The American Spectator

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 8:47AM

This is what happens when some citizens are part of a protected class and others are not. When a crime is allegedly committed by a non-member of the protected class against a member of the protected class, the constitution is thrown out the window.

I do find it ironic, however, that someone who probably buys into the notion that a protected class should exist gets bitten in the a** by the concept. Apparently he was a grade A socialist.

Having said that, the fact that Diane Sawyer has already tried and convicted this man by praising the "victim" for being "brave" is disgusting.

Tomas| 5.17.11 @ 2:19PM

In the arena of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sexual impropriety, one is guilty until he or she proves their innocence. And, in most cases - particularly in the workforce - one is never told who their accuser is. So, the accused never have a chance to fix any situation outside of the official venue.

Did you make someone "feel uncomfortable"? You're toast.

Because of this, people who simply wish to destroy a person's future, or eliminate them from their environment, have too much power.

Guilty until you prove yourself innocent. It's virtually impossible.

-

Simon| 5.17.11 @ 6:00PM

You have no idea of what you are talking about. Do your homework, read what "probable cause" is about and report back. Also, in the meantime you should try to understand that there are various degrees of felony. "He made me feel uncomfortable" is in NO WAY identical to "He forced me to have a sexual intercourse". Finally, the worker that gets unfairly fired because of unverified charges of sexual harassment has the right to demand his/her former company a thorough investigation, if there was none, or has the right to sue for "no just cause termination", under the public policy exception.

John Lyons| 5.18.11 @ 7:51AM

What planet do you live on?

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 12:46PM

I'm with you, I'd like to know on what planet these people reside that they are naive enough to believe that things ALWAYS work the way they should. Naive, naive, naive.

Beth | 5.21.11 @ 7:34AM

I agree. I think it's disgusting the way this man was treated.

Nat| 5.24.11 @ 6:24AM

How is it different from how other men are treated in your Justice system? If he was a "criminal", like the writer of this article suggests he is not, he'd be presumed guilty until proven innocent just the same way (e.g. like you presume blacks are always guilty of petty crimes).

I have no right, nor capacity, to claim him as innocent or not. But assuming he's innocent, the real wrong thing here was the publicity his case got and that will ruin his career regardless of whatever the court decides.

NoLib| 5.26.11 @ 1:25AM

It's no different, it just happened to one of theirs. lol

Dai Alanye| 5.17.11 @ 4:58PM

What I'd like to know is why Ben thinks of Diane Sawyer as his "friend." Considering her usual behavior, this is mighty suspicious behavior on HIS part.

Arnold Winfrey| 5.17.11 @ 5:06PM

The press is claiming she arrived in this country under "difficult circumstances." Think illegal alien.

Elena| 5.17.11 @ 6:22PM

Think refugee

ecmic| 5.18.11 @ 4:01PM

It is my understanding, or at least it's been reported, that the woman was given asylum as a refugee.

Ann| 5.20.11 @ 9:13AM

Shame on you and your small mind thinking. Is she illegal because she is black? what about all the Polish and Russians and Irish and Swedish are you getting my drift under similar circumstances or "difficult circumstances"

Ben Dover| 5.23.11 @ 5:10PM

I bet you anything that only vile , racist, sore-losers republicans think like you and the two m....s bellow you! So, despite her status, its ok to be raped, is that what you're implying, you poor excuses of human beings? So its her fault that was trying to make a living at the lowest level possible and having to put up with smug, pretentious jerks like this rich frenchman? You should be ashamed of yourselves for even bringing this stuff up!!

luke| 8.3.11 @ 8:47AM

He said that she is his friend because they both worked in Richard Nixon's press shop. Diane Sawyer was a Republican press flack before she joined ABC News, and is a member of one of the most powerful Republican families in Kentucky.

http://gawker.com/5823562/dian.....rama-queen

Christopher Holland| 5.17.11 @ 10:00PM

I have a wife and daughter, and if it was one of them on the receiving end of this fat little maggot, I wouldn't be bothered about showing the prick the business end of a shotgun. The bloody lawyers could worry about his rights when I finished with him.

Jack in Wi.| 5.17.11 @ 10:14PM

I agree with you Christopher: I think Mr. Stein has a soft spot for economists. This guy seems to have a history of liking his sex rough and ready. He will get a fair trial with the best lawyers that money can buy. That is a lot more then most men charged with aggrivated, forceable rape. He was denied bail for several reasons. France won't extridite one their natioanals. Just think of a guy named Roman Polanski. He also tried to flee to France. He has a huge amount of money and a lot of friends. I doubt if he will ever get convicted.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 1:10AM

Jackboot Jack: Mr. Stein was wrong about special treatment. He was correct about possible innocence. The case is collapsing. But I don't expect that a StormFront scumbag like you will apologize to Mr. Stein.

John Lyons| 5.18.11 @ 7:54AM

Agreed. This guy certainly seems to have a history of abusing women.

ESM| 5.18.11 @ 12:19PM

Absolutely agree. Anyone with 5 minutes to spare and access to the intenet with Google Toolbar Translate can figure out that this guy is a sexual predator and almost certainly guilty of a serious crime.

Still, I'm sure they'll find a way to pay the victim a few million dollars for her silence. Wouldn't blame her if she took the money, but I do feel sorry for his next victim.

Christopher Holland| 5.17.11 @ 10:07PM

When a naked man runs out of the bathroom, grabs a woman, chases her down the corridor, rips her clothes off, throws her on the bed and sodomises her - well, maybe he was collecting for the Red Cross, lets give him the benefit of the doubt, he is innocent until proven guilty.

Voltaire| 5.18.11 @ 2:57AM

isn't it funny that no Sofitel camera could record that, whie in other ways they do

Ann| 5.20.11 @ 9:17AM

The hotel did come up with video camera information that supports her claim and the time on the card she used as the housekeeper to enter the room matches her claim. This man feels powerful and beyond the law. He has abused other women and they have come forward. This man is a predator and should be treated as such.

adam| 5.18.11 @ 2:12PM

Such a great and relevant Dirty Harry quote!

Obeah| 5.20.11 @ 7:49PM

Amen brothah. And he edited it nicely so as not to offend. :)

Liberte| 5.18.11 @ 7:18AM

Yes he is part of a protected class. Ben Stein is part of that same protected class. The protected class is a supremacist ideology that they both share.

Send this crook and Ben Stein, and their entire extended family, to Madagascar.

Paul| 5.19.11 @ 4:59PM

Third rail there Liberte. Mention the obvious and they'll declare you an anti-s.....

Ann| 5.20.11 @ 9:23AM

So true Paul you are on the mark!!!! As soon as you tell the truth about them they use the anti-se.... They do not want to take responsibility for their hateful behavior that they continue to perpetrate!! Lets speak up. We have been silent as a nation far too long in fear of their use of the anti-se...

Ann| 5.20.11 @ 9:19AM

Madagascar is too nice a place for Ben Stein and his ilk!! We should send him to the coal mines and let him do some real work and stop feeding his nonsense to the public at large as he tries to brain watch people who thinks his political connections and leaning are accurate.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 8:28PM

Here's the Wiki on Ben:

Stein went to Yale Law School, graduating in June 1970. He says that he did not have the highest grades in his class at Yale, but was voted valedictorian by the students because he was most popular.[4]

(That was CNN.com. Says something about a law school class that "Ben" would be the most popular.)

Kropotkin| 5.19.11 @ 5:32AM

Dear Mr. Stein,

To answer your first and second set of questions, I suggest you look up the sociological power theory, which explains why the powerful are able to commit deviant acts. One aspect of this theory is that the powerful are subject to weaker social control, which is not a hard concept to imagine. When your boss does something wrong it is difficult to confront them for the fear of losing your job and the rich are policed fair less contact with the police than those at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder.

In response to your second and third set of questions, I'm amazed at your inability to see how an older man could intimidate this woman. This is not a frail old man, he does not look 62, and I could see him as being quite scary. And we don’t know anything about the physical characteristics of this woman, but we do know women are usually physically weaker than men. Also she knows she is “only” a maid and he is man with a very high status in society, his power/status may have played a role in the situation. And it only makes sense that once the intimidating/controlling person leaves, the victim is no longer being controlled and is able to alert the authorities. This is why most victims of crime alert the police AFTER the crime happens.

To answer your fourth set of questions. As an economist yourself, I'm sure you are able to see someone about to commit a deviant act assessing the risk involved with the act. IF he had done similar acts before he might have deemed it to be a low risk and assumed he could get away with it again. He also knew his flight was leaving soon, and someone with his international importance most likely does not go through security or check-in the same way normal travelers do. He might have assumed there was a good chance the authorities wouldn’t be able to track him down until after he left.

The second half of your fourth set of questions asks, doesn’t he deserve better than this? No. He deserves equal treatment under the law, no worse and no better. If you believe the conditions are unfair and unacceptable for Struass-Kahn you must also recognize they are unacceptable for any human being awaiting trial. Not just a select group of “distinguished” people.

In section 6 you ask. "don’t people accuse others of crimes all the time?" Yes they do. He was examined for signs of rape and we can assume the maid was as well. Is this simply on her word? Probably not, it seems as if there must be some physical evidence as well.

As for section 7, I agree, the media circus around these cases needs to cease. It is harmful to all those that have not been found guilty to be deemed guilty by the media. News reporters are people who neither have the authority nor the ability to find someone innocent or guilty.

As for section 8, I think you are missing out the way the criminal justice system works in America. There rich have not been stigmatized as criminals. If they had the police would be on Wall Street looking for evidence of white collar crime, they would be constantly patrolling upper class neighborhoods, etc. The poor are the ones who have been stigmatized as criminal. They are the ones that live in "crime filled neighborhoods" (which makes it sound like the suburbs are free of crime, which is untrue) and they are the ones that are heavily policed. The poor are subject to a much stricter form of social control and are stigmatized as bad people. Please do not paint some of the most powerful people in the world as victims.

I don't know if Strauss-Kahn is guilty. That is for the courts to decide, but Mr. Stein, I believe there are some errors in your analysis of the situation

Blanche Sinatua| 5.19.11 @ 8:33AM

Dear Kropotkin,
Thank you for taking the time to write this calm, clear and detailed reply. Knee-jerk name calling is easy; what you have written takes time and thought. You are to be commended.

Jonathan| 5.20.11 @ 3:28AM

Kropotkin - this is a fantastic response to a very poor article by Stein.

Ann| 5.20.11 @ 9:29AM

Right on point Kropotkin. Well said. Mr. Stein makes no sense most of the time in his comments and views!

Chris| 5.20.11 @ 1:45PM

The problem with your comment is that the woman said she did not know who the man was until "days" after the incident. Therefore, how would his status play any part into this. And before you run and say that he had to be someone important if he was staying in a $3000 a night hotel, she also said she did not even take that into consideration before enter the room. It was just another room for her to clean. Lets try to make sure we know all the facts before we start throwing out theories that don't apply based on the supposed victim's statement.

Visiopher| 5.20.11 @ 4:34PM

Are you serious? So Stein's theories are OK but those of Kropotkin are somehow flawed and uninformed? It is really difficult to understand how, in this situation, someone could have the point of view held by Stein and you. Blaming the victim. Makes me wonder what you and Stein may have done in the past....

Chris| 5.24.11 @ 1:12PM

I did not say his theories did not deserve to be considered. I simply said implying that DSK used this power to intimidate this woman may not be entirely true. On a side note, the fact that you assume my past must be flawed because I am not one to automatically belive the accuser, without giving the accused their fair day in court, does not speak very highly of your moral compass. Let's just throw everyone in jail because they were accused, even though a jury of their peers has not judged them yet. Real intelligent and possible one of the larger problems with our country. As I said before, let's consider all the facts and then let him be judged, by a jury of his peers, rather than assuming he is automatically guilty.

NoLib| 5.26.11 @ 1:27AM

This is the court of public opinion and your admonitions do not apply. He's stinkin' guilty and you know it.

Chris| 5.26.11 @ 12:08PM

Spoken like a true idiot. Making accusations with no evidence. People like you are what makes the justice system not work. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. I bet you would be the first one screaming that if you were in some kind of trouble. Hypocrisy at its best.

Chris| 5.26.11 @ 12:09PM

Spoken like a true idiot. Making accusations with no evidence. People like you are what makes the justice system not work. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. I bet you would be the first one screaming that if you were in some kind of trouble. Hypocrisy at its best.

Erika| 6.10.11 @ 12:30PM

Let me just say, "stupid" comments aside, until you're in the kind of situation that woman was in, you can never truly understand how she felt. I don't care how powerful a man's status is, he was the one in power in that situation. To say she couldn't have been forced to perform those acts just because there was no weapon is very ignorant. Turning things around like that and victim blaming is a huge deterrent for victims to even report rapes.

tjcenter| 5.20.11 @ 11:42PM

Thank you for your very intelligent response to the points in the article, I wish all discussion/response replys were as well written.

Rachel| 5.21.11 @ 12:17AM

Thank you.

Julie| 5.21.11 @ 2:28PM

Well done! I am impressed. More people could learn from your reasoned comment that name calling or bringing up political leanings is not the way to make a persuasive rebuttal!!

Laurie| 5.23.11 @ 11:04PM

Thank you so much for your intelligent and respectful response/analysis to Mr. Stein's poorly-reasoned missive. I was entirely ready to write a response degrading his intelligence while noting his ignorance of power dynamics, gender/race relations, etc. ; you have done the latter without the former, and the result is eloquent and humble. A wonderful lesson, thank you. It is astounding to me how many people are still in the dark about sexual violence and how ready they are to cast doubt on the victim. Certainly, some accusations have been recanted in the past, but the vast majority are genuine. Making this sort of accusation is far from easy. DSK's innocence or guilt certainly remains to be determined through the judicial process. Until that is completed, let's give the benefit of the doubt to both parties by remaining impartial.

