When it comes to the awful abuse of children, it sure seems like the Boston Globe doesn't get too worked up unless the words Cardinal, bishop, or priest is in someone's job title.
Over seven years ago, beginning on January 6, 2002, the Boston Globe initiated a relentless, no-stone-unturned investigation into terrible abuse in the Catholic Church. By the time the calendar year 2002 ended, the Globe had published a mind-blowing 989 articles. (That's not a typo. Yes, the paper ran an average of over two-and-a-half articles a day on the scandal in a single year. See for yourself.) And the Globe still takes joy in hammering the Church, even if it means reporting clergy abuse in Ireland.
Yet this past week, the Globe's response to the apprehension of Roman Polanski has been a proverbial shrug. No stinging editorials about the despicable abuse by Polanski. No blistering op-eds about the callous Hollywood celebrities who actually ran to the defense of the sick Polanski. The Globe has not even devoted any of their own columnists to the story. Rather the paper has simply run a few news pieces from other newspapers.
A number of columnists have aired the same thought that I also had when the news of Polanski's arrest surfaced last week: If Roman Polanski were Father Roman Polanski, he would have been in jail ages ago, and no one would be arguing about it. (The closest that someone at the Globe actually comes to formulating this thought is in Michael Paulson's blog at boston.com.)
Non-Globe readers may be surprised that the Boston paper fawns and swoons for celebrities just as much as the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times do. Is the Globe downplaying the rape of a minor because of the abuser's vocation? It sure seems so.
Double standard? Yup.
(**UPDATE, Sun. 10/4/09: To be fair, the next day (Sun. 10/4/09) I picked up the Globe to see that the paper published Michael Paulson's "What if Polanski were an abusive priest?" on page B3.**)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
TheMediaReport.com: Los Angeles Times: Clergy Abuse and School Abuse
TheMediaReport.com: Falsehoods and Outrageous Statements by Abuse Attorney John Manly
—Dave Pierre is the creator of TheMediaReport.com and a contributor to NewsBusters.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Is the Globe
October 3, 2009 - 18:47 ET by MidAmericaIs the Globe downplaying the rape of a minor because of the abuser's vocation?
Now right there's a perfect example of what you would call a rhetorical question.
Easy answer
October 3, 2009 - 18:57 ET by Sergeant ROCKLiberals expect this kind of behavior from their own. That's not 'news'.
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Exactly right. When is the
October 3, 2009 - 19:49 ET by ThisnThatExactly right. When is the last time anyone held a liberal to a moral standard? I can't think of a single instance, myself. Free sex, drugs, bad language, property destruction, rape, anarchy, socialism, communism -- these are all supported by liberals for liberals. "Anything goes" is their motto.
Not mine. I think their lack of standards is very anti-American. Or at least the America I used to know. The '60s do not represent the true America, and the quicker we can get rid of that attitude, the better off we, and our children, are going to be.
___________________________________
"mmm, mmm, mm. Barrack-Hussain-Obama." - The liberals cool-aid drinking song
They have none in the first place
October 3, 2009 - 20:01 ET by Wonder95It's hard to hold someone to standards when they have none in the first place.
Touche'
October 3, 2009 - 20:04 ET by Sergeant ROCKCorrect on both counts.
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Here is an interesting question
October 3, 2009 - 18:57 ET by legacyrepublicanHere is an interesting question.
If Polanski is arguing that the Judge fibbed and he was going to be unjustly thrown into jail, then why not have a trail, except this time, full penalties apply.
In other words, let's give him a chance to face those awful rape charges he has been avoiding in a real televised courtroom hearing.
So, even if he gets away with it, like O.J., people will remember his performance in the courtroom more than the performers who defend him.
Polanski
October 3, 2009 - 19:12 ET by easygoerRish Lowry has a nice article on the Polanski affair:
http://article.natio...
