children if you are famous or make good movies. Let's not forget, the real victim is the 13-year old girl, now in her forties herself, after living a life of being haunted by this incident her entire life. Thanks Roland for speaking our minds.

I don't give a damn whether this girl consented or not. I remember being 13, being confused about sex and love, being naive, believing that a young man who showed interest in me must have appreciated how incredibly mature and smart I was. That is why children cannot legally consent to sex!! They have no idea what's really going on! They're little girls in womanly bodies. SHAME ON YOU, ROMAN POLANSKI!

I fully appreciate that the victim doesn't want to be put through this year after year. So get it right this time. Make this man pay more than money for his crime. Sex with a child is rape. Period.

Whoopi, I am thoroughly disgusted with you.

A guy in my neighborhood got life in prison for having consensual sex with a 13 year old girl. No rape, consensual sex. He was 18, not in his 40's like Polanski. Sound harsh? Maybe, maybe not. But why should some rich hollywood guy get off with any less? There are right things and wrong things. Polanski commited a grave taboo, he harmed a little girl. Permanently. If he was any kind of a man at all, he would stand up and face the consequences of his actions.

Thank you for that article that is right on target. In a time where it seems that "anything goes," I was starting to believe that our country has become so desensitized about obvious moral infractions that even heinous crimes against children are not being taken seriously.

Great article. Right on the money.

Right on Roland!

Woody Allen is supporting Polanski. That says it all.

Mr. Polanski owes a debt, not just to his victim, but to this nation and its legal system. Had he gone to trial, event that long ago, his conviction was well-nigh certain and his punishment would have been far more severe. It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the resilience of young people that his victim has made a life for herself and has a family of her own. That she does not wish to raise the specters of the past is understandable–victims do not deserve what often happens to them in the legal process. But even she does NOT have the right to release this debt. It is owed to all of us. It is owed to give hope to every child who finds herself abused, whether by her own lack of wisdom or her parents' folly in placing her at risk. Mr. Polanski should pay the debt in full for the harm he has done. Then he should be charged for a felony in the nature of "failure to appear" as it is called in Arizona when a miscreant mocks the rules of society and the requirements of the justice system.

The article may have merit but the comments are laughable. Blame the Jews? Blame the whites? Blame the liberals? Blame the sodomites? The anonymity provided by the internet is a great security blanket for the hatred our culture has for itself.
When something shocks or horrifies you, talk about it rationally. Open your mind instead of opening fire.

Glad to see that most commenters agree with Mr. Martin and are horrified by the petition. I am all for a boycott of the mentioned signers. It would not be a terrible hardship. I'm already tired of the works of Martin Scorcese, Woody Allen, Debra Winger, Michael Mann and Mike Nichols. Hard to believe Mike Nichols is married to Diane Sawyer.

Having sex with a 13 year old is gross. This is Hollywood thinking they are above the common man again. Everyone who signed that petition needs to be in jail as well for being an accessory.

If Michael Moore wants to make another movie, this would be a great one to make. What about an expose about Hollywood and how they play by different rules at the expense of all the hardworking folks in the country. Folks who spend their hard earned money to watch such serious stars as the Kardashians, Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, and movies by Roman Polanski. These folks have brought so much to our world and made it such a better place that they deserve to be treated special. I've got to go now, THE REAL HOUSEWIVES of ATLANTA are coming on. I'm teaching my daughter how to marry a man with money.

So why not boycott any movie or TV show any these jackasses in Hollywood are in as a way of showing our disdain for them all.... I wonder if they'd be so ready to give this pervert a free pass if it was THEIR 13 year old daughter that was raped. Hollywood has reared it's ugly head once again! When will we ever learn?

I can't believe it – Roland S. Martin and I actually agree on something. Well daone.

Wow. It is unbelievable to me that any one person, in these posts or in Hollywood, would try to defend or decriminalize what Polanski did and was not punished for. If anything, Polanski should be arrested for simply being stupid enough to leave his asylum in France.

There are laws that we must obey. It is ILLEGAL to have sex with a minor...period. That's like saying guns kill people, people don't kill people. Don't try to skirt the law by saying it wasn't his fault. This, sadly, is part of our country's overall problem today, lack of accountability.

Matt...you of all people should be on the side of protecting children of all ages, regardless of any precondition of "consent" or "situation" that would allow for this to happen. I'm glad my daughters don't go to school were you purport to be a teacher.

Children must be protected, from themselves and others. That's why we're supposed to be adults and not participate in their poor decisions, unlike Polanksi did.

Thanks for saying everything that I've been thinking. The fact that there is even a debate about this topic is disgusting. A young child was drugged and raped by a forty year old man. I have a child that very age and It wouldn't matter to me how many years went by, I would want to see justice. Hollywood finds this shameful that he has been taken into custody... they should be shamed for backing this pervert. They are willing to look the other way because this guy knows how to make a good movie. I would love to know what some of these Hollywood stars would think if Roman got his hands on their daughter 30 years ago. Would it matter how much time went by?

I do feel that it is pathetic that some of hollywoods elite dont feel its something he shouldnt go to jail for.. Give me a break ,rape is rape no matter which way you slice the pie ......Hollywood is more delusional as time goes on.. God will serve roman polanski in the proper manner one way or the other.. Kuddos to Mr. Martin for speaking the true words that need to be spoken .. go head with your bad self Mr.Martin.!!!

I'm wondering if those who think Mr. Polanski should get off the hook for the rape of a young girl because it happened in the distant past, would also excuse abusive priests and Nazi war criminals for the same reason.

I agree with all the stuff about roman, he should go to jail, face justice or whatever, but why when a few hollywood people act a certain way its all of hollywood. How many thousands of people with different views, from celebrities to the key grip on set represent hollywood? Its just tiring to have such huge groups of people being presented as carbon copy idealogues. Its always done with the south being generalized and minorities as well, generalizations are just lazy.

"James" challenges Roland's facts, which are supported by the court records and then James produces no "fact" of his own....
They walk among us.........

Roland, I always red your well written columns.
Often I do not agree.
But this time you nailed it.

I am sensitive to the fact that Polanski has suffered terrible tragedies that nobody should have to endure, and it is admirable that he has been artistically successful, despite his hardships.

However, the tragedies people suffer can also cause their emotions and choices to become skewed and selfish, rather than becoming that much more sensitive and kind to their fellow man.

Polanski had no empathy or regard for the girl he treated like an unfeeling thing. That he also makes good movies does not negate this. Perhaps his tragedies both damaged and improved him, but in different, unrelated ways, and he should not be excused for the terrible harm he caused an innocent child because his peers value his products more than decent human character.

Art is valuable, and maybe Polanski has gifted the art world, but art is meant to appeal and respond to human values that are no more important than the values of decency, kindness, and empathy for our fellow man, especially those most vulnerable. The out-of-touch Hollywood types who support him apparently think their artistic "values" are more important than basic morality. How pompous and vile.

Mr. Martin,

Your gross mis-characterization of the Polanski case is not only an admission of pure ignorance regarding the facts but a very transparent opportunity you have taken to usea serious moral issue to advance your own sense of peity in the eye of your readers.

Everyone accused of a crime in the United States is entitled to a fair trial and Mr. Polanski got far from that. He is for sure someone who committed a heinous crime, for which he appeared before a judge, and was charged. What happened next was a total mis-carriage of justice. His sentence was decided in a back room by a judge who had a penchant for limelight, he had presided over Cary Grant's divorce, and Marlon Brando's custody hearing. He repeatedly called the attorneys in the Polanski case into chambers to "arrange" a deal that would paint himself in a positive and very public light.

Polanski was convicted of unlawful sex with a minor and was sentenced to a 42 day pyschiatric evaluation in Chino maximum security prison, which he served.

I am certainly not defending his behavior, but within the context of American law he was not charged with nor convicted of rape, he served a sentence as deemed appropriate by the judge, who then changed his mind about the severity of the sentence without consulting the district attorney and attempted to "re-sentence" Polanski.

Mr. Polanski did not flee the United States to avoid punishment nor does his status as a filmmaker play any role in is perceived amnesty. Polanski fleed a justice system who failed him, even the judge who is currently assigned to the case has publically said that negligence had occured. Samantha Geimer, the victim, publically forgave him in 1997 and has said that she has no desire to see him go to prison.

Mr. Martin I am sure it is comforting for you to live in a world where issues such as these are so black and white, he did an awful thing and he deserves to be punished, agreed, but he also deserves a fair trial and a punishment that suits the crime for which he was convicted. The United States legal system is not in the business of passing judgement on people without listening to both sides and knowing all of the facts, perhaps you should the same.

Well it's about time that I finally read an article about this subject that made sense. I have been wondering why everything I have read is "pro" Polanski. I was thinking that maybe I was missing something or that maybe my feelings were off base. To me, it seems like an open and shut case of someone famous thinking that the law does not apply to them. I can give a thousand examples of this, but I think you all know them well. I don't care WHO you are or how long ago this crime may have occurred. Also, the previous tragedy of his wife's murder is sad but irrelevant. I am sure that the majority of people behind bars have had tragedies in their lives as well. His crime, which he admitted to, is one of the most disgusting and disgraceful crimes a person can commit. I don't care if it is a hundred years after the incident, he should go to trial and be punished. I have lost all respect for any so called "celebrity" that chose to defend this piece of scum. It's just another example of how out of touch these celebs are with reality. Fame and fortune does not equal a free pass to do whatever you want. When the hell are Americans going to stop putting these "celebrities" on a pedestal and start to admire the REAL celebrities and heros ?? I am talking about the teachers, the military, police, and firemen. These are the people who deserve to be admired based on their self-sacrifice and positive contributions to society. Our society is so backwards in this respect. We shower people with money and admiration because they can put a ball in a basket, or act in front of a camera. However, a teacher that dedicates his or her's life to helping children have a happy and productive life has to struggle to pay the bills and put food on the table. It's totally backwards and I hope and pray that mankind will evolve enough one day to realize this tragic mistake. I am not holding my breath though !!

AL, Mr. martin was able to say France welcomed Polanski with open arms because they did. Even though they have stopped asking for his release, they were the first in line to call for it. Also, since it was a well known fact that he had committed this crime, he was never arrested in France; where he lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loathe to bring up the race card, but I do not understand how people in Hollywood have come to Polanski's defense, but was ready to serve Michael Jackson up on a platter with all the trimmings. MJ never pled guilty; Polanski did. People were calling for MJ's children be taken from him; Polanski has a son and a daughter. Wonder if he ever had thoughts to drug and molest them. Or how would he feel if this had happened to either of them. The two cases make me wonder why some were so quick to condemn one, only to turn around and defend the other.

Matt, I think you need to get your facts straight. I guess the photos he took were fake? I guess he lied when he confessed to doing it?

Amen

I agree with Mr. Martin. Too many people seem to have lost sight of the fact that a very real crime took place, one which would earn Mr. Polanski plenty of jail time today. This was a 13 yr old CHILD! It isn't legally possible to have consensual sex with a child, no matter who you are. Although I feel for the victim, who now would prefer to have the whole matter just go away, this type of crime is something as a society we can't afford to ignore. I hope justice is done here, but I have my doubts. Sadly, money and fame seem to cloud many people's judgement.

Thank you, Roland. You have articulated an opinion that many Americans share.

Many Polish people share this view as well. Same with the French. The only ones who don't are the stupid Hollywood numbskulls who think they know everything.

How can ANYONE...ANYONE AT ALL use his talent as an excuse for him raping a little girl? Martin Scorsese...my jaw dropped when I heard you supported him. I will never look at these people the same ever again. They are ridiculous and unbelievably biased. If it was Joe from down the street, they'd cry off with his head.

THANK YOU!!! Finally someone who sees this man for what he really is. A child molester.

I am certain that the victim wants this to go away but monetary compensation from her attacker factors into this.

The reality is he is a pedophile and deserves to serve his time. When is rape against a child "not quite rape"?

His films, though touted as great, never struck me so.

Chinatown, a woman trying to get free from a father who raped her and gets shot in the head leaving her child to the fate of a grandfather that will rape her. A man catches his wife cheating so it’s ok to beat and rape her?

If this is great film making I am appalled! It speaks of a man who has a sick and twisted personality.

Being a survivor of the holocaust and the terrible murder of his poor pregnant wife does not give him a license to commit crimes.

I am glad that he may finally face some justice and my hats off to the Swiss for keeping him in jail with the rest of the criminals.

If you do the crime you need to do the time- with the general population!

Even if it could be argued that the rape charges should be dropped (and I don't think they should be). There is the matter of him being a fugitive from law and that's somethig he still has to stand for.

The fact is Mr. Polanski has acted badly all around and for the people saying the victim has forgiven him and the media is victimizing the victem over again, if Mr. Polanski had gone to court taken his punishment for his crime like a man, this situation would be long in the past now. I think Mr. Polanski has contiued to victimize the victim over the years buy not taking his punishment years ago and keeping this story alive rather than finishing with it in the past where it should have been. left

I agree with Martin.

Mr Martin, you are a sane voice in a casual wilderness. Obviously if the victim wants this dropped, then it should be. Hopefully Roman Polanski will not be allowed to return to the US. He can be everlastingly creative somewhere, anywhere else. Debra Winger. Whoopi Goldberg. Natalie Portman. Their talents have given me so much joy. But then so did Woody Allen's. For years now I haven't been able to get past who he is to watch any of his creations. I'm sad that now I see them the same way.

Thank you Mr. Martin.

Finally!!!!! Thank you Mr. Martin for your article on Roman Polanski. This man needs to be held accountable for his disgusting actions against a child. I am amazed by the amount of support he has received. I also think Woody Allen's support of Polanski is pretty comical. Didn't Woody marry his ex-wife's adopted daughter?? Where are people's morals?

Ask anyone supporting this guy to walk into a 7'th grade classroom and point to the next girl allowed to be raped by a 40 year old man. Because that's basically what they are advocating.

i don't usually post responses and I rarely agree with you but you are right on the money on this issue.

I still can't believe Scorsese's support. I guess he's forgotten his own movie Taxi Driver.
To quote Luc Besson on the matter – "No one is above the law."

Right on. I couldn't agree more.

As a father of three young girls, it wouldn't matter to me if their rapist were Michaelangelo, Mozart, and Fellini rolled into one. I would want him strung up, no matter how long ago it was.

Hollywood is showing its true colors on this one.

Mr. Martin, I agree with you, and commend you for writing this article that reflects how many people feel.

As mentioned in the article, this case has nothing to do with race and ethnicity. This case is about a man who fled the legal system and has been living as a fugitive abroad. Because he is a celebrity, many of his fellow celebrities are rallying behind him.

It doesn't matter who you are, what you look like, what you have endured, or what you do. If you commit the crime, you do the time.

Just like everyone else, even if you are a famous celebrity.

Also, this is a criminal case, so the case will proceed regardless of the victim's intentions. In criminal cases, the crime is considered as committed against the state, and not the individual. Individuals have recourse in civil suits.

Debra Winger awaits his next masterpiece? I wonder if she was referring to his next film, or next rape...

I can NOT believe that Whoopi came out in his defense. Since WHEN is it EVER acceptable to rape someone, let alone a 13 year old girl, after plying her with alcohol and drugs?

Many of these same people condemned the Bush administration's use of torture, but rape is okay?

WTF? What weird warped dimension have we entered???

I agree with Roland and will state one more thing. It is even more pathetic that our law enforcement due to either bribery or indifferencve did not bring this man to justice many years ago. Surely, if the maximum pressure would have been exerted here he would have extradicted and imprisoned many years ago. Very sad commentary
if our society that there is even a debate on what should have AND WILL BE DONE TO THIS MAN THEN AND NOW.

Being a victim of rape, I know exactly how the victim feels. I wonder where the parents of this 13 year old girl were. Even to this day, this concerns me. Mr. Polanski is in the wrong here and he knows that. Does he need to be punished? Yes but not to the extent that he would be today because there are major changes with the way people are punished today. I read the transcripts to the issue and the victim (in words only) did not appear to be frightened otherwise she would have left the situation. She stayed. She did not have a knife against her throat like i did. She did not hear.. "you do this, or I will kill you". like I did. The victim has admitted that she should not have been there as a 13 year old child. Again, I ask "where were the parents?" Where was Jack Nicholson as the host of the party? I agree with most people posting here that a henious crime occured many years ago. As a victim going through severe post tramatic stress disorder, is it really necessary to victimize everyone again? The victim in this case says that all of this publicity is a detriment to her well being.. I just ask .. is it all worth it?

This case is over thirty years old, and most importantly, the victim herself has expressed that she wishes it would go away.

Many 13-year-olds are street smart and look older and act older than their age and many men have been caught unaware with "jail bait." Why would a young girl be alone with a 40-something year-old man at a Hollywood movie star's house? What about her parents? It appears this was a case of extremely bad judgment on both sides. If the girl was given a settlement, hasn't restitution been made? Has Polansky been caught with any other under-age girls since this incident? Aren't there current criminals with more relevance that should be hunted down and thrown in jail, like the CEOs, corporate bankers and financial wizards who have put our country into recessoin and then were rewarded with a bail out for doing so by our government?

Should have just left the title as "Hollywood is clueless".

Thanks, Roland, for showing us once again you're clueless as to the issues. How you remain employed is a mystery. Once again you opine based solely on what you've seen on TV.

You may NOT employ 2009's social values against a crime committed 31 years ago, and you may NOT use a 13 year old victim, who has REPEATEDLY asked that this receive no more publicity, to jump on your moral high horse.

The resolution is clear – the ONLY person against whom a crime was committed has declared the matter dropped. Who are you to disagree?

Here's the boycott list... I mean the official list of petition signers. Let's REALLY send Hollywood a message and let them know how we feel about their lack of morals. I'd love to see these people's movies playing to empty theaters.

http://www.sacd.fr/Tous-les-signataires-de-la-petition-pour-Roman-Polanski-All-signing-parties.1341.0.html

It's not pedophelia if the person is 13. It's called ephebophilia. And if having sex with 13 year olds is wrong, better lock up most of the third world. 14? 15? 16? 17? 18? What's the magic age that makes it respectable?