Goss| 5.28.11 @ 4:20AM

How do I give this comment more visibility? I really wish Ben Stein would reply to this post. I want to thumbs up or promote or some how elevate this comment as it deserves to be elevated.

old white guy| 5.19.11 @ 5:28PM

bob. no one is considered innocent in the u.s. today. hence the perp walk, the media show and all the other crap that screams guilty. the arrest would be done as privately as possible, in all instances, except where a criminal was violent and resisting. jeez ,nothing says guilty as a media show of someone in cuffs shoved into a police car.

Ann| 5.20.11 @ 9:32AM

old white guy the perp walk is necessary to stop crimes by the rich and powerful to shame them into changing if they possibly can. these people think they have the right to harm others and suffer no consequences!!

Jonathan| 5.20.11 @ 3:26AM

Bob, there is no "protected class" that this woman is protected with. Please quote me the law that would deem her in a "protected class", then explain how it is in the least bit relevant to the situation.

If anyone who is protected, it is the fabulously wealthy, who have always been able to get the most favorable results from our legal system regardless of gender, skin color, or anything else.

Brett Tonaille| 5.21.11 @ 9:39PM

"The prosecutors say that Mr. Strauss-Kahn "forced" the complainant to have oral and other sex with him. How? Did he have a gun? Did he have a knife?"
Seriously? An educated person wrote this in 2011?
How many date rapists do you think are armed?

"And if he was so intimidating, why did she immediately feel un-intimidated enough to alert the authorities as to her story?"
Because he was gone and like numerous other woman who (allegedly in this case) just went through a rape, she took her first chance after that to report it.
Which should be obvious, for God's sake.

"They were in a hotel with people passing by the room constantly"
With, by her account and the hotel's automatic records, the door closed. (And we don't know in fact if anyone passed by at all.)

Again, is this an educated, analytical man writing all this careless, even primitive, bilge?

mzk1| 5.26.11 @ 6:09PM

The only thing is, that the answer to the first few arguments is: Bill Clinton.

bob| 7.3.11 @ 5:21AM

I don't know if you're being serious, but the Clinton case was different. Lewinsky and Clinton performed their acts of adultery with consent.

In the DSK case, the maid said it was unconsentual.

RAMIII| 5.17.11 @ 8:49AM

You bring up valid points Mr. Stein. Thank you for presenting to us the high road in our sordid and corrupt culture. Perhaps all this shows that we are really projecting ourselves upon others by the shameful treatment we have given the accused.

Doctor Right| 5.17.11 @ 9:52AM

"Shameful treatment"???

WHAT shameful treatment? The man is accused of a brutal crime. He's already proven himself a flight-risk.

Should he be treated differently because he's an elite?

He's getting what accused-rapists get when caught in NYC, nothing more and nothing less.

canuckistani| 5.17.11 @ 10:17AM

Exactly.
Would the writer prefer he was phoned for a statement from the Seychelles?

A $3k a night room is designed to be extremely private from "people walking by".

The woman is a credible witness. Full stop, and it needs to be investigated.

The French woman's new allegation of an incident nine years ago is unseemly in that her own mother - a party apparatchik with his Socialists - counselled her to keep quiet. Anyone seen the "General's Daughter"? That is more disturbing on so many levels.

The IMF will survive as there are thousands of economists and eurotrash elites waiting for the opp.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 5.17.11 @ 10:23AM

And interestingly enough, the prostitute who caused a national uproar during the Duke non-existent rap case was referred to as a "reliable witness."

Law enforcement experts and attorneys will tell you that someone involved is never a reliable witness one way or the other.

McSpinster| 5.18.11 @ 10:42AM

Justice being served doesn't mean justice is served hot, on a linen table cloth, in a $3,000 a night hotel room.

maximumrandb| 5.18.11 @ 2:38PM

That was one crappy movie. James Cromwell played such a poltroon; anything to put the military, e.g. "old boys network" in a bad light.

Travolta was horrbly miscast, too.

Psychodigger| 5.23.11 @ 1:51PM

Thank you, mr. Canuckistani, for this very profound view on the whole affair. I was very much in agreement with you when you ruined everything with your crude, rascist, unfounded, xenophobic, isolationist reference to eurtrash elites. How dissapointingly shallow.

NoLib| 5.26.11 @ 1:30AM

You Eurotrash too?

loulou| 5.17.11 @ 10:25AM

What was the maid doing entering an occupied suite?

It's ironic that the socialist DSK needs a $3000 per night suite but still, why did the maid enter?

Anna K from Emory U| 5.17.11 @ 10:52AM

The maid entered after 12 noon because the room was supposed to be vacated by noon. And there was no "Do Not Disturb" on the door. After entering the room, Kahn approched her in the nude and assaulted her.

The maid entered the room to clean it. The suite was not supposed to be occupied at this time.

This has to be the only blog in cyberspace that attempts to excuse the behavior of a multimillionaire rapist and put all the blame on the poor victim--a maid probably of foreign extraction, earning just enough money to get by.

But, hey, Ben Stein could not empathise with the maid, could he? She's not from his high-echelon soci-economic base, is she?

Read the facts. Have you no shame?

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 12:37PM

The "alleged" facts. we shall see. Try to avoid pre-judgment, Anna.

Like I said, we shall see.

ME| 5.17.11 @ 1:02PM

Maybe Ben should look at the facts. Did he even read the police report? I did, it's on my blog. It shows that there is DNA evidence. All those questions Ben put out about why no one could hear was answered. He shut the door and kept her from leaving as she tried to escape.

The guy is getting the same treatment any other accused rapist would get when it is clear to the police office taking the report that the victim is a credible witness and showed evidence. Not to mention, she must have told the police that she left scratches on him because when he was arrested on the plane, that's the first thing they looked for.

Choire| 5.17.11 @ 5:55PM

Exactly.

Since this is Ben's first time thinking about sexual assault, maybe someone should explain to him what a rape kit is. And why they were taking samples from the accused. (Who is innocent until proven guilty, yes.)

kimba| 5.24.11 @ 12:16PM

Actually, he's getting better treatment. He was released from Rikers and is allowed to stay in a hotel under armed guard. Someone not so rich, deemed such a flight risk would have been denied bail.

John Wilfried Fernandez| 5.25.11 @ 8:37AM

Then it sure is funny how the NY police denied the existence of such DNA evidence. practice what you preach, and check your facts beforehand.

Sela| 5.17.11 @ 6:19PM

Well, you're certainly a tool, and a rape apologist to boot. Alleged facts, in scare quotes, even? There's DNA evidence!

Pre-judgment. What a joke.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 6:55PM

It's still alleged until proven. DNA evidence can be falsely handled.

I am not in favor of Mr. Strauss. If you read all of my notes, Sela, you would note that I noted that Moshe Katsav, rapist Israeli President, was an economist, and that the man deserved to be in Riker's given what the alleged data consists of. But I still have a presumption of innocence. I have worked with enough attorneys and judges to know most of them couldn't be truted to pour piss out of a boot.

Mr. Stein is wrong about his request for preferential treatment for this guy. He is right about the presumption of innocence. You, however, are an illiterate.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 10:36AM

"trusted"

Paul| 5.19.11 @ 5:04PM

If they'd used the same magic DNA kit they apparently used to identify Osama Bin Laden then this whole business could have been wrapped up in three hours right?

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 1:08PM

It's called "due process", and unless there is a preponderance of evidence against the accused, and he/she decides it's better to take a plea bargain than face a jury & potentially longer sentence IF found guilty by said jury, then in this country we move to a criminal trial, presided over by a judge and a jury of Mr. Strauss-Kahn's peers.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 1:06AM

Yes, "alleged" facts. The maid has apparently lied repeatedly. The case is collapsing, and bail is to be reduced.

I am not a rape apologist. I am a "tool" only in the sense that I am logic's razor, as my screen name implies. I am a Mensan and a clinician whose job consists of saving people's lives by putting together a plan of action in the middle of chaos and incomplete facts. I do my job superbly. I am also right about this.

I expect no apology from Sela. Worms have no higher cognitive functions.

Kitty| 5.18.11 @ 11:14AM

Golly...you certainly are pompous. "We shall see"? Really? Most likely, we won't. We certainly didn't with O.J. Money has its privileges. And not all poor victims of wealthy perpetrators are gold diggers. Sometimes, they are victims. She's also innocent until proven otherwise.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 1:07AM

Kitty:

The case is collapsing. I am/was right, and you were wrong. You are not a "kitty," you are a brain damaged mouse tangling with a genius cat.

RE: Occam's fool| 5.18.11 @ 12:42PM

"Try to avoid pre-judgment,"

You mean the way you pre judged the maid, making assertions that contravene information revealed in other articles?

Why do you want her to meet a standard you think doesn't apply to you?

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 3:56PM

I didn't say that. People: I don't make up my mind on these things until I hear about them through a court of law and get to coolly look at evidence and arguments presented. My job is keeping people who want to kill themselves alive with incomplete data presented to me. I have learned to be careful and cautious.

And, Kitty, OJ lost his civil case. We heard everything. It was not members of the influential and powerful class that let him walk on his criminal case.

The journalists I know have the ethics of rabid dogs. I have watched them hound an excellent surgeon nearly to death because he wouldn't agree to work with Jewish Hospital in Louisville, for example. When I was the center of an international newsstory (psychological trauma to members of the Alabama Chain Gang), they didn't interview anyone who I personally knew had first hand knowledge of the story.

Lawyers and Judges can be worse.

Again, he should be sitting in Riker's because he is a high elopement risk. If he is guilty and it is proved, he should go to prison. Until then, I reserve judgement until I see the facts. I fail to see the pomposity in reserving judgment. Taking away a man's freedom requires, deservedly so, a high degree of proof. I have been a professional expert witness in my field. My pomposity may reflect my experience and cynicism.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 1:02AM

The case is collapsing. Once again, I have proved that I have nothing to declare----except my Genius.

Joe Grayson| 5.18.11 @ 7:05AM

Why do you assume she is a "poor victim" instead of a liar out for a payday. She may be in illegal alien as well.

ecmic| 5.18.11 @ 4:09PM

I think it's been reported that she is not an illegal alien, but rather a refugee. Besides, if she WAS an illegal alien, she probably wouldn't have reported this crime.

And even if she was an illegal, does that make it OK to rape her?

David von Veritus| 9.3.11 @ 7:59PM

Seeing as how the case fell apart (and i write this long after your dimwitted comment calling him a rapist), do you feel even slightly ashamed of yourself? Of course not. Much like the Duke professors who took out a full page ad in the local birdcage liner to denounce the Duke 'rapists' feel no shame today after what they put those college kids through, considering not a single thing Crystal "Now with More Murderess!" Mangum told the coppers was true.

shipley130| 5.17.11 @ 7:41PM

Maids enter rooms occassionally to clean, even though a room is in use. Next conspiracy theory.

maiden| 5.19.11 @ 11:42PM

I was a maid for many years. Once I knocked on a door, saying "Maid Room Check", no one answered so I went it and was stripping the bed when a naked man walked out of the bathroom. He had just finished his shower when I knocked and we both surprised each other. So yes it does happen. Stop giving DSK the benefit of doubt, while accusing the maid with lame "What ifs"

Seek| 5.17.11 @ 11:35AM

An accused rapist is not an actual rapist until convicted. I believe that everyone, even the French, are entitled to a presumption of innocence. Stein, a former prosecutor in another life, knows this well.

W| 5.17.11 @ 12:28PM

He needs to hire Bill Clinton's lawyers. does anyone remember all the rape accusations agaisnt billy, and all were laughed at by the ruling class.

Seek| 5.17.11 @ 1:55PM

Not one of the "rape" accusations resulted in a prosecution. Indeed, unless one defines rape in the manner that the late Andrea Dworkin did (i.e., indistinguishable from frontal heterosexual intercourse), Clinton's behavior, though reckless, was not that of a rapist.

W| 5.17.11 @ 2:41PM

AN OPEN LETTER TO HILLARY CLINTON
BY JUANITA BROADDRICK

DO YOU REMEMBER?

SUNDAY OCT 15, 2000

As I watched Rick Lazio's interview on Fox News this morning, I felt compelled to write this open letter to you, Mrs. Clinton. Brit Hume asked Mr. Lazio's views regarding you as a person and how he perceived you as a candidate. Rick Lazio did not answer the question, but I know that I can. You know it, too.

I have no doubt that you are the same conniving, self-serving person you were twenty-two years ago when I had the misfortune to meet you. When I see you on television, campaigning for the New York senate race, I can see the same hypocrisy in your face that you displayed to me one evening in 1978. You have not changed.

I remember it as though it was yesterday. I only wish that it were yesterday and maybe there would still be time to do something about what your husband, Bill Clinton, did to me. There was a political rally for Mr. Clinton's bid for governor of Arkansas. I had obligated myself to be at this rally prior to my being assaulted by your husband in April, 1978. I had made up my mind to make an appearance and then leave as soon as the two of you arrived. This was a big mistake, but I was still in a state of shock and denial. You had questioned the gentleman who drove you and Mr. Clinton from the airport. You asked him about me and if I would be at the gathering. Do you remember? You told the driver, "Bill has talked so much about Juanita", and that you were so anxious to meet me. Well, you wasted no time. As soon as you entered the room, you came directly to me and grabbed my hand. Do you remember how you thanked me, saying "we want to thank you for everything that you do for Bill". At that point, I was pretty shaken and started to walk off. Remember how you kept a tight grip on my hand and drew closer to me? You repeated your statement, but this time with a coldness and look that I have seen many times on television in the last eight years. You said, "Everything you do for Bill". You then released your grip and I said nothing and left the gathering.

What did you mean, Hillary? Were you referring to my keeping quiet about the assault I had suffered at the hands of your husband only two weeks before? Were you warning me to continue to keep quiet? We both know the answer to that question.

Yes, I can answer Brit Hume's question. You are the same Hillary that you were twenty years ago. You are cold, calculating and self-serving. You cannot tolerate the thought that you will soon be without the power you have wielded for the last eight years. Your effort to stay in power will be at the expense of the state of New York. I only hope the voters of New York will wake up in time and realize that Hillary Clinton is not an honorable or an honest person.

