Chris Rock: "OJ wasn't about race, it was about fame." Same applies to MJ.

[OrlandoGator]

Today's not guilty verdicts have nothing to do with Jackson being "black", or even that he's filthy rich (although not so much anymore)...it was all about fame.

Bottom line, famous people don't go to jail. Jurors feel like they are in some way damaging Americana by convicting popular icons.

Discuss.

[Radical Activist]

1. It's not about fame, its about money.

They got a better defense because they had a ton of money for the best lawyers.

[aquart]

4. Oh, and Debbie did perjury.

That always helps.

[Kraklen]

6. and Mark.

[candy]

2. He's right---it's fame and money, not race in both instances-

I also find it very discouraging since I'm neither famous nor rich.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. How much justice can you afford?

Poor, obscure people tend to wind up in the slammer; rich, famous people, irrespective of race, not so much.

[aquart]

5. Yeah. Martha did time.

For being a Democrat, wasn't it?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Good point.

It's true that rich, famous people don't always avoid prosecution or conviction. They are just more likely to get an acquittal because they can afford the best attorneys and expert witnesses, while others might be stuck with public defenders or appointed counsel. I don't mean to dis public defenders -- many of them are very fine, very dedicated lawyers -- but they are usually overworked and underpaid and don't have access to funds for expert witnesses, forensic tests, etc. What I think happened in the MJ trial is not that he was necessarily guilty and "got off" because he's a wealthy celebrity, but because he could afford attorneys who had the skills and resources to hold the prosecution's feet to the fire. The state was required to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and really good lawyers can make that very difficult. But if you have an incompetent lawyer the state will run right over you.