Droit du Dirty Old Men (NYT opinion piece about DSK and French elite)

[steve2470]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/opinion/18clarke.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

By STEPHEN CLARKE
Published: May 17, 2011

SINCE Sunday, when Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the International Monetary Fund, was arrested on sexual assault charges in New York, French politicians have been loudly expressing their horror at his “violent” treatment at the hands of America’s criminal justice system. It must be a shock to them: the sight of a top French establishment figure being treated like an ordinary criminal is about as rare as a photo of the Queen of England in a bikini.

But they are not merely voicing their concern for an esteemed colleague; many of them are also thinking, “There but for the grace of God (or rather the grace of living in France and not the United States) go I.”

France may think it had a revolution, but in fact it just got a new, and even more powerful, elite. They believe themselves so indispensable to the running of the country that trying to topple one of them is a bit like threatening to shoot a prize racehorse for nibbling your lawn. You’re meant to shut up and let them nibble.

This is why the French establishment sees Mr. Strauss-Kahn — rather than the traumatized chambermaid the police say he attacked — as the victim. The same case would never have come out in the open in Paris. The woman would have been quietly asked whether she thought it was worth risking her job and her residence permit. She would have been reminded that it was her word against his, and frankly, whom would people believe? The witty, famous man with the influential friends, or the nobody?

[snagglepuss]

1. Thanks for posting. His book 1000 Years of Annoying hte French is now

on my Must Read list. It is utterly revolting to see French Socialists especially the female pols moan about his treatment, as if he were the victim.

[steve2470]

2. you're very welcome ! nt

[Pooka Fey]

3. I thought people were presumed innocent until proven quilty.

[seabeyond]

5. tis true.... happens in our courts. what makes us excellent. nt

[roguevalley]

8. true, but opinions aren't verdicts. Don't worry about it. This isn't

the first time that a French elite acted like a bitch. Won't be the last but they will think twice about doing it here.

[Mass]

4. Ok, another round of French bashing. F*ck this moron...

Or do we need to list all the US (or British) corrupted politicians who have not gone to jail...

As writing a book after you are convicted, it is clearly a very rare occurrence in this country:sarcasm:

So, just another moron.

(BTW, my comment has nothing to do with DHL's column who was way over the top, it is just the French bashing that gets to me).

[KittyWampus]

10. Do you post the same attitude on the multitude of threads trashing the USA? There are some areas

where the USA has evolved further than Europe regardless of our backwards health care system.

[Mass]

12. See post 6. This has nothing to do with France. This has to do with being powerful.

[KittyWampus]

15. Well, in America we are slowly supporting victims. We've evolved further than France.

[Mass]

16. Really? What do you know about France supporting victims or not?

As far as I can see by the media reporting and the fact this poor woman cannot go back home because there are about 30 reporters around her house, and that some media decided to publish she was HIV positive even if it was not true, color me unimpressed by the support.

[joeybee12]

14. Agreed...anyonerecall the lies that got us into Iraq?

I think the French are right to question this because those in power in America lie quite often.

[malaise]

6. Really stupid piece

Men with power - not French men.
reword

[KittyWampus]

11. Well, in the USA rape victims are slowly being supported and vindicated. Attitudes & legal systems

in France may very well be behind that curve.

[Odin2005]

7. This guy got it.

France is a Technocracy, not a Democracy.

[Fumesucker]

9. Whereas the US is a kleptocracy edging into kakistocracy

Personally I think a technocracy would be preferable to a kleptocracy, but that's just me

[joeybee12]

13. Um, since pretty much in power in this country lies...anyone remember the lies that got us

into Iraq, gee, maybe the French have...rightfully so...a great deal of mistrust of us in general.