I will end by asking if you believe the statements I made on NBC Dateline when Lisa Myers asked if I had been assaulted and raped by your husband? Or perhaps, you are like Vice-President Gore and did not see the interview.

Juanita Broaddrick
Arkansas

PhoenixM| 5.21.11 @ 12:26PM

Strange, though, how she released a sworn affidavit in 1997 saying the rape never happened. This is, in fact, the only *sworn* statement she has made about it.

NoLib| 5.26.11 @ 1:32AM

Link please pervert Clinton lover.

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 1:56AM

She's lucky she didn't end up dead like Vince Foster.

shipley130| 5.17.11 @ 7:41PM

No, just more of a perversion.

RINO Romney's a Statist| 5.19.11 @ 2:50AM

Bill Clinton is a walking talking sexual perversion. What is it with perverted leftist men?

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 1:23PM

You ask, like there are no perverted rightist men? I would venture a guess that we've seen MORE in the news about the scandalously criminal behavior of so-called right-wing conservatives than left-wing liberals.

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 1:54AM

Not rapists like your pervert hero Clinton. He should have been frog-marched to jail for his sexual violence against Broaddick.

You dumpocrats suck.

MSYU| 5.25.11 @ 8:44AM

Too bad Bill Clinton is a right-wing politician. America has no left wing at all.

NoLib| 5.26.11 @ 1:51AM

Maybe in your crazy commie world. He's one of yours admit it.

Anthony| 5.17.11 @ 2:32PM

Funny!!! Stein was a former prosecutor in another life, good one. Where? Oz? More like Marie Antoinette w/o the red eyes.
For all you Oliver Wendell Holmeses out there, not so breaking news, Mr. Strauss-Kahn's high priced lawyers are alleging "consent" as his defense.
I guess the DNA evidence, the scratches, and the blood made it hard to go any other way.
It truly is hard to resist an Aqua Velva man, eh Ben?

Amii Lockhart| 5.18.11 @ 4:42PM

Based on the questions that Stein asks in this article, I can only guess his degree came from Liberty University...or somewhere in the Cayman Islands. The place where they teach you to tell your clients to commit crimes.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 6:55PM

No. Stein is a graduate of Yale Law School. As I have said before, the least of the American Medical schools is better than the best American law school in terms of academic rigor. And I have a good friend who is a graduate of HLS who will tell you the same thing.

Xeno| 5.17.11 @ 9:43PM

Actually. A person is a rapist if they commit rape. The judicial system is doesn't magically make the action go away through a not guilty verdict (there are many ways to reach not guilty even if a crime happened)

Anna K from Emory U| 5.17.11 @ 10:25AM

The rape charges at Sofitel follow earlier allegations by French journalist Tristane Baron that Strauss-Kahn sexually assaulted her like a "rutting chimpanzee" during an interview nine years ago. Baron said Strauss-Kahn insisted she hold his hand during the interview and made sexual advances that grew violent.

"I kicked him several times, he unbuttoned my bra ... and tried to unzip my jeans," Baron said in an interview broadcast on the French cable TV channel Paris Première in February 2007.

Baron, now 31, decided not to press charges at the time because her mother, a Socialist Party official, advised against it. But Baron's lawyer David Koubbi told RTL radio Monday that she's likely to file an official complaint now.

Now it is my hope that more women, more victims, of the predator Strauss-Kahn will tell their tales of sexual assault.

What do you have to say about this, Mr. Stein-Swine?

loulou| 5.17.11 @ 10:28AM

Stein-Swine?
How about Anne K-Swine? What are you, a feminist hag?

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 6:32PM

Indeed. And I am certain the Court will review the evidence and its decision carefully, and he will have the best of attorneys.

I weep no tears for this socialist jackass.

Nicole | 5.18.11 @ 5:46PM

Thank you! Some people seem to forget that these are supposed to be applied across the board no matter the person's social status.

Anna K from Emory U| 5.17.11 @ 10:55AM

I am a seminary student at Emory University who seeks social justice, the kind Jesus Christ preached.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 12:31PM

Only a minority of women report rape.

We'll see. Economists can be criminals like everyone else, including attorneys, or college professors, or actors (Sorry Ben, you're all of these, aren't you?).

Finally, even small men can intimidate most women. It's called muscle mass and strength.

Nancy| 5.18.11 @ 3:19AM

Ben, just because you are old and fat in your sixties, doesn't mean this man is.

Henry| 5.18.11 @ 9:17AM

Nope, Ben is safe. His father was an economist. He played an economics teacher in a comedy movie. But Ben Stein is NOT an economist. He majored in economics in college. Thats it.

I guess if you say something enough times it becomes true.

SpyOne| 5.28.11 @ 6:48PM

I believe the "shameful treatment" here is stuff like what Diane Sawyer did: until he's been convicted in court, this man is merely accused, not a criminal. It isn't impossible that his accuser is lying, and we are supposed to give him the benefit of the doubt.

As others have said, he is being treated the same as anyone else charged with a crime in New York, but that makes it no less shameful. We all tend to assume that if someone has been arrested, they are guilty. But the law says they are innocent until their guilt has been proven.

There was a time when the media made sure to use the word "alleged" when discussing someone who had not yet been convicted, due to fears of libel suits. And Ambrose Bierce called the use of that word cowardly: either re-write the sentence to give the guy a fair shake or admit your have decided he's guilty. Seems our media have decided to take the second option there, and it's shameful.

Ann| 5.20.11 @ 9:34AM

Ramiii do you believe rape and sodomy is OK? We no longer live in the "dark ages" where you can just take what you want when you want it especially when it belongs to someone else. We now live in a time of consequences. Do the right thing and things are good. Do the wrong thing and you should go to jail!

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:59AM

Ann---you are wrong about Jews (have you checked the number of Jewish Nobelists lately---it changes every year despite our being only 13 million people), and you apparently are wrong about this guy's innocence---the case is collapsing.

Juno| 5.17.11 @ 10:58AM

Right you are Anna K for labeling Stein a swine.

His approach to this tawdry affair of sexual assault is indeed swinish and unbelievable in its absurdity.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 12:33PM

Ben, the guy might be innocent. But he's accused of a disturbing crime. Riker's is where he goes. Screw "special treatment."

I await the court results. I haven't made my mind up.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 12:35PM

And, when found innocent, if he is, he will have a heck of a case against the hotel management.

beebop| 5.17.11 @ 7:02PM

I am not sure what you mean. The hotel seems not to have engaged in any activity other than to call the authorities after one of their employees reported being attacked. Isn't that what we want them to do?

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 10:38AM

Beebop: see my comments regarding lawyers and judges. The damage to this guy's character has been monumental. If he's innocent, someone will pay.

If he's guilty, string him up by his testicles.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:57AM

By the way, beebop---it appears that the case is collapsing.

I have been sued for malpractice before and always won, easily, without EVER appearing in court, and never settling. My opinion of the American Justice system is VERY similar to Conrad Black's---plaintiffs and prosecutors tend to be jokes. It is why, although in theory I support the death penalty, in practice I'm opposed---most attorneys/judges can't poor piss out of boots.

Doctor Right| 5.17.11 @ 11:50AM

Christ did NOT preach or teach "social justice".

That is a blatant and purposeful distortion of His message.

He preached that salvation was ONLY available through Him and the grace of God, by faith.

Stop distorting His word with left-wing propaganda.

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 11:24AM

You lost me at social justice. Uggg. The most abused phrase in modern history. I have no idea what that means anymore.

As fast as Jesus is concerned I don't believe pre-condemning folks is what he had in mind.

Benjamin| 5.17.11 @ 2:26PM

If salvation is ONLY through Jesus and the grace of God, how do Jews obtain salvation, and what about others such as Moslems and Hindus?

Margie| 5.17.11 @ 8:21PM

The same way.
Through the Way, the Truth and the Life, Christ Jesus, the Lord. Jn. 14:6.

skip| 5.17.11 @ 1:01PM

Anna has revealed her unintelligence and dishonesty at AmSpec before

Gerald| 5.17.11 @ 8:52PM

Hallelujah, she lives!

Margie is alive!

I had heard that she was inside her doublewide when the tornado swept through and blew it to smithereens.

Glad to see you're well and back on board the good ship AmSpec, Margie.

Hope your children's book "No Good Deed Goes Unpublished" is flying off the shelves of America's bookstores.

Gerald| 5.17.11 @ 8:54PM

I meant "Unpunised," not unpublished.

Barry Wolk| 5.17.11 @ 9:03PM

I guess us Jews are SCREWED... cuz that ain't ever gonna happen!

So, is it the case that you're telling me that my mother is now in HELL, Margie?!?

... how christian of you.

Echohawk| 5.18.11 @ 7:47AM

"Unpublished" is funnier.

Nancy| 5.18.11 @ 3:21AM

Margie is the poster child of the "unchristian" Christian.

Margie| 5.18.11 @ 1:39PM

Why, SoCon, Leslie, Patriot the Legion Troll?

Because I am not a Catholic like you?
Because I speak the truth to liars, like you?
Some Catholics like yourself hate Christians because we tell the truth about the false doctrines of your Religion.
So, you must personally attack.
Too bad you refuse to love the Truth.

Nancy| 5.19.11 @ 12:49AM

Margie is the thin-skinned poster child of the unChristian Christian. She sees the splinter in the eyes of others but is blind to the log in her own.

She is a typical unloving Christian hypocrite who attacks those she doesn't understand. If you don't march in lockstep with Margie you are damned to hell. Just ask Margie, she said so.

Be mindful of your pride and over-sized ego, dear; pride goeth before the fall, you know.
Repent for your evil ways while you still can.

Nageki| 5.19.11 @ 7:09PM

What about those who don't even believe in your god? I don't even believe in your Heaven, or even in your Hell. I believe all of your religions are false doctrines and most of you all preach hate. If I am not your EXACT flavor of christian I am going to hell? Really? How is that "Loving your neighbor as you are loving yourself?" I consider that very un christian of anyone. Can't we all just get along and let others believe what they believe? Or do we have to preach hate because "you're not like me"... If everyone believed the same exact thing, this world would be boring and not work very well, if you ask me.

NoBama| 5.20.11 @ 12:08AM

You're wrong. Jesus Christ preached peace but Atheists sure preach hate. Atheists Stalin, Mao, Castro and Pol Pot were responsible for the slaughter of many millions of innocent people in the 20th century.

PhoenixM| 5.21.11 @ 12:31PM

And let's just conveniently forget about the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the Salem Witch Trials...

NoLib| 5.26.11 @ 1:46AM

Hard to forget the hundreds of millions of innocents who were slaughtered by atheists in the 20th century.

Christians have also done unntold good too, moron.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:54AM

NoLIb,

you do kick ass in many ways.

Shefali| 5.18.11 @ 10:25AM

All religions have their own rules for Salvation. If Margie were a Hindu, she might say your Mom was reincarnated as a rodent or a Queen in the next life, depending on her actions in her prior one. If a Muslim, your mother, as a Jew, would undoubtedly be consigned to hell. According to the Koran, though, many Muslims will also be in hell. The Jews have always believed they are God's chosen people - so what do they think of the rest of us?

However, there is a big difference between someone saying - according to my religion, X is in hell vs. someone saying "I want X to be in hell". The first is merely a statement of fact based on logic, the other is a desire for ill. It's like, if your child were in an accident - the person informing you of that fact would be very different than the person running down your child.

BTW, I am a Christian, but I think the theology is actually much more complex than that. As a Christian, I believe I AM saved by faith in Christ. However, I don't believe everyone prior to Christ went to hell or that babies go to hell, and I can make a very good case for this, if you are interested. From a personal POV, I honestly hope your mother IS in heaven. I certainly WANT her to be there. I am sorry if my religious beliefs have caused you any grief.

I certainly don't hold any animus towards Jews or Muslims or atheists or anyone else.

Doctor Right| 5.18.11 @ 10:37AM

Margie isn't telling you that. It's not up to her.

And yes, telling the truth is VERY Christian.

Nancy| 5.19.11 @ 12:53AM

Sorry Doctor Wrong, Margie is most certainly saying that. She believes she speaks for God--if you cross Margie, you cross God. Just ask her.

Margie is the most unChristian Christian I've ever had the displeasure to come across.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 6:37PM

Barry,

it is a conclusion of their religion. I disagree with it, significantly, but everyone has the right to their point of view. Almost all evangelists I have run across were respectful in the way they did so.

Your mother is where she is regardless of what Margie might think or say. It is up to the Lord, not margie. And she'll be the 1st to tell you so.

In the meantime, she fights for your right to survive and flourish here on Earth. Given that Judaism is spiritual materialism, without a concept of an afterlife, that counts for something. It is far better than an atheist who wants Israel destroyed and doesn't care how many Jews are killed, for example.

The Fundamentalist support for Israel is guaranteed until the arrival of the Moshiach. And, if he is what we Jews expect, I expect an apology from Margie and a slice of her Lemon Meringue Pie (which is my favorite, of course). If it's the return of Jesus, well, the Messiah will have come.

Ann| 5.20.11 @ 9:42AM

Jews need to stop the crap about being the chosen ones. We are all God's chosen!! We are all created by God!! The myth that Jews are chosen is purely to mislead the rest of us. Every human being is chosen by God. Each and every one of us.

NoLib| 5.26.11 @ 1:44AM

Shut up idiot.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 10:40AM

Mrgie:

you and I disagree on that subject (about the only thing we disagree on). But you are quite wonderful, and Gerald's comments are disgraceful.

Margie| 5.18.11 @ 12:47PM

Thanks, Dr. Right, and Occam's Tool.
It isn't up to me, it's up to God who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell.
I agree with everything God has to say about it.
Do they?
Perhaps they haven't heard the Good News of the gospel; that there is only One Way of escape:

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Cor. 15:22.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
He who believes in Him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God." John 3:16-18.

Nancy| 5.19.11 @ 12:59AM

Look! Margie's wearing her nice persona today. Where did you put your real one, the nasty one, Saint Margie? LOL

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:54AM

Well, Nancy, I have always found that I can disagree with Margie easily and pleasantly, because I respect her and her views.