Mr Polanski's defenders are illogical. Many say that he should not be required to answer for such an old crime. He made it an old crime by running away. There is a possibility that he might have long since paid his debt to society had he stayed for sentencing and served his time. There are also those who think that it was not kosher to arrest him by ruse. Is it supposed to be wrong to capture a crriminal by trickery especially one who has been on the lam for 30 years? Mr. Polanski's character has not improved in 30 years. He is apparently hoping that his fame, fortune, and the support he is receiving from the Hololywood types will mean that the law does not apply to him. May that not be the case.

I agree with you, Roland. I am also kind of disturbed that one of Roman Polanski's most ardent supporters is Woody Allen. Uh...do you see the reason why?

Perhaps the reporter should bother to post Polanski's comment outside of court when asked why he had sex with the girl when he was originally on trial. I remember it clearly when I saw it on TV 30 years ago. His defense: "She was a prostitute, and she was paid." Why was that not admissible as a defense? Months before, a CA law had been passed that the sexual history of the woman was not admissible in court. So, he plead guilty in a plea deal only, and when it looked like the judge would not go along, he fled. Otherwise, it would have gone to trial.

Several points:

1. Polanski had money and could have paid numerous call girls (not
that I condone prostitution), so why did he take the chance of
destroying this young girl psychologically, not to mention the
physical harm he did to her?

2. However, did this 13-year old ever take a lie detector test? I
wonder about the strength of character of a girl who was willing to
pose nude for him (although that may have already been after he
gave her the drink and drug). She has stated that the prosecutors
have done more harm to her than Polanski did. Why? If it were
me, I still would want revenge, even after all these years. So I'm
wondering if she wants to keep this quiet for other reasons.

3. I heard that he would not allow the mother to accompany the girl
on this job, so it does look as if if Polanski did this, that indeed it
may have been premeditated.

4. The most important point, though, is that: did the prosecutors mis-
lead Polanski into thinking he had a deal that he really didn't have?
It would have been too late after the sentencing, I believe, for him
to exercise his right to go to trial. Therefore, he had to rely on the
representations made to him and might reasonably have believed
the rug was being pulled out from under him. Not to make light of
what he did if he is guilty - it was unquestionably a light sentence
he was to have received if the deal was carried out as planned.
But if it was not, he would have the right to a trial where he might
have beaten the charges completely.

5. I agree that if he were not famous and if in addition he were black
(or even a famous black man), I believe he would not have been
offered such a good deal to begin with.

That'll all - I just really am not sure what to think. However, if he stands trial today, I think a good defense lawyer might get him off completely. I don't know what forensic evidence the prosecutors have, or if the girl was examined by a doctor afterward.

Thank you Mr. Martin, for speaking up about the bizarre opinions of Hollywood's "elite". You are spot-on about their double-standards. I wonder if any of them bothered to read Samantha Gailey's own account of what happened to her that horrible day as a 13 year old – a CHILD – when she was so terribly abused by Polanski. I am sure they would sing a different tune if this happened to their daughter. Some say justice was done because Ms. Gailey received a settlement. No amount of money excuses Roman Polanski's behavior or excuses him from facing justice for this crime.

Joining the chorus....
Polanski pled guilty and then fled the country. He should face justice. PERIOD.

Hello...he raped a child. Since when does being a talented movie director excuse crime? It sounds like there were problems in the prosecution. So what.

My husband (or my brother or my father) would have faced the full force of justice for such a crime in 1977.

AMEN!

Thanks for making your voice heard on this issue. The endorsement of Polanski is just another example of how popular culture condones violence against women. Do you think if this man was a priest there would be this degree of support for him? For that matter, what if he was just an average African American male? NO WAY! He is a self-professed hebephile (admitted on camera in a 1977 interview) and a coward. This arrest should have been made years ago and I hope the prosecutor does not allow Hollywood to bully him!

Yeah... he should service his time. The article is good. The petition is pretty silly, and short sighted, but all of you calling for a boycott.... How many Roman Polanski films have you watched over the last 30 years??

I am a member of the gay/lesbian community, and I do not support child rapists. I totally agree with Roland and hope Polanski is extradited to the U.S. to face sentencing for this sick crime.

Eyes Wide Open – Do not lump together the gay/lesbian community of adults involved in relationships with other adults to the sick behavior of some heterosexuals and homosexuals victimizing children. This is not behavior supported in our community.

I think he should come back and face trial. Be a man, and be responsible. Hollywood is racist. Imagine if he was not Jewish, and he was an ordinary person. He would have been crusified by LA courts. He fled the country because he did not want to spenc another 48 days in prison???? How stupid is that? Think about it. What's 86 days in jail for doing what he did. I think he had a pass.....

I agree, what this man did was very very wrong and he deserves what he is getting. However, I don't think people should be so quick to jump on the hate Hollywood bandwagon. I'm sure there are lots of people within Hollywood who are strongly disgusted with Polanski.

The man made a plea bargain and then the judge decided he should be punished further. This is not ethical, despite how many of you think he deserves "more punishment". He fled the country because he was being abused by our legal system, which we all are these days.

So Mr. Martin, could you point me in the right direction for articles you wrote blasting Michael Jackson, one of the most famous pedophiles on the planet?? I just want to make sure you're doing a well-rounded job.

Peter, what is your problem? You really think this is simply a case of an adult having sex with a minor? Even if she weren't a child, she was given alcohol and a prescription depressant - why? Because her ability to fight back would be lessened or eliminated. If she were so "willing," what purpose would these substances serve?

The victim wants to be left alone, understandably. But part of the reason she has chastised the media is that they painted her as a "Lolita" and smeared her. Which is ridiculous, as Lolita was also a child who could not consent, so she was a rape victim, not a sophisticated seductress.

You accuse Mr. Martin of not "getting" the meaning behind all the related events, but maybe if the media had been responsible and respectful in the first place, and Polanski had not fled, the victim could have moved on. The only person who has benefited is Polanski, while he's the one who caused the whole mess, including the victim's current pain. So maybe YOU are the person who doesn't "get it."

As a liberal who loves movies - including those of Polanski - I can speak for other (non-Hollywood) liberals like myself who feel that Polanski deserves the same treatment he gave the young girl. Whether the victim forgives him or not, he should go to prison and discover some new fans in the shower.

Those who make allowances for such behavior are seriously, seriously disconnected from reality.

Bravo, Roland. It really amazes me to see how many people
are making light of this. Polanski has committed a crime and he should
be punished. (and I mean not in jail for a few days or a week).So many woman are raped and the rapists get away with
it..Our judicial system needs to change...

Excellent article.

To those who say honor what the victim wants, remember she has been compensated by Polanski and we don't know the terms of the agreement. That she defends him indicates a personality defect probably caused by the rape.

If we as Americans don't stand behind our laws then we will create chaos and anarchy. The guy is clearly guilty and should be punished.

Matt, I am glad my kids are grown and can't be in your classes.

RIGHT FRIGGEN ON MR. MARTIN

Roland, you hit the nail on the head ! I appreciate your willingness to speak out !

Now let's get this straight, we're supposed to accept moral guidance from the so-called man who married the girl that was his daughter the day before? This is to bizarre for words. In some ways, W

Good Job Roland. Show the % of our opinions on Nat TV, then America would have spoken.

Well I have sat here and read all of these responses to this blog post and I must say some of you really need to get a dose of reality. This is not a race issue. I hate that there are race baiters out there who think that is acceptable to make every arguement about white or black or whatever color. This is a CRIMINAL issue that a man commited a crime and ran away when it seemed that things would not go in his favor. If a common man or woman committed this act, yes I agree we would all be shouting "throw the book at him", and lock him up in prison. The fact that a FAMOUS man is able to get away with this with no reprocussions is appauling to me and every other common man and woman in this country. Mr. Polanski should stand before the judge and accept his punishment whether he be 36 or 76 should not matter. As for the hollywood stars that support this man......THINK BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR BIG FAT MOUTHS. Look at the facts here in the case, not the oscar he has won or the awards he has received. If any of you supporters of this were the parents of this young girl, you would shout for him to be castrated immediately. As for Matt the teacher: shame on you for blaming the parents. Yes they made a bad decision, but who raped this young girl? I have children and if this man did this to my kids, he would have to pray to god that I never found him in France myself, I would have drug him back to court by his hair and made him face his judgement myself. Hollywood once again has shown us the way not behave and why they should not be placed on pedistals like they believe they should be. Do us all a favor Hollywood, keep your opinions on politics and law to yourself because you have obviously proven time and time again that you dont have a clue.

Oh, and Matt, you're an idiot.

I agree too. The law should apply to everyone, including the rich, the talented, friends of the glitterati.

If he feels he's been unjustly treated, let him come and make his case in court. I'm sure he can afford the best legal representation.

I don't always agree with you on your opinions, but this time I have to say that I agree with what you've said. As a victim of a sexual assault when I was 15 years old, even in the current justice system it is hard to prove your case and for people to go to jail. The man who assaulted me was allowed to plea to misdemeanor sexual battery over the real crime: criminal sexual contact of a minor. His record has already been wiped clean and he didn't spend even a minute in a jail cell. If Mr. Polanski has the opportunity to be tried for his crimes, it should be taken.

I can't believe so many people are standing up for this man. It will never cease to amaze me the ignorance of people. Not only that, but people in a position to have their voices heard across the nation, crying out that it's wrong to jail a man for his crimes? Yuck.

I am disgusted, but thank you for your words.

Now let’s get this straight, we’re supposed to accept moral guidance from the so-called man who married the girl that was his daughter the day before? This is too twisted for words.

Very well articulated, Mr. Martin. I seriously can't believe that anyone is defending this rapist. Once again Hollywood feels like they are above the law. I applaud the victim for extending forgiveness to Polanski. I can't imagine the courgae it took to do so. HOWEVER, it is already a settled case. The charges can't be dropped because he has already been convicted. He should be held to the same standards that every other child rapist is held to. Let him rot...

Roland,
Sorry..i more to say.. also..drugging a 13 year old..on top of all this..
I'm sorry what are people thinking...

While it may seem compassionate to defer to the victim's desire to drop the matter, I would argue that the real compassion is to press on with the case. What message does it send if the perpetrator/pedophile is allowed to serve half of his ridiculously short sentence then to seek exile for years only to just brush the incidence under the rug because too much time has passed. This would only set the precedent- hey, just run away and eventually this pesky conviction too shall pass! I feel badly for her but this verdict should be seen to its conclusion. Should we say to any criminal, just sit tight in your escape and we'll forget about your crime? Would you give Jaycee Dugard's captor such a free pass because he held her captive for 18 years? Justice needs to finish its course. It has nothing to do with being Christian or forgiveness.

Rape is rape ... .as Whoopi said . Rape-Rape but not Rape-Rape... it is RAPE. It is not to be colored or spnned or otherwise diminished .. it is RAPE.

How can these "CNN Heroes" get it wrong ... it is RAPE. Simple ... put the guy in jail for eternity. SIMPLE.

Do Hollywood Celebrities live to a different standard or is the LAW the LAW?

It is time to figure out if there is a differnet tier for those of us who are not priveleged or famous.

Oh gee, Mr. Martin – it's so courageous of you to come out and pile on Mr. Polanski too. I mean, it takes real guts to condemn a child rapist, right? Bravo.

Regardless of what you would have your readers believe, no one is condoning child rape. They want the matter dropped either because the victim wants it dropped, or because of the procedural misconduct in the case. Ernesto Miranda was also a rapist. "Miranda rights" ring a bell?

Matt, you're probably a perp yourself. He admitted to the established facts. I doubt you are a school teacher but if you are the authorities need to investigate you. \
Roland, you're bang on, the holocaust is NOT A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD, not for Polanski or the state of israel for that matter. Why does the UN have one set of rules for israel and another completely different set for its victim nations?

The issue is not whether a person raped a 13 year old girl today and should go to jail today. The incident occurred 30 years ago. The victim today is a forty-something year old married woman with children of her own and feels the man has been punished enough already, and would like the whole matter to go away rather than have it dredged up and continue to ruin her life. So, is the law protecting anyone then? Certainly not the victim, it's much too late for that. It would have made sense if they would have locked him up thirty years ago. All this new publicity will do is to open up old wounds for the victim and her family and make everything much worse. So, who benefits from all this? Self appointed judges, like Mr Martin.

What about the victim ? Isn't she the most important person in this case ?

If the victim is at peace and satisfied with the way things turn out, then it is all that matters. She has made it clear that she disapproves of the arrest and doesn't want another trial or another media circus that would put the spotlight back on her.
She is the one who suffered and she is the one who closed the book on this whole case so who the hell do you think you are to bring all of this back into her life ???

If the victim wants the book closed, that's the way it should be and no judge, no citizen, no other person in the world should have anything to say about it.

Law is law and crime against a child by a celebrity is even worse and sicker. If the country listens to Hollywood, there would be n children protection anymore. I wonder if those Hollywood protectors have their own children or allow their children to be raped by famous directors?

Thank You Mr. Martin, yourself, Rick Sanchez, Kirsti Alley, Nancy Grace, all of you are decent human beings who know the difference between right and wrong. The points you made are exactly right!! How can people who defend this man feel good about themselves? Would they feel so casual about what happened if the crime had been against their 13 yr old daughter or sister or a child they cared about?? Every single Hollywood type who defends this pedophile will not be anyone who I will ever support as in go to their movies or have any respect for them at all ever again.

I have always wondered why they couldn't just extradited this man.... I don't care how many "great movies" he makes.. he is guilty of a crime.

The victim's story has never, ever changed her story, it has always been the same. His story hasn't changed and according to that documentary that was done last year, based on a French Interview he did admit that he liked them young, and he had been parading a 15 year old Natassia Kinski around the world...

Justice needs to be served, I don't care how many of his "hollywood buddies" are supporting him. I am from California, and most of us Californian's are disgusted by this dirtbag... I for one have no problem not watching a Debra Winger, Martin Scorsces, or any other actor or director who signs that petition...

Thank you.

Bravo.

Roman Polanski is a convicted child sexual predator. It's as simple as that. He needs help, not more enabling. Hollywood's defense of Mr. Polanski is not just anti-American, it's frustratingly ignorant.

Mr. Polanski raped, sodomized and sexually assaulted a 13 year old girl. This is what someone with a mental illness does. He does not need Hollywood's protection, he needs their demand that he be sent to a place where he can't do it again. Who cares how talented he is? There will always be plenty of talented people in the movie industry. But, if they commit a crimes then they need to do the time.

Hollywood's defense that his talent and life tragedies outweigh his crime is illogical. He should've been jailed and provided with a significant dose of psycho therapy. After all, he is and will remain, a child sexual predator. There are teens who rape other teens and they are given the mark of a sexual predator for the rest of their lives, having to register and be marked on the Internet in perpetuity. Why not Mr. Polanski? What's so special about him?

Further, their excuse-laden defense that he survived the Holocaust and lived through the horrible murder of his beloved wife and unborn child at the hands of the Manson Family, pays no honor to either the Holocaust or to Sharon Tate.

Shame on you, Hollywood. Mr. Polanski deserves better friends. And we, as Americans, deserve better actors. I'll be boycotting all of their t projects until they get a grip on reality..

Revenge is not what's being sought here. It's simple community protection from a sexual predator and others like him who might think they too can get a free pass for their behavior.

Some of you are missing the point. It doesn't matter one bit that the victim in this case wants the courts to leave the criminal alone. The victim the courts are seeking justice for is actually a 13 year old little girl. She was raped by a 44 year old man. Even if she appeared to go along with everything fully, SHE WAS FAR TOO YOUNG TO MAKE A DECISION LIKE THAT. This middle aged, rich & famous director, who could make the victim famous, hit on a 13 year old, took nude pictures of her (wonder if he told her she could be a star), drugged her, and sex with her, and you think it should all be forgiven as long as that's what the victim wants? As long as she still stands by her account of what actually happened (which amounts to pure rape), then who cares what she thinks should happen to the perp? Would we let any other child rapist off the hook just because the victim says the rapist "did it, but shouldn't be punished,"...or even if the child says they love the rapist? No way. Lock em up, and throw away the key. Some of you need to do some soul searching and figure out whether you're a pervert or not.

To those of you who say "it wasn't rape, it was sex with a minor," where do you draw the line? If she was 12 or 10, would that make a difference? A 13 year old girl being drugged and sodomized by a 44 year old man is disgusting and criminal. I don't care if her mother undressed her for him. He shouldn't have done what he did and he should serve some sort of time for it. Even if it's only probation. And by the way, she's not prosecuting him, the state is. She is a witness to a crime. Much like battered women who go back to their husbands.

smh for justice, who said there was some 'culpability on the part of the victim', is just wrong. We have statutory rape laws to protect children and a child that is 13 cannot be culpable under the law because he/she cannot consent. Therefore, there is no culpability, regardless of what the perpetrator says. We have laws such as this to protect those who are vulnerable, like children. Clearly, you have issues with our justice system because you state that her comment ' the courts have done more harm than Polanski’ speaks volumes. I hope that you never become a victim and have to rely on a system for which you clearly seem to have some contempt. He pled guilty, he must face his punishment no matter who he is.

Very crass commentary...don't you know it is bad manners to posit examples in the first person? Did you clear your clever hypothetical with the actresses you mentioned?

Matt, you are an idiot. She didn't lie. His semen was found on her. He admitted his crime. Where or not the mother is guilty of poor judgment is inconsequential. He had a sex with a CHILD. He also then dated a 15 year old. He fled to avoid punishment. He broke the law and should pay for it.

