Dominic Strauss-Kahn released

Sorry, posted too quick. How in their right minds can any of them, including Lang, think that DSK should eb in any position of power or prominence after this and the many other scandals which have engulfed him? The above was the only quote I could find in English but this morning's radio show was more of the same. Oh goodie now he can come back and be president or minister.

Today I am hating France.

"And now let?s go back to this past weekend?s newspapers in France and elsewhere. Lobbying is already underway to suspend the electoral registration process?s July 13 deadline to allow DSK the chance to join the fray. If not president, Strauss-Kahn could surely be in the cabinet of the next socialist government of France, said ally Jack Lang, a former minister of culture." from this link:

www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=plus-ca-change-plus-la-meme-chose-2011-07-04

There is a clear difference between defending someone and defending their right to be innocent until proven guilty.

The insinuation now appears to be that if you point out that to believe her is very similar to believing him you are as good as being a rape apologist.

Or are you in fact drafting a reply to my question as I type this JosieRosie?

Oh and agree that Lang is an utter knob.

You are right aliceliddell - and of course men like DSK know that.

Cheria - I hear ya...

I don't believe her.

Jack Lang is a prize dickhead. He spouts off about all kinds of shit on this subject - he has been appalling since the beginning. Vey sorry to hear that he speaks good enough English to poison the UK with his views.

I shall try and find some quotes from him early on in the case to show you what a prat he is. Ugh. I'm upset again now.

And, yes, what alicelidddell said.

Did anyone hear Jack Lang on BBC Radio 4's Today programme today, talking about 'Dominique' (ie first name terms) being 'innocent' and 'exonerated'. FFS. He has NOT been found innocent (or even not guilty) but it's a great way to spin the story. And Evan Davis let Lang off the hook totally, did not challenge that the forensic evidence supports her claims.
Yuck.

What aliceliddell said

Sadly in the case of rape it's usually a case of one person's word against another, as there is often evidence that sex has taken place but not necessarily rape so both parties' honesty and reliability comes into question re whether consent was given.

I'm not sure what could easily be changed here to make it easier to convict rapists.

I don't know how they can have any fair trials in the US at all when all the high profile cases also undergo trial by media.

Josie Rosie,

Very interested to hear, then, your view of the many cases of fat old rich men with young attractive girlfirends. I think it is perfectly valid to say that if one is a wealthy and powerful man it is relatively easy to be a 'womaniser'. I was not laying the blame for this, I was just saying it takes two people.

CRIKRI - please don't reduce this to the standard labelling of debating styles. If you think I've said something that isn't valid, tell me what it is and we'll talk about it.

Oh, and Josie, it's because "we're doin feminism all wrong" doncha know.

Beachcomber Thanks for that I knew a fellow expat in France would understand. It gets so upsetting sometimes.

Ah, sorry, just spotted you :)

'Perhaps when young attractive women stop throwing themselves at the feet of aged millionaires this will cease to be the case'

You're not noting their relationship history, you're blaming these women for the men's behaviour. Which is a pretty 'old line' itself.

Hi Cheria, I live in France too and am sick of hearing rape myth after rape myth.

The press here is a bloody disgrace. DSK is quite obviously a sexual predator - all this talk of being a 'womaniser' or 'ladies man' is doing my head in. He quite obviously is a sex predator plain and simple. I hate French attitudes to this sort of thing. The man is a disgrace and has openly lied about what happened. We know he is a liar and has a history of sexual harassment/assault - why ON EARTH do so many people want to defend him?

France really is behind the times when it comes to women's rights. Ok it isn't Saudi Arabia, but definitely worse than the UK.

Who is Josie Rosie?

Oh JosieRosie... the old 'your views aren't valid if you aren't onboard' line. Haven't seen that in a few days.

I'm not sure noting that rich powerful men often have a history of young attractive girlfriends is blaming women for men's faults is it? Perhaps you could explain how it is.

I agree - a good look at the doc might clarify things. I don't understand though why it's falling apart now, and why so many court cases have gone ahead on much less than forensic evidence.

SandB,

If you take the last two of your points, you are suggesting that it is ok to use statistical evidence / the majority of cases to judge all scenarios. I'm sure you can see that this is flawed.

Your third point appears to be disputed.

Your second point, again, takes issues outside the situation as a method of judging the matter. Again I think this is flawed.

So, all you have really is the first point. Being married and in a position of some prominence, is there no other reason why he may have initially lied though? Of course there is.

Which brings me back to my initial assertion; if you believe Diallo is telling the truth, you are little different from those who believe she is not. In each case, people are fitting the 'facts' as they view them to their own point of view.

Cheria

all I know is what I have read and I tend to follow Ben Franklin's
?Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.?

unless the 25 page document is fully reported we may never know why the prosecutor have a lack of faith in Ms Diallo.

There must be more to it.