The Boston Globe is headed
October 3, 2009 - 19:51 ET by celatorThe Boston Globe is headed toward certain financial collapse, and still can't figure out why.
"Boston Globe To Lose $85 Million Loss This Year; $100 Million Loss Possible In 2010"
http://www.huffingto...
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
Not so fast!
October 3, 2009 - 19:59 ET by Sergeant ROCKI could've sworn that I heard something about a proposed bail-out by some democRAT for newspapers IF they become a 'non-profit'.
You think it's bad now, wait until that happens!!
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Sarge...I forgot about
October 3, 2009 - 20:01 ET by celatorSarge...I forgot about that! Obama to the rescue!!
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
If the Globe published...
October 3, 2009 - 19:58 ET by caiobabe989 articles on Catholic church abuses then I have to ask just how many of these articles are actual new exposes' revealing a new abuse. Were there 989 cases of individual sexual abuse? That would be real news worth reporting. Boston was rocked to the ground with all the money paid out and the cover ups. That being said, I'd like to know if the Globe is getting the most out of this scandal to sell paper?
Oh yea, that Polanski thing... well, they're too busy to cover perverts that don't wear the collar.
Nothing but bloodlust
October 3, 2009 - 20:21 ET by tarunkjuyal0
false
10 pt
0
2
false
false
false
$([\{£¥‘“〈《「『【〔＄（［｛｢￡￥
!%),.:;?]}¢°’”‰′″℃、。々〉》」』】〕゛゜ゝゞ・ヽヾ！％），．：；？］｝｡｣､･ﾞﾟ￠
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:標準の表;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0mm 5.4pt 0mm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0mm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Century;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Century;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;}
0
false
10 pt
0
2
false
false
false
$([\{£¥‘“〈《「『【〔＄（［｛｢￡￥
!%),.:;?]}¢°’”‰′″℃、。々〉》」』】〕゛゜ゝゞ・ヽヾ！％），．：；？］｝｡｣､･ﾞﾟ￠
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:標準の表;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0mm 5.4pt 0mm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0mm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Century;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Century;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;}
0
false
10 pt
0
2
false
false
false
$([\{£¥‘“〈《「『【〔＄（［｛｢￡￥
!%),.:;?]}¢°’”‰′″℃、。々〉》」』】〕゛゜ゝゞ・ヽヾ！％），．：；？］｝｡｣､･ﾞﾟ￠
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:標準の表;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0mm 5.4pt 0mm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0mm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Century;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Century;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;}
<p>Polanski
is being trotted out in a 21st century cyber-Coliseum, filled with rabid, angry
puritans clucking their tongues and turning their thumbs down. Prison gangs
will play the role of the lions, ripping him apart to entertain the masses.
This isn't about justice for a "child". She got over it a long time
ago. In fact, she has clearly stated that she wants the circus to stop. So it's
very much not about her. It's about angry Americans lashing out and satisfying
their bloodlust. Feeding the hungry maw of the American legal-prison-counseling
industry. Which is about the only industry you people have left, due to your
humiliating failures and bankruptcies in other fields. Please, don't pretend
you actually give a damn about Samantha. She's just fodder for the mill. This
is all about you and your anger. Brutally stomping on something -- anything --
to discharge your rage.</p>
<p>The
US prison system is a barbaric sewer. If Polanski were going to be punished
according to sentence... no problem. I'd support it. But that's not what
happens. California state prison is a sewer of extra-judicial punishment, where
he'll be beaten, intimidated, raped, robbed, sold, extorted and subjected to
racist hate crimes daily. It's far worse than Abu Ghraib. Nobody got raped or
forced into sexual slavery at Abu Ghraib. The world would vomit all over itself
if it had any concept of the crimes and degradation which occur every day in
the US prison gulag. It's totally uncivilized, shameful and unconstitutional,
and the people calling for his head are complicit in it. They don't just
implicitly condone these barbaric violations of human rights; they explicitly
relish and applaud them.</p>
<p>The
Swiss authorities should make his extradition conditional on respect for his
human rights as a prisoner. He should only be transferred when the US can
provide iron clad guarantees that he will serve his sentence (time in prison, 3
square meals a day) and NOTHING ELSE. Since that's not going to happen -- prison
gangs, not the US authorities, determine what happens inside prison walls --
Polanski should not be released to the US.</p>
→ Junk in trunk
October 3, 2009 - 20:29 ET by Cool ArrowDon't you have a global warming website to tend to?