Indeed – it's about time the press stopped giving a voice (and implied credence) to those in Hollywood who are trying to portray Polanski as a victim. Whether its because they fear getting black listed or because they genuinely feel his occupation entitles him to exploit an innocent child, they should know that we're not swayed and find their comments offensive to our values.

Polanski is a confessed child rapist whose flight has thwarted justice for over thirty years. It's long overdue for justice to be served.

What "beautiful movies"????

Roland, you hit the nail right on the head.
These Hollywood people are so out of touch!!
Well done my tasty chocolate man!!

I am in total agreement with Mr. Martin. I am so tired of reading about superstars getting unfair treatment from our court system due to their celebrity status, wealth, and high-power attorney's. Polanski was originally charged with 6 felony charges (!!) including sodomy and rape with a 13 year-old. Then due to a plea bargain Polanski admits to having sexual intercourse with a minor. Someone tell me how this would be possible with someone without the notoriety we have placed on Polanski in our court system? Why does he deserve special treatment? He needs to be accountable for his lack of morals.

Mr. Martin,

Great article. Politically I don't agree with you on a lot of issues. But this is a no brainer most of us can all agree on. I could almost understand the sympathy BS if he'd stayed and paid the price then got out early on good time... but he ran away.. what a sick little man............... And Hollywood really is made up of nothing more than a bunch of narcissistic freaks.... Your opening analogy is spot on... if this happen to one of their own, there would be hell to pay........ Thank God for some of the cable channels, I can't stomach going to movies much anymore

Thank you... been a while since I've read something that bothered to articulate the obvious so well. That said, you might need to use smaller words if you want it to be understood by the troglodytes in Hollywood.

Mr. Roland you said what I was thinking, precisely. Thirteen years old, horrific and depraved. Shame on all of those who support him being released because of his artistic ability. All pedophiles need to do is make some sort of film, wait they do, guess we should let them go and definitely not arrest them. How disgusting. All those who signed that petition need to apologize to all victims of sexual abuse.

Finally, an article from RM that makes sense! There is no need to comment further – you've said it all. Well, well, well, done, at last.

Thank you for stating the obvious in a way that perhaps even Whoopi, et. al. can understand.

There is no excuse for what Mr. Polanski did. He obviously did not want to face the consequences of his actions, so he fled in the most craven of ways. Hardly the stuff of legend, film or otherwise.

For anyone who wants to pass blame around to victims, parents, society at large and so on, rather than place it in Mr. Polanski's lap (where it belongs), I offer the following scenarios:

A Catholic priest plies an altar girl with wine and drugs and rapes her. He is charged with the crime but flees the country before trial. Whose fault is it? What would the media have to say about this crime? Hollywood? Dan Brown?

A prominent Republican senator meets the teenage daughter of a staffer, offers her a job as a page and plies her with wine and drugs and rapes her. A local newspaper breaks the story. The senator resigns but says the girl tempted him. His marriage is breaking up and he temporarily lost his focus on reality, he says. Whose fault is it? Hers? Mom's? The soon-to-be-ex wife's?

There is no position on Earth so high that the holder of said position is exempt from responsibility. It's all in how people look at things, and I agree with Mr. Martin that this is a "sad and pathetic story." With only one ending, God Willing – a reckoning for Roman Polanski.

There is no reason anyone in Hollywood or anywhere else should be backing Mr. Polanski. He committed several crimes. He pled guilty to a relatively minor charge. He fled the country to evade his (also relatively minor) sentence. How on earth is he a victim of anything – except of absorbing the Hollywood "I can have it because I can afford it" mentality. Shame on Mr. Polanski.

And, as always, kudos to you, Mr. Martin, for zeroing in on facts and making a case for sanity and reason it our increasingly wacked-out world. I truly appreciate the work you do.

I also agree – if this horrible crime had happened a week ago rather than many years ago, it's unlikely anyone would be chanting cries of "Free Polanski." Talent should never allow anyone to stand above the law. Neither should politics for that matter. A crime against a minor is the most reprehensible.

I don't often agree with you, Martin, but in this case you are dead on. Polaski is a sick pervert and needs to rot in jail for the rest of his life.

Marin proclaims he's a Christian. Yet he supported the most liberal abortionist ever elected.......Obama,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and atacks his brothers.....Obama has stated he believes their are many paths to heaveb,,,,and did not agree with ST. Paul.................Now this public knowledge.........Martin still supported the man. Nuff said.

Roland,
You're usuall wrong, but this time you got it right. I'll make an effort to read more of your columns. You 'da man today!!!

To the ones who seem to think that the sex was consensual, a 13 yr. old cannot legally consent to sex. I would bet that if it were your 13 yr. old daughter, you would not have the same opinion. The only reason she wants to leave it behind is probably because she was paid money from the lawsuit against him. It's all shameful......

How long do you suppose it will be before one of these Hollywierdo's produce, direct or star in a movie about the soul damaging affects of childhood sexual abuse or rape and then expect an oscar? I bet Sean Penn will play the 13 year girl and will be titled "Woody".
We stood up against Washington, we can surely take on Hollywierd.
I, myself will wait for the Polanski prison movie and Diane Sawyer's, Mike Nichol's wife, full news report.

AMEN!!

Amen to this article- you can tell that many people in Hollywood have a misguided sense of morality. It's so sad that these people think they're so superior to the rest of the population.

Blaming the vicitm, minimizing the behavior, sympathizing with the criminal, and putting a higher value on anything Hollywood, than on a young girls life.

And, what the hell is "rape-rape"? A sexual violation is a sexual violation.

Matt, you are what is wrong with this country and our schools. He admitted to the crime under oath, took pictures of it, and she lied???
You should lose your job right now, you have no place being around children of any age.
Do kids lie, you bet, do adults lie, damn straight they do. I think it is pretty clear who is lying here and who broke multiple laws.
I guess in your world it is ok to take advantage of people who do not know right from wrong becase they can lie?
You have probably done similar things to children and you should go to jail with this scum bag.

Roland – THANK YOU. I've sat by for days since this came back into the limelight....... waiting for someone to say something about the absolute horror of this.... But to my She-grin, I read FRANCE Authorities stand by Polanski. I just about became unhinged. More time goes by and nothing is written on all the main sites about the victim and the severe lack of justice.. Until now..... Left or Right of a political stance, a real human being can see this for what it is and know this dirt bag should spend the rest of his days rotting in a cell. Of course these Hollywood elite are out of touch with reality. 20 million a picture? They're so far removed from real people, a majority of them have no solid basis in reality. As well, you don't hear many Hollywood types voicing their disgust in this either right? Why? Look at those directors and producers supporting this guy...... if they say anything – they'll never work again....... Pathetic. I hope they get him back and he rots. I agree with the boycotting of those names...... and Oh.... for the record.... Woody Allen seems to share his love for children with Polanski as well...... big shock he's supporting.. Jeez.......

Thank you Mr. Martin. Finally an intelligent opinion regarding the Polanski case. The Hollywood crowd are so hypocritical. If it was their daughter you can bet they'd want justice. Even justice delayed. But they are so swept up in their own starstruck nonsense – how many other careers manufacture so many awards – that they can't even look at the law as equal for all. Shame on them.

Just today we find out Elizabeth Smart was raped daily by Brian Mitchell for 9 months. She was the same age as the victim in the Polanski case. Everyone is outraged, as they should be. Why is this any different?

There is absolutely NO difference between RAPE and having SEX WITH A MINOR, if you are 40 and the child is 13. How can anyone begin to believe that a 13 year old child under the influence of drugs and alcohol can consent to anything? 13 year old children do not have the ability to consent even if they are sober.

And the point of the justice system is not to "right the victim." It is to punish those who have broken the laws that each state has set. And as long as raping a 13 year old child is illegal in the State of California, then Mr. Polanski should be punished.

It sickens me to think that anyone could ever condone a grown man's sexual contact with a minor. It also sickens me to think that the same people supporting Roman Polanski are probably boycotting Michael Vick for dog fighting. What a proud country we are on our high horse, standing up for pit bulls but not children.

I really think that some kind of code of silence about the casting couch is going on here and Woody Allen and the others don't want the press getting any ideas about investigating the BIG story.

Probably no situation has illustrated as eloquently how out of touch those that live the monied Hollywood life producing fiction are with the real world.

All of the apparent concern for justice and humanity are revealed as nothing more that another fictional performance for the ignorant masses that funnel their hard earned dollars to support the excesses of the self-absorbed clique of performers.

Woody Allen's defense of Mr. Polanski is especially ironic and poignant performance .

Thankfully there are many people out there with common sense. I thought it flew out the window with Polanski. I will never support any of the hollywood crowd who have supported this rapist. Thank you for standing up for what is right, Roland.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

James wrote:
Try to investigate before you blog Martin .

Dear James,

Perhaps you should investigate before you blog, or respond with inane comments. Perhaps you should read the grand jury testimony given by the 13 year old girl who was raped. Perhaps you should look into the FACTS, instead of living in a happy never-never land where perverted men get away with raping little girls because they make just fantabulous movies. Oh, and I understand he also changes his oil in a timely fashion.

Couldn't agree more with a columnist...

I agree with you Roland. Thank you for having the courage to say what you believe. We must go after anyone who hurts children no matter how rich & famous they are.

Way to go Mr. Martin.

ENOUGH OF THIS SPECULATION. Can someone produce some facts/witnesses to verify if this young woman was known to be 13 when she attentedf the party. I read a comment from someone who attended the party (unfortunately, I don't remember his/her name) who said that she "appeared to be a sultry young woman who looked to be at least 18 and also acted that way "

You are absolutely correct, Mr. Martin. He needs to appear in court, explain himself, and let justice run its course. Nothing more, nothing less!

Finally, someone with enough power to get the message out there has voiced what is the only correct position to have in this case. Who cares about his films, his talent, etc... This guy drugged and raped a 13 year old girl and then fled when he was going to be prosecuted.

A US Marine killed a young lady and fled to Mexico and the US hunted him down, worked with Mexico to extradite him, and will eventually bring him to justice.

Why didn't we do that with this guy sooner. The fact this case has remained open so long is absurd. There is speculation of court mishandling, prosecution lying, etc... All of that smoke and mirrors changes nothing that happened in that jacuzzi on that day between those two people. He should rot in jail.

My heart does go out to the victim. I understand her position of wanting to go on with her life. Unfortunately, this is bigger than just her because it shows others how to get away with the same crime.

It may seem like an old Hollywood story, but maybe the girl's mom was star struck and naive, maybe she trusted the famous director when he told her he was doing shoots for a fashion magazine.. Brilliant and creative people can be especially manipulative.
You have to walk in someones' shoes before you judge. Having said that, I agree with Roland and believe if Polanski's so -called friends were really his friends, they would convince him to take this chance to return to the US and face the court, as he should in order to finally get clear with the law, so his victim will no longer be tortured by the media and publicity everytime the case springs up anew. Money cannot erase all the consequences of one's past mistakes. Man up.

It's too bad that Polanski didn't just suck it up in jail the first time around and take it like a man. Like the dead judge said, he probably would have been out in about another month and half and this would all be behind him long ago.

Now that times have changed and we stick everyone in jail for close to life for almost any crime, he really needs to escape Switzerland somehow.

Roman, if you're reading then you HAVE TO ESCAPE JAIL!

this type of anything goes attitude is why our nation has the social ills we do. I'm sorry a grown man man that drugs and sodomizes a 13yr old is just scum. he is indefensable.

This is the best, most concise article I have read yet, on the subject of Polanski. It's not about how we feel or the movies he has created or what he went through during WWII, its about manning up and dealing with what he did. He's been pretty damn lucky all these years, had it been one of us or our neighbors, we'd not have had years free to do whatever we pleased. Thank you Mr. Martin, for your wise words. You are so very correct.

THANK YOU for speaking the rage and indignation I've been feeling about all this. Money talks; rich folks walk. It'll happen all over again, I'm sure.

Didn't you used to be a fishing guy?

You are spot on, Mr. Martin. Polanski should go to jail for the rape and serve additional time for fleeing the justice system, just as any escaped convict would serve additioanl time. If this were to happen today, he'd be labelled a pedophile and be required to register himself, which he should also have to do here.

Mack, if the sole purpose of justice is to right the victim then we shouldn't punish murder at all. The purpose of justice is to punish criminal behavior.

He committed a heinous crime, one that the state must punish. The victim's wishes are irrelevant. Charges aren't pressed by victims in cases like this, but by the state.

Good piece Martin – spot on – they ought to interview you on this one and post the video on the main page for five days.

Damn their double standard – w/o mentioning the pure idiocy and moral blindness – just practically speaking, they (Hollywood) would be just a bunch of 'nobodies' if it wasn't for all of the nobodies!

@Matt:
Did you say that you were a 2nd grade teacher or a 2nd grader? I would think the latter after reading your post. Your written grammar, your logic, and your despicable support for a rapist of children leads me to believe that you have no place teaching children. Shame on you.

We need to boycott the movies and TV shows that the supporters of this scumbag are associated with. Boycott "The View" that Whoppie is on, write to the network and shows producers. If this crime happened to any of their children they would be singing a very different tune.

BOYCOTT THEM!!! WRITE TO THE NETWORKS!!!

A black man should not be commenting on rape. Try Bible study.

I am very disappointed with some of these celebrities, especially the women. The man raped a CHILD, end of story, he was guilty, he ran away, he got caught again. He deserves to have to finish his sentence just like anyone else would have to.

And to Whoopi, it WAS a rape-rape, it was even worse, she was a CHILD. How on earth can you say a child being drugged and made ot take pictures and have sex wasn't a rape? She was too young to give consent even if she had been sober. Would you think it was rape if it was YOUR daughter?

Roman Polanski committed a crime, would have only had a VERY light sentence for a disgusting act (drugging her alone would have been enough to merit more punishment!) and he fled the country.

How could anyone support this? The very fact that Hollywood supports such deviant practices destroys their credibility as a reliable source of sexual morality.

Mr. Roland, i often disagree with many of your more liberal leaning political views, but you knocked this one out of the park! hell yes, finally someone with the guts to call hollywood out. i love your courage here and your ability to communicate truth. there still is right and wrong, good and bad. thank you

Well said.

thank you, Roland.

Polanski was covicted in a court of law and needs to come back to answer to his crimes and serve his time.

This was the commentary I wrote about this situation, and the Hollywood hypocrisy:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=154946587768&ref=mf

Very well said Roland! Keep in mind, these are the same people that painted Obama as the second-coming of Jesus Christ!

Totaly right!

To all who feel the prolonged capture & trial process all hurts the victim, I say what about the next victim?

This is about setting a precedent. If RP gets away with rape, the next slightly-less famous hollywood bigwig can too. Then they won't have to be bigwigs before long, and even from hollywood before long after that.

If you or anyone you love could be raped, you shouldn't give a flying fig what the victim has to say about this case today! She's old & ugly today, it's about our children now.

BTW: I have noticed in my many years that victims who were around a lot of violence, such as the holocaust, are capable of more violence themselves. RP's troubled youth shouldn't excuse him at all; only make him more suspect!

I agree 100%. Regardless of whether this 13 year old girl was a willing participant or not. A 44 year old man should know better and be held accountable for his actions.

Is Polanski guilty of rape? Obvioulsy, yes. Should he face the music? No doubt, yes. And no doubt it will be harder on him now than if he'd faced the consequences back in the 70's, when society was less caring about the damage of rape (I'm sure his lawyers will argue his right to a fair trial in the US). However, I see some terrible things being said in response to Mr. Martin's blog...

First of all, the mother's part in this. Not to excuse what Polanski did, I'm only saying that she is at the very least guilty of gross neglect. No one in their right mind would send their 13 year old child alone to a wolf's playground!!! What was this woman thinking?! She is as culpable as Polanski, in my mind. Was she hoping her daughter would be his paramour and become famous? That is as sick as any sexual acts performed during this horrible event!

I'm also horrified at what I see people apparently advocating – anti-semitism, racism, and boycotting and black-listing of certain people who dare to express their personal opinions. Their opinion may be wrong in our eyes, but they still have a right to it! This is America, land of free speech, isn't it? Or has 1950's McCarthyism only hiding under a tree stump all these years, waiting to be revived in glowing health?! All of this is as equally sickening as the rape itself. Look at yourselves, people! Can Hollywood be reprehensible? Yes!!! And so can politics! And so can a lot of things in even in our "proper" society we choose to ignore every single day! Let the law decide Mr. Polanski's fate here on earth, for better or worse, and let his Maker decide when his time comes. As for anyone saying God will do this or that, PLEASE! I cringe when people purport to know or have some kind of insider track on what God will do. It's blasphemy! And if you want to hold up the Bible to support your right to judge, don't forget to read Romans 2:1 as well.

And last, and it would appear least to most everyone, the victim. Basically she is being raped again. Again her screams of "NO!" are being ignored. Once again she is rendered powerless. I can only imagine how she feels the second time around. Her well-being in this should be the most important of all. Not ours, we morally outraged, perfect and sinless citizens of this country! Not her mother's, a woman I'd love to have a long, hard talk with!!! Not Mr. Polanski's, who has fled his responsibility for far too long. His genius is indisputable as far as I'm concerned, but it makes no excuse for what he did. Simply hers, that once 13 year old girl with stars in her eyes who was led to the slaughter.

Roland,

You have got this right. I'm deeply grateful that you have voiced Truth. Thank you.

Matt–there is no way your a teacher–because you are way too stupid–no district that would hire a pedophilia supporter. Polanski himself admitted to the crime. It wasn't a teenage lie. I'm disgusted about how de-sensitized we've become to pedophilia. As far as the parent sending her daughter to his home...she thought she was chaperoned by a friend who backed out last minute.....I too am boycotting any actor who supports this scum and any product endorsed by them.

