What is wrong with Hollywood? (rhetorical question)

This is Roman Polanski. He is a convicted child rapist. He also ran away from the US just before his sentencing. By any method of measure, he is a criminal. So the question is, why are so many Hollywood "names" coming out in support of him and saying "let him go"?

Just today, the Swiss authorities denied his motion to be released from prison pending his possible extradition to the United States. The reason? "We think he might run away" a Ministry of Justice spokesman was quoted as saying.

Really? I wonder what gives them that idea? But you know what - I'm not particularly interested in that.

So far the only celebrities who seem to get what the rest of us get are Kirstie Alley, Jay Leno and Chris Rock. Frankly Whoopi Goldberg should be ashamed with her it wasn't "rape-rape" comment.

Leno simply said that he didn't get it. Rock went much further.

"Are you kidding me? He made good movies 30 years ago, Jay. Come on! Even Johnnie Cochran don't have the nerve to go, 'Well, did you see O.J. play against New England?' "What the? Come on, man, she's 13. Thirteen! I've seen some hot 16-year-olds that look 18. 17-year-olds that look 18...Thirteen is 13. Nobody gets away with having sex with a 13-year-old."

And he finished here: "I mean, come on...rape. It's rape! Rape's number two. Okay, it's murder, then rape. It's number two. In the United States, we want to capture Osama Bin Laden and murder him. We're not gonna rape him. That would be barbaric!"

Why is it taking a few comedians to say what the rest of us are thinking? And what is wrong with the people who signed the petition to have Polanski released? And in fact those same people like Debra Winger who are actively campaigning to have him set completely free and allowed to return to France?

I can only assume these people either are not parents; never had anything to do with the raising of their children or are simply the worst moms and dads on the planet. Nothing else makes sense to me.

As Rock said - IT'S RAPE!

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Picture Guardian.co.uk