Did Glenn Beck rape and murder a young girl in 1990?

[WildEyedLiberal]

No, but Roman Polanski raped a young girl in 1977, and apparently that's not a big deal to a lot of people around here.

I guess rape is only outrageous and horrible if it's being fabricated in order to Google-bomb libel a famous right-winger.

[proteus_lives]

1. Good point.

All the rape-apologists on this forum make want to :puke:

It's all about fame and him being an "artist." Sickening.

[depakid]

2. How bizarre is that strawman?

[WildEyedLiberal]

7. Ask the people who cooked up all the "Did Glenn Beck rape and murder a girl" threads

"Rape" seems to be something that only garners outrage as a hypothetical around here.

[Ken Burch]

12. I hadn't even heard of those threads until you started this one.

BTW, is there a reason you are assuming such an allegation against Beck couldn't POSSIBLY be true?

[WildEyedLiberal]

15. They were joke threads that were pretty prevalent a few weeks ago

The joke was that the endless repetition of the phrase "Glenn Beck raped and murdered a girl in 1990" would cause a Google-bomb so that that was one of the first things that'd show up if you tried to google Glenn Beck. It struck me as tasteless then; rape and murder shouldn't be a punchline accusation to slander someone we hate, even if he is a despicable slimeball like Beck. And they seem especially ironic now that a slew of DUers seem to have no problem with the fact that Roman Polanski DID, all joking aside, rape a young girl. I guess raping young girls is only terrible if it's something Glenn Beck hypothetically did.

I'm just disturbed by the way rape is addressed on DU in general, and these two sets of threads illustrate why very perfectly.

[Ken Burch]

18. OK, that was a poor joke, and I see where you're coming from.

There are some other issues that a person can wonder about in the Polanski case WITHOUT minimizing the severity of statutory rape.

There was a question of misconduct on the part of the judge in the original case(a judge who had to resign from the bench over the issue). Polanski had pled guilty as part of a plea agreement, then been told that the judge was unilaterally(and probably illegally)decided to vacate the plea agreement and was going to give Polanski a 50-year sentence.

There's the fact that the victim in this case has said SHE no longer wants to see Polanski prosecuted(which may just mean she's extremely forgiving).

What Polanski did was a crime. It should not be minimized. And the "she went along with it" defense doesn't hold. But the issues I mentioned above are worthy of discussion.

That said, it is distasteful to speak of rape as it has sometimes been spoken of on DU.

[Eric68601]

3. I don't care

I don't care, and I'll tell you why. Because the alleged "VICTIM" says, let it go. And if she says let it go after all these years, then that's good enough for me. No point on dwelling on it or becoming a media zombie who repeats a pointless story, or even gives an opinion of the crime.

But, if it keeps the right wingers busy and gives them something to talk about besides Obama conspiracy's, then let the "GREAT POLANSKI DEBATE" commence. I for one don't care.

[JI7]

5. but this isn't a civil case

[pnwmom]

6. The alleged victim? She was only 13. Consent is not a possibility. n/t

[Eric68601]

8. And I agree

I agree, but the victim is now an adult capable of making up her own mind, she obviously doesn't fear, nor is she intimidated by the guy, so if she says let it go, then let it go.

[pnwmom]

9. That''s not the way the law works.

The prosecution represents "the people" and the people's laws -- not the victim. The reason for prosecuting him is simple justice.

[Skittles]

10. so if Jaycee Dugard said to let her abductor go

we should.....let him go too?

[Eric68601]

13. Now your talking about a different case....

The case with Jaycee is different. If she were to say something like that, it would probably be safe to assume that he had some sort of mind control over her, or a "victims link" if you would that made her sympathize with her abductor.

Yes I think he (Polanski), should still be punished for the crime, but I don't believe the story should get the attention that it has been getting. And when I say the victim says "LET IT GO", I am speaking from a perspective that the law simply needs to do what it needs to do, no point in making it headline news. And I'm pretty sure that's where she is coming from too.

[Skittles]

14. he drugged and raped a 13 year old girl

it's not OK simply because he has evaded capture and/or his victim doesn't want to pursue it

[pnwmom]

28. The reason it is "headline news" is that Polanski is a public figure.

The publicity machine works both ways.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/roman-polanski-arrest-becomes-an-international-incident.html

The arrest of Roman Polanski has become an international incident, with France and Poland demanding that the famed director be released on bail and questioning why he was taken into custody.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office wants Polanski extradited to face charges that he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl 30 years ago.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told France-Inter radio that he and Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski asked Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that Polanski be released on bail, calling his arrest a "bit sinister."

French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand was quoted in French media as saying, "In the same way that there is a generous America that we like, there is also a scary America that has just shown its face."

SNIP

[Zywiec]

20. Since she wasn't a virgin when Polanski raped her

Will they be going after the other people she had sex with before that?

I mean she wasn't able to consent in those cases either.

:shrug:

[pnwmom]

27. If they had had a case at the time, they would have. They did have a case

against Polanski, and the fact that he absconded didn't make the case disappear.

[DissedByBush]

34. Good for her if she let it go

But the case was the People vs. Polanski, not Gailey vs. Polanski.

We as a society simply cannot allow rape to go unpunished.

We cannot allow the flight of a felon to go unpunished.

Best of all, we average guys probably shouldn't be cheering someone who was only able to escape justice, live comfortably and pursue his high-profile career for 30 years because he is rich and famous. The average American certainly doesn't have that option.