Oh – last thing. Lots of comments about – The victim wants it dropped. The crime is more an issue of being "against the people". When Federal Laws are broken..... they aren't just Forgiven because the victim wants it forgiven....... Why? Because it separates the rich and powerful from the rest of society. Think of it..... Polanski commits a crime that is Federally condemned. If someone can convince someone to say – drop it...... as they were handed bags of money – how many crimes would just disappear? While I feel sorry for this lady at this point in her life having to relive this....... the fact remains. A crime was committed – he made an admission of guilt. And fled. A Federal Crime is not just dropped cause a victim doesn't want it to deal with it. Or in this case – was paid off.

Mr. Martin,

I agree with you.

Hollywood is a sick society....these people have no idea how to separate their making movies with real life. Their morals are depraved and they think they think so high of themselves when all they can do in life is "pretend" being someone they are not.

I disagree with you on a lot, but you hit the nail on the head here!! Right on, Roland!!!

John Wilkes Booth was a highly talented actor...maybe he should get a pass, too.

You are correct with all your points. This argument is not about being a stereotypical 'Christian Conservative' or 'Hollywood Liberal'. I am neither. These sophomoric labels cloud the simple facts. It is about the protection of our children from those who would prey on them. Thanks, Paul.

Polanski is just as guilty as our late "hero" Ted Kennedy is and if I am not mistaken, not too long ago, Roland was praising the Senator that killed a woman in the 1970s and never went to jail. Talk about two-face!

Just a thought. What if we took those 40,000 inmates California is going to have to release early (due to lack of finances) and lock them up with Polanski in his French Villa.

There's something so poetic about Woody Allen protesting a convicted child rapist being punished.

I don't automatically suspect the French of wrongdoing, but I would like to know how Polanski has taken refuge there for so long. Don't the US and France have extradiction treaties?

I am a father of 2 little girls and could not imagine how I would react if one of my daughters went through this ordeal. To publicly support Roman Polanski is like coming out in support of any adult that has been convicted of a rape-child pornography type offence. A 13 year old is a child PERIOD!!

The legal system is what it is. If you commit an offense going to court is a crapshoot.

Roman should be grateful that all he had to deal with was the legal system as most fathers that love their daughters would chase him down for eternity for the abuse he inflicted on her that night. SHE WAS A CHILD!!!!

Wake up people and think before you speak of what it would be like for somebody that you love to be victimized by this type of crime!

I find the only bright light in this case is that the victim has forgiven Roman for his actions. I hope and pray that this is true.

Bravo Roland!! I couldn't have said it better myself.

I am in total agreement. Hollywood is so morally bankrupt and this proves the point. Had it been a priest who had done this decades ago, these same people would be demanding hid head. Polanski is no genius, he is a sick pedophile that got away with it because he has money and people like Debra Winger to support his sick behavior.

Mr Martin, I want to use this opportunity to say a big Thank you. even though this truth hurts, but these hollywood idiots should also remember that this girl was and is someone's daughter, and I know if she was their daughter they would have been trying to bribe the judges and prosecutors to get him in jail.
continue with the truth.

Where have all these people demanding Polanski's head been for the past 30 years? I agree he committed a terrible crime and should not have run, but I think this sudden backlash is hypocritical and another example of people being worked into a frenzy over something they saw on the news. His victim wants this to go away. He had a plea bargain that everyone agrees was about to be upended by a corrupt judge. He's lived in exile for 3 decades. I'm sick of people talking about how perverted Hollywood is. Stop looking at Barely Legal before you go casting stones.

This man did a horrific crime. I know he suffered in his life, but so has many other people and they did not have to rape a little girl. She was between the ages of Jaycee and Elizabeth when she was raped. She was still a child and he was over 30 years older than her!

Maybe the girl never told her mother about going to get her pictures taken for modeling. I don't know. But I see many kids in their early teens wandering around without their parents. Whether the mom allowed her to go or not isn't the issue. It's what the man did.

I can understand the victim wishing this had gone away. Honestly I do, who wants to remember something like that? But it isn't her choice anymore...he fled instead of paying his dues (90 days) molesters and rapists get more than that nowadays thank God...it wasn't like it was the rest of his life. He has to pay for the crime of fleeing his sentence, never mind the horrible thing he did.

And honestly, do you people really think she is the only one? Child molesters have been proven not to change, and usually there are other victims out there...maybe in Europe where he fled to all these years. Shame on all of those in Hollywood saying this was not rape. Boycott them.

Then again, Jail some jail time might give him some ideas for his next masterpiece.

Roland, you are spot on. Thank you! Calling the behavior of these token Hollywood stars that support him as “stupid and narcissistic” is on the gentle side. I was thinking a village is missing their idiot but it sounds like a great village is missing many idiots. If it were an unknown person taking nude photos, drugging, and raping a child they would automatically be called a pedophile. It has to be assumed that any sexual activity with a minor is coerced since they are incapable of consenting to sex acts thus making it statutory rape (WOW, that blows a hole in Whoopi’s “rape-rape” theory). There doesn’t have to be evidence of force or threat to be called rape when a child is involved. Let us be clear on that. Let’s remember that he pleaded guilty to unspeakable acts and then fled.

Roland, please display the petition list for us. We need to boycott every name on that list. This will NEVER be acceptable!!

AND TO MATT....she didn't lie to her mom. Her sister overheard her crying telling her boyfriend what happened. The sister told the mom. So...you also should get your facts straight.

Matt-

13 yos lie, all the time, you are right. However, in this case, there are pictures! YOU, not Roland or others here, need to check your facts before making yourself look like a fool.

OK...first of all there is a lot more to this then someone being drugged and raped. Why on earth was this girl alone with him in the first place? Parents? Also, the "victim" and her parents have gone back and forth for 30 plus years stating that Polanski was not a rapist. Now the victim is a grown woman and wants everything dropped yet it still interferes with her life.

Also, let's not forget all of the under handed dealing going on in the court room with a terrible judge and money hungry lawyers. It's pathetic. The whole thing is a joke and was most likely about money.

I say drop it and let them man contimue to make make excellent cinema. There are murderers who we just let walk away...OJ anyone?

Thanks so much Roland for bringing a sane perspective to this.

Polansky is a sick, perverted Criminal.

If the public really agrees that Hollywood is just as perverted in the defense of Polansky, then the Public should refrain from spending money on their films and participating in their stardom.

Whoopi Goldberg is an outrage, as is every other outspoken critic of our Federal Government for arresting Polansky in Switzerland.
Polansky's Guilt and Admission of his crimes toward a 13 year old child should be punished. He is very sick, and I beg that the liberal Media refrain from announcing any further the list of crimes this perverted monster committed against a 13 year old girl.

That the woman, now 45, doesn't want to relive any of this sordid crime is understandable.
However, the Crime is still a Crime, regardless of how long ago it happened. The Crime exists and Polansky must be punished.

Further, Americans should not excuse any person in Hollywood, regardless of how sick or mental, for a crime nor should the public support those actors and members of the Celebrity Crowd by paying for movies and entertainment venues.

Money is the root of all evil and Hollywood will get the message if
we refrain for putting more money in their pockets! No more of my money will be spent on any movie or entertainment of all persons who have come to Polansky's Defense. I'll remember each and every one of these outspolken, radicals for the release of Polansky.

Yes, Hollywood is so corrupt and sick, that all celebrities are clueless.
The entire industry is sick, if one considers the trash being produced.
Don't forget, these are the very persons who started the outspoken hate and lies against President Bush that he endured for 8 long years.
Entertainers are the very persons who are resoibsible for the hate-crazed manner of politicizing, a trend that pelosi, reid, frank and obama appear to embrace with open arms.

Thank you Roland! I disagree with a lot of your political analysis but here you go standing up for how it is. I am behind your analysis of this situation 100%... further evidence that both political sides can view wrong as wrong without debate.

As for those Hollywood "movers and shakers," what is wrong with you? We give you our money and watch your movies; and somehow you think that you have the right to declare a pedophile's arrest as a "miscarriage of justice." It is clear your relevance is limited to the world of imagination.

Being an artist does not justify the predation of an innocent child... and don't even start on the notion that this girl "asked for it" or anthing along those lines... that mentality is the cause for the perpetuation of pain put onto countless victims in this country!

Thank you Roland Martin!! Very well said. Priests are arrested years later with angry mobs waiting to lock them up...why not this guy? Using their logic, a pedophile that was molested as a child should be let off without penalty because they were victims right? So transparent of the big guys in Hollywood to try this. Sad.

I seldom agree with Mr Martin–actually, it may never have happened before–but he nailed this one!

ABSOLUTELY! Right on the nose, Roland.

Mr. Polanski committed a crime – even he admitted that. And then he left the country because he didn't want to do the time he *thought* the judge was going to lay down. Mr. Polanski should have long ago voluntarily returned to this country to take care of this issue – but he didn't.

And SHAME SHAME SHAME on those moronic people who are now defending him because of his "art". Who cares what he does to make money? He RAPED A 14 year old girl... and he should AT LEAST man up and face the music. He may very well get away with time served... but he needs to face it... or he should be found in contempt and sentence to the maximum possible. You and I couldn't get away with this, nor should we. Why can he?

I think it is so funny that Woody Allen signed onto the petition to release Roman Polanski. Of course he would sign it.

Right on, Roland.

On the other hand, if it were a nobody who had raped a nobody nobody would notice.

After all this time, I think it's sufficient punishment that he has not been allowed back in this country – even to accept special awards. Don't LA County and California have better uses for their tax monies?

He's a child molesting creep. Let France have him. Let's go after the mother that let him have her child instead.

How ironic that this is happening at the same time as Elizabeth Smart is testifying against Brian David Mitchell...

I'm amazed at how many of you are not familiar with this case, even though it's been in the headlines for days.

1) Polanski and the victim settled out of court

2) the victim wants the case dropped because it's continuation is more painful to her than the rape experience was (and may only have been rape because of her age - she may have consented)

3) there were issues of corruption in the original case, and it's likely that if Polanski is extradited to the US, he would still go free on these technicalities. Even if he had committed an ax murder, this would still be a serious problem with the case. We are all lucky to live with a judicial system that is harsh on it's own corruptions (and frankly, it could be harsher)

4) there is a statute of limitations, so I doubt he would be retried

5) you people weren't there, but there were witnesses. Anjelica Huston was there at the time and stated that she thought the girl could have been 25 (I knew girls in middle school who definitely looked and dressed like adults and were sexually active, so I can see this isn't entirely out of the realm of possibility), which makes it unlikely that Polanski wittingly "preyed" on a little girl

6) It is possible that the victim set up the situation (why was she even allowed to do a nude photoshoot by here parents?) in order to extort money from a wealthy and famous director. Since there was an out-of-court settlement, we might never know if that was the case

A lot of the comments above appear to be kneejerk reactions to limited facts (and Martin left out a lot of facts in the case - bad journalism, but salacious commentary).

The part of this that I agree with most of you on is that it was wrong of him to flee the country. Even with the apparent judicial corruption in the case, it would have been the right thing to do to fight that injustice from jail, if need be (he certainly had the resources to do so).

Roland, I agree with you 100%. When are child molestor/abusers going to get proper punishment? And I think it should be to rot in a very small cell till they die. And the system keeps letting these freaks free, and they do it again. We need to protect all children from abuse of any kind.

Amen! Finally, someone who makes sense. It's really scary to think that so many people think that he is the victim. Give me a break!

Left, right or center, Martin's take is spot on. It would be interesting to know what percentage of Polanski's advocates have daughters, and what percentage of those actually raised their daughters. Whatever the case, these advocates have issues, as something is clearly clouding their senses. Forgiveness, second chances, yada, yada, yada. Justice first.

Hmmm...you did not mention that the girls' mother let her go over to Jack Nicholson's house-she was an actress trying to play the Hollywood game and unfortunately her daughter had to pay the price. Me thinks that anyone who is willing to allow their "innocent" daughter go to a movie stars' Mullholland romper room should be prosecuted themselves.

Roman served his time as mandated by the judge. You really think that the courts are going to extradite someone over 88 days? Doesn't the State of California have more important things to worry about?

Roman's tragedies aside, it has been thirty years plus, and even the victim just wants this to go away...and why now? It has been reported that Polanski has been to Switzerland many a time, but now they are suddenly compelled to arrest him. Politics? Were they bored?

You are 100% correct. Well said!

Thank you, Roland, for calling it as it is– RAPE. This man needs to be behind bars for the rest of his life.

And yes, Whoopi, it is RAPE-RAPE!!

Mr. Martin, you have articulated my thoughts exactly. I am so tired of the twisted morality of the entertainment industry elite. Often they are pretty sneaky in pushing their views while trying to make the rest of us seem "out of touch" for having good values, but this time, they are more blatant than ever. You're right – they DON'T know how truly twisted they sound! They live on a different planet!

Roland, I have to be honest and say I've hated every other piece of yours I've read. This one, however, is spot on. It's nice to see somebody in the media finally say the guy needs to be brought to justice. This isn't an 18 year old caught having sex with his 17 year old girlfriend – it's a man in his FORTIES drugging and raping a LITTLE GIRL. This guy oughta hang.

Write more like this, Roland!

Like an earlier post, this is the first time I've ever posted on a blog...but I do so because Mr. Martin deserves the highest praise for standing up for what is right. Mr. Polanski's Hollywood pals are disgusting, deplorable, and amoral...which is why I've only been to two movies in the past 7 years. I throw away my trash at home; why would I pay to see it in a theatre? Kudos, Mr. Martin, and God bless you.

I am speaking as a grown woman now, with a 13 year old girl, and as a woman who at the tender age of 14 was raped, "my rapists" was never jailed, and yes I would say the "easy" way out of all of this is to look the other way, even for the girl who got raped.

Life is not "easy" though, and I can sure bet life was far from "easy" for the girl who got raped, even though I have read that she never wanted him jailed to begin with. Then again would you if you knew this justice system was going to put you through hell for saying something? I think they should first jail him for as long as they can just for running, and if he lives long enough for the "important" people in Hollywood to wake up and/ or shut up in supporting him, then deal with the rape case.

I wonder if he stopped raping young girls while he was on the run. I do not believe MOST rapist and /or molesters of the young ever get over their need for that depravity. So I would say jail him for the remainder of his life.

Roland I agree. He should have served his absolutely inappropriate 90 day time and then left the country. No one would have cared then. Now, trying to change the rule just because he's "brilliant" does not matter. And it's irrelevant that the victim wants this behind her. She was not in a position to judge back then which is why the law sought to proctect her interests once they were VIOLATED. He needs to face the music, end of story.

You lost me at "as a Christian." How do Christians have a monopoly on "love and compassion," and why do they always feel compelled to tell everyone that they are good because they are "a Christian?" Do people ever say, "I feel love because I'm Mongolian," or "as an atheist, I was taught compassion?"
Maybe you should examine your use of the terms "Hollywood heavyweights" and "Hollywood folks." These phrases, like ones such as "New York Times people" or "East Coast Liberals," are thinly-worded references to a certain religious group that lives primarily in New York and L.A.
I'm sure you would take offense at the statement that O.J. Simpson was mostly defended by "urban folks." Please stop using Roman Polanski's case as yet another reason to attack the world's most prolific artistic community.

Roland
Dude you are spot on, this piece of human garbage thinks because he can make movies he should get away this. He's thumbed his nose at the American justice system now he should pay.
These Hollywood fools and has been's are trying to get their names in the papers they should be ashamed of themselves. They are so used to being cuddled they honestly believe they are above it all. High time they started paying for the crap maybe the next generation of Hollywood brats wouldn't be trying to get away everything on the planet.

To Matt

A 2nd grade teacher – you have got to be kidding – that was pretty funny

But if it wasn't a joke – I wouldn't be surprised to see you on the next Dateline special as a predator

@@@Bullseye@@@
Roland I don't always agree with you, but you hit the nail right on the head with this one. Thank you!

It seems clear by some of the comments left on this page....from a few MEN...one being a school teacher(Matt)....that they are pedophiles in hiding....and it's certainly a good thing that these comments are left with a fairly anonymous identity...otherwise you SICK people might have some questions to answer.....Polanski is a sick man....and if anyone thinks for one second that he only did this once....well..then they are lying to themselves...pedophiles are NEVER rehabilitated....Rich or Poor....Black(Michael Hsu) or White.....pedophilia is a depraved crime that should be punished as harsh as possible.....children months old to teenagers(13) should be protected...NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES!!!!! They have little to no voice so we must speak for them

Matt I pray you aren't a teacher in my city.....I bet if authorities checked your computer they might find some shady material.....

Marrying at age 14 or 15 was common when my gr-gr-gr-gr grandparents wed. But life expectancy was in the 40's then.

I don't condone what Polanski did at all. But this young woman could have married at 13 in other times. So when people say she was "under age" or "not mature enough," that technically isn't true.

Her mother called the cops on Polanski but the mother needed to be tried for this rape as well, because she was not supervising her daughter.

I don't think this is as clear cut as Mr. Martin indicates. Besides using words like sadistic (which Mr. Martin apparently has not idea of its meaning), the prosecutor today admitted lying about the case. Also, why did Polanski undergo a psychological evaluation? Because not long before the incident his wife was murdered by the Manson family while he was filming in France. It seems he might have just snapped. Furthermore, the action did not take place at his home but at another celebrity's, who also admitted that the girl, while 13, could have passed for 25. Not sure if Polanski new this at the time.

I am also mighty disturbed by the fact that many are comparing Polanski to people on catch a predator and other such crap. A one time offense does not make one a predator. This could be a good time to discuss the scarlet lettering of every "sex offender" in the US. Should Polanski have gone to jail? Yes, but 30 years later, what would be the point? To satisfy America's holier than thou attitude? What would it change; nothing. But this does bring us to the central problem with the American penal system; it is vindictive instead of rehabilitative. Polanski going to jail now isn't justice but self-righteousness.

Mr. Martin should be taken off the air because he only insites people's emotions instead of causing people to reflect on the situation.

It is truly disgusting the lengths that these idiots will got to in order to exonerate an "artist." I hope the public takes notice and puts their money where their mouths are and hurt these rape apologists at the box office. It is simply inexcusable.

