When You’ve Lost Eugene Robinson: ‘Hollywood’s Shame’
by John NolteThe Polanski divide isn’t a left/right issue, it’s a culture issue, and while there are many good and moral people working in the entertainment industry, there’s also a dark underbelly of money, power, sex and fame among the most powerful. They’re terrified to judge Polanski because they don’t want to open that door. If “judgment” is allowed in the room, it could turn on them.
The worst sin imaginable among the Harvey Weinsteins who run this town and the Whoopi Goldbergs desperate to hold on to their celebrity, obviously isn’t the sodomizing a thirteen year-old child. The worst sin is making a moral judgment against another — unless that “other” is someone who makes them ashamed through the upholding of a personal moral standard, like a Christian.
But the whole thing is burning down around them and they don’t even see it. The world now senses something dark and ugly at work among those who control the world’s most powerful propaganda tool, and the last two decades of being written off as a bunch of fuzzy headed, out-of-touch liberals are about to be remembered as the good old days.
To any rational human human being, proudly rallying around the most heinous crime imaginable in front of all your customers is beyond counter-intuitive, it’s like McDonald’s embracing food poisoning. But they’re “all in,” and even the Eugene Robinsons of the world can’t believe their eyes:
Could it be that the conservative culture warriors who portray Hollywood as a cesspool of moral bankruptcy have been right all along? Not really. But in the case of Roman Polanski, the puritan scolds definitely have a point. …
More than 100 movie-business heavyweights — including directors Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, Mike Nichols and Pedro Almod?var — have signed a petition calling on Swiss authorities to set Polanski free. Piling chutzpah upon gall, Woody Allen is among the petitioners. You will recall that Allen shocked non-Hollywood sensibilities by acknowledging his romance with Soon-Yi Previn, the daughter of Allen’s longtime companion, Mia Farrow. At the time, Allen was 56 and Previn was 21.
Actress, comedian and “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg has come under well-justified fire for making a jaw-dropping statement about Polanski’s crime: “I know it wasn’t rape-rape. I think it was something else, but I don’t believe it was rape-rape.”
Really?
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93 Comments
I guess drugging a 13-year old and sodomizing her does not constitute rape-rape. What are you doing later this evening Whoopi, I have some pills and some champagne and a tube of ez-glide what do you say, you game…
I hope Weinstein and Whoopi Goldberg keep talking and exposing the immorality of the leftists in Hollywood. Both rather disgust me at this point. Neither live in reality but their own fantasy world. Goldberg should be a feminist icon. She sold out a child to a rapist in the hope of extending her career. What boldness in the face of evil.
Oh yes, it's just so terrible to make a "moral judgement against another". It's not considered to be a "moral judgement" when you have an OPINION on what should happen to child molestor! Have some freaking backbone hollywood and take a STAND for what is RIGHT for a change!
I just hope people don't forget this the next time they sit down to watch The View or a Harvey Weinstein production. Let's always remember those who defended the abominable.
Roman likes little girls, and Hollywood knows it because they to like to sexually promote children. Remember in 1975 Polanski was sexually involved with Natassjia Kinski who was 14 but hey that was in France.
from what I hear…
oh nevermind, I can't bring myself to type it.
BTW, does anybody else find this whole story "odd"?
American Police Force Corporation Takes Over Small Town Police Force and Prisoner-Less Jail
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/09/29/crimeside...
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2009/10/we-p...
Wondering if someone could provide me with guidance on the exchange rate for Hollywood awards. Apparently winning a few Oscars is enough to let you commit sodomy on a child, but an Emmy is not enough to allow you to blackmail a talk show host. How many Emmys equal an Oscar? For us old-fashioned moral absolutists it is all so confusing.
Hollywood's mistake here was thinking that the Polanski case was some sort of Hollywood Ten/HUAC-style blacklisting, and that the divide on this was going to line up in the usual left-right fashion, with all the political liberals in Washington, New York and elsewhere backing their call for the case to be thrown out.