Here's hoping I'm right and the Moshiach is what I say he is. I do love Lemon Meringue. ;)

Nancy| 5.19.11 @ 12:57AM

Don't worry about Margie, she has a hide as thick as a dinosaur. She can dish much nastiness, so she should be able to take what she gets in return.

Reap what you sow and all that, right Margie?

loulou| 5.17.11 @ 12:45PM

Ah-ha: Social justice. A Sojourners type.

SonOfSam| 5.17.11 @ 12:57PM

Jesus didn't preach "social justice", he preached individual salvation. Might want to learn to differentiate between the two, Madame Mao

Cyndi Simpson| 5.19.11 @ 11:03AM

Let's not sidetrack into a theological rabbit trail on this one. There are a variety of legitimate ways to understand the life, work and death of Jesus of Nazareth. Seeing him as a social prophet and an advocate for the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized is one of those very legitimate ways - and in no way could be described as "left-wing." I'm not even sure what that means in reference to theology and Biblical study. I think you've been drinking too much Glen Beck Kool-Aid.

Julianne| 5.19.11 @ 8:44AM

I'm not a Christian (recovering Catholic) but please see below many examples of Jesus' appeals for social justice:
But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed,
because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. [Luke 14:13 &14;.] So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.
[Matthew 7:12.] If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
[Matthew 19:21] If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to cast a stone at her. [John 8:7] Do not judge, lest
you too be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to
you. [Matthew 7:1 & 2.]
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. [Matthew 5:9] Resist
not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. [Matthew 5:39] I say unto you, Love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite-fully use you, and persecute
you; [Matthew 5:44]

Southern| 5.19.11 @ 3:29PM

Jesus never supported the State forcibly taking money from some to give to others, That's theft which is social justice. Christ wanted us to voluntarily share with others. Big difference.

Jasph| 5.18.11 @ 4:22PM

Jesus actually preached and taught a lot of things besides salvation "through Him and the grace of G0d, by faith." The New Testament is replete with stories of Jesus not just preaching and teaching on behalf of the poor and the oppressed, but acting in service of them. His parables are primers in social justice. You can find vivid, moving examples in all four gospels, the book of James, and elsewhere. Only an ideologue would claim otherwise.

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 1:27PM

I'm curious as to why you felt the need to trot out that sort of remark in response to Anna K from Emory U? Childish. And oh so telling. Feminist hag? Are you saying the only people who would make remarks (like Anna K's) are feminists (deleting the "hag" because it's sophomoric)?

Sarah| 5.20.11 @ 4:04PM

A feminist is someone who believes that women and men are equal. Why is that a bad thing?

NoLib| 5.26.11 @ 1:42AM

Feminism is okay, it's the leftist feminazis who suck eggs.

MarkR| 5.17.11 @ 11:09PM

Is innocent until PROVEN guilty a difficult concept to understand? -He may will be guilty- but you werent there- I wasnt there- Stein wasnt there and ONLY he and she were presumably there. Anyone who comes down one way or the other on this without evidence and a trial is making noise- thats all.

John Davies| 5.18.11 @ 9:36AM

I believe the phrase is "innocent until proven guilty in a court of law." The court system is constrained by this rule. I am not. I can believe someone is guilty and I can even express my views; that is my right.

Ann| 5.20.11 @ 9:54AM

MarkR MarkR they have evidence of an encounter and she did not know he was rich and powerful and famous she has worked at this hotel for more than two years and has a good reputation. She was probably sent to his room to clean because she speaks french and so does he. This man has attacked other women who are now talking about what he did to them and in France they do not look at this kind of abuse of women in the same way we do. Women were afraid to speak out but now they have a voice and are coming out of the wood work because one woman was brave enough to file a complaint. Shame on him for his less than pristine behavior. People now know who he really is.

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 1:31PM

That's just how our legal system works, though some would tell you it's broken. The burden of proof lies with the prosecution (the State). In other countries, the burden of proof is on the accused. I suppose there are flaws in both suppositions.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 1:00AM

Anna---nice rush to judgment. The case is collapsing.

You are young, and rash, and foolish. May I recommend keeping a quiet tongue until facts accumulate.

Mike Walsh| 5.17.11 @ 12:38PM

For a supposedly smart man, this post is remarkably stupid. Ben can't imagine a powerful sociopath who gets away with it for years? How ignorant of history do you have to be? He's right about Diane Sawyer, but that's about it, and it ain't saying much. As an alternative to Rikers, I suppose Ben would have him put up at the Sofitel. (And what's a socialist doing in a $3K per night hotel, anyway? It's not his wealth that's galling, it's his manifest hypocrisy.) Maintaining a high opinion of Ben Stein gets harder and harder every time he posts, anymore.

Ramage| 5.17.11 @ 7:32PM

Yes, agreed. However,, at least this time Stein didn't do his usual schtick about stopping at the hotel bar/restaurant for sustenance and ordering a burger, only to tell us this was, no question, the best burger he's ever eaten in his ENTIRE life.

The false praise he usually interjects into these AmSpectator columns makes one weary. (and dubious)

Ed White| 5.17.11 @ 4:14PM

Latest from ABC News:

The maid is a devout Muslim from Africa who is devastated by the attack. A rich, French Jew rapes a Muslim woman in a NY City hotel.

Let's just wait and see how this plays out on the world stage!

Ready for fireworks, Ben?

Sylvia| 5.17.11 @ 4:15PM

Good God!

This could not be worse news! This is horrible!

H.G. P.| 5.17.11 @ 4:18PM

I can see the Middle Eastern headlines now:

Rich Jew, Head of International MONETARY fund, Rapes Muslim Woman

Get it, Ben? It will stir up a hornet's nest.

Andy| 5.17.11 @ 4:20PM

A hornet's nest of revenge. Damn right. Just you wait and see how this plays in the world of Islam.

99 and 1/2 Won't Do| 5.17.11 @ 4:21PM

Al Jazeera is already reporting it.

Greenwich Time| 5.17.11 @ 4:24PM

This looks terrible from all angles. Strauss Kahn is going to need an army of bodyguards just to get to and from the courthouse.

(at taxpayers' expense)

ssmmppww| 5.17.11 @ 4:27PM

Yes, we taxpayers will pay a bundle to try this evil old goat in a court of law. And will there be the threat of bombs? Another terrorist event? My mind is whirling at the consequences of this internationally famous Jew raping a Muslim. God help us all! The fury is coming!

Jamal| 5.17.11 @ 4:28PM

And soon . . .

Shefali| 5.18.11 @ 10:29AM

given the latest conflicts in Israel, maybe the guy was just trying to put into practice the saying "make love, not war"...

Mol| 5.25.11 @ 11:25PM

Yes, rape is very humorous.

Mike Stein| 5.17.11 @ 6:59PM

Here's a way to make it worse:

Rich, French Jew Rapes Muslim Immigrant from a Former French Colony

Nancy| 5.18.11 @ 3:23AM

Rich, French Socialist Jew.

Echohawk| 5.18.11 @ 7:53AM

According to today's New York Post, the maid lives in an apartment building set aside for people infected with HIV/AIDS.

Shefali| 5.18.11 @ 10:27AM

And the thing is - the guy COULD be innocent. I agree, there IS the presumption of innocent in the courts - but do you think the fanatics will wait for the verdict???

Ann| 5.20.11 @ 9:58AM

Ed White you are right on target!!!! The likes of Ben Stein think it is OK for the rich Jews to take advantage and abuse others and they expect to get away with it and no one should say anything because they are Jews. The problem is that half the time they do get away with it or claim anti-se...

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 1:36PM

That's right, because I'm sure there has never been an instance where a Muslim man raped a jewish woman, or a woman professing allegiance to any other religion......

So let the bombs & terroristic threats from the world's Muslims fly. We're used to their brand of hypocrisy as well.

Can it Stein| 5.17.11 @ 8:47PM

Jews always try to cover up the crimes of other Jews. Ben Stein is playing the Anti-Defamation League's sick game of "protect the guilty Yid" here. The ADL was of course founded to defend Jewish rapist and murderer Leo Frank.

"a lifetime of public service, on a distinguished level" - give me a break. More like a lifetime with his snout in the public trough.

You Yids make me sick.

uyala| 5.17.11 @ 8:57PM

The above antisemitic post is suspect. I presume it is written to gain sympathy for Ben, who has put his foot in his mouth.

Written by whom? I don't know. We're all anonymous here at AmSpec.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 10:42AM

This Jew has not been defending Mr. Strauss-Kahn. Shove it up your ass, Clint.

Margie| 5.18.11 @ 12:52PM

Clint/Tim* is AmSpec's resident scumbag, who posts using many names, and has a free for all doing so.
AmSpec doesn't seem to mind, which says a lot about them.

They will warn Christians to not call him names, and ban them for responding in kind~ but allow this punk to do and say anything he wants.

Sad.

Nancy| 5.19.11 @ 1:08AM

Paranoia is another symptom of mental illness.

Admit the log in your own eye rather than the splinters in the eyes of others.

Ann| 5.20.11 @ 10:07AM

Can it Stein. Right on. The Jews have brought our country to its knees with the crimes on Wall Street when they ripped off other countries with their lies and misleading representations and false claims of mega profits as the cost of a home in America went through the roof and we were too stupid to see what was happening and they all got richer and the rest of us poor slobs are paying the very high price of supporting Israel against the rest of the world even as the Jews kill rape and maim. We need to wake up as a country and speak out against crimes no matter who commits the crime Muslim or Jew or Christian. Jews have always wanted special treatment as they try to hoodwink us into thinking they are the chosen ones. We had better wake up and take our country back from the crap they consistently feed us. This is the only country Jews have such collective power and we have allowed them the power. I'm certain you will hear that anti-se... claim because we are brave enough to speak the truth in defense of our nation and our country!

lizzie8484| 5.21.11 @ 2:00PM

I doubt Ann here would blame "the blacks" for all kinds of problems, as she so blithely and despicably blames "the Jews." BTW, speaking of people who've inflicted horrific damage on this country that will take generations to undo, I wasn't aware that George W. Bush or Dick Cheney are "Jews" until now. Live and learn.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:50AM

Well, Ann, please explain how your coments are semitophilic. I'll wait.

Two more things: get your polio vaccine ever?
And, noted that the case is collapsing?

Burn in hell, Ann.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:50AM

Well, Ann, please explain how your coments are semitophilic. I'll wait.

Two more things: get your polio vaccine ever?
And, noted that the case is collapsing?

Burn in hell, Ann.

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 1:42PM

To distill all of this down to Muslim vs Jew, or anybody vs Jew is just sick. Sicker yet is your churlish "yid" remark. Bigot much?

Privilege is privilege, regardless of race, creed, or color.

Some people engage in compulsive behavior (like apparently Strauss-Kahn has for a long time, if you believe the buzz) without getting caught. Or having been caught, are treated differently because of their social status.

That's all we need to focus on here, not religion, because sexual assault is in no way congruous with the notion of spirituality.

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 1:57AM

It is congruous with self-entitled socialist elitists though.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:51AM

The case is collapsing, Clint Elegans.

Alan Brooks| 5.17.11 @ 10:45PM

Sex isn't so good, despite what Hugh Hefner said- it turns men into wild beasts pollinating every-which way-- why there are billions of people in the world.
For good AND bad.

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 1:44PM

I don't know what kind of sex you're used to engaging in, but it is SO good.

As for DSK, what he engaged in could hardly be called sex. He sounds more like a rutting pig than a sexual being.

Alan Brooks| 5.17.11 @ 10:47PM

Saltpeter isn't so bad after all.

Nancy| 5.18.11 @ 3:24AM

The French pervert is a Socialist like you, Alan.

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 1:49PM

I'd hardly call DSK a socialist. For that matter, people aren't socialists. It's govt policies & programs that can be construed as such. It's all an illusion, built upon lies perpetrated by people like DSK to make everyone feel better about themselves & their (duplicitous) social status.

In this age of bald-faced rabid capitalism (wink wink) we need a bit of socialism to balance it all out. N'est pas?

NoLib| 5.26.11 @ 1:40AM

DSK is most certainly a rabid socialist who uses the poor to enrich himself. He's a typical socialist elitist.

Senorita Bontia| 5.18.11 @ 5:50AM

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Smokey| 5.17.11 @ 8:36AM

As long as we are playing devil's advocate, perhaps we can have some sympathy for Mr. Swartzenegger in the next posting.
Politicians of all stripes "make love to their employ." We ask them to be better than the common man. They need to be more careful, if they are to be presumed innocent.
Diane Sawyer is an irrelevant scold celebrity aging fast.

Bob K.| 5.17.11 @ 9:20AM

Sawyer and Ziegler both are celebrities in the television publicity business that is still called news by people who should know better.

Stefan Stackhouse| 5.17.11 @ 8:40AM

Mr. Stein:

I love everything you do and write. Indeed, you are right: DSK is entitled to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

However, I would just point out that this would hardly be the first time that a powerful, wealthy, famous person developed a sense of entitlement, a belief that they were somehow different from the rest of us and that the laws and rules of behavior that apply to ordinary people don't apply to them. As Lord Acton said, "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." This doesn't happen overnight, either. The seemingly innocent flirting and passes move on to affairs, and then to sexually abusive language and touching, and finally to the type of behavior of which DSK is accused. The pattern is in the worsening, not of doing the same thing over and over. All along the path downward, the powerful one is inevitably surrounded by those who are willing to aid and abet and excuse and cover up and deny - until a miscalculation is finally made and a line finally crossed. Then everyone is shocked at the suddeness of the fall. It had actually been underway for a long time, just out of sight.

It is true that DSK is innocent until proven guilty. However, it is also true that a judge has agreed with the police and prosecutors that there is probable cause, based upon not just the claims of the maid but also CSI-style forensic evidence, to support a criminal accusation, and that fact remains until the charges are dropped or he is found to be not guilty.