The above people blaming this on the Jews are truly some of the dumbest people I have ever encountered. I am a Jew, and we don't have this "us against the world" mentality that idiots think we do. I don't know a single Jew who is thinking "oh poor Roman Polanksi, he survived the Holocaust!" In my temple (which is very large) we're hoping he'll get sent back to the US and finally get what's coming to him. Right is right, and we don't need to all be Christians to agree that rape of a child is ALWAYS wrong.

The Jews are well aware that surviving the Holocaust does not automatically make someone A) a good person or B) totally off the hook for anything they do. We believe that Polanski will still have to face his maker, even if he never does face justice on Earth, and if he thinks he'll be getting the "Hollywood" treatment in heaven, he'd best think again. So enough with the blatantly bigoted, "Jews think they can do anything because of the Holocaust" bs. They have a name for that stupidity, it's called Anti-Semitism.

You, my good sir, are spot on. I am appalled at the reaction these Hollywood people are having. I'm sure if it was their daughter, they would be thinking differently.

I hope he gets extradited, and is sent to jail (Not only for his original charge, but his fleeing charge as well). If he is not, or if he lets go, then all faith in this system will be lost. Because then we know, the rich & famous are above the law.

it's sad when status can get you excused for such a sick act

This man, no matter what the excuse no matter the fame and brilliance of his work, raped an innocence young girl. Plead guilty to the crime and then left the country to avoid his responsiblilty and punishment. He made a choice. Two choices. Now, it is time for him to accept the consequences of his actions, and serve the jail time he so richly deserves. This is a matter solely, of justice.

I agree! He needs to suffer the full extent of the law.

Totally agree. These Hollywood morons are way off.

What a great example we would be setting by allowing this rapist off due to the fact the crime happened a long time ago... Just run away from justice and eventually you'll be forgiven! Disgusting. The whole thing makes me sick.

Matt,
It doesn't matter if the mother dropped her off or was on the property as some articles have indicated. Sex with a 13 yr old is a crime and not matter how much he has suffered from the various traumas in his life, he needs to be held accountable. I wonder if you'd be singing the same tune if it was your 13 yr old daughter?

Roland....I don't always agree with you but you are on target with this article. Great work....let's hope it wakes up some of the so called Hollywood elite that are protesting his innocence. I wonder if Debra Winger and company would feel this way if it was their daughter.

Looks as though Matt (8pm) wants some validation for activities he'd be interested in. How could any man condone this type of behavior with a child. Not to mention Polanski confessed.

I suspect that those who post on here that "the victim has moved on..." blah, blah, blah are pedophiles or view child pornography themselves.

They try to make the only victim here to be the girl. An adult molester can seriously alter the view of a young person to the point that the victim doesn't feel "victimized", yet a crime against society has certainly been perpetrated regardless.

Just look at the recent Druggar case. The young girl in that case may have "bonded" with her abuser, but it doesn't make his actions any less criminal.

Admit that you're trying to justify your own sick thoughts and behavior in wanting to gloss over this crime!

This is the first time I have ever agreed with Roland. Good job Roland, see if you can keep it up:)

You are exactly right about this creepy bastard. I have never gone to one of his movies for this very reason, just the same as I have not seen a Woody Allen film since his bizarre relationship with his daughter; although admittedly, there hasn't been much to see since that whole mess surfaced. I can't even begin to describe my disgust at, and disappointment in, the people who are standing up for him.

Now, as for that second-grade teacher in the post above – I wouldn't want anyone who can rationalize behavior like that anywhere near my children.

Very well said Roland.
Sure Polanski has been through some awful things in his life, but so must most of the pedophiles in this world. I mean, how else COULD a person commit something so horrendous? Never should a child rapist EVER be excused from his or her crime! Any other person in his shoes would be one heck of a condemned person, why not he?
Hollywood? WAKE the heck up!

Our legal system does not recognize rape-rape and rape–it recognizes the crime of statutory rape which Roman Polanski admitted to. Talent is not a defense against an admitted crime. There are many talented people in prison who have in common with Polanski that they violated of the law (wrongful convictions excluded). While I hesitate to acknolwedge the lunacy coming out of Hollywood, I wonder how they would feel if Polanski's victim had been their child. Society punishes an admission of sex with a minor, here 33 years the perpetrator's junior, because it values the protection of children and the right they hold to make decisions and enter into conduct as they are able to understand the consequences of the same. Polanski should have been long since punished and his Hollywood partisans are doing more harm to him than good.

Well said Roland. Right on target 100%. Narcistic self indulgent people can never see the light, and these Hollywood clowns show off their blind spots big timewith their warped views of Polanski's actions. Off to jail Roman, great senior care I hear in prison.

Maybe he will get plied in jail with alcohol and drugs, then get what he gave? I am harsh, what he did was not only harsh but horrible. He stole that girls innocence and future from her. And Whoopi, lay off the pot it is dulling your senses.

THATV IS WHY ISLAM PUNISHES AND INCRIMNATES THESE TYPE OF PERVERTS.

Totally agree. How anyone can defend this rapist is beyond my understanding.

You are absolutely right about this!

Amen! I work in Hollywood and can't believe that people actually believe that it's OK for him to rape a child just because he's Roman Polanski. People, who cares what he does for a living or how wealthy he is, rape is rape. Whoopi should be ashamed of herself – how can she possibly think that drugging a 13 year old and then having sex with her isn't 'rape-rape' – Disgusting.

Bravo!!! I would really like to face Whoopi Goldberg personally to ask her exactly what "rape-rape" is. A 44 year old man feeds a 13 year old girl Quaaludes and champagne and forces himself on her and this is not rape? Wow, I hate to know exactly what she thinks rape is. And if this happened to her own 13 year old girl, would she still see it as "rape-rape" or just plain RAPE?

It is sick to hear people saying that Polanski should be left alone. He is a sick person, commited a crime and must be punished for it jsut like everyone else.

Right on Roland,
The whole thing reminds me of what God's word says:
"John 3:19
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil."

Thank you for sharing your opinions on Mr. Polanski without mincing words. Like most who have commented, I am completely in agreement that he should be brought to justice for his crime. However, there is one aspect to this case that you didn't address and should have.

Disregarding the morally challenged idiots in Hollywood, the only seemingly rational responses I've read in support of Polanski cite the current wishes of the victim. While it is true that Samantha Geimer's has stated that she thinks the whole case should be dropped, I would have to question her motive.

She wants the whole thing to go away quietly so it doesn't affect her current life. And while I can understand that point of view, I believe she has a responsibility to deal with the publicity that comes from his being brought to justice. If every criminal case were dropped simply because the victim or the victim's family didn't want to think about it anymore, what sort of message does that send to all the monsters out there? Frankly, I find her stance irresponsible and selfish.

To Mrs. Geimer and those who argue in favor of dropping the case against Roman Polanski- The laws of this land are set forth by The People, for The People. They are not "guidelines" that can be tossed aside based on the wishes of one person. They are in place to protect us ALL as a society. Mr. Polanski's actions were in violation of OUR laws and THE PEOPLE demand he be brought to justice!

-And for anyone wondering, yes my name, coincidentally, really is Mike Nichols.

Preach it, Roland. I could not agree more and this is what I have been saying all along.

Thanks Roland....

Where the hell is Al Qaeda when you really need em? Tell you what Osama – nuke Hollywood and we'll give you a pass on that one.

The whole country would be better off.....

AL
you're an idiot France did welcome that rapist with open arms and they did not allow him to be sent back to the U.S. to face justice. Read a little before you open your mouth and start spouting garbage.

Thank you Roland!
And Im with Bill. Please post a list of every person (and I use the term loosely) who signed that disgusting petition on polanski's behalf. Like Bill I will not be watching or in any other way participating in any project these people are associated with from now on.

Please Roland get us the list of names.

gil

Victims don't dictate the legal process – if they did our judicial system would be a complete mess. I sympathize for the victim, but her feelings are mostly irrelevant in this case. And as someone already mentioned, she wouldn't be going through this now if Polanski had taken responsibility for his actions instead of running off to France to live a life of money and privilege, getting treated like a hero.

No, not really. Hollywood is not clueless, like the rest of the world, nobody cares. How many years have passed. He has been through soooooo much, really I do not care.

BOYCOTT ANY MOVIE STAR WHO SUPPORTS THAT LOW-LIFE RAPIST

Polanski is a sorry excuse for a human being. All those Hollywood actors/actresses that signed the petition should be boycotted. They are all disgusting human beings.

What Polanski did was wrong, no one could rationally disagree.

What I can disagree with is all these comments about "Hollywood this and Hollywood that". SOME people in the entertainment industry support Polanski, and SOME don't. Just like every other sector of America, there are different opinions. If you want to caste your ire at someone because of what they express, please keep it to that person. Don' play into grouping people because of the job they do, or what part of the country then come from.

Ohh and to all those people who keep saying "Shame on You" to the commenter Matt; SHAME ON YOU. The guy expressed his opinion on a subject, and you happen to disagree. How dare you call into question his ability as a teacher, just because it makes you feel better!

Well.... for woody allan it's a no brainer. He did the same thing with his step daughter.

I'm sorry for this woman, who wishes this whole media blitz would go away and let her live a quiet and normal life. Every time the subject comes up, she's victimized again. You can't punish Polanski enough, in my opinion. But ultimately, the victim's rights should be respected, and all she wants is for this to go away. This should have been resolved so many years ago. Shame on Polanski and the US justice system.

Ok everyone, let's go to the Church on this one. What does the Church have to say? Nothing, because pastor's and preachers yada yada alike have been getting away with this for years. Leave Polanski or whatever his name is alone. This guy, who admitted to the crime, admitted to it as part of a plea bargain, a plea bargain that the judge turned away from after he initially agreed to it. What the hell was this 13 year old girl doing at the Hollywood party anyway? Lock her f-ing parents up for being morons!

Thank you, I was starting to think I was the only way that felt this guy totally got off. I agree, I'm boycotting these actors and their movies also. Woody Allen a supporter? Of course that pedophille thinks he shouldn't do jail time, why wouldn't. He's another one that I'm shocked people still support. Incest & Rape are pretty serious and sick crimes on young vulnerable women. And Whoopi, Rape-Rape, are you serious? You should be ashamed!

Well put!!!!! I wonder how many of these celeberties would see it as rape if it had happened to their 13 year old daughter? What the man did was sick. He did this to someones child and took away her innocense. Rape is Rape whoopi! wow! the ignorance!

By the way, Harvey Weinstein, Debra Winger, Michael Mann, Woody Allen and Mike Nichols (five of the six supposed "Hollywood" villains you named above) are Jewish. But I guess you didn't know that when you decided to single them out for your anger.
You omitted such decidedly non-Jewish Polanski supporters as Pedro Almodovar, Salman Rushdie, Wong Kar Wai, and the Polish government, but those people don't really fit in with your theme, do they?

Someone needs to start up a petition on Facebook, myspace, etc. to boycott the immoral hollywood bastards who would support this rapist. If you twitter start your petition there. It shouldn't be to hard to figure out which entertainment studio produces and distributes these
idiots movies, books, music, etc. I for one will boycott anything with their name attached to it from this day forward. The only reason the victim wants it all to go away now is because there was never any closure for her. Her pain could have ended and allowed her to move on years ago. Instead every year that man lived free she lived in denial. Now her wound is reopened. Its no wonder she wants it to end. Make him pay!

Mr. Martin,
You are right. He should face the justice system. As to Hollywood stars backing him up just look at who it is. Woody Allen a man who had sex and then married his step adopted daughter.
To Ms Goldberg....... RAPE IS RAPE..... a 13 year old can not consent to having sex with a 44 year old and you should be ashamed for your comment.
Mr. Martin, please keep up your good work.

La Viro – you think being anti-Semitic entitles you to hire level of justice then us, simple dirty Jews? I hate Polanski and every other child rapist with as much hatred as any one else, I wish he rot in Russian dirty jail and not in US all-inclusive resort-type facility. And I couldn’t care less if he’s Jew, Latino or a penguin. Far all I care, Nazis had extremely talented people in their ranks as well, so what? They are all murders, and I would hang them all, on the same branch with the monster Polanski. And btw, Nazis were Jew-haters too, just like you. You should have not posted here, I’m sure there are plenty of Jew-hating sites that will gladly grant you a membership.

Well, I don't think he is a monster. Deeply troubled maybe but not a monster. no one is that one dimensional, even the worst of us has a human side. However, he must take responsibility for his actions. When it comes to hurting others, we have to take the heat.

I think hollywood is defending him based on his accomplishments in film making .I have enjoyed his films myself. Of course it is a loss when such a talented person has done something so self destructive...BUT HE DID IT! He must pay his debt now as any of us would being ordinary citizens.

Criminal behavior cannot be ignored and swept under the carpet. It is a tragedy no matter where you are in the loop. I would hope that Mr. Polanski regrets his actions. But I am more conerned with the victim after all these years, who is asking for it to be let go.And that is the best reason why to let it go because the victim needs that to happen.
He is guilty as hell. we all know that and let him live with it.

nice job on the artical . I am truly scared of what our society is becoming. When you hear people on here defending a person that took advantage of and raped a girl its scary. The teacher in there Matt was it thinking this guy is some type of hollywood god and that kids lie makes it ok. how wrong is that and this guy teaches our kids. burn the director and all the lowlife scum who think its ok and include all the other hollywood pieces of dung like woody allen. i will urinate on there graves.

Here's what we should do. Get a list of all the Hollywood people who have signed the petition to let Roman Polanski go, then see whether they vote Republican or Democrat. I know what my guess is....

Could not agree more. Those supporting Polanski should be ashamed of themselves.

I agree that Polanski should be put in jail for what he did. Were this girl 13 or 31, I would want to see anyone who coerces another person into sex pay the price. The man is sick, and I find Hollywood sick for defending him.

Still, I am bothered that no one speaks of the mother who allowed her child into this man's home, nor the girl who was "modeling" illegally...who was not a virgin at the time of this crime and thus knew what could happen in such a situation. I think she and her mother wanted fame...and unfortunately, they got it in the worst way. It's awful. I don't see any way I can condone the fact this girl was in Polanski's house in the first place. It takes ALL PARTIES INVOLVED to avoid these kinds of situations. I worry that for fame or for money, and mother and her daughter were willing to sacrifice her innocence. That's equally as sick as Polanski's act.

It baffles me that The View hasn't fired whoopi goldberg for the utterly reprehehsible "...it wasn't rape rape..." Do the right thing ABC.

OK, I agree he did wrong, but come on Hsu, this has nothing to do with race, can we please stop playing that card!!!
Oh and should he of served his 48more days–YES, but it was only 48 days more-we can end the witch hunt he will not be in jail forever people so I really think this article is a waste of time!! Because of what the law let him do (plead to a lesser charge) these Hollywood stars are completely sane for standing behind him. He was not convicted of rape, so get over it folks it is now between him and his maker...
UGHHHH quit trying to blame all our problems on Hollywood and look in the mirror!!! They are not the problem, they are just living their life, please I suggest you go out and do the same!

If Mr. Polanski were a priest and his abuse of a child in his parish had happened 30 years ago, the Hollywood elite and probably even "schoolteacher Matt" would be screaming for his blood. But somehow they are no so outraged when the pervert is a "brilliant artist". And it is an insult to other Holocaust survivors and families of murder victims to use those tragedies in Polansky's life to excuse his perversion. This far left. pro choice, tree hugging liberal says the man should go to prison for a long, long time. No excuses. A perv is a perv, even if he has the keys to Jack Nicholson's house.

I find it humorous that the people backing polanski up are not very credible themselves. C'mon, woody allen???? didn't you sleep with your adopted step child then marry her??? sick! i guess people like you would think it was o.k.

I totally agree! The girl was only 13! I don't know why people defend him.

Roland ....you are THE GROWN UP!!! This is not the first time the
Holocaust has been used to justify crimes against humanity!!

Wow, did Roland Martin actually attack Whoopi Goldberg, who is black.

I could not agree more. I don't care if the victim feels he should get off
because that is why these crimes are prosecuted by the state itself. This is not just a crime against this individual, it is a crime against society. People seem to forget this.

The piece is so well written... I couldn't agree more.

Absolutely correct. But for the people crying racism (Hsu). Shut up already. I could do without the Christian nonsense too.

This situation is a travesty and a great example of American "justice" gone awry. After reading all of the books, many articles and seeing the TV coverage and documentaries I am convinced that there was no crime committed. It is clear there's no grey area. Polanski is innocent. Hearing all this makes me want to move to a more civilized country. Wake up people and get your facts straight. Makes me embarrassed to be an American.

Of the Hollywood elites who signed that petition, who among you are ready and willing to stand in Polanski's place before a judge and serve his time?

0

Now sit down and shut up!

why doesn't the general public "get" that victims do not bring charges against criminals, drop charges or get to decide cases in our judicial system. It doesn't matter that the victim in this case would feel better if her abuser was left alone!

the case is about the state of California v Roman Polanski........many victims of violent crimes do not want to testify at trial, it makes perfect sense that a victim of such a publicized crime would want it to just disappear.
BUT guess what folks!
In this country when the state brings charges against a defendant and that defendant decides not to go to trial and admits/ pleads to the charges against him he is found guilty.
Roman Polanski pled guilty!....and then he ran away
in order for him to receive the benefit of any bargain he made with the state....he would have had to show up and be sentenced over 30 years ago.
guess what ...when he fled to avoid the legal consequence of his admitted actions....he lost his chance.
he should have to answer for his actions.
period.

he should

I agree, the point is that he must return to face justice. Rather than face a measly 48 days more in prison, he left. If there was any misconduct, it likely would have been resolved under appeal if he'd stayed. He didn't complete the process and thus justice has not been served.

Spot on Roland Martin.