What they don't understand, due to their huge egos that love stroking and their distorted view of morality, is that while people like Eugene Robinson, or the editorial writers of The New York Times, have no problem having Hollywood on their side when it comes to raising cash for their candidates or public relations efforts for their pet causes, the liberal intellectuals have almost as much disdain for Hollywood's intellect and judgment as conservatives do — they just hold their tongues a lot because those same celebs are useful to them during electino cycles. But they know those celebs morals are skewered and there was no way they were going to let Hollywood be the ideological leader in marching all of liberalism down the path of calling for leniency for teen rapists just because they've done some other really, really good things.
You've got to be at least President of the United States, and the girl has to be at least eight years older, before you can get support for that sort of defense from the intellectual left.
Good to see SNL at least dump on Whoopi's idiocy last night (hey, they so SOMETHING right on every now and then); Ms. Goldbung played by an overweight man of course (as it should be!)…
Dude, I wouldn't bang that with Joe Bidens schlong.
Here's a little tip for the moral reprobates of Hollywood: you can't have a superior moral compass if you lack a conscience.
It appears to be the very idea of making a judgement that is offensive. The whole concept that one's behavior can be judged at all is alien and, I expect, very threatening to these people.
….classless clown….
My guess is, It depends on the political persuasion of the blackmailee as does everything in
Caligula by the sea.
Conservative talk show hosts, a studio guard can blackmail. Successfully I might add.
Talk show host of Mr Lettermans stature in the liberal realm, full blown oscar of a major production,
If caught he will receive a "it was just a misunderstanding. You know how I Kid" and a guest shot on the show.
But then you knew that all along RL Thinker.
Sometimes, there is no doubt that something is wrong because it can't be politically parsed in any way. This is one of those things; if you are an adult human being in this country, this should be wrong without question. You can make the argument that different cultures around the world have differing views of what constitutes an adult, but this is not one of those places.
Thank you for sparing us from that comment, which I'm sure would have made me puke.
Just sounds like a group enterprising thugs trying to make a living…….or maybe getting set up for the next stage of Obamanation. They would be able to train AmeriCorp in the peaceful ways of putting down a vast rightwing conspirancy/insurgency. There is so much crap going out there is hard to keep. Thanks for the post.
Just sounds like a group enterprising thugs trying to make a living…….or maybe getting set up for the next stage of Obamanation. They would be able to train AmeriCorp in the peaceful ways of putting down a vast rightwing conspirancy/insurgency. There is so much crap going on out there it's hard to keep up. Thanks for the post.
In all seriousness, Whoopi Goldberg's statements were horrible and she should be held accountable for those statements. BIG HOLLYWOOOD take notice: SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL T-MOBILE TO DROP WHOOPI GOLDBERG FROM THEIR COMMERCIALS AND ADS. If this had been ANYONE else, they would've already been thrown under the bus. She's a typical lefty Hollywood scumbag and any company dealing with her should be held accountable as well for continuing to endorse this disgusting woman.
Most of these guys who signed that petition, they'd prefer sex with 13 year old boys…………………..word!
Shady corporation trying to fill an untapped niche market or Obama silently filling a campaign promise with backdoor dollars? Odd may be an understatement.
Kind of a different topic, but is it time to circle David Letterman for the kill.
If it was a conservative in the same situation the left wouldn't hesitate.
I'm just sayin.
Actors and actresses used to be viewed as something similar to prostitutes. Now I can understand why. They are laying in the same gutter with deviants and perverts. Maybe prostitutes aren't as bad as actors or actresses because in fact they ply their trade with at least some honesty. You know what they are and what they do. Actors and actresses hide behind a lie that they build up over time to convince us all that they are decent people who should be looked up to and thought of as educated. Funny thing is, if you look at their educational backgrounds you will find that most failed to even finish high school. The class of people that make up most of the actors and actresses we watch these days is below average for intelligence and so morally corrupt that they should never be looked up to as anything but a bad example.
I'm not saying all are this way, but it seems that the majority are pretty disgusting people who are full of their own worth and value their own views way too much. What other group of people have as many undeserved award shows and events aimed at their own? They are so frail in self worth that they constantly have to give themselves honors to show us all how valuable they are.
Pretty pathetic if you ask me. Quite a joke that they don't even seem to get.
For $10 will you replace the ez-glide with liquid nails, and close her mouth permanently?
I wonder if Joe Biden would do her with his schlong?
Yes. liberals just seem to be giving us conservatives a lot to smile about these days. Two good reasons in your single post. Gloat, gloat on.