The judge also decided that DSK was a flight risk, which is why he is being treated exactly the same way that any other accused criminal that is denied bail would be treated - no better and no worse. Was that a justified judgment? I don't know. I do know that DSK was a powerful and wealthy man with the means to fly back to France. I do know that nations have a tendency to rally around their own, and I know enough about the French to have good reason to suspect that this is exactly what they might do, especially given their proclivity for anti-Americanism.

It is a sad story. Unfortunately, it is not an unprecedented one, but rather a variation on a theme we have seen replayed all too often.

Stefan Stackhouse
Black Mountain, NC

Jacques | 5.17.11 @ 9:53AM

Ben Stein est un homme fol s'il pense que Strauss-Kahn peut être innocent. Il y a lointain trop d'évidence irrésistible dans les documents de police qui mèneront à sa conviction en tant que violeur.

canuckistani| 5.17.11 @ 10:20AM

Exactement.

buckeyeman| 5.17.11 @ 10:32AM

Mais dans NOTRE pays un homme (ou une femme) est innocent jusqu'a "sa conviction". Beaucoup de gens croyaient que les etudiants de Duke Universty etaient coupable mais l'accusation etait faux et le procureur a manquille l'evidence. Il faut toujours avoir soin. N'oublia pas M. Dreyfus.

buckeyeman| 5.17.11 @ 10:34AM

"N'oubliez..." Je m'excuse.

kejia| 5.17.11 @ 10:23PM

Well, tell your compatriots to keep their pants zipped when they come to OUR country!

Nancy| 5.18.11 @ 3:25AM

French hornfrogs.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:48AM

No, Dear, that's the TCU Horned Frogs. And we are. ;)

Pepe le Moko| 5.17.11 @ 3:39PM

Ce frere Jacques est-il communiste?

Elly| 5.18.11 @ 7:54AM

"Jacques", your French is execrable.

Feed Me Geek| 5.19.11 @ 6:15PM

Yes, it really is :) I cannot believe that he's a native French speaker. Not that I see the point he is trying to make by trying to pretend that he is. This is my first time in this site. Is the discourse always this infantile?

Mr Stein, it boggles the mind that someone had to explain the nature of sexual assault to you. Yes, the man is innocent until proven guilty. But, as someone else said, he went to Riker's because this was the rare sexual assault, apparently, where the system found enough evidence to proceed. And you cast aspersions on a woman who by all accounts is highly respectable and quite blameless.

Statistics say that everyone posting here knows at least one or two women who have been sexually assaulted. You don't know which ones because of the kind of remarks that have been made here.

Anyone who has seen a rape victim taken apart by defense lawyers will think long and hard before subjecting herself to the same vilification, especially if she is pretty, or young, or was wearing makeup, or a short shirt, or had had a drink, or god help her, had actually agreed to go out on a date with the guy.

Bah. I know you aren't ashamed of yourself, but you should be.

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 2:08PM

Men seem to think that if one man is accused of rape, or found guilty of it, they are ALL being painted with that same brush.

Not true. We'd like to believe that most men are honorable & sexual predators are the minority. Then again, in most countries -America included- there are huge disparities in how girls are brought up versus boys. How men are treated versus women.

As for me, thankfully I have never been sexually assaulted. However, in my lifetime, I've known more than ten friends who have been. Most never reported it.

One friend told me, "Any gal who went to college in America is well-acquainted with date-rape..." Just because I used the qualifier "date" in this context doesn't mean it's any less of a criminal offense.

So perhaps the bigger picture & question here is: what cultural/societal disparities are at work that wink at such pervasive predatory behavior?

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:01AM

He's a socialist elitist protected by other socialist elites. Marxists kneel at the altar of Communism. Even a young French socialist woman's own mother threw her under the bus to protect this socialist swine. Shame.

RE: Stefan Stackhouse| 5.18.11 @ 1:17PM

DSK is entitled to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

Dead wrong. it only takes leaving a tiny bit out of a truism to turn it into a lie.

DSK is entitled to a presumption of innocence BEFORE THE LAW until proven guilty.

There absolutely is a difference.

Tina Trent| 5.22.11 @ 3:17PM

Nicely said. Unsurprising that this commenter isn't hiding his identity.

Doctor Right| 5.17.11 @ 8:48AM

Mr. Stein,

While you are quite correct to point out that Mr. Strauss-Kahn is innocent until proven guilty, I find myself puzzled by your seeming disquietude.

I do not find it to be at all unusual that a man like Mr. Strauss-Kahn could be a sexual predator. In fact, if the story turns out to be true, his behavior perfectly fits the profile, given his particular characteristics. You must understand that too often, the image of the sexual predator as a slobbering, disheveled fiend is highly innacurate. In many instances, these men (and they are usually men) can be highly successful individuals with high-pating jobs, families, and scores of friends and associates who will attest to their character. And these men rely on exactly that to commit their crimes.

Mr. Strauss-Kahn belongs to elite societal circles that most if us can only dream of. He hob-knobs with King, Queens, Heads-of-State, and other mega-wealthy elites around the globe. He likely has expensive, fashionable homes in expensive, fashionable locations. He flies only First Class (if he's not being chartered), and stays in $3,000/night hotel suites (on someone else's dime, of course). He probably attended elite schools in Europe, and is obviously well plugged-in to the old-boy's network on "the continent".

In short, Mr. Strauss-Kahn us not only a child of privilege, he is a man of deep entitlement. Now, to be sure, privilege in and of itself does not inevitably lead to sexual predation. However, if one's personality, already pampered by privilege and entitlement, is also inclined towards an unhealthy measure of narcissism, the results can be ominous.

Consider the victim: a chambermaid, from a lower social class (from Mr. Strauss-Kahn's perspective), an immigrant (and perhaps not a citizen). He sizes her up, and decides she's an easy mark, one that won't fuss too much because she's got too much to lose. This is perfect predatory behavior. Additionally, he does not rape her, but forces her to commit oral sex on him. In essence, he seeks to degrade her by forced submission because this is what arouses him. Again, this is classic predatory behavior.

I've seen a few like Me. Strauss-Kahn, before. If the story is true, and my intuition tells me that it is, he deserves far worse than a night at Rikers Island.

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 8:57AM

What makes him even more dangerous (((( if found guilty))) is his ability to operate under the radar because of his anonymity as he would not be recognizable by 95 percent of people on any given street. A person such as this would be the worst kind of predator imaginable.

Doctor Right| 5.17.11 @ 9:54AM

Bob...There's THOUSANDS of them out there, roaming the streets and hallways of America. They look and act normal...And they count on EXACTLY what you describe.

And too often, they get away with it.

loulou| 5.17.11 @ 10:30AM

True, there are THOUSANDS of Socialists out there raping and pillaging.

Doctor Right| 5.17.11 @ 11:51AM

True, but I wasn't talking about politics.

shut up loulou| 5.17.11 @ 2:40PM

Good god, please stop leaving inane comments and go read a book or something.

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 2:22PM

You need to get a life & repertoire worthy of open forums.

Jeff R| 5.17.11 @ 8:49AM

Mr. Stein is right. Strauss-Kahn is entitled to a presumption of innocence. We'll see how events and the law play out.

Kitty| 5.17.11 @ 9:30AM

Yes, Strauss-Kahn is entitled to a presumption of innocence -- in a court of law, not in public opinion.

RichTex| 5.17.11 @ 11:02AM

Kitty is right. The presumption of innocence until proven guilty applies only in law. Those of us who are neither the judge in the case nor a member of the jury need presume his innocence.

Before anyone gets his panties in a wad over this idea, you need only think back to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Who did it? John Wilkes Booth? Really? He never was convicted, so if he must still be presumed innocent, who actually did it?

RichTex| 5.17.11 @ 11:04AM

That should read that those neither the judge nor a member of the jury need NOT presume his innocence. Another spell-check failure.

ME| 5.17.11 @ 1:10PM

Just because he is "presumed innocent" does not mean that he cannot be kept in jail until the trial to keep him from fleeing. If a crime is violent enough, this is the way the courts handle it.

Not to mention, it's guys like Ben Stein who jump to defend guys like Strauss-Kahn that make it possible for them to continue with their sexual assaults...and one day the assault will escalated and turn deadly.

If he did go to France, he would never come back for trial, mark my words and he would be protected by the French government who will unlikely extradite him. He can even leave France and go to Sweden, where again, we would not be able to get him back here. He is a flight risk.

APoorGuyMaking$300.00AMonth| 5.21.11 @ 8:27PM

Yes! Yes! You're absolutely right. He's entitled to a presumption of innocence in a court of law only. Not in public opinion: because who gives the shit about public opinion!!!? Nobody. That's why many here keep saying he deserves what he got.

You know, I may be poor. I may be disgusted by people throwing money out the windows. But hey it's theirs not mine. They earned somehow and I have no right criticizing them for that. The man is rich and powerful. He may have done it. But the justice system has no right to throw him "en pature" to the media. They could've sent him to Riker's without anyone knowing. But that's not what they want: they don't want justice for the maid; they want to bring him down.

Think about it: even if he's found innocent he's toast. The guy was running for french presidency for god sake with very serious chances to be the next president. Yeah, but you know what: he can't control his implusions; he's gotta rape a maid when he could have a call girl or some 10 of them. Not to mention, that it could be IMF related: maybe it's a setup by another country wanting to have a more flexible managing director for example.

Too many maybes: public opinion is like public toilets. It's for everybody with not much hygiene. To consume with moderation.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:47AM

Actually, if he is exonerated I believe there would be a good chance he would win.

And it looks like he will be exonerated, as the case is falling apart.

Roland| 5.17.11 @ 8:53AM

Thanks for reminding us to consider the "other side" in this story. Despite the fact that DSK is a Socialist and Europhile, he may in fact be innocent. His shabby treatment as a common criminal, based on what may be false charges, is a disgrace to the supposed American "justice" system. What kind of image of the U.S. is projected to the civilised world by this kind of courtroom spectacle?

canuckistani| 5.17.11 @ 10:22AM

What shabby treatment?

How many accused rapists are released on their own recognizance without an investigation?

He's a high profile guy, and with it comes good and bad publicity. That's the deal.

loulou| 5.17.11 @ 12:47PM

Bill Clinton?

canuckistani| 5.17.11 @ 2:25PM

Uh, he had a special prosecutor and an impeachment/trial......what other investigation did he deserve?

About $500M spent investigating a BJ as the country burned. Not the fiddling I expect by my congressmen.

jmulcahy1| 5.17.11 @ 9:58PM

That's the Canadian view. Who is your Congressman?

Clinton suborned perjury and was guilty of sexual harassment. If he had been a CEO of a listed company he would have been fired for the last indiscretion.
That is why he was impeached. If he had any shame, Clinton should have resigned.

Nancy| 5.18.11 @ 3:31AM

The pervert was disbarred too.

Nancy| 5.18.11 @ 3:30AM

Ever hear of Juanita Broaddrick? Perhaps you should google her name, libtard.

ME| 5.17.11 @ 1:15PM

Should all men accused of rape, no matter how violent, be able to run free before their trial? Why should he be free when the average person would not be free. If the police report shows probable evidence that the woman is telling the truth..ie. her zipper of her pants was broken, the heel of her boot was missing, there was dna evidence on her...which is understandable because the report said he TWICE put his penis in her mouth as she struggled to get away.

He deserves to be in jail to keep him from running and doesn't deserve to better treatment than any other American citizen in the same boat.

buckeyeman| 5.17.11 @ 6:47PM

Does that sweeping statement include the Duke lacrosse team? That would have been a long time in jail when the presumptive victim clearly fabricated the accusation and the prosecutor fabricated "incriminating" evidence and suppressed exculpatory evidence.

Nancy| 5.18.11 @ 3:33AM

Just because the Duke case was a fraud doesn't mean this one is.

ME| 5.18.11 @ 8:31AM

Did the Duke team have millions of dollars and a passport with duel citizenship to another country...one which does not extradite? Totally different situation. Plus, in the Duke incident there was not DNA evidence available. In this case there is, it's noted on the police report. Read it and get educated.

Shefali| 5.18.11 @ 10:34AM

Why didn't she just bite it off? If a naked man tried to force me to perform oral sex on him, I'd clamp down hard...

Nancy| 5.19.11 @ 1:10AM

Maybe she was afraid he'd beat her to death.

Stefan Stackhouse| 5.17.11 @ 3:17PM

I have absolutely no doubt that I, an ordinary nobody, would have been treated as least as shabby as DSK were I to have engaged in the same behavior, or even just been falsely accused of such behavior. Ditto for every other person here. I don't see why the fact that he is an international big shot entitles him to better treatment than any of us would get.

James A. Donald| 5.18.11 @ 4:01AM

"Shaby treatment as a common criminal"

If any ordinary person was accused of rape, and there was DNA evidence, and evidence that the accuser put up a fight, that person would be treated as a common criminal.

What is remarkable is that he is being treated the same way any regular guy would be treated. Whether he innocent or guilty, the hotel management, the cops, and the judge, have balls the size of apples.

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 2:28PM

His shabby treatment? How is he being treated shabbily? Sorry we don't have a club med-type facility to accomodate his royal arse.

Just because he may be innocent doesn't mean we should allow him to leave THIS country where he is alleged to have committed felony sexual assault. If the charges are false, then due-process should expose this.

Don't disparage what you don't understand.

APoorGuyMaking$300.00AMonth| 5.21.11 @ 8:36PM

I will never forget that view of DSK standing next to a fella (a black guy, a somalian maybe, with a hat who seems like a cellphones or handbags stealer).

That's everything but bad publicity for a high profile guy like him. What do you think canuckistani?

Marion D.| 5.17.11 @ 8:54AM

Doggonit, Ben, the man was in such a mad rush to get the hell away from Sofitel that he left his phone behind along with the maid's blood on the bed.

Strauss-Kahn held the maid captive in his $3000/night suite at the Hotel Sofitel. He then restrained and orally sodomized her. There was also blood on the bed. After the incident, he hurriedly left the hotel for his scheduled flight.

But doggonit, Ben! Just as you have done on more than one occasion, he left his cell phone behind!

