DSK in jail in US

[LeSedna]

I'm surprised no one talks about it. In France, it's EVERYWHERE on TV, all day long. They say it's a big case in USA too, but I'm wondering now if you really hear about it as much as we do ?

Just in a nutshell without the details :

- Dominic Strauss Kahn aka DSK is a french politician from the left party, who was until now the head of the IMF
- He has been arrested monday for sexual assault in a motel just before leaving the country. The girl is a maid in the motel. Supposedly, she didn't know his identity, he tried to force her to have sex with him, she called the police, they got him.
- he was thrown in Riker's Island until now cause he's now liberated under caution of 6M$ until he gets in front of a jury.
- he is not yet in trial because the jury has to determine wether the accusation is funded or not.
- for now, nobody knows really what happened since both parties claim they have proofs.
- he was given winner of next year presidential elections against the right party (which is currently in power with Nicolas Sarkozy), so many people find it ironically "surprising" this happens right now if you see what they mean, and find it suprising someone almost sure to have a fair chance to win the election stupidly sexual aggresses a maid in an hotel that is known not to be very attractive (that part is actually funny to hear on tv ).

Anyway the first thing that was shocking for me here is how tabloids in US or even some newspaper talk about this as if it's already decided he's a culprit. I mean, there is supposed to be a presumption of innocence. Here most newspaper are pretty careful about it in case they say something that turns out to be stupid. Also, being a political man here, and also the IMF head until now, the case is pretty important. Also I was surprised it's legal in USA to show someone with cuffs and driven by the police like a criminal from day 1. Here these images are not allowed to be shown, at least until he's declared coupable.

I'm not too fond of politics, but as I'm surprised nobody mentions it I was curious to see what is the USA point of view about it since it's happening in your country ?

 

[MarcusGHedwig]

That's the sensationalist US media I'm afraid, controversy and "ooh ahh look at the big man who was a rapist" sells magazines/newspapers and gets viewers As a result, it's been all over the place here as well (it has to have been if I've heard about it )

 

[ratsapprentice]

It's on the news everywhere here.
I suppose it hasn't been brought up before, since there isn't that much to discuss.....

But I'd agree that releasing the photos was completely unnecessary.

 

[Skadsson]

It's been fairly big here in Germany aswell. We'll see how it turns out. I think even if he's innocent, the damage has already been done.

 

[LeSedna]

It's been fairly big here in Germany aswell. We'll see how it turns out. I think even if he's innocent, the damage has already been done.

That's more than sure and that's why there are so many conspiration theories here

 

[midget donkeys]

It is indeed in the news. I don't think to many Americans are up in arms about it. I think most people's response here was "Dominique Strauss-Kahn? who the hell is that?"

The media is really sensationalized and biased (both left and right depending on the network). A lot of people just end up ignoring it all. My wife almost never watches the news, reads the paper or checks the newsites online.

As for Dominique's case. It sounds like both possibilities could be true. He could be lying or she could be lying.

Stuff like that is why my dad told me over and over long ago not to allow even the possibility of being falsely accused to occur. For instance if your next door neighbor asks you to watch their children for 15 minutes while they go to the store say no. If you say yes you are then open to being accused of doing something horrible and will stigmatized as guilty for life, even if you are found innocent by a jury.

I had a teacher in school that was later accused of improperly touching a female student. He was fired from the school and his career was destroyed. Even though all charges were dropped almost immediately. A local radio station even ran joke bits about him until the former teacher threatened them for slander.

 

[006]

I love how people think only the US media sensationalizes things. It's ALL media that does that. I guess ratings and newsstand sales don't mean anything outside the US?

 

[SocialNumb]

Just turn off the damn TV.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I love how people think only the US media sensationalizes things. It's ALL media that does that. I guess ratings and newsstand sales don't mean anything outside the US?

Not to anywhere near the same degree.

 

[::XeS::]

Believe me, it's way better when you show an arrested politician to the people, than a system like the one we have in italy....where we have lot of condamned politician that sit in the parlament creating laws to save themselves.
Let me say something.... when you arrest a mafia boss you are happy when you see him arrested, right? Ok...for the law here in Italy he is innocent until the end of the case. Why a politician should be treated in a different way?
And remember that in USA if they arrest you, you are guilty untill the end of the case.

And anyway, c'mon, they arrested one of the most important politician of the world...how can you pretend that media don't say anything about it?

 

[006]

Not to anywhere near the same degree.

Yeah I'll believe that when my shit turns purple and smells like rainbow sherbet.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Yeah I'll believe that when my shit turns purple and smells like rainbow sherbet.

Well there are impartiality laws in the EU, that do not exist in the US.
If they did, Fox news would not be allowed to exist.
Don't get me wrong though, they still have to entice viewers.

And also, ratings don't mean as much as they do in the US (across all TV, not just news), you don't really have series being axed mid-season like you do in the states.

 

[midget donkeys]

I find it very entertaining how a converstion about a rape charge has turned into talking about the geographical importance of tv ratings. Please continue.

 

[JeffTD]

The best part about this case is its very, very basic description:

Head of the IMF allegedly raped an African? You don't say...

 

[P-E]

^

 

[ratsapprentice]

lol

 

[LeSedna]

Believe me, it's way better when you show an arrested politician to the people, than a system like the one we have in italy....where we have lot of condamned politician that sit in the parlament creating laws to save themselves.
Let me say something.... when you arrest a mafia boss you are happy when you see him arrested, right? Ok...for the law here in Italy he is innocent until the end of the case. Why a politician should be treated in a different way?
And remember that in USA if they arrest you, you are guilty untill the end of the case.

And anyway, c'mon, they arrested one of the most important politician of the world...how can you pretend that media don't say anything about it?

Without thinking of this particular case, in a general way, I think this is dangerous. It's no secret that many people in US jails are innocent. The existence of innocence presumption, or not like in the US, does not change a thing about the fact if you have power and money you can escape from some situations. So in the end, I think the fact you have to prove culpability is better than having to prove you are innocent.

@Jefftd : ahaha that's so true. I haven't even thought of that event this way

 

[midget donkeys]

People charged with a crime in the US are presumed Innocent until proven guilty. Just because the a tv station can show them in hand cuffs does not negate that they are legally presumed Innocent unless convicted.

There are indeed innocent people wrongfully convicted in US prisons. But there are in prison all over the world. The US does have way to many nonviolent people that are no harm to society in prison for drug possession, but they did break the law. I would love to see many drug laws repealed.

 

[LeSedna]

People charged with a crime in the US are presumed Innocent until proven guilty. Just because the a tv station can show them in hand cuffs does not negate that they are legally presumed Innocent unless convicted.

There are indeed innocent people wrongfully convicted in US prisons. But there are in prison all over the world. The US does have way to many nonviolent people that are no harm to society in prison for drug possession, but they did break the law. I would love to see many drug laws repealed.

I personally think US sentencing of violent criminals is absurdly lax and does not obtain proper justice for the victims.

As Xes stated you're guilty until the end of the case, I thought it was the way it is. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

I don't see why so many politicians here are so shocked about this. They say that the pictures of DSK wearing cuffs are of absolute cruelty and violence... Geez, don't look at the news when they talk about Afghanistan, Irak, Yemen, or even Belgium or France... Well, in fact I think I know why they are so shocked: they don't want this to happen to them.
Like the greatest French humorist said: "Governments spend more money for Jails than for Schools... Well, it makes sense, when you're a politician, you know for a fact that you're not going back to school..."