Not being judgmental does not equate with not wanting justice.
It is gratifying to see Whoopi and Letterman brought to light.
People watch the View?
I almost busting up laughing in my cubicle at this one… I am trying so very hard here…
Toss another $10 in the kitty and let's see if we can get a pot going.
Amen.
Let's see, a private corporation takes over a small, isolated town's police force and a large, new, unused prison.
Meanwhile, we have a prison in a certain Caribbean country that needs to move its prisoners in order to comply with a campaign promise by a certain politician.
Are the dots starting to connect yet?
maybe they'll start posting the official exchange rates for this sort of stuff.
Oscar gets you a pass on child rape.
Emmy not enough for blackmail, but maybe the occasional speeding ticket?
And don't forget a Heisman is good for a double murder.
I admit i shot my fist to the sky and yelled "Yessssss" when I saw the Drudge headline. The Ego has landed! rotflmho
What do you expect from a woman who allegedly had multiple abortion? If she can't love her own why would she love another mothers child?
Excellen, I wish I had said that.
I am surprised. I can't believe that Obama's handlers let him go put his ego and the prestige of his office on the line for something that wasn't in the bag.
And they can't claim that it was because of Chicago's violence and corruption because they gave it to Rio.
I was actually on the phone (on hold), read the Drudge headline, and did that "Whoop-Whoop" hand jive that Arsenio used to do.
I sent ToysRUs a letter the other day informing them that while they had someone who approves of child sodomy as a spokesperson I would not spend any of my money there. Have gotten back two messages saying they received my letter, and they will get back to me.
I was actually on the phone (on hold), read the Drudge headline, and did that "Whoop-Whoop" hand jive that Arsenio used to do. I read another comment that said "It makes me want to go get a cake or something". I'm leaving shortly.
Conservatives and about 4 or 5 liberals agree: Polanski is a scumbag. America hasn't been this united since 9/11.
I can't either. Count me as one of those who thought this was "in the bag". This administration is even stupider and more clueless than I imagined, or still buying their own hype.
Any excuse to use Airforce 1, more hot air.
If Caligula were alive today, he'd be right at home in Hollywood – or as a Democrat in DC – same for the Marqui De Sade
One good thing that may come from this whole Polanski debacle is that Americans may finally come to realize how out of touch with reality the leftist-leaning Hollywood types are and that if they are this wrong on something so obvious (defending a child rapist) what else are they wrong about (ie. politics).
Mr. Nolte you are on fire lately (or else I'm paying more attention!), what did you do take a writing pill? Not that it's just you, as much as I've been enjoying BH for weeks now, I'm surprised to feel that in general, the writing is getting better, and better. Well could be that practice thingy kicking in…
Um, anyway. Thank you, and everyone at BH. Thank you for, if nothing else, making sure that all the scum stays in the daylight where it can be dealt with and blow away (hopefully) rather than gathering more strengh in the shadows.
I had forgotten about the Heisman. Thanks for refreshing the memory.
The Ego has landed! rotflmho
With a resounding thud!!! LOL
Unless I missed it the only one taking and deservedly so, grief, is Whoopie.
While Letterman did not get a standing O he was hardly dissed by the usual
audience sycophants. Aside from this group of folks that I admire and similar blogs
no one else is taking him to task, aside possibly from Rush, Maybe it will happen soon.
And undoubtedly they'd all be eating mard sandwiches.
Your alright Mr. Rt Thinker.
"But the whole thing is burning down around them and they don’t even see it. The world now senses something dark and ugly at work among those who control the world’s most powerful propaganda tool, and the last two decades of being written off as a bunch of fuzzy headed, out-of-touch liberals are about to be remembered as the good old days."
I've no doubt you're getting a big charge out of this whole thing, as seems to be most of your readership. Then again, as far as "moral equivalency" goes, I will note that Big Hollywood seems to have exactly the same "get those scumbags!!!!" response to Hollywood "elites" signing the Polanski petition as they do to them appearing in a Health Care spot. Why should anger be taken seriously when you're ALWAYS angry? Why take a declaration of "culture-war" seriously when it's never NOT declared?