Wow- what was that all
October 3, 2009 - 20:32 ET by BKeyserWow- what was that all about? (I'm aware of the cut-n-paste issue- I'm wondering why the rant against a child rapist being raped in prison...)
That child rapist
October 3, 2009 - 21:36 ET by ww thumperThat child rapist SOB deserves a prison like that ; Life with NO parole, no transfer...
When you elect a communist for your President... don't be surprised when Communisem breakes out!... WW
Self-medicatin' R us..
October 3, 2009 - 20:55 ET by acumenPlease, don't pretend you actually give a damn about Samantha.
Who is Samantha - the religion editor at the Globe?
This is all about you and your anger. Brutally stomping on something -- anything -- to discharge your rage.
You're really losing me here man. Sure the Globe is a tool of the State, but "rage" directed at the Globe might be a little strong.
Oh, I see...You are talking about something that doesn't have anything to do with the post. My mistake....er...power to the pervs...avenge Attica...smash the State....question authority(are we still allowed to say that?)
According to a plea deal, you mean
October 4, 2009 - 10:04 ET by CobraMan"If Polanski were going to be punished according to sentence... no problem. I'd support it."
Then you would support a prison sentence, for that IS the proper sentencing he would have faced when he committed his crime
Here's what you're forgetting: Polanski never thought he was going to be "punished according to sentence" as you claim (he never even attend his sentencing hearing), he thought was going to be punished according to a plea deal, which, according to his lawyers, BYPASSES the mandated sentencing his crime would have imposed.
When people pointed out that the LAW didn't allow for this type "plea bargaining" for the avoidance of lawfully mandated sentencing, that he should, according to sentencing guidelines, spend time in prison, Polanski ran away.
BECAUSE he illegally fled the country, he was NEVER SENTENCED! He should be returned to the US to face punishment for his first crime by actually being sentenced, no matter what punishment that sentencing imposes, and ALSO face justice for unlawful flight to avoid sentencing.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Too much 60 Minutes
October 4, 2009 - 10:14 ET by CobraMan"They don't just implicitly condone these barbaric violations of human rights; they explicitly relish and applaud them."
This is what happens when you watch too much 60 Minutes.
tarunkjuyal, put down the remote and step away from the TV.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Tom Reese, SJ
October 3, 2009 - 22:12 ET by KC MulvilleOn occasion, Tom Reese (a Jesuit) has been cited as a major liberal. However, he doesn't go along with the crowd. He has an interesting opinion here.
KC...as usual, the critics
October 4, 2009 - 05:23 ET by motherbeltKC...as usual, the critics would say that Polanski never took a vow of celibacy. With them, it's all about hypocrisy. Besides, Polanski was "good on their issues" as a famous feminist said about Clinton after his scandal with a subordinate.
Works out great for libs, since they have no standards, and therefore can't be hypocrites for violating them.
Catholocism is the last acceptable prejudice
October 4, 2009 - 09:02 ET by Ali Ali AliSpot on. In the statist media, there's no story because polanski doesn't presume in God's Law. That is the basis for all these Godless lefty's- different strokes for different folks... there is no wrong, no sin, no evil.
Again.
October 4, 2009 - 19:07 ET by someloudthunderNot a child rapist.
He raped a teenager girl with the aide of drugs. He's a criminal who deserves to go to jail. First of all he committed this act and second of all he's been avoiding conviction and trial for the longest time. Time to have that trial Mr. Polanski.