Don't you just hate it when that happens. Coached by security officials, a hotel staff member called to tell him about the lost phone and gathered his flight information.

Yes, they gathered his flight information, and agents boarded the plane and arrested the pervert.

The Sofitel chambermaid reported the crime to police and picked Mr. Strauss-Kahn out of a line-up.

And consider this, the Sofitel maid is not the only one to call the IMF chief out on his boorish behavior. French writer Tristane Banon claims the IMF chief acted like a 'rutting chimpanzee' in an attack on her nine years ago.

Known for your foolish, rambling posts, Ben, you have really screwed up with this shocker. Even your band of loyal conservatives, if they have any sense at all, will denounce your coming to the defense of this sexually rapacious animal.

God Almighty, AmSpec is one sleazy rag.

Ed White| 5.17.11 @ 9:01AM

Marion, how right you are about The American Spectator. I quit reading it months ago, but out of curiosity I took a peek this morning, much to my regret.

The readership, as you can see above, are perverse in taking the most bizarre positions on controversial issues. And there are far too many angry old men on this site --raving, foaming-at-the mouth right-wingers who spew their venom daily.

I suggest you do as I have done and switch to National Review Online. It's far more intelligent and civilized in its reporting.

George True| 5.17.11 @ 9:33AM

Verily, thou dost protest too much, Ed. You sound like an angry old, white, raving, foaming-at-the-mouth LEFT WINGER to me.

Howdy Doody| 5.17.11 @ 9:40AM

A left winger?

Do left wingers read National Review? Heavens to HeeHaw! I did not know National Review's readership was made up of left wingers.

loulou| 5.17.11 @ 10:31AM

Proof read your posts. You are babbling.

Juno| 5.17.11 @ 11:53AM

I proofread (one word) your post, loulou.

loulou| 5.17.11 @ 12:48PM

I stand corrected, I think.

Doctor Right| 5.17.11 @ 11:52AM

Yes, some left-wingers read Conservative publications, for the same reason that I occasionally read the drivel on the DailyKOS.

Dan Hirsch| 5.17.11 @ 11:06AM

As a longtime, former subscriber (I cancelled my own damn subscription, thank you Mr. Buckley.) to National Review (1976 - 2006) I do not disagree that they are more "civilized." However, I take civilized to connote compliant with the elitists in Washington DC who see fit to run our lives.

Mr. Buckley's magazine/publication has become the quiet home of compassionate conservatism. They have dumbed down the content and they have watered down the conservatism over the last decade. Doubt it? Run through any pre-1990 copy of the magazine and compare it to a current issue. It is sad and depressing

For an even bigger laugh, read a pre-1990 copy of Scientific American and a current issue. Researchers have been replaced by Time Magazine correspondent political hacks.

What is that bromide about all organizations becoming liberal over time?

Sometimes, Mr. Stein, there is no hope for you. Dominque has his hands around the throat of the IMF and billions and billions of dollar - what criminal activities he engages in is pertinent and important. How many lives are destroyed by this bad economy every month? A man who would sorely abuse a paid servant would do what to the millions of faceless nameless people who are directly affected by his decisions in his office?

Mr. Stein, you sir are a gentile man - you are trying to be civil - however, we must give some credit to the law enforcement and judicial professionals directly involved with this case. They denied the guy bail for crying out loud! This is NOT beanbag, Ben. It's rape.

Sheesh!

Shefali| 5.18.11 @ 10:38AM

Yep, it IS very sad, the dumbing down of various publications. I used to LOVE reading Scientific American when I was in high school and as an undergrad... recently we subscribed to it and I was anticipating my enjoyment of reading it again... but lo and behold, it's been watered down to an 8th grade level. What's the point? I'm not renewing my subscription.

Bob K.| 5.17.11 @ 9:42AM

Ben isn't reporting. He has written an opinion and that is a fact. You may disagree with it but there is nothing "sleazy" about it. And you do pretty good a "foaming at the mouth" yourself at people you disagree with.

ME| 5.17.11 @ 1:20PM

Just because Ben is not "reporting" doesn't mean that his information should not contain fact. He did little or no research on this post, and if he did, it doesn't show. It's obvious that he didn't read the police report because that in itself would have answered many of his questions. And it's also true that he must not have looked into French law regarding why there were no news reports in France about his shenanigans.

Bloggers should do their best to get the facts correct if they want to be considered credible.

Bob K.| 5.17.11 @ 7:40PM

Get your own facts straight if you want to be credible here.

I was commenting about the charge that the American Spectator was "a sleazy rag" for publishing Ben's article by a writer whose comments were classic examples of sleaze.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 3:34PM

I'm sorry, but the readership has been generally slamming Ben and the upper class Frenchie on this one, and supporting the lower-class maid.

How, exactly, is that obnoxious?

beebop| 5.17.11 @ 7:18PM

I don't know any of the folks here so defending them is not on my mind. But. No one is holding you hostage as they try to force a sexual organ down your throat. So just bugger off. And. I mean that in the nicest possible way. Have a good day.

Bob K.| 5.17.11 @ 9:32AM

Marion D.
What was the New York Times take on this incident. You know, the paper that "prints all the news that's fit to print?" It, of course, was printing the news, not an opinion like Ben here did, no matter how wrong he is, if he is wrong.

Your relish in describing what allegedly happened defines sleaze! You could write for the National Enquirer!

Sylvester| 5.17.11 @ 9:41AM

Bob K is evidently one of those angry old men you mentioned, Mr. White.

Bob K.| 5.17.11 @ 9:44AM

Right Sylvester!

A "pain in the a__" just like you.

Oolong| 5.17.11 @ 9:45AM

It is not surprising that Ben Stein would blame the victim and support multimillionaire rapist. Ben has an inflated sense of self worth, and he's constantly flaunting his wealth and success. These are the criteria he uses to judge worthiness.

So naturally, he would admire and come to the defense of Strauss-Kahn.

Bob K.| 5.17.11 @ 10:58AM

He didn't say anything about admiring him. He would probably also come to the defense of you in your misreading and misinterpretation of his article as being protected by the 1st amendment.

Voltaire| 5.18.11 @ 3:20AM

BS the Sofitel direction denied that, (invented by the police apparently) idem for the flight, it was booked since a few days !

The Bishop| 5.17.11 @ 8:57AM

If found guilty, "off with Monsiuer's head!". I'll let you decide which one I mean.

Michael Tomlinson| 5.17.11 @ 9:15AM

Touche Bishop. Love your cutting remarks.

JimH| 5.17.11 @ 9:27AM

Pour encourager les autres

h & h| 5.17.11 @ 9:47AM

Off with Ben Stein's head--the one above his flabby shoulders!

Claypoole| 5.17.11 @ 8:58AM

To answer Mr. Stein's first question as to why, if these accusations against DSK are true, has he not been formally charged and tried before: think Bill Clinton. A serial adulterer, sexual predator, credibly accused of two forcible rapes, Clinton today still enjoys the admiration of many. These men, though utterly corrupt, receive deference from the uninformed and morally confused because of their power. And, of course, where Clinton is concerned, he was and still is protected by the mainstream press because of his liberal politics.

Clint| 5.17.11 @ 9:01AM

The newest announced Republican presidential candidate, Ron Paul, wasted no time inserting himself into the international scandal involving the arrest of the head of the International Monetary Fund on sexual assault charges.

The 12-term Texas Republican representative is no friend of large financial institutions, be it the IMF or the Federal Reserve. Appearing on "Fox News Sunday" 48 hours after announcing his candidacy, Paul sought to paint the removal of Dominique Strauss-Kahn from a departing international flight and his arrest on suspicion of attempted rape of a Manhattan hotel maid as the kinds of high-handed things to be expected of such authorities.

"These are the kinds of people who are running the IMF," Paul told Chris Wallace, "and we want to turn the world's finances and the control of the money supply [over] to them?"

Paul added he hoped the incident "should awaken everybody to the fact they ought to look into the IMF and find out why we shouldn't be sacrificing more sovereignty to an organization like that and individuals like he was."
"I would like to go to a sound American currency," Paul warned, "but others want to go to a world currency. They want to use the IMF."

JFGalt| 5.17.11 @ 12:59PM

Is Dr Paul wrong? Yes, the timing was not the best but he was asked a question and as usual he told what he thought. A politician that told what he actually thought. How awful. This isn't just about the IMF and the types of people that run it - its all these international elitist money organizations that are filled with this sort of behavior and people. Try reading Economic Hitman for some eye-openers. It fell right in line with what I had some insight into some of the elite's Palm Beach shennanigans. If only Mar del Lago's walls could talk! This guy is probably guilty as usually turns out to be the case but it will eventually go away quietly as will his accuser in either a coffin or a Ferrari. It all really comes down to this and that is Who did this guy piss off so much that he lost his elitist protection status. There is more to this than meets the eye. Follow the money and you will see where it leads. As to Ben - I am disappointed and think that he is wrong in his opinion but he is entitled to it just like everyone one else posting here.

Michael Tomlinson| 5.17.11 @ 9:13AM

He's an elite socialist so I'm not surprised. If his name were Kennedy the MSM would be trashing his victims and looking to destroy anyone who might threaten him.

D. Singh| 5.17.11 @ 9:15AM

Sir

'Diane Sawyer, anchor of the ABC Nightly News, assuming that Mr. Strauss-Kahn is guilty. Right off the bat she leads the Monday news by saying that Mr. Strauss-Kahn is in Riker's... "because one woman stood her ground..." That assumes she's telling the truth and he's guilty.'

Will that not prejudice a fair trial?

al| 5.17.11 @ 9:23AM

B.S. once again playing the elitist card. A "distinguished" gentleman shouldn't have to go to Rikers? What about a less distinguished man accused of the same crime, Ben?

Anthony| 5.17.11 @ 9:25AM

Gee Ben, short, fat, and old men are quite capable of chasing woman around hotel rooms, albeit, a bit on the clumsy side, but I guess you wouldn't undersand the plight of short, fat, and old duds would you Ben, especially the entitled, pampered lefty kind?
Birds of a feather eh Ben?
Plenty of room in those $3,000 a night suites for a bit of mischief, especially when the staff consisting of the insignificant and trivial people are there for your beck and call, right Ben?
You might want to check with that fat rodent of AGW fame, Puxatawney Algore, about hints of how to man handle masseuses when the stress of rising seas and dying polar bears is just too much to bear. Algore was innocent as well, don't ya know. Gee, what ever did happen with that investigation?
You're probably right Ben, she was expected to service this leftist elite in his time of need, just who the hell does she think she is, complaining?
Geez, the nerve of the hoi polli.

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 9:50AM

Heh, Heh,

Yea but he DOES deliver the social justice.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 3:38PM

You know, I'm an aging, short, fat guy, but when I go to restaurants and hotels I always get smiles and great service. Maybe it's because I tip well and call the waitresses/cleaning people ma'am and sir, and say please and thank you. Maybe that's why my Kindle has been found and returned to me multiple times....

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 4:07PM

Yea but look at all of the fun you missed out on over the years.

- Dominique Strauss-kahn/Al Gore

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 6:58PM

Oh, I didn't miss out on fun...I just made sure it was consensual.

Feed Me Geek| 5.19.11 @ 6:31PM

This guy claims it was consensual :) It's what guys who assault women say when calling their accusers liars doesn't work any more.

Just saying :)

All hotel maids love going to work because it makes them feel so sexy when they scrub those toilets out...I mean, doesn't the smell of Ajax put *you* in the mood?

::snicker::

NoLib| 5.26.11 @ 1:36AM

Ms. FemiNazi sounds bitter. gag

Anthony| 5.17.11 @ 8:44PM

Occam's, It's called having class and a sense of mutual respect. Works with people every time it's tried.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 11:09AM

Yup. You know, I've NEVER had a problem with a hotel maid. Simply noting that you appreciate how hard they work and thanking them spares many a difficult moment...

But I'm not a Beverly Hills a-hole attorney like Ben Stein. I had a girlfriend once whose daddy was VEEP of an NBA team (not the LA ones). She told me, when I was a poor resident, that I "was what I drove" and that I needed to get rid of my perfectly serviceable car.

I could have had a Beverly Hills Practice if I had stayed with her. But I would have no self respect in that case, and the world view was tragic. I like money and success, and I have a bit of both. I also still have my soul, and that's important, too.

Have you checked your soul lately, Ben?

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 11:10AM

Tragic world view---I mean a tragedy of a world vie, not a classically tragic world view, which I happen to have.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 11:10AM

not "vie," "view." Sorry.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:44AM

That was very kind, Anthony. However, it does appear Ben may have been right about the innocence.

KS| 5.17.11 @ 9:56AM

"But, so far, he's innocent, and he's being treated shamefully."

We don't know if he's innocent ... or guilty. I thought that Mr. Stein made some valid points, however.

Anna K from Emory U| 5.17.11 @ 10:31AM

KS, don't you mean "vapid points"?

Ben is known for his vapidity, as in lacking significance.

loulou| 5.17.11 @ 10:35AM

Calm down, Anna K.
You're hysterical. You may not like Ben but he's much more significant, intelligent and successful than you are. Now get a hold of yourself and stop foaming at the mouth.

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 11:35AM

Yep. She needs to refrain from the histrionics.

What, the unions don't have any protests lined up for you so you come here out of boredom?

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 3:40PM

Anna---the proof will come in the trial---after he is found guilty, excoriate Mr. Stein. Personally, I think Ben's a twit on this one, but let's see what happens...

KS| 5.17.11 @ 8:57PM

I meant what I wrote. Do you think you're clever?

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:43AM

Anna, Ben may be inelegant, but the case is collapsing. Will you apologize when he is released, as I brilliantly suggested 6 weeks ago (damn, I'm gooood.).

michael kucher| 5.17.11 @ 10:13AM

Thank you, Mr. Stein. I thought I was among the very few who thought about the smell of this fish tale. first of all, I would not want any sort of forced oral sex!! (Lorena Bobbitt, remember?) And wasnt Bernie Madoff confined to his meager dwelling while being investigated. When the truth comes out, Lucy is gon to have alot of 'splainin to do!!!