(continued)
(continued)
I wonder if those cheering the "burning" of Hollywood care at all what might replace it should such a thing happen? I've seen what "the REAL Amurr'cins!" call art and culture, and the day THAT becomes truly dominant in cinema or anywhere else will be the day that the dream is dead. But hey, y'all will get to feel righteous and sanctimonius, and isn't that what's REALLY important?
Tell you what, I will pat $10 to stop talking about whoopie with Whoopi. <cringe>
Tell you what, I will pay $10 to stop talking about whoopie with Whoopi. <cringe>
Tell you what, I will pay $10 to stop talking about whoopie with Whoopi. (cringe)
Okay, deal, donate $10 to one of the ACORN sting defense funds, and I'll never bring up the subject again.
I wonder how much of Polanski's support among the Hollywood "elite' is because he knows where the bodies are buried and he could take a lot of them down with him if he spoke up or wrote a book.
Anyone with a brain knows you wouldn't go there unless it was a done deal – there was a resounding thud wasn't there?
As someone mentioned if Polanski had been a bus driver on the Wilshire line, Hollywood wouldn't care.
So it isn't the crime that bother's him, it is the stature of the defendant.
I'\\'m sorry ReaderRedux, you were way ahead of me. The discussion and articles
on Mr. Lettermen have begun. I apologize gleefully.
Hey! Another Ski! Now we're a movement!
That assumes the intelligence required to realize they are damaging, plus the intelligence to remember them.
My guess is he loses his entire train of thought watching the Disney channel.
The moral relativists who snicker at the behavior of Letterman or excuse the crime of Polanski reveal their blatant ignorance of right and wrong. If a corporate executive or a Republican politician were guilty of either of these offenses, the same moral relativists would be screaming to high heaven for their scalps. However when a lefty celebrity or a Democrat President, for instance, is guilty of the same offense, it's just no big deal. In fact, it might even be amusing. These morally decrepit souls are simply evil. Not Letterman, Polanski or Clinton, who are just sinners, but the truly evil people are the ones who selectively excuse or condemn wrong-doing based on their own prejudices concerning the perpetrator. That, is true evil.
To hell with Whoopie – let's concentrate on the 'View'. Do they continue to hire a person who defends a fugitive who drugged and sodomized a 13 year old? The 'View' continued hiring Whoopie after she defended a man who trained dogs to rip the stomachs out of other dogs, than electrocuted or clubbed to death the dogs who didn't rip fast enough. But defending a man who drugged and sodomized a 13 year old? Come on, 'View'. You've got to take a stand. This is too much.
[...] today when Chicago was not only beat but raped in the first round. Now I don’t mean “rape-rape” but rather Roman Polanski on drugged up 13 year old girl screaming [...]
Let's be honest, the 13 year old to these libs is "disposable." Roman is more important because of who he is to them, therefore anything that interferes with his mission in life of… whatever lib crap he's into becomes disposable. The 13 year old is just another rape victim like Clinton's sexual assaults, etc…
"What are you doing later this evening Whoopi, I have some pills and some champagne and a tube of ez-glide what do you say, you game…"
Dude, not even for a trillion dollars. I'd rather set off a mousetrap with "it" than have "it" rot off inside Whoopi.
I was thinking the same thing.
Hollywood's "righteous" support for everything from same-sex "marriage" to Obamacare is going to be justly viewed with far more public skepticism.
Sorry, off topic, but Chicago just lost the Olympic bid! I hate to gloat, but a Dave Letterman/Obama slap down in the same day after all that hoopla and the big sacrifice Michelle made…… Ah….. life is good!
Actully, MovieBob, it was a Public Enemy song that suggested burning Hollywood down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6MlwT1lBk0
PE isn't known for their conservatism.
Pixar aside, most of the stuff from Hollywood is either crappy remakes, lousy book adaptations, and TV reboots. Factor in Hollywood's overwhelming support for child rapists like Polanski and even a lot of liberals will be happy to see modern Hollywood burn.
Maybe it's time to replace them. Nowadays the ability to make movies, maybe even good ones, is within reach of the average wannabe filmmaker with a good computer and Sony Vegas. Hell, I've seen *machinima* that blows away half the self absorbed and self congratulatory dreck that's been coming out of Hollywood for the last few years. Yes, a lot of those amateur productions are crap, but how long before Joe Schmo Productions comes out with a top notch effort that rivals some of the best films to come out of our Hollywood? Kerry Conran got a deal to make "Sky Captain" after he showed around his self financed and amazing 5 minute teaser filmed entirely in his apartment!