He is a good example of one rule for the rich, another for the poor.

[donheld]

4. some of you are getting a bit carried away

Yes Polanski should be prosecuted but that doesn't say we need 50 thousand post on the subject here at DU.

[Ken Burch]

11. What is your point?

Nobody here thinks that rape ISN'T outrageous and horrible.

You're attacking people here for an opinion NO ONE HERE holds.

[WildEyedLiberal]

16. Oh, don't - there are more than a few people here who think certain rape isn't horrible

Go read - actually read - some of the longer Polanski threads. There are LOTS of women (and men) who will attest to the misogyny that pops up in EVERY rape thread on DU. Any rape that isn't the stereotypical "armed stranger lurking in the bushes grabbing a girl off the streets" scenario is dissected and excused and condoned by a fair percentage of posters here. There are people in the Polanski threads claiming that this girl couldn't have really been raped because a) she probably lied about her age, b) she wasn't even a virgin anyway and everyone knows non-virgins are just asking for it, the little sluts, c) she probably was on drugs/drunk so obviously girls who are intoxicated are just asking for sex.

So don't even goddamn tell me there aren't rape apologists here.

[Ken Burch]

17. As I said, I didn't even KNOW of those threads until you started this one

And your OP makes it sounds like those opinions are those of the majority here.

It's not fair to even imply that.

[pnwmom]

29. There are a number of people here who are dismissing the seriousness

of the rape in this case, on the grounds that the victim wants to let it go.

[Buzz Clik]

19. The logical disconnect is stunning.

Rape is bad.

Quit painting with a broad brush. Attack DIRECTLY those who are at fault.

[Toasterlad]

21. You Have No Proof That Glenn Beck Didn't Rape and Murder a Young Girl in 1990

I'll thank you to kindly stop spreading wild allegations of Glenn Beck's innocence.

[Zywiec]

23. In this country there is a presumption of innocence

Those bringing the allegations are responsible for proving guilt. Not the other way around.

I'm assuming you're young and never took a civics class.

[Toasterlad]

25. I Assume You're Unfamiliar With Glenn Beck

I think it's more than likely that Glenn Beck raped and murdered a young girl in 1990.

[Fla_Democrat]

26. So, uhm, your thoughts on this thread?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6645170


I ask because one of the posts on the referenced blog caught my eye..

"This is one of the most despicable posts I've ever seen on a blog. There is absolutely no evidence or indications this man was a child predator. If Riehl posted this loathsome garbage, he owes an immediate apology to Mr. Sparkman's family and to his readers."

Which, for the record, I happen to agree with... but I was wondering how you saw the "no evidence" part... :shrug:

[Toasterlad]

30. I Don't Understand What This Has To Do With Glenn Beck Supposedly Raping and Killing a Girl in 1990.

[Kaleva]

33. One can't prove a negative.

[Toasterlad]

35. Exactly.

So why hasn't Glenn Beck come forward and refuted the claims that he raped and murdered a young girl in 1990?

[Berry Cool]

22. The level of the discussion on DU when it comes to rape often does get pretty low

and is surprisingly well populated by people who want the female subject to first prove she wasn't being "ambiguous" about what she wanted before they will even begin to believe that a man might possibly be guilty.

This is not to say that there are never false rape accusations, or nebulous situations. But my goodness, unless the alleged victim is a child under the age of ten and/or is kidnapped off the streets, the tendency here certainly seems to be toward believing the accused's side of the story. It's almost as if a magic wand passes over a girl around prepubescence that turns every one into a potential Lolita and, hence, a naughty little creature capable of tempting hapless males into committing statutory rape against their will. They couldn't help it! She forced 'em, dammit! It's not fair!

As for the obviously adult women, well, then the questions come fast and furious. The same old questions: What was she wearing? Was it provocative? Where was she? A BAR?? Was she DRINKING?? Was she DRUNK?? High?? How late was she there? Until the place CLOSED?? Was she trying to walk alone late at night or early in the morning? Because if any of those things are true, well, then dayum, what did she EXPECT to happen?? I mean, everyone KNOWS women don't have the right to dress provocatively, go out alone to drink, or to walk around by themselves alone in the dark! MEN can, but women...I mean, come on!!!! :sarcasm:

When it comes to trying to find a way to "justify" a woman's rape as an unfortunate but to-be-expected consequence of her own behavior, sometimes DU'ers sound like a bunch of freakin' Bill O'Reillys.

Oh, and BEST of all are all of you who claim we mustn't make a big deal about Polanski because if we do--if we get all pearl-clutchy about a girl being raped by a Great Auteur Artiste--it means THE RIGHT WING AND THEIR ANTI-SEX AND ANTI-ART FORCES WIN!!!!!! And we MUSTN'T let THAT happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :scared:

...Please.

[Vickers]

24. I had no idea that Glen Beck raped and murdered a young girl in 1990!

Live and learn!

[gwsuperfan]

31. GB1990.com has responded to Glenn Beck's WIPO filing.

The documents were filed yesterday and have been posted on the gb1990.com site: http://www.gb1990.com/

A summary of the case can be found at the Citizen's Media Law Project:
http://www.citmedialaw.org/threats/beck-v-eiland-hall

[Maru Kitteh]

32. If only Glen Beck were a great artiste, then the enlightened ones could explain his crimes away

and berate we poor, base, puritanical villagers.