.....French outraged by U.S. treatment of Strauss-Kahn

ca.news.yahoo.com ^ | 5-17-11 | Alexandria Sage and Paul Taylor

[rawhide]

French Socialist politicians voiced outrage Tuesday at the parading of IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn handcuffed and unshaven in the United States before he has a chance to defend himself on charges of attempted rape.

Arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a chambermaid at a luxury New York hotel,Strauss-Kahn was made by police to walk manacled in front of cameras on his way to a courthouse,and his appearance before a judge was televised.

Former Culture Minister Jack Lang described the treatment of the Socialist presidential frontrunner--whose political career is now in tatters--as a "lynching" that had "provoked horror and aroused disgust."

The U.S. justice system,he said,was "politicized" and the judge appeared to have been determined to "make a Frenchman pay" by denying the head of the International Monetary Fund bail even though his lawyer had offered to post $1 million bond.

To many Americans,the handling of Strauss-Kahn reflected an egalitarian tradition that all crime suspects get the same treatment,regardless of their wealth or power.

Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry denounced "degrading images" and said France was lucky to have a law on the presumption of innocence that bars media from showing defendants in handcuffs before they are convicted.

Former Justice Minister Elisabeth Guigou,who drafted that law,called the pre-trial publicity "absolutely sickening."

"The power of these images of a Kahn who hasn't been allowed to shave, tired, and not dressed properly,all that offends human dignity,"she told Europe 1 radio.

Another respected former justice minister,Robert Badinter,who pushed through the abolition of the death penalty in France,said the IMF chief had been subjected to "death by media."

"Never forget it's not just judges that are elected,but prosecutors.And the chief of police is elected.And clearly,in public opinion,to exhibit a powerful rich man in the presence of a victim from a very poor background,electorally,it pays off."

[rawhide]

I like what one guy wrote in the article's comments:

When aren't the French outraged about something... screw them.

JFK'S Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France in the early 60's when DeGaulle decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaulle said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible.

Rusk responded, "Does that include the American servicemen and women who are buried in France?"

DeGaulle did not respond.

[Biggirl]

The French you got to rememember believe in a lazze-fare kind of system.

[pnh102]

*Cough*Roman Polanski*Cough*

[goldi]

We’re just a bunch of savages. What else can I say?/LOL

Bet that bus trip to Riker’s was an eyeopener.

[Adder]

Well now wait a minute...weren’t we told that oral sex isn’t sex? And isn’t anal sex an altenrative lifestyle thing that even Massachusetts schools give instructions in? [or is it “on”?]

So maybe the French have a point....we are treating this guy like some sort of criminal for getting a bit frisky with the hired help [winkwinknudgenudge know whut i mean?]

/sarc

[livius]

The victim in this case is a French-speaking Muslim immigrant from Guinea (who wears a headscarf) and now Strauss-Kahn has stopped denying that he did it and his lawyer is claiming that it was “consensual.” Yeah, right.

He’s gotten out of other similar claims in the past simply because he was a major Socialist big-wig.

[GeronL]

I guess the French don’t see what the big deal is, but they are trying to become more civilized, after all they did outlaw incest last year

[jagusafr]

“New York hotel,Strauss-Kahn was made by police to walk manacled in front of cameras on his way to a courthouse,and his appearance before a judge was televised.”

Gives a whole new meaning to “frog-marched”...

[NativeNewYorker]

[Allegra]

Whenever socialists are “outraged,” whether they are French, American or another nationality, it means we’re doing something right.

[Texas Fossil]

The victim in this case is a French-speaking Muslim immigrant from Guinea (who wears a headscarf)

Did not know that. Lets hope this is not a trial balloon case for Sharia Law in the U.S.

[JPG]

Wonder if he thinks Rikers will prepare his meals to order? “And how would you like your eggs prepared, Sir? Is the steak cooked to your satisfaction? Care for another croissant?”

[Lazamataz]

LOL

[wideawake]

Police commissioner is not an elected office.

[Mr. Jeeves]

"The power of these images of a Kahn who hasn't been allowed to shave, tired, and not dressed properly, all that offends human dignity..."

What really offends French Socialists is that a senior general in their FSA (Free S**t Army - thanks to Karl Denninger for the term) is being treated with something other than utter deference. It's the exact same reaction feminists had to Bill Clinton's misdeeds. Advocacy of systematic wealth transfer seems to pre-forgive all sins.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Michael Savage thinks this was a Sarkozy-camp setup, taking advantage of DSK’s known predilections.

[SMARTY]

Maybe the Viagra wore off by then

[KarlInOhio]

Did not know that. Lets hope this is not a trial balloon case for Sharia Law in the U.S.

If it was she would need four witnesses to make the charge.

Anyone who shifts the story from "didn't do it" to "it was consentual" when he finds out about the fact of DNA evidence probably is lying with both claims.

[Pecos]

Permission granted to be outraged.

[La Lydia]

I guess there is no way to translate “perp walk” into French. I can’t help but recalling the way the French treated us over the affair of Ira Einhorn, and remember that that was a socialist government.