Anthony| 5.17.11 @ 12:25PM

Michael, A word of caution, never take legal advise from anyone whose law degree might have come from the back of a matchbook cover. Stein claims to be, among other things, a lawyer, if so, his law school should disavow that claim to preserve its reputation.
Ben Stein, Esq. sadly fails to recognize that Mr. Strauss-Kahn was still attempting to flee the jurisdiction of the U.S even though he had pre-booked his return flight.
I guess in Mr. Stein's Esq. clear eyes, running like hell to catch your flight, leaving behind all sorts of personal items in the pell mell rush to flee the U.S., is not an indicia of "consciousness of guilt", (yes this is a legal term of art) because he had a first class seat pre booked and waiting for him.
Fortunately, the IMF had the good sense not to invoke Kahn's diplomatic immunity, which would have allowd this reprobate to saunter up to first class without a care, an issue that also escaped Stein's keen legal mind.
As to holding Kahn in prison, which seems to really offend the sensibilities of Kahn's fellow elite, perhaps Stein might want to ride into L.A. and see for himself the number of his fellow Californians held in prison and denied bail based upon the nature of the evidence presented to a judge at a preliminary hearing.
Better yet, the Perry Mason of California should take a ride to a Superior Court and witness a probable cause hearing and the evidence that is proffered to the court in order to determine whether one should be granted bail or remain in jail.
When's the last time you walked into a court room Ben, as a lawyer I mean, not as an actor?

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 6:59PM

Stein's law school was Yale.

The least selective US Medical school is more academically stringent than the most selective US Law School. Over 60 percent of Harvard's grads graduate with honors.

Anthony| 5.17.11 @ 8:53PM

Just as I thought, Stein graduated from the 3rd worst law school in the state of Connecticut,out of the 3 law schools.
I guess Stein never strolled up Elm Street to the criminal courthouse to see what real lawyers and judges do, especially in probable cause hearings.
Perhaps Ben spent much of his time at Pepe's or Sally's eating the best pizza in America.
Can't blame him for that, I suppose, but still, he could have taken a clinic to help out the poor and the disadvantaged, but on second thought, maybe it was best for the litigants that he didn't.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 8:31PM

Sorry, but MY cousin Jerry serves the best pizza in the US at Gulliver's in Skokie. I have no financial interest in Gulliver's, nor will that schmuck give me a discout for being family, but truth is truth. Incidentally, he also has an incredible collection of Victorian statuary on display in the restaurant.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:41AM

Update: Jerry was a distant cousin of mine. I haven't been to Gulliver's in about 10 years. It is still in operation, but Jerry died of Cancer a few years ago.

Arista| 5.17.11 @ 3:52PM

It was not forced fallacio. It was forced cunnilingus, goofus. He forced it on the maid.

Nancy| 5.18.11 @ 3:38AM

Idiot.

J.C.Eaton| 5.17.11 @ 10:29AM

Mr. Stein is incredulous; initially because it is sooooounlikely that an economist[of all people] might wander off the morally high road. He couples this disbelief with the seemingly shabby hustle put on his collegue's habeas grabus by the New York police. Yes, he was removed from an airplane.....an airplane bound for France, a nation not given to strict punishment or even strict prosecution of its' elites. Mr. Stein, do you seriously contend that leaving his passport in the Manhattan clerk of court's office would have guaranteed appearance? Don't be ridiculous. France would descend to the baricades like so many Jacobins to protect this worthy.He's the silly[and possibly very nasty] head of an anachronistic international fat-cat fraternity charged with giving away to witless nations my money....and yours of course.[I don't give a rat's butt what he does with your money or with what you do with it,by the way but I care very much what he does with mine]. Anyway, he was treated like any other person situated in the Big Apple would be treated. You should really be more egalitarian in your disdain. Best,

loulou| 5.17.11 @ 10:37AM

I ask again: What was the maid doing entering an occupied room?

Juno| 5.17.11 @ 12:04PM

Anna K from Emory U has explained plainly what the maid was doing in the room in her 10:52 A.M. post.

Scroll above and read it.

loulou| 5.17.11 @ 12:51PM

I don't take Anna K's word for anything.
She's a self-described social justice nag. I'm guessing she's a follower of Jim Wallis.

Nancy| 5.18.11 @ 3:39AM

It was after the 12 o'clock noon departure time. She followed proper hotel procedure.

JFGalt| 5.17.11 @ 1:03PM

Wake up fool - haven't you ever been in a hotel room in the bathroom and haven't been able to get to the door fast enough when housekeeping knocks. This is especially true if you are in a suite with a room which may be far removed from the front door. The elite are used to having servants around them all the time anyway and typically view them as part of the furniture.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 3:42PM

Yes, and then I say---"ma'am, I'm not dressed, please leave." And then she leaves and I shower, get dressed, leave, apologize for embarrassing her, and go about my daily business and think no more about it.

In this case there was apparent DNA evidence and blood on the sheets.

Sam Brasel| 5.17.11 @ 8:35PM

Who told you that the maid knew that the suite was occupied before she entered it? Or was your question purely rhetorical, and intended as innuendo against an alleged victim of sexual assault? I couldn't tell for sure.

Pragmatist| 5.18.11 @ 9:59AM

The facts are stated in every news account. She knocked and there was no response. She opened the door and called out. No response. Standard hotel policy. The better question is why you are afraid of teh turth. I'm willing to bet you are still waiting for the video of Obama's birth and for divers to recover bin Laden's body. You probably also hold that the Earth is 700 years old. Facts are facts man and they trump childish ideology every time.

chris haynes| 5.17.11 @ 10:42AM

Surrendered his Passport? How lame.

Tons of people have two. Anyone who has been to Israel, they give him a second passport for Saudi so he doest get hassled.

And private jet terminals. Finer things for the finer folks. Believe you me, the TSA doesnt frisk 5 year olds there. And remember, this guy is a diplomat. They really grill diplomats getting on private jets.

tonyo| 5.17.11 @ 10:44AM

Sorry, but isn't this what the "socialist" elite have always done to the plebians whose taxes finance their lifestyle. An apt metaphor for the IMF (MF indeed).

AgentRose| 5.17.11 @ 11:04AM

Yes, he could be innocent. But what strikes me about this is the typical socialist "playbook."
1. lies
2. deceit
3. attack the attacker--Ah, didn't you know the maid was consenually running down the hall trying to get away from him?

It's just that the "ruling class" doesn't often get caught by the "country class."

PS who's paying for this? (multiple choice)
1. U.S. taxpayers
2. NYC taxpayers
3. IMF (chiefly supported by U.S. taxpayers)
4. Greece

OLD RAY| 5.17.11 @ 11:09AM

BRAVO TO THE NEW YORK POLICE. They treated the :elite" possible criminal just like any other accused. Ben Stein thinks that if one is a rich, prominent (economist?) he should be above common mortals. Of course everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but Mr Stein thinks those special people like himself are automatically above reproach. Ben, you are often funny and easy to like, but face it . Tou are a self indulgent hypocrite.

Kilgore Trout| 5.17.11 @ 11:10AM

Ben, Ben, Ben... this guy is a socialist POLITICIAN, not an internationally know known banker.
He's a lot like Teddy the K, a fat slob who couldn't keep his pants zipped.
He was known as chaud lapin or "hot rabbit" indicating his ready randiness.
I believe the woman.

Mimi| 5.17.11 @ 11:15AM

More facts need to come out...can't help thinking of the " DUKE" case. What do we know of the accuser? She's lawered up by now and her mouth has zipped. Sorry for this but.... the man looks OLD. If all is TRUE, this is not FRANCE and he is surely in deep trouble and IMF..and the WORLD ORDER be ..." DARNED"!

Dave| 5.17.11 @ 11:16AM

As someone else has already pointed out, this gentleman is being treated exactly the same as any other no-name charged with such crimes would be treated. You don't get to be treated any differently than anyone else just because you're a big-name, at least that's how it's supposed to happen.

If you got a problem with the way this Frenchman is being treated, then you got a problem with certain aspects of the entire criminal justice system, which is fine.

s bennett| 5.17.11 @ 11:49AM

It would be useful if people knew a few facts before shooting off their mouths!The maid followed protocol for what was supposed to be an unnoccupied room,knocking 3 times,etc.

Juno| 5.17.11 @ 12:06PM

Folk like loulou ignore this pertinent information. They want to blame the maid while attempting to exonerate the multimillionaire big shot.

Boy, these AmSpec types are full of it, and man can they spew it.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 3:44PM

Juno,

I'm savagely Conservative, and I'm excoriating Mr. Stein on this one. What are you going off about?

Pelligrino| 5.17.11 @ 8:09PM

OT, I think that most readers here are doing the same. Most, as you pointed out in a short post above, are a bit incredulous right from the start of Ben Stein's article where he suggests that economists are not normally knows as sexual predators/assaulters. Really? I think we're all baffled at that.

Yes, and even when the maid knocks the occupant does not always here (TV volume up, hair dryer on, water running in the bathroom etc.) Or one replies but the maid does not hear (too much noice in the hallway, a vacuum being used in a nearby room, etc.)

Yes, we want the real facts and, most importantly, real justice to be served -- for all parties.

So far, I don't see any mishandling by the NYC authorities.

What troubles me: How fast Strauss-Kahn got a known, how to say it, VERY questionable but high profile defense lawyer.

How are these people all so well inter-connected?

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 10:50AM

The number of elite multi-millionaires is relatively small. In any type of setting like this, the number of players is a small number. For example, I know the leading forensic geriatric psychiatrist in the US personally (I should; I was a senior resident of his). It's a very small world these people live in.

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 8:19PM

What posts are you reading sir. No one is "exonerating" the multimillionaire socialist. They are simply reserving judgment before a case is presented. Kind of like when Johnny Cochran pleaded the public not to "rush to judgment".

Controse| 5.17.11 @ 11:51AM

Please, please people. Mr. Stein is just lazy. He is doing the old throw-a-rock-in-the-chicken-coupe routine to generate a little self-focused attention. If he believes any of this he is addled and unworthy of attention. If he doesn't believe any of this he is mischievous in a way unbecoming to one his age.

Arista| 5.17.11 @ 12:08PM

Irony, people, irony!

Ben Stein is, once again, attempting to be ironic. But his writing skills and anylytical thought processes are not up to it.

clarice feldman| 5.17.11 @ 12:32PM

I assume you wrote this before hearing from the prosecution at the bail hearing. It is hard to imagine another country which would take so seriously the charge of a maid against a prominent and rich pol, and I am PROUD of that. I expect around the world where this never happens people understand what we mean by equal treatment.

While he is presumed innocent until the state proves its case in court, it appears the prosecution surely had sufficient evidence to charge him.

Stefan Stackhouse| 5.17.11 @ 3:27PM

Bravo! How awesome this must all appear to ordinary, downtrodden people around the world who are used to seeing their rich and powerful elites getting away with this stuff with impunity, all the time. Equal justice under law - one of the most powerful and revolutionary ideas ever to become reality in the history of humankind.

Allen Hanson| 5.17.11 @ 12:32PM

Thanks for straightening me out, Ben. I was falling into the witless trap of enjoying the misfortune of another. I'm a little ashamed of myself, but I now have a basis for repentance.

Travis| 5.17.11 @ 12:51PM

One rumor floating around is that one of Strauss-Kahn's political foes set this all up in hopes of tarnishing his image. Dominique Strauss-Kahn was considered president Nicolas Sarkozy's top competitor in the upcoming French election and as the rumor goes one of Sarkozy's supporters possibly tried to eliminate a viable competitor? Stranger things have happened obviously.

That said, according to New York City law officials there was enough evidence gathered to hold Strauss-Kahn without bail. It will all boil down to DNA evidence most likely in my opinion. If that gal fought back there could be DNA evidence under her fingernails to corroborate her story. Or some other type of evidence like surveillance videos to determine if her body was roughed up upon exit from the room, etc. The guy has a history of womanizing as well apparently.

But Ben Stein is right. Innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around. Or so the law states anyway. The American judicial system seems to have a tendency to reverse that order in my opinion i.e. a presumption of guilt first and then afterward an attempt of proof of innocence. Hopefully the truth will come out in the end either way. My personal opinion is he probably did it because so far the evidence is pointing in that direction but we'll have to wait and see how it all unfolds.

JFGalt| 5.17.11 @ 1:05PM

True - that is why he is in jail waiting his turn to proclaim his innocence. Just because he is a big shot should that give him special priviledges? Ben, please say it isn't so.

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 8:23PM

Admission. I would prefer he spends plenty of quality time with his new bestest buddy bunkmate Leroy.

The Big E| 5.17.11 @ 1:09PM

Am I the only person here who gets Ben Stein? (And more importantly, if I am, does that make me weird?)

IT'S CALLED SATIRE!!!!

SATIRE - the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.

By asking those inane questions, Mr. Stein was highlighting exactly what we always complain about when some high-profile lefty gets accused of something like this - in other words - the fact that they get treated differently. This time, the high-profile lefty did NOT get treated differently. He got treated exactly like you or I would be treated if we were accused of a hideous crime and were arrested while sitting on a plane bound for another country.

Through the use of SATIRE (see definition above), Mr. Stein is highlighting the unequal, and unjustifiably favorable, treatment which high-profile leftys usually receive in these situation. In other words, instead of criticizing the way this particular high-profile lefty is being treated, he is, in a round-about manner, PRAISING the way he's being treated.

Jeez folks. Didn't anybody but me pay attention in English Literature?

(Of course, if I'm wrong, you've got some serious 'splainin to do, Ben.)

ME| 5.17.11 @ 1:21PM

This was not satire. Not even close!

Arista| 5.17.11 @ 2:08PM

Satire is too sophisticated for Ben Stein's modest mentality. Please! You're way off course.