I love the people who get on here and tell folks to do their research then repeat exactly what they saw on a documentary (hardly historically sound). I read the transcripts from the trial. This guy is filth. The girl was vilified in the media (called Lolita and plastered all over papers at the age of 13) and that is why the plea bargain was brought about. The whole thing is disgusting and Polanski is the most disgusting part.

Matt, you should not be a teacher. That scares me.

You are spot on. I can't believe so many people are rising to defend this man. All one needs to do is read the Grand Jury testimony of the victim to see that this was a crime and deserves the same punishment I'd get were I to have done such a horrific thing. Years in prison (and now years more for running from justice).

You can read that transcript here:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0610081polanski1.html

Excellent commentary. Someone should start a petition to boycott the Hollyweird clowns who signed the petition.

CNN really should alert the FBI about the poster named 'Matt'. His comments are quite disburbing, especially since he has stated that he is an educator of children (2nd grade, 8 year old children, roughly). This is a very alarming situation and I believe that CNN has a responsibility to notify the proper authorities so that they can put this so called 'man' under surveillance and investigate him to really find out if he truly is the scumbag as he seems to indicate that he is in his post.

CNN – Please do the right thing!!

I have disagreed many times with this commentator and others at CNN. But in this case I could not possibly agree more. Thank you Mr. Martin for having the gumption to speak the truth and thank you CNN for finally printing something that doesn't pander to the kooky Hollywood mentality. No matter what artistic talents he may have, Polanski deserves to be in jail. Period.

Ok, the problem I have with this is everyone is Hollywood is framing this like it's STILL the 1970's, while the rest of the world is looking at this as a crime committed in present day. What you have here is a girl that had the maturity of Jodie Foster in "Taxi Driver" over at director's house (by permission of her mother no less), dealing with a damaged man who only saw a pretty young woman - not a number. They used some drugs, got into a hot tub and things happened.

What he did is reprehensible. While the victim would like to put it behind her, (and I might be inclined to support that, given the media scrutiny she's had to deal with for the past 30 years), what bothers me most about this is that Polansky doesn't seem even the least bit chagrined by his actions, nor has he taken responsibility for them. Trying to justify this by saying he himself is a victim, is like trying to say a serial killer isn't guilty just because his father beat and molested him as a child.

Amen. All that needs to be said.

I couldn't put it better!

Debra Winger? Who the heck is Debra Winger? Was she somebody from the last century.

As for Woody Allen, he should know a thing or two about a May- December romance. Except they didn't get around to prosecuting that in New York Family Court.

Sigh.

I used to say that I never agreed with Roland. This article won't let me say that any more. He is 100% correct. But Roland, this is but one example of how "hollywood" and the left are OUT of their minds.

If anyone needed any more proof that Hollywood is morally bankrupt, well here it is. Even the best writers in Hollywood could not have come up with a scene where Woody Allen is complaining about how poor Polanski is being persucuted. That's right, you have one man who slept with his step-daughter and then leaves his wife to marry the step-daughter, complaining tha a pedophile who got a 13 year old drunk and then raped her is being persucuted. Amazing. What's even worse is these people are all so sick, they cannot see how wrong this all is. Truly a group of pathic individuals who have no true understanding of life.

Polanski didn't rape anyone.
He had sex with an underage girl. The rest is a lie.

How come you none of you guys remember Michael Jackson? He was a known pedophile, who had sex with many boys. But you like him, and you sanctified him! Why?

Unfortunately we're judging a fourty year old crime by today's standards. Just as MADD has effectively changed the public's opinion of drunken driving (forty years ago it was a minor indiscretion to "fall asleep at the wheel" and wreck your car – today you're an incorrigible alcoholic with no regard for public safety) Forty years ago Roman was reckless enough to have sex with a girl that looked and acted older (but probably still too young). Society in those days didn't have the heightened "protect the precious children from the big bad monsters!!!!" mentality that we do today. The prosecutor was representing the values of the people when he agreed to a 90 day sentence as proper punishment for the transgression. No District Attorney today would ever consider a plea deal like that for such a crime. Remember, "sexual predator" wasn't even in the vernacular at the time and men who "fell prey to Lolitas" weren't considered pariahs.

I'm not saying there wasn't a crime and I'm not saying there shouldn't be punishment. What I am asking is that you consider that our sensibilities about sexual exploitation of minors was very different back then. If there had been a stronger taboo, perhaps Roman Polanski wouldn't have had sex with a young girl – he might have been inhibited by society's values and wouldn't be the reprehensible monster people are making him out to be. (Has he ever preyed on young women since that event? Practically all true sex offenders are unable to curb their lusts even with heavy counseling and threat of serious penalty)

This story is really about a man who fled when he heard that a fame-seeking judge might go back on a plea agreement. I suspect if the judge had said "fine – ninety days, time served" Roman would have complied with the court's wishes. This story is not about condoning child abuse, it never was.

Thank you for such a clear commentary on the situation. This is not just about the poor girl he raped many years ago. If he is allowed off – what does this say about how we as a country will stand and protect the young girls and women in our country today. Lets not sell our daughters for a couple of movies.

Oh, c'mon, this was the '70s. He didn't know or care how old the girl was. Things were different then. People did not think of sex or rape the way they do today. It was a free-wheelin', pill-poppin' society, where Hollywood parties could lead to anything with anyone.

Moreoever, I wonder what Roland Martin would write if the man were black. Would he somehow be forgiven? No, of course not.

I have never, ever written a comment to an internet editorial but this is about the best written, spot on, editorial that I have read. Hollywood is not the place that one should turn to for moral guidance.

It will be very interesting to see how many of these Hollywood types waffle and backpedal when people speak out about the stupidity of their support for an admitted criminal.

Face the music time.

Man, once his new masterpiece comes out Polanski will be able to rape 8 year olds no problemoooooo.

Hi Roland,

I love listening to you on CNN! I look forward to hearing you no matter which show you are on.

I agree with everything you just said. I am very disappointed at how Hollywood is willing to excuse this rapist for his act because he is such a talented director. If he is excused that could also set presedent for future rapists. Why not them if he can get off. Everyone is forgetting that a crime was committed and he needs to pay for that crime.

Having said that, I think everyone is taking Whoopi's comments out of context. When she said it wasn't "rape rape" she did not mean it the way everyone is taking it. I think, to protect the show from any liabilities, she was being very careful that The View communicated that Polanski was not found guilty of rape, but of the lesser charge. Granted we all (Whoopi) included all know that its still rape, but the law is law and they said something else. She was trying to make that difference with the law only. I saw The View that day and remember thinking she's going to get slack over that statement – but I also know that the way everyone is taking it isn't the way she meant it. And if someone knows anything about Whoopi then they'd know that she wasn't trying to diminish what had happened to the 13 year old.

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow Roland!

Finally, someone is championing the sentiments of the people! What has been said by the rich and famous regarding Polanski is utterly appalling! Somehow, should someone claim "well he thought the judge was going to give him 100 years," then they are excused for fleeing sentencing?? If he were to get 100 years then he must have deserved it, because you know as well as I do, he has the best attorneys money can buy, then and NOW! The list of those whom signed the petition should be taken and posted everywhere as a list of those whom are not concerned about a 40yr old having sex with a 13yr old child. Martin, I dont know if you are taking this stance because you should be, or because it is becoming popular but either way it needs to be taken. I do have to say however, once again you took at easy on Goldberg, and I have to wonder why? Hmm, what is different about Ms. Goldberg from every other person you mentioned... hmmmmm. To say she lost her senses is drastically underestimating the statement and sentiments expressed.

AMEN!

These "supportive" members of Holly wood are so depraved, they don't even know how sick they are. So you can molest children and its OK if you happened to be talented? Whoopi is a total idiot on this – what is "rape-rape"? A thirteen year old cannot give legal consent, and in this case, we didn't even have consent. It was rape, plain and simple, and brutal! This was likely her first experience, and look what it was! An old man drugging her and forcing himself on her every way he wanted. This must have gone on for hours, pure torture. How she has managed to recovery, we will never know. I certainly understand why she doesn't want to relive it with a trial, but that doesn't change the fact that he raped her and needs to pay for his crime. And the whining over his inability to get his award, and not being able to travel freely. We are supposed to feel sorry for that? What about the way she has had to suffer all these years?

Matt the 2nd Grade Teacher
You are an idiot
No wonder many children here in the US graduate and cannot read

really don't care if he is famous or not. Just think if it would have been your daughter. How would you feel then?

Rape is rape. You do the crime, you do the time! I am all for boycotting those Hollywood idiots who are standing up for a man that raped a 13 year old girl. Polanski should spend the rest of his life in jail!!

Mr. Martin, I have rarely agreed with you on some of your positions, but today I'm proud to side with you on this. I have a 13 year old daughter, and if Roman Polanski or ANY man did these types of things to her, I shudder to think what I would do. No justice has been served in this case....unless you call a lifestyle of champagne and caviar justice.

right on roland – i agree completly

Thank you so much for this article. As one who is currently studying film at college, I have grown to admire the works of Roman Polanski. However, I cannot stand for what he has done, and I think it is ridiculous that so many celebrities are defending Polanski. Sure, Polanski has had a rough life, and yes, art may be a way of coping. But art can't redeem him–enough with this "if you're famous enough....if you wait long enough...if you're rich enough...you can get away with it"

Hollywood is aparently so "tolerant" nowadays that they have embraced rape as politically correct, wow.

just another case of liberal elites not understanding why we don't understand that they are "more Equel" then the morons who make them rich and famous.

Why isnt anyone calling for caps on hollywood compensation?

So reading through these blogs, I keep seeing people bring up (rightly so) that the victim wants the charges dropped and that the needs of the victim should be the issue here. I've been wondering why this really didn't strike me as very important when clearly, it should really tug at your heartstrings. I believe that we should do all that we can for the victim and support our programs for victim advocacy. But I think for me and many others, there is an issue even bigger than the agony and pain of the victim. It is right and wrong and the implications of letting such a heinous act go unpunished. Many young men were humiliated and ostracized when details of sexual abuse by clergy became public. I feel horrible for them. I know not all of the victims stepped into the light willingly. But because they did, we became aware of a horrible problem. Whether or not he was "set-up" by the mom or whether he paid out a huge settlement....does it really matter? Did he have sex with a 13 year old girl. Yes. Did he sodomize a 13 year old girl? Yes. I understand he was "double-crossed" by a prideful judge. Sorry you didn't get the posh sentence you were promised but no one should be above the law.

The point being...Polanski admitted guilt to sex with a minor.
He escaped the country for sentencing. Yes he is a coward for that, but he did admit guilt.

I wonder how many young girls in Hollywood in the 70's put themselves into that position. She wanted to be a starlet and there were certain things you had to do in the 70's to get there. She didn't announce her age and by witnesses accounts didn't look 13 either.

i don't think i've ever agreed with a single thing roland martin has ever said . . . until now. Nice work roland. It amazes me how few national news heads have said anything negative about these Hollywood idiots who continue to defend a rapist.

Roland, you have said – very well – what I believe the majority of people think. Thank you. Hollywood is a sick little fishbowl and not remotely representative of the rest of us.

I think the frothing mob here will be very disappointed once Polanski goes before the judge in LA. The case most likely will be dismissed soon or probation (as originally recommended by the psychiatric board) will be sentenced. Not very satisfying for those who get off on some good ole-time vengeance.

If only the U.S. showed as much concern about the welfare of children before they raped Iraq because it 'felt good'. A 'Christian' Nation indeed.

Now back to the regularly scheduled bloodlust.

Woody Allen thinks he's great when in fact he's no better for betraying and manipulating the trust of a child as well. If Polanski goes free, it is truly a sign of the fall of America as we know it, for a country that has no morality cannot be a global leader. Money and fame has corrupted the minds of those aritsts who believe they are GODS!

Agreed! Yet Roland's reference to being Christian ("As a Christian") seems in poor taste. Rape is not condoned in Judaism either.

I totally agree! I think it's digusting that people are backing this man who committed such a terrible act. And what the heck is "rape-rape"?? Rape is rape – there is no sort of...good grief! Everyone backing this man should think carefully about the sort of behaviour they are supporting....

It seems to me that the case has impressive similarity to those of Michael Jackson where criminal parents forced their children to go to Neverland and sleep with that guy to obtaining later millions on settlements.
Here the situation seems the same:Polanski trapped by a rapacious mother and a clever child.

And in my opinion that's why that girl now a 45 years old lady is insisting for forgetting her rapist feeling that she (and he) got enough.
Too bad that she doesn't clearly say that.

Said that Polanski, even if trapped, did it. So let's chain him.
And I was also very upset that Jackson didn't go to prison.

But why in years that Polanski was spending months is his house in Switzerland, nobody arrested him? Or when he was traveling around Europe? As far as we know the extradition with US is active in Germany, Italy, Austria and so on...
You should admit that all this sound kind of bizarre and blurry.
Unfortunately in our country the judiciary system is based on election of the system's members.
And to get exposure and reelection very often the prosecutors, DA and judges are acting in a discussible way.
So did the first judge in the case and so in my opinion is doing the DA now.
They could have trapped and extradited Polanski millions of time...
Somebody is using this to get some personal advantage, I have no doubts about it.

In this case I see Polanski becoming from a rapist and predator a victim of a vicious judiciary system.
He's famous, he's guilty and he's available: let's use him.
Reverting your question: I'm just wondering if he was an unknown sex offender escaped abroad... probably no DA would have spent time in something not rewarding as chasing a celebrity.

For those who think it should be dropped simply because the victim settled and considers everything is in the past, you are confusing a civil matter with a criminal matter. Apparently some of you think you should be able to get away with anything as long as you have enough hush money.

I'm also amazed how the courts are being portrayed as insensitive by causing the victim to re-live her pain over and over. If Polanski had not fled and continued to evade answering for his crime, this would have been settled decades ago and he would be rotting in jail and labelled as a sex offender.

Roland, Once again you've hit the nail on the proverbial head. You just put into words what many of us are feeling and wish the actors up in Dreamland, CA. would feel...if they can feel at all.

Thank goodness for all of the overwhelming support for Martins view. Bloggers such as Matt are extremely narrow-minded to even attempt to put the "blame" on a 13 year old victim. Matt...do us all a favor and get out of teaching. Clearly our children are in the wrong hands if you are in the classroom!

Roland,

This is the first decent article you have ever written. Congratulations!
The Polanski story is a sad one and what makes it so much worse is that he has so much support from his liberal friends who decide to leave their morals behind. Luckily France has dropped support for him saying nobody is above the law which means it is dark and dreary for him from here on out.

Here's a list of all petition signers: http://www.sacd.fr/Tous-les-signataires-de-la-petition-pour-Roman-Polanski-All-signing-parties.1341.0.html

Yeah. I agree. Let the bankrupt state of California pay millions to bring a man who can't set foot in America thus not in this society, put him on trial, and then spend hundreds of thousands of dollars separating him from society again. Makes lots of sense to me, especially since that money could be used to focus on prosecuting dangerous people on the street! What is the purpose of jail? Deterrence or rehabilitation? Give me a break, nothing at all will be gained from prosecuting Polanksi. There happens to be a huge gray area in this case. The victim sought justice through civil court, and received $$$. She doesn't want him prosecuted. Drop it, already, and focus on improving Los Angeles as it is now.

I totally agree with Mr. Martin. I was discouraged and demoralized to read the comments of those who would support a criminal simply because he is a well-known public figure. Mr. Martin's reversal of story with a hypothetical example of a famous Hollywood child actor is the perfect way to put this event in the proper context. Shame on those whose arrogance outweighs their moral character, and Bravo to those like Mr. Martin who actively defend what is right.

Well, Mr. Martin, I agree with you. I don't know what was going on in this man's mind when he scarred this poor girl for life. I felt bad for him for the way he lost his wife and child, and perhaps even 10 years later his judgement was impaired, but simply doesn't excuse running away. That's the act of a coward. He made a mistake, and he needs to pay for it. Period, the end.

This man's avoidance of justice has hurt his victim more than the rape itself because its followed her, her entire life. How horrid, and unforgivable.

I completely agree. As a victim of rape, I can honestly say that there is nothing harder than watching your attacker enjoy freedom. This man deserves to be punished, famous or not.

While Polanski is inexculpable for what he did, why is a tax-funded public organ expending such a huge amount of resources for something that happened more than 30 years ago from which the direct victim has already received full closure in pursuit of a result that will not not benefit anybody except tabloid magazines?

Whoopi Goldberg hasn't been spot on about any issue in years. From her crossing the picket line during the writers strike, to her criticism of Jennifer Love-Hewitt’s weight. She has repeatedly shown herself to speak without any forethought. This, though far more shocking, is no exception.

The whole thing is asinine. Polanski raped a child, he should be in prison for the rest of his life.

The victim is asked that this all be droppd...so why hasn't it? Every person with an opinion is going on and on about the 13 year old girl...who is now an adult with a family...who has asked, demanded, and pleaded that this case be DROPPED...and all people can think about right now is Polanski being wronged (boo-fricken-hoo) and the definition of "rape" Shame on every one of you for NOT listening to the victim.

I am so disgusted by the statements by the Hollywood community about this case. These are people that I truly respected, but am just horrified by their condoning the rape of a 13-year old girl – well as long as it is done by "one of their own".

And you missed one thing on your comparison to a young actress being raped. Not only would they be up and arms, they would be rushing to portray her story on the screen, and giving themselves a pat of the back for being so morally upstanding.

i guess it's ok in france to have sex with children eh?