It sort of reminds me of the early days of movie making, when a guys with cameras, a couple of actors and plenty of gumption made movies that actually pleased their audiences. I think this is going to go the way the music biz is going. Artists are realizing that with the power of computers and the internet, it is becoming less and less necessary to sign with labels or get studios to back your project. Not when you can create your own material, distribute it from your own website and keep the lion's share of the profits for yourself. I think (hope) that someday arrogant, amoral and pontificating toads like Weinstein will go the way of the dinosaur and I can't wait.
I find it odd that you have so many screen names, and seem to be obsessed with this non-story – obsessed to the point of dragging it into comment threads that are totally unrelated.
Strike the word "our" from "…how long before Joe Schmo Productions comes out with a top notch effort that rivals some of the best films to come out of our Hollywood?"
That sentence had been worded differently and I failed to delete that particular word. I don't work in the industry. I'm just a fan of *some* of the movies that have come out of Hollywood. Namely ones that don't preach to me, mock my conservative christian beliefs or mock our brave fighting forces. So I guess that kind iof narrows my spectrum, doesn't it? *Sigh*
We should address Whoopi Goldberg by her real name: Caryn Elaine Johnson. We need to expose the fraud by her real name, not by her fake Jewish-sounding name.
Also boycott T-Mobile and any company that have her hawking their products.
Excellent, I wish I had said that.
To quote Milton Berle, I wish I had said that and I probably will.
I hope the American Police Force Corporation understands how Montanans' think.
Citizens of Montana share a belief in independence and a sense of self reliance (95% of its residents are gun-owners, and I assure you that they have ammo, and know how to shoot straight ). They're known for being rugged , hospitable and having a love of their land.
It's quiet up there……………………………….and that is how they like it.
900,000 permanent residents and 10 million visitors a year.(my stats may be slightly dated)
They call it Big Sky Country for a reason.
If you've never been there, and get a chance to visit, look up at the sky at night.
I'm not sure why, but it seems really ……………………………………………………………………BIG.
I wouldn´t put it like that. Most people are neither card-carrying conservatives or liberals. And most people agree that Polanski isn´t the victim here.
It is very disturbing.
no kidding
No apology necessary.
The news just keeps getting better, at least for today.
Agree.
The real question is, will this translate into something they can understand namely low ratings and lost revenue? Unless it does, they will never realize America doesn't want this attitude.
Even if the money drops off, they won't realize that it is thier own fault. It will be an unintellegent public that isn't smart enough to "get" them.
We take our chuckles where and when we can.
Tho sometimes few and far between.
You are correct NC. Did you hear the audience laughing when Letterman admitted this whole affair? I wonder, was it nervous laughter or are there that many idiots out there?
Boycott the View.
I am starting to think that the reaction by Whoopi and friends to Polanski's arrest is actually a good thing. He has crystallized, for the entire world, exactly who they are and how they think.
+1 arlo guthrie reference
And they believe their own hype/glorification on trash TV like Asskiss Hollywood, E!, and Entertainment Tonight. Sort of reminds me of a high-level politician from the badlands of Chicago I know…
Hey you guys, stop ragging on Whoopi. It wasn't rape-rape. It was child-rape….wait, that's way worse isn't it. Nevermind. Continue the flogging.
OK – so let me get this straight.
All of you who have supported Roman Polanski and have basically said what he did was not "rape rape" and he did nothing wrong to the 13 year old girl he had sex with and, he should not be prosecuted – right?
OK – now that we have that straight – I guess (according to you) it's OK to give 13 year old girls alcohol and drugs and have sex with them – right?
Cool – let's start with your daughters!
Cut the sanctimony. On one side you have morons without a conscience who want to lock up a 76 year-old man who is no threat to society over the objections of the victim, and on the other you have people who want to live in a sane society that is capable of forgiveness. The former would have included Adolf Hitler; the latter would have included Jesus Christ.
Or did you forget that the gospels were all about forgiveness, and that Jesus himself was the victim of an overzealous legal system? It's time to forgive Roman Polanski.
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