Samantha Gailey is not the only victim. She may want the case dropped, but it's not just about her. Other victims include the countless number of adolescent girls who are assaulted every day because perpetrators still believe they'll get away with it. Victims include their parents, who didn't know, or know how, to protect them. Victims include all young girls who continue to be sexualized by some film and television media (although not all), rather than being allowed to grow up in security and happiness. Victims include those whose perpetrators still carry the smug narcissism that allows lives to be destroyed. Adolescent victims of sexual abuse have higher rates of early pregnancy, homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, and dropping out of school. That's making America the victim too... because we all pay for the cost to society. Mr. Polanski left because he thought he was above the law, and he thought his sexual gratification was more important than a young girl's vulnerability. I don't know, and never will, how some people look at a child's sweet face and want to harm, when most of us take such joy in their beauty and want to protect, to guide, to cherish. But they do. Mr. Polanski'ss movies aren't "great," they're just cinematic... and often about the sexuality of young girls or about violence. I've known people who've survived the murder of a loved one, as Mr. Polansk has; but I can honestly say I can't name any that viewed it as a ticket to sodomizing a child. If he wants to redeem himself, then he needs to stand trial, he needs to confess, he needs to rehabilitate, and he needs to do his time.

BTW, this whole trial has NOTHING to do with Hollywood being the business that it is. The public believes this for some reason...if Polanski worked at Sears, the public would go on abotu how rotten Sears is. Thank God the man didn't work for Disney or we'd NEVER hear the end of this.

I do agree with what Roland had to say 100%. But what I don't like is the few people that have come over here to now turn this into a racist issue. Why does a jew get off for doing this? Of if this were a black person he would be hung. Why can't people just stick with the story instead of spouting off their personal beliefs?

Totally agree with the article, rape is rape I don't care who did it. what makes this idiots think that this "Rat" did not commit any more rapes?

Matt and SMH: You are idiots!! The girl was 13 and I don't really think she could give consent when she was drugged up. Or did you just gloss over that part? What he did was illegal and he should go to jail like any other pedophile and I don't give a damn how many great movies he's made.

Justice must be served. For someone who has admitted guilt by pleading guilty, he has no other option but to step forward and submit to the verdict of the court. As for those in "Hollyweird" who plead his case and think he should be set free, they should be willing to step forward and be willing to serve his sentence as determined by the court of jurisdiction in this case. Nothing else is acceptable. All of the Hollyweird IDIOTS who plead his case should be willing to step forward and take his place before the court, and be willing to serve the sentence meted down by the court. As none of them have stated their willingness to do this, then they should all STUT UP and go back to their day jobs of making entertainment for the masses, take their paycheck, and them just shut up and go away. Nothing else is acceptable to those of us who have to be responsible for our actions, and be willing to accept the judgement of our peers for our actions as adults in a democratic society. I have made note of those in Hollywood who support Polanski in this matter and will no longer buy tickets to the movies they make, nor will I watch these movies when they are released on dvds.

wow! woody allen is supporting him? what a surprise. if you dont believe this man needs to go to jail, you have no heart.

I thought I had been living in an alternate universe as I read some of the comments Mr. Polanski's supporters have made.

The rape of a child is still the rape of a child.

It doesn't matter how many years have passed, how talented the perpetrator is, or what kind of horrors the perpetrator endured in his life prior to the crime. Nor does it matter that the victim has chosen to forgive the criminal.

What matter is that a crime was commited and the guilty party fled.

I can't wrap my mind around the fact that people are supporting a child rapist. The LA Times quotes Harvey Weinstein as saying "whatever you think of the so-called crime, Polanski has served his time."

I personally would support a boycott of all works from any individual who supports Mr. Polanski.

Finally! Someone speaking out for the majority who agree that Polanski should be brought back to the United States for his day in court. Hollywood is full of elitists who feel they are above the law. Why do we worship these people? Their lives are so far outside the realm of normalcy, why do we allow them to speak for the masses.

While I understand the victim's desire to get passed all this, Polanski is the one who has dragged this out for years. I'm sure she was paid a hefty sum through her civil suit and there may be a requirement as part of the settlement that she request the charges be dropped.

It is disgusting that anyone is blaming the victim, a 13 year old girl, for this crime or putting Polanski on a pedestal so that he is above the law and does not have to be held accountable for his admitted crime.

Thank you, Roland, for getting this ball rolling. I hope it has the momentum to get louder and louder so that it drowns out the cries of the Hollywood crazies who do not represent the majority of Americans.

It is really sad isn't it? Even sadder is the fact these folks are making movies the younger generation is watching....

Polanski is navel lint and should be prosecuted; he does not deserve a pass on rape or sex with a 13-year-old. That being said, Roland, who cares if you're a Christian? It has nothing to do with this. Save your prayers and hubris for your friends and church. If you feel the need to testify, take it to the religion page.

I don't feel as though I'm being "unforgiving" in condemning Polanski. He deserves to be prosecuted even after the victim forgave him and the decades passed by.

Were he truly sorry for what he did he would not have fled the country and left the disposition of his case in limbo. He would have seen to it that his punishment was completely behind him before moving on.

This is not even close to being like other high-profile rape cases like Kobe Bryant's. The suspect was not only found guilty, he escaped part of his punishment! There was never any remorse, and therefore he deserves to pay the full price.

To Matt (8:13 p.m.) – As a first grade teacher speaking to you, a supposedly "second grade teacher", you are pig and you disgust me.

You state "children do lie." As a mother, an educator, and from the experience of being a child once upon a time, yes, children can and do lie. But why not be extra cautious and give the child the benefit of the doubt when they cry rape?

Do you turn your head away in disgust and disdain when any of your 7 or 8 year old students (male or female) come to you and say that they are lying when they confide that their parents or neighbors molest or rape them?!

Do you scoff if one of your students mention that they were touched inappropriately when discussing the "Good Touch, Bad Touch" Strange Danger lessons? I would HATE to have my child or any child in your class. You seriously need to let your principal know that those are your views on sexual harassment because as you know, victims are in every grade level and age nowadays.

Not only are you violating their trust as their teacher, you just invalidated their right to speak out against those that hurt them – values we teach in our classroom. If you are serious, then you are obviously in the wrong profession – you need to be in Hollywood alongside such famous names supporting this monster.

This is SCARY! We have become stupid cattle with a mob mentality.

GREAT ARTICLE. THESE PEOPLE WHO DEFEND HIM ARE POMPOUS FOOLS AND SHOWING WHAT LOSERS THET ALL ARE. WOODY ALLEN?! BIGGEST LOSER IF THERE EVER WAS ONE.
WOOPI GOLBERG EXPLAINING TO US WHAT REALLY HAPPENED? WAS SHE THERE?. SHE WAS PROBABLY STILL CLEANING HOTEL ROOMS.
BUT - I HAVE NEWS FOR ALL YOU WHO THINK HE'S GOING TO BE PUT AWAY AND LOCKED UP FOREVER.
HE WILL PROBABLY GET TIME SERVED WHICH WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PEOPLE WHO EVALUATED HIM AND WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL SENTENCE THAT HE AGREED ON BEFORE HE FLED. HE WILL PROBABLY SPEND MORE TIME IN THE ZURICH JAIL THAN AN AMERICAN JAIL SO HIS BEST BET IS TO MAN UP AND WAIVE THE EXTRADITION. IM SURE ALL THE GREEDY LAWYERS WON'T TELL HIM THAT PART.
HE FLED BECAUSE THE JUDGE WAS GOING TO SEND HIM BACK TO JAIL AND THEN DEPORT HIM! WHY WOULD HE GO TO JAIL AND THEN BE DEPORTED? SO HE FLED. DEPORTED HIMSELF.
SO WHEN HE COMES BACK AND BASICALLY GETS TIME SERVED AND PROBATION. HE WILL THEN FURTHER REALIZE WHAT AN IDIOT HE IS. HE SHOLD HAVE RESOLVED THIS YEARS AGO.

amen to this writer.

I am so happy to have read this article and realize from it and most of the responses it received that people out there see this the way I do. "Hollywood's" reaction makes me sick. Please all remember though that Woody Allen had sex with his partners adopted teenage daughter and later married her. I guess that's why he doesn't have a problem with this. I'd also like to say I saw a response about this Roman Polanski incident from Kirstie Alley, one of the few so far in Hollywood that obviously has a heart, a conscience and sense. Thank you Kirstie. And thank you Roland for this article, it was much needed.
I was going to skip my response to the "Matt" response, but being a mother I decided to speak out. I am so sick of hearing so called teachers talk about "their kids" acting as if they really care ( and yes some of them really do) it's people like this Matt that I'm talking about here. Lumping all kids together and saying they lie (even after this man confessed) is not just ridiculous its also cruel. Victims stay silent because they fear this exact response that you gave, shame on you. Someone with your bias should not be teaching children. Do everyone a favor and find a profession you can be useful in rather than detrimental.

Thank you Roland. I have sat back with disbelief over the last several days and watched the various celebrities throw their support in Polanski's camp. It's incomprehensible to me how, what i had once thought were intelligent people, could even begin to justify their positions. I would ask one question, if it was their daughter or relative where would they stand?

Just as an earlier poster said, I am often at odds with Mr. Martin's political views - however, I find it difficult to understand how ANY person could disagree with this powerful post.

There are - probably more frequently than we would like to admit - cases where the victim is perfectly willing to see the charges against her rapist dismissed.

Yet, we as a society have made the wise and reasoned decision that it cannot be that simple.

If we provide a victim the authority to choose whether or not a case goes to trial, future targets of rapists would undoubtably face great intimidation from their assailants, as the criminal would seek to go unpunished.

What may be preferred and expedient for the victim can become hugely detrimental to our society as a whole. Therefore, the argument that the victim wants Mr. Polanski to be released is of no consequence.

To take the argument of Woody Allen and Debra Winger to the extreme - if one's contribution to the arts provides the grounds for exoneration, let's not forget the author of a book, who later commissioned several films by esteemed directors - and, as a world leader was a great lover of architecture and encouraged the design and building of magnificent monuments.

From your perspective, Mr. Allen and Ms. Winger...does that make the actions of Hitler worthy of reconsideration?

This is right on Roland!! I can not believe that this guy has escaped justice for so many years and now some people would expect him to be free for what he did?! Are they out of their mind? Their reaction is disgusting!!! I understand that it is difficult for the victim to have her story played out again all over the news, but I think that she has no choice to let it be played out; otherwise justice would not be the same for everyone.

Thank you Roland. You've expressed what so many of us want to, but don't have the audience.

Roland you are so right, BUT!!! That is not reality. We live in a society that favors the wealthy and the famous. You see it every day in the news. These barbaric acts take place almost daily without shame and because of status, fame or wealth, it is not dealt with with true justice.

I posted a blog not too long ago where I said, If Polanski were African American or Spanish!!!. My friend, the story ending would surely have been much different. I do agree!

So the moral of the story is this. You can run but you can't hide. You will stand before Our Lord God one day.!!! I can just see him explaining to God, that he;s a famous producer and that he was lied to by the Judge and he has suffered great emotional duress during this time.

That fact is that he "will" pay for his transgressions. We just won't have the opportunity to see it here on earth.

So Roland, don't be concerened too much about earthly justice. This case of Eternal Judgement Vs Polanski has already been placed on the docket. Actually, sentence has already been passed. :):).

Good night my friend.

So let me get this straight. Some of you posting here and obviously these Hollywood elites believe that; since Mr. Polanski makes great ART and other MASTERPIECES of creativity and human expression, he is somehow above the fray of the law? Even though he admitted the crime, administered drugs to a minor, And fled the country, thereby becoming a fugitive.

Oh I get it now...he's from hollywood right? So somehow being from Hollywood makes one above and beyond us common NON-artist? And Woody Allen! Didn't Good Ol Woody have his own issues with little girls? Namely his current wife, who was once his adopted daughter? America needs to boycott the Polansk supporters AND those who support them i.e. advertisers enough is enough.

To Matt who posted "A mother lets her 13yr old child go to a famous Hollywood Directors home….and he is to blame? You people need to grow up. The man is a masterpiece in the making. How many times has a a 13yr old lied? I am a 2nd grade school teacher and children lie all the time….Oh, by the way how many millions did she receive? Hmm….seems funny, she does not want to bring this up anymore….hmm, maybe she lied. Get your facts before you blog."

Are you serious? You can't be serious. No person is THAT clueless.

The 13 year old lied so Polanski plead GUILTY? Wow that makes sense.

He plead GUILTY... as in he admitted GUILT. By definition he is GUILTY of the crime. A man who pleads GUILTY to a crime and is sentenced for this crime doesn't get to choose not to serve his punishment.

So by your reasoning... Polanski is talented and the situation to drug and rape a 13 year old girl presented itself... Therefore Polanski is not responsible because talented people are not to be held responsible for their actions.

Wow. There's no way you can actually think like that and be a functioning human being.

On a side-note, you may want to check your own facts before you blog. It was not at Polanski's house, it was a Jack Nicholson's house.

Thank you Roland, well written.

Thank you for speaking the truth , the whole bunch of them are disgusting ! Wood Allen as a moral authority , I rest my case . a couple of thoughts came to mind are they all in a club , and next time you want to Rape somebody and want to get away with it just tell them that you are a film director. Next time whoopi Goldberg gets raped ask her if it is rape-rape or pretending rape ,I was revolted by that remark , I am wondering why nobody spoke up for Michael Jackson even though he was cleared of any wrongdoing , is it because he was black and not a jew. The law is the law for you me and Polanski.

Absolutely I agree with you. Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Times also wrote the details of what went on that day between Polanski and his victim. I can't believe he has been free this long. I hope he gets some jail time.!!!!!!!!! And "not rape-rape" Worse!!!!!! he sodomized her! Geeze Whoopi, what are you thinking.

This is not really a debate about whether or not his actions were morally despicable. They were. Sexually taking advantage of a thirteen year old girl is wrong no matter what morality you subscribe to.

This is a debate about retributive justice vs. rehabilitative justice. It's easy to throw around emotionally charged words like "sick", "disgusting", "evil", whatever, and jumping on the "lets-burn-him-at-the-stake" bandwagon, but do any of you ever stop to ask yourselves what your purpose is?

Is he still a threat to society? No. Does his victim want this case to be reopened? No, she said she wants it dropped and that the media attention is invasive. Is it a deterrent to future rapists? You could argue it, but people who do these things generally don't consider the consequences of their actions anyway. Is Roman Polanski going to go around raping other girls if we don't imprison him? No. Is it cost effective? No, we have an already overcrowded prison system. Does it make sense to make this into an international spectacle? No, not at all.

Why is it one then? Because people want a witch to burn. They want to rally around being morally superior to someone. Most of the comments I have read are like people throwing fruit from a crowd at a man about to be hanged, who were not personally affected by the crime at all, and perhaps don't even know the details.

Retribution is not justice. The function of government-enforced justice is to ensure the protection of its people, and to remove threats from society through incarceration or deterrent. It is NOT to dish out punishment on purely moral grounds. Leave that to God, or to the victim, or the friends and family of the victim. Is Roman Polanski sick? Maybe. Is he a threat to U.S. society? No. Why can't we leave it alone?

Ask yourself if you're just looking for a witch to burn, learn to think for yourself, and incorporate a healthy dose of Utilitarianism into your philosophy. And get on with your own life.

Polanski definitely deserves punishment and certainly prison time. The problem I have with Americans is that there is no room for repentance. Mr. Martin calls himself a Christian yet already acts as the judge and commits Polanski to 100 years of jail time. For starters, most European countries find that rediculous. 20 years max. Mr. Martin, maybe God should put you in Hell for 1 million years for all the sins you've done to Him. Sure, He forgave you those sins but using your argument, you still should be serving time in Hell. How nice it is as "Christians" to expect the Grace of God but we are not willing to give it to others. Jesus gave a parable about that. It was about the man whose great debt was forgiven yet turned around and had his fellow man thrown in jail for a meager outstanding debt. The US justice system is pathetic and although Polanksi does deserve some degree of punishment, I can understand why he fled it. America is one of the most unrepentent countries that have ever existed on the face of this earth. Period.

Right on Roland! I've been waiting for someone to say it!

And by the way, who listens to Woody Allen anyways? He married his daughter for God's sake!!

I hope Polanski spends the rest of his days behind bars.

I couldn't agree more with Mr Martin. Bottom line is that he plead guilty to drugging and raping a child. To have all of these actors rally behind a rapist, albeit a talented one, is still rallying behind a rapist. How is rape not really rape? I'm Jewish and the Holocaust is no excuse for taking advantage of a minor. On another note, I do not feel that murderers who are dying should be released from prison on compasion. If the people that they killed didn't die in peace and dignity, why should they get to.

Roland,

An article I can agree with you on – You've nailed it on this one – I am proud of you to take this stand albeit maybe not a popular one in the inner circle around Hollywood. I am SHOCKED Whoopi said what she did. Sick...

Keep up the good work,

Spot On

Samantha Gailey's testimony transcript is available on the Internet.

This was a sworn deposition before the court.

She says that she felt uncomfortable with Polanski the entire time she was with him, that he plied her with alcohol, drugged her with part of a qualuud, inserted his penis into her vagina, asked if she was on the pill, when she said no, turned her over, and put his penis in her anus.

She said "No, stop it, please..." multiple times.

Anal rape of a 13 year old is more than a 'mere technicality'. And Whoopie, it most definitely is 'rape-rape'.

I know, someone can make a movie about it! Tastefully done, of course, like they did with Dakota Fanning playing the victim of an adult rapist. How about we get Michael Moore to direct?

Can you imagine he isn’t Muslim, otherwise Republican will have a big foot?

All these comment from no nothings

She did not look like a 13 year old.. Even Huston said she could of been 21 in the way she looked.. The judge was a publicity hound.. read the transripts and what happened after the trial..

He didn't know he was 13.. I wouldn't trust the US system either..
Your system sucks.. If you black.. you get convicted.. How many executions of innocents?? Common stick around for that?

Dear Mr. Martin – I usually disagree with some of your opinions, but your opinion here is an opinion that virtually all of us can – and should – agree on. Insane doesn't even begin to describe the thinking of Hollywood.

"LOL" at Woody Allen standing by his side. Christ, who's next? R Kelly?

This guy deserves to go to jail, I don't care WHO he is, what hardships he has had to deal with in his life, or how talented he is. He raped that girl, admitted to it and then ran like the guilty scum that he is. I agree with the boycott, if we, the public don't make a stand, then what does that say about what our sense of justice and respect for all children? I think everybody should speak out, if he gets off this is a travesty of justice!

Can we just get rid of most of hollywood? I mean these people are really nuts!

Exactly! What if it had been one of their daughters? What on earth are these supporters thinking? What he did was criminal and sick. He admitted he did it. His own horrific past is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Thank you, Mr. Martin, for expressing what those of us without celebrity'ism are thinking and giving us a voice. Wow, are they all that eager to be in his next film?

Roland I almost always disagree with you but dang what a good article. I haven't seen anyone clarify this mess better than you have. Good job sir.

i was molested when I was 3. You never, ever get over it. Rape is a horrible crime and he should be punished and tatooed with CM on his forehead so you know he is a child molester. Who is to say that she was only the first one he ever got caught with. He is a nobody. Bring him back to America and let him face his demons.

What's this "Jew" thing? Jews are just as outraged over Polanski's behavior and escape from justice as anyone else. There are Jews and then there are Jews. Most Jews I know (actually I'm half-Jewish) are intelligent, industrious and cultured. Many ethnic Jews have no religion or desire to practice Judaism or particular desire to have any kind of Jewish identity. And I expect that Jews serve in the military in higher proportions than their percentage of the population. Between myself and my two brothers, we served over 50 years in the armed forces, including combat duty in Vietnam.

Then there are the Hollywood scum-bags. Don't lump us all together. That is pure ignorance.

WOODY ALLEN is protesting Roman Polanski's arrest? Talk about the pot sticking up for the kettle!! Of course he is, he finds sleeping with his stepdaughter acceptable!!

I don't care if this guy won the Noble Peace Prize...a 44 year old man drugging and having intercourse with a 13 year old equates to rape no matter how many fabulous movies he's done!! I am so sorry that he suffered the tragedy of the Manson attack on his wife, friends and unborn child but that does NOT give the man license to assault children..period end!! As for the rest of his supporters...do you think for one minute they would be lauding this man if it was their daughter, son or one of their grandchildren that was assaulted?

I was raped by my adoptive father starting at the age of 3 and have heard from various family memebers "he didn't know", "he had issues", "he was alcoholic" etc...there is NO EXCUSE for killing the soul of a child!! I'm sure this poor woman wants it all to "be over" but it never will., it never goes away, you can bury it, deny it and go through therapy until you die but it is still there.

As for his Hollywood "supporters", I will take note of them and will not give my hard earned dollars to a single film, book, concert, promotion, or cause that they appear in or support. As a stand up comedian I have previously cut the debauchery of Hollywood some slack, you have to be slightly crazy to be creative, but this turns my stomach. Hook him, book him and cook him, ENOUGH with the slap on the hands and special treatment for the "celebrities"..."All men are created equal" unless you've won, or been nominated an Oscar, Emmy or Tony or have appeared in the public eye as an entertainer.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his victim, PLEASE...now that they have him make him pay, at least FINANCIALLY, for what he has done to you. Since he obviously has no remorse in his soul hit him in the wallet, money can't give you back what you've lost but a month or two in Hawaii and setting up your children and grandchildrens futures might ease the pain a little. Good luck Lady and God Bless you!!

The victim was 13 at the time. It doesnt matter a wit what she says now, she didnt have the legal capcity to consent when this happened. Courts have ruled doctors can be prosecuted for assiting in sucides when the adult consents, how can a monir consent?

TROOF!!!

good for you! rape – is rape. the sin – the stain – the crime – never fades!

Thank you Mr. Martin.
I have boycotted the work of Polanski ever since this case first became known. I plan to do the same for his defenders and will gladly leave my name on a national petition. I wasn't at all surprised that fellow pedophile Woody Allen stood up for him. I regret that the name of Polanski's victim has been freely printed. Shame on the news media for continuing to do that.

And to the person who thinks the law should leave Roman alone and go after "other bad guys" who continue to rape and molest, I just want to know how she knows Polanski has not continued to prey on other young girls?

Mr. Martin, I'll forget, for the moment, that you are a mere commoner and, as such, given to believe that "we are all equal" and that no one is above the law and so on and so forth. You demean the people who defend this man and, quite naturally, given your beliefs, place yourself as the iconic Christian crusader – expounding love and forgiveness for your fellow man while wishing nothing less than he rot in jail for a crime that, as you failed to mention, has already been settled out of court by both the victim and Mr. Polanski. And, may I add, that you also fail to point out that the victim has repeatedly asked that all charges be dropped and that the matter be forgotten especially so that people like yourself do not feel the need to write about it and, perhaps, focus on more important issues. Yet, it is clear that you chose not to mention these facts in your article merely for the sake of riling up for your own gain the trademark feeling of all mob's – outrage. Of course, in that respect you have been redundantly successful. Congratulations. Perhaps your next article should center upon judicial authorities who strive to be placed in front of a camera and on the covers on national publications merely so they can satisfy their need for a little fame. And, of course, it wouldn't hurt their careers if they manage to put Mr. Polanski in jail in front of a international audience, now would it? In short, Mr. Martin, perhaps you should cease to stop wishing that God Almighty forgive Mr. Polanski for his sin, and instead plead to God that he deliver to you the means to write an article that does not seek to garner the support of commoners like yourself by attacking a man who has done more for film and culture in his lifetime than what you, or any of his detractors, could do if given an eternity to do same.

I read an article on CNN yesterday where a celebrity was quoted as saying that enough time has passed that they think he should be let go. So what about all the cold case files that are out there. All the old robbery, rape, and murder cases from 10 to 50 years ago. Are they actually saying if the police find a murder after 20 years, we should let him go because a lot of time has passed? What about all the crimes that are committed and the defendants jump bail? Are you saying that we shouldn't pursue getting them back behind bars to pay for their crime. I'm so sick of celebrities thinking that they are above the law, their double standards, and thinking that all they have to do is protest and they'll get their ways because they're celebrities. Face facts Hollywood! He pleaded guilty and fled the country. Now he's caught and needs to be punished. End of story!

What happened to Sharon Tate does NOT warrant comparison to what happened to Samantha Gailey. I am not saying that Samantha is not a victim...she was. It would be nice, though, if people were this outraged and vocal over pastors, priests, and other clergymen molesting children.

As usual, Roland, you're spot on.

I cannot comprehend that people don't feel this was a very serious crime...or that Polanski is soooo special, he needs to be considered
above the law.

I agree. Woody Allen, a father who married his adopted daughter, is also a pervert, so of course he would come out in favor of
letting Mr. Polansky off the hook. This man is a rapist and if one of their daughters were raped, you know there would be an uproar.

The people that signed the protest should be ashamed. It is galling
that they would try to protect and help such a criminal.

I have NEVER commented on any news story...yet this one drives me to comment. I 100% agree with this article. Yes this man commited an unspeakable act, yes the judge reneged on the predetermined bargain, yes the victim seeks this to end, yes the accused was also a victim of HORRIFYING crimes, yes the victims mother made a SERIOUS mistake...BUT...what is at the true heart is that this child was SEXUALLY ASSAULTED by a man 30+ years her senior. THERE IS NO EXCUSE! I am a mother to a young girl...I would never allow her to be placed in such a vulnerable position as the victim. BUT that does not excuse this man of his crimes. He willfully commited these acts...he willfully pled guilty to these acts...and he WILLFULLY evaded law enforcement and fled the country. He made these choices! What choices did the victim have when she was fed drugs and alcohol?Had he served the remaining 48 days, this would all be over. How is he so special? How is it that we defend this individual when what he did is abhorred at the highest levels of society? How is it that we say he is the wronged party? I too agree to any boycott of hollywood characters that are standing up and defending this person. Bring him back to the US...let him face a court room...if the justice system failed to honor the earlier plea agreement...then let that be decided by a judge! If this person HONESTLY believes they are not guilty and that they are the victim...then let it play out in court.

Thank you for approaching this matter in a sane fashion. I don't think the sentiment would be the same for these "hollywood" supporters if it were their son/daughter who was drugged and raped at 13 years old by an assailant 3-4 times their age. Fleeing the country does not constitue serving your time.

Let's not make this a left/right liberal/conservative issue. I'm as liberal as almost anyone I know and I still think it is shameful that anyone is supporting this child molester. He is a criminal and he used his wealth to escape prosecution. I have absolutely no sympathy for him and no respect for those who are calling for his release.

Here is the question for those who say the victim forgave him and so shall society. Let me ask you this: someone kills my family member, and I say, "So what, he was a jerk. I'm glad he's gone!" Because YOU forgave him doesn't mean the law has. Why should Polanski circumvent the law that us normal citizens can't. That is the premise behind the outrage we feel against this monster. And for Matt and others, you are obviously men who have your own theory of mother's selling daughters and kids lying. Seems you might be a little gender biased. Regardless, you are off on this one!

high five, roland, high five.

To the 2nd grade teacher who believes Polanski should be free because "children lie all the time" and because he's a "masterpiece in the making": You blame the mother because she allowed her child to go to the home? You hold him blameless for drugging, raping, and sodomizing a 13 yr old child after taking nude photos of her? The mother may have been guilty of poor judgment, and as a parent myself I can honestly say all parents make some mistakes. However, holding her responsible for her 13 yr old daughter being drugged, raped and sodomized by a pedophile is placing blame on the wrong person. He admitted his guilt, had photos of his acts. He should have served his time then. As far as what the victim wants, at this point it's not her call. One has to wonder how many other child victims are out there. Perhaps the reason she wants this dropped is the same reason many rape victims don't pursue justice. They just want it to go away. Whether she received monetary compensation or not is hardly the point. This man committed a horrible crime, and he should serve time in prison for it. You wonder how much money she received...I wonder how many hours of therapy were required for her to move on. How long was it before she stopped feeling like a victim, feeling afraid? How long did it take her to move on with her life? Have you ever spoken to a rape victim? Have you ever seen what they go through, trying to put their lives back together? Have you ever heard a rape victim describe the night terrors, the fear of being alone, the nightmares and panic attacks? I would suggest you stop glorifying this rapist that you call a "masterpiece" and that YOU get your facts straight. Try volunteering with a rape hotline, with abused children, then decide whether or not this rapist deserves your admiration. The fact that you have made a career of spending your days with young, impressionable children is terrifying and sad. Teachers like you are the exact reason my husband and I have chosen to homeschool our daughter.

Michael Hsu, shut da hell up!
This has nothing to do, racism. Damn, can't folks have one damn conversation with out you dam race baiters.

I agree with everything in tha article. If anything he should have gotten a lot more time. I would hope he will now. I found it interesting that Woody Allen would speak up. Didn't he take up with his own step-daughter? Not much of a supprise there.

Polanski should be sent back to the USA, face the charges and be sentenced accordingly. Who cares what he does for a living?

Michael Hsu, shut da hell up!
This has nothing to do, racism.

I disagree.. In fact, Polanski is the best director ever. I bet that girl just seduced him. Poor, poor Polanski.

Kudos to you on your comments of today.

Where are we as a society if we cannot protect the children within it?

Great points but it loses its punch when you go into the whole religious aspect. I'm a catholic. Who cares. The law is what matters here. He broke it and should pay.

Bringing an old man to justice after almost half a century is a nice way to shift focus from our inherently a sick society. What about our children who are systematically sexualized from an early age through fashion, media and music? We think nothing of 10 year old girls running around singing "I kissed a girl and I liked it"! This sexual exploitation is happening with the tacit consent of parents, teachers and society in general. All this hue and cry is coming from a morally moribund culture who likes to pretend that it cares. Let's stop kidding ourselves.

I am 48 years old. Mother of two. Not politically inclined, but considered a Conservative Democrat, if anyone asked. I think of my daughter, when she was 13 years old. Don't care, where, how, what "brilliance" the offender brought to the table; any Mom's 13 year old is my 13 yr. old... So I ask, how can anyone defend this behavior?
When I read the names of Hollywood folk in defense of Roman Polanski, I wonder how we can be so far apart in our understanding of what is right. Regardless, I can tell you that I will not spend one dime in promotion of the careers of Mike Nichols, Debra Winger, Whoopi Goldberg, etc. Whether they lose sleep over that, I cannot predict. But for every me there is another Mom... and another... and that, you better think about...

First of all, the Hollywood "elite" need to face a severe backlash for their protest – no one is above the law. What would these same snobs say if Polanski had raped 50 children? Would that be okay if Polanski had won 50 Oscars?

What kind of message would society be sending if this child rapist were to get special treatment because he can make artistic movies?

Secondly, yes, victim's welfare is important, but a criminal case (as rape is) is because of an individual's offense not only to the victim, but also to society. Society has deemed certain actions unacceptable and as such, decided that those actions must be punished. Even if the victim decides not to press charges, that just means that the key witness will not cooperate (thus making a criminal case much more difficult), not that the prosecutor does not have a duty to follow the law.

Consider this: If 30-year old John Doe pays a 10-year old girl for sex and gets caught by the police, do the police decide to not arrest John Doe because the 10-year old girl says its okay?

Thank you for writing this – I have been furious for days,

What is wrong with Hollywood? I say we get a petition going boycotting all those in support of Polanski – have they lost their minds??? I was able to see a photo from the "photo shoot" and it simply broke my heart. She was just a child, very innocent – far from the Lolita the French claimed (thank God they came to their senses and dropped their support!)

I really hope the backlash continues – there could be much bigger consequences than we realize. Hollywood needs to clean up their act.

Thanks you for saying what i've been wanting to say – but much more eloquently.

I believe that there is two issues here. One is that he has NOT served the sentence for his crime. He admitted it. He plead guilty to it. The judge is not obligated to enforce the prosecution reccommended sentence, they can impose their own and that is what Polanski seemed so opposed to. The second thing is he jumped bail, he ran away that is another crime within itself. They have tried to finish this off in the past but he has refused to return to the US to face up to the consequences of his actions. In the end he is an adult and needs to take responsibility for the actions, however long ago and however "minor" his friends believe it is.

10-4. Enough said. Great piece of writing.

Nobody who was half sane could defend a rapist. There is no defense of rape and rape is not sex, it is violence. That said, looking through many many of the comments in this thread you see a bunch of people just as sick as Polanski, toting all sorts of racial hatred or self-loathing and guilt projected on someone else, or people looking for every possible way to strap their agenda on to this story and grind it slap to death, in a another lame attempt to twist the reality back to their warped perceptions.

Polanski belongs in this country. He fits right in.

Matt,

If Roman was falsly accused, then why confess? No one who is innocent does this.There are people who have been accused of murder who had the possibility of being put to death who, out of concsious, would not say they were guilty of a crime because they knew in their heart they were innocent. The fact that he was willing to bargain for his freedom tells me the case was strong enough without the confession to put him away for a while.
As for her mother sending her over there, it doesn't change the fact that the adults in this situation failed her; she is the victim, not the pedophile.
Hollywood has been a cancer on our nation for a long time. I think in light of this revelation, I think people will begin to hit them where it matters; their pocketbooks. I, for one, think I'll be finding other activities to fill my time instead of watching film and television.

I love Polanski's films. He is certainly a talented director. I respect him as an artist. But he screwed up big time. I agree 100% with you, Roland. And I am disappointed at those who somehow condone his behavior in this matter.

Uhm, Mr. Polanski was not convicted of anything. The case never went to trial. He plead guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse. Whether you think it was right or wrong, there was an agreed upon plea deal. The judge and the DA had agreed on it. An extensive psych evaluation found that Mr. Polanski was NOT a pedophile or a habitual sex offender. He has admitted he was acting out and using drugs and alcohol in the wake of the horrendous death of his wife and unborn child.

Then after being in a lockdown maximum security psych ward for over a month he hears that the judge is planning to ignore the plea bargain agreed to by the DA AND THE VICTIM. SO he declined to return to the US, after being allowed to leave for filming, because he didn't believe he could trust the authorities. His history as a Holocaust survivor surely played into this decision.

I'm not defending what he did. It was reprehensible. But why didn't the State of California pursue him with more vigor at the time? The man is 76 years old, for crying out loud. To my knowledge he hasn't been accused of anything like this since that time. More to the point, the victim in the case has repeatedly asked the DA and the State to drop the whole matter. She has risen above what he did to her and made a life for herself, and now says that the only thing that keeps hurting her is the media coverage that explodes any time the DA's office makes a move on this case. Plus it is my understanding that current authorities admit that there was judicial misconduct at the time the case was first brought.

So, there are many very good reasons why this matter should be put to rest.

Most of all, though, people need to stop saying Mr. Polanski was "found guilty of rape". HE WAS NEVER TRIED. He entered into a plea bargain where he was to plead guilty to unlawful intercourse. THAT PLEA BARGAIN WAS NEVER ADJUDICATED. He fled the country in the wake of judicial misconduct, fearing he would not get a reasonably fair hearing, a fear justifiable given the actions of the original judge.

The man is NOT a "convicted rapist". His plea deal never reached final adjudication. Please state the correct facts before you begin pontificating.

Polanski is a coward. What's so artistic about that?

Let's see. 42 days served in prison. Decades served in a villa in a foreign country. Catered parties and more young women. Thumbing his nose at the American judicial system.
And now, Hollywood says he's been punished enough?
Yep, time to burn my SAG card.

Dear Roland, Thank you for having the courage to speak the truth. I feel for all the tragedy Polanski has endured in his life. One would think it would make him empathetic to the suffering of others. But no, he alledgedly used a 13-year-old to satisfy his own perverted desires. He maybe sick as are all those who rationalize such sick behavior. He needs to be brought before a jury to answer for his acts.

Nicely written Roland.

If Hollywwod brass doesn't like him to face the consequences in US, let us see if they would like him to be sentenced according to Sharia law in Saudi Arabia. Won't Polanski's crime be punishable with castration? This sick man surely deserves such barbaric punishment.