Anthony| 5.17.11 @ 3:10PM

Oh Big E, you're too clever by half, old boy. You obviously have not read Stein enough; this is Simple Ben Simon's vintage smaltz b.s.
He ment every stupid vapid word he wrote.
You, my friend, had best go back to college and re-take your Eng. Lit. classes. Learn to apply the defination of satire from the classic artists, start with Shakespeare; Here's one for you, Ben, and Strauss-Kahn; "Small things make base men proud".
I bet you, Stein, and Strauss-Kahn have a few small things in common.

Miss Alabama| 5.17.11 @ 3:57PM

About Ben Steins "small thing," I beg to differ.

Mary Anne Skinner-Hawkins| 5.17.11 @ 3:59PM

Ben Stein is a married man, Miss Alabama. You've been on here before insinuating the most vile things about Ben.

I know Ben and his lovely wife, and I know Ben wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot pole. You cheap Alabama hussy.

The U.S. Army| 5.19.11 @ 1:14AM

Miss Alabama is a slut. We should know

The Big E| 5.17.11 @ 4:25PM

And you, my friend need to go back to college and learn how to spell.

While you're there, pick up some better insults. And remember, men often project onto others their own shortcomings.

Anthony| 5.17.11 @ 9:54PM

Oooh, we hit close to home did we? First, it isn't my insult, it's Shakespeare's. Second, it's you, my friend, who is projecting. Third, you're the one who fell for Stein's tripe, hook, line and sinker, the rest of us, or most of us, knew this was anything but satire.
And, you spent 7 paragraphs highlighting your ignorance in great detail, I might add.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:38AM

Dear Anthony: The case is collapsing. Will you be man enough to apologize?

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 3:47PM

The Big E---I enjoy sarcasm and satire. But, if you recall, "dying is easy, comedy is hard." Even the comic genius of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" can have an off day, and this one is it.

I mean, Clint and I are agreeing on this one. Eek.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 3:49PM

By the way, Ben---Moshe Katsav was trained as an economist. Howzzat?

The Big E| 5.17.11 @ 4:21PM

I never said it was successful satire. However, it seems to me that the point of Mr. Stein's columns is rarely presented in a direct fashion.

That said, I did leave open the possibility that I was wrong in my assessment.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:37AM

Dear Big E:

You're wonderful. However, this was not satire, but superb legal acumen. The case is collapsing. Wow, Sherlock Stein, indeed.

Echohawk| 5.18.11 @ 9:06AM

The Big E--the essense of satire is to 'protest too much. ' Satire makes us smile because we understand the writer is stretching the point to make his (usually opposite) point. A great example is Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal." To my ears, Mr. Stein sounds too earnest here to be satirical.
If you want great satire, read Iowahawk. (No relation.)

Melvin| 5.17.11 @ 1:11PM

But people Mr. Strauss-Kahn has been charged, convicted, and soon to be sentenced by the most powerful court in the world, the Court of Media Driven Public Opinion.
Since when does the rule of law apply any more, it is the rule of the mob that truly counts, N'est-ce pas?

Paul McGrath| 5.17.11 @ 1:17PM

Throughout human history and even as recently as a hundred or two years ago, it was not uncommon in Europe--and especially France--for the powerful and wealthy to use the weak and impoverished in just about any way they saw fit. Lord So-and-So could pretty much do whatever he wished with the serving-girl who came to empty his chamber pot, and if she resisted, she could be pretty sure that she and her family would be dispossessed of their employment and their dwelling and there wasn't a thing they could do about it.

This is kind of what our founders had in mind when they decreed that we would be a nation of "laws" and not "men." Mr. Stein is of course correct when he asserts that this French dignitary is innocent until proven guilty; he is incorrect, however, to assert that this person is entitled to special treatment because of his social status.

Cuffs| 5.17.11 @ 1:17PM

"lifetime of public service....distinguished level?????????????"
Geez, Ben, how naive!
This guy is a socialist working to redistribute your wealth- not his.
He is the top of a global elite who work day
and night (in the lap of luxury) to get richer and
more powerful. What a joke these people are.
Gee, now Mr. Lipky can pick up where DSK left off. Lipsky is a socialist from Chase and Morgan.
Cultural diversity anyone?

Wayne | 5.17.11 @ 1:19PM

Ben Stein, why is their no article about Osama Bin Laden being presumed innocent?

John| 5.19.11 @ 5:41AM

Indeed.

Feed Me Geek| 5.19.11 @ 6:45PM

Hehe. I've been sitting here wondering if the same standard applies to Julian Assange.

Feed Me Geek| 5.19.11 @ 6:45PM

Hehe. I've been sitting here wondering if the same standard applies to Julian Assange.

dherion| 5.17.11 @ 1:24PM

What is it with Ben these days? And I love how he writes he loves maids, but he doesn't think a 'maid' accusing a man of rape is sufficient to arrest him. I suppose if she were the VP of some bank or a diplomat that would be different. Of course the guy is innocent until proven guilty, but his lawyers have already changed his story twice. First he could not have done it because he was having lunch, now it's 'consensual sex.' And we also know he is notorious for harrassing women (of course this only comes from his enemies), and at least one has already stepped up and said the same thing happened to her. I'm not too worried about this guy being railroaded. I doubt this will ever see the inside of a courtroom.

Interested Conservative| 5.17.11 @ 1:26PM

A few thoughts on press treatment:

1 - Robert Bork
2 - Bill Clinton

A few thoughts on the justice system:

Yes, the "perp walk" is unnecessary, and worse, perverts due process by contaminating a fair trial by presenting an image of guilt. On the other hand, aside from that it seems DSK has received all requisite due process and if Riker's Island is unworthy for him, then it's unworthy for all. That is not his problem alone. Still, I don't know that it is unworthy for all (I suspect the NY courts and the ACLU have fully litigated that question to a complete resolution).

here is more than adequate

steve| 5.17.11 @ 1:27PM

Ben comes off as a fellow elitist, he simply can't fathom that someone of his ilk could commit this crime. it reminds when he rushed to defend his friend warren buffet. ben just stfu

Frank Badomi| 5.17.11 @ 1:58PM

Travis, but no one else, certainly not Ben Stein, certainly not the media, notes that Sofitel surveillance videos will [or will not] corroborate that Strauss-Kahn was [or was not] chasing the maid naked down the hotel corridor, as press reports suggest he was. So why all this spectacular hand wringing and garment rending when all that needs to be known is the videotape?

Cyndi Simpson| 5.19.11 @ 11:24AM

I suppose your reading facility is limited. None of this took place in a "hotel corridor" by anyone's account. It all took place inside a hotel suite. Could there have been video cameras in the suite? I hope not...but am sure we'll find out.

chris haynes| 5.17.11 @ 2:07PM

Polansky isnt relevant? Youre kidding.

Put yourself in Strauss's shoes. I'm accused of rape. Might get 20 years, unless I take off. But where can I go? Where can I hide?

Ah, I got an idea. My house in Paris, France. or the Cannes film festival. or the French Academy awards night. Getting an award. I'll hide there. Like Polanski. That's where he's hiding. That will be safe.

Poor Dominique. He lives in a country with no extraditon. But the judge. She figures she doesnt want to look like a goof. So no bail for him.

mommadona| 5.17.11 @ 2:43PM

Well, what have we here? A #WhiteMaleFail trying to CYA for ANOTHER influential #WhiteMaleFail ... Yeah...Boys tend to stick together in these situations. Moms know this. We are NOT amused.

Alfonso Dupont| 5.17.11 @ 2:50PM

What a shock, a Jew defending another Jew (a socialist no less) of sex crimes. Well I never! I guess blood is thicker than semen, eh?

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 3:53PM

Note that I noted that Moshe Katsav was guilty of rape, Alfonso. Stick your head where the son doesn't shine, pal.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 3:56PM

Sorry---where the Sun doesn't shine, Alfonso you skank.

Alfonso Dupont| 5.17.11 @ 3:57PM

who are you and why should I care?

John Navratil| 5.17.11 @ 6:54PM

Alfonso Dupont,

And just who might you be walking in with an unsupported assertion that Jews will defend the indefensible in other Jews.

Perhaps you have enough facts to judge this case for yourself but, fortunately, it takes a little more that the pronouncement of one Alfonso Dupont to convict in this country.

So slither on over to your next rock to sun yourself as I (and I suspect a few others) neither know who you are (although I know what you are) no do I care.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 4:03PM

Thank you, John.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 7:02PM

A Jew who is offended by a Nazi scumbag.

Marcus| 5.17.11 @ 4:54PM

One of the few people in the public eye more disgusting than Strauss-Kahn is Ben Stein. Stein is nothing but an international Zionist whose every policy recommendation amounts to the same thing: American goym die in a desert fighting for Israel; American taxpayers transfer massive wealth to Israel; American politics is reduced to finding which politician spends the most time at the Wailing Wall. With friends like Stein, the objectionable, thrice-married "relationship expert" Dennis Prager and the obscene Krauthammer, who needs enemies?

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:36AM

Alfonso, the case is collapsing. You are a fool, Alfonso.

And you should care what I think because I'm smarter and handsomer than you. I'm your superior in all ways.

Sean| 5.17.11 @ 2:57PM

According to his lawyer he is supposedly going to plead not guilty. He claims there was consensual sex. Now a jury is going to have to determine if the sex was consensual or not.

Flora| 5.17.11 @ 3:00PM

I'm glad to see Mr. Stein is such a well-versed legal expert, ethicist and psychologist. I'm sure women everywhere will breathe a sigh of relief knowing your "humble" and well-informed generalizations can bring us hysterics back to reality, where no one rich would do anything so vile. Also, just a note on some basic physical info: a man who is larger than a woman can physically force her to do something without a weapon. Ass.

John Navratil| 5.17.11 @ 6:57PM

Flora,

Stein was simply arguing not to convict outside of court. It looks bad for this guy (I'm not defending him, just the system), but it looked really bad for Richard Jewell (the alleged, and cleared, Olympic bomber).

When the courts have spoken, we will - by the definition of our legal system - know.

The U.S. Army| 5.19.11 @ 1:19AM

The French creep has a terrible, well-known track record with vulnerable women in France. Ben should have at least checked the facts out a little before defending this awful man.

Flora| 5.20.11 @ 4:38PM

Arguing not to convict out of court?? Are you kidding? He calls hotel maids lunatics and says rich, powerful men wouldn't do such things. Sounds like defending him, sounds like convicting the victim outside of court. Give me a break.

Spinner| 5.17.11 @ 3:03PM

I've never been so disgusted by anything I've read on this site. It's one thing to take the media to task for bias and assuming the alleged assailant's, but for you to swing the pendulum the entire way and damn the victim. I hope none of your children or other female relatives ever fall prey to sexual assault and have to face the same heartless, asinine verbal attacks that you're lobbing at this woman's direction.

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 3:26PM

Come on. Straw man arguments don't fly here. No one here's doing that other than one or two posts which go nowhere.

macduff| 5.17.11 @ 3:34PM

#1: Ben, if this were at all "humble," it would be un-biased. At least give a little compassion to a woman who had a penis forced into her mouth on a day when she just showed up to work. K?

#2: Mr. Strauss-Kahn fled the scene, leaving significant belongings behind in the room to get to his flight. The police assumed correctly that he was attempting to flee the country and they did the right thing.

And #3, the guy belongs in Rikers because it is a correctional facility. If Strauss-Kahn were a black rapper worth $100 million pressed with the same charges, he'd go there as well.

Simon| 5.17.11 @ 3:39PM

Ah, thank you Mr. Stein. You made my day. I needed a fair view on this very delicate matter. Which you probably did not give enough thought, though. Or just not cared enough to get well informed about. Your piece should be regarded as just like your views on evolution and abortion: trash. And of the worst kind, the one that smells of social inequality and conservation of privileges.

Mike W| 5.17.11 @ 3:47PM

I don't like "public servants" who stay in $3000 a night hotel rooms, but I also remember the Duke lacrosse team. And the poor hardworking single mother "victim". We need to be careful not to rush to judgement.

Shefali| 5.18.11 @ 10:45AM

The guy MIGHT be innocent. There sure seems to be a lot of evidence against him, though.

chris haynes| 5.17.11 @ 3:48PM

"If his wife cant trust him, how can I?"
That's what President Truman said.

So a question for Ben Stein...What's with the IMF, they pick a known womanizer to be in charge?

Melvin| 5.17.11 @ 3:55PM

I don't what is worse Strauss-Kahn the Socialist or Gordon Brown and even worse hell bent socialist.
Gordon Brown right now is salivating so much to replace Staruss-Kahn that the English Channel had to put up flood notices.

Claypoole| 5.17.11 @ 5:08PM

So what's with the USA? In 1992 and 1996, they pick a known womanizer to be in charge?

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:06AM

A rapist too.

Oldefarte| 5.17.11 @ 3:57PM

Anyone who has seriously read the author's articles should realize possibly where he is coming from. He constantly describes via his words hotels that he has stayed in, restaurant/hotel meals that he has enjoyed in his travels, and the affections of associated women that have been bestowed upon him while doing thus. In addition, he's a LAWYER by trade. He no doubt feels slighted somewhat by the treatment afforded this aristocratic defendant, as if to ponder possibly WHAT IF IT WERE ME? Hopefully, he has never nakedly jumped out upon a cleaning maid during his traveling, hotel-staying career. If so, did the offended hotel staff member scream, BEULER.....BEULER! No doubt, Strauss has been and will be typically treated in ignorance of his elevated social status by all, and he should simply be enternally grateful that upon bounding completely disrobed into the room, that same was not entirely filled with his family, friends and loved ones collectively shouting......HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pastor Parrish| 5.17.11 @ 4:08PM

And then there's his "relationship" with Miss Alabama--that infernal, high-minded witch of a woman.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 11:01AM

Miss Alabama: there are no better hussies than Alabama women, and no better ladies. Sometimes, they are even one and the same. Have a lovely day.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 11:01AM

My wife is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the Capstone, Miss Alabama.

Oldefarte| 5.18.11 @ 12:22PM

ROLLLLLLL ........TIDE!!!!!!!!!!

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 4:04PM

Thank you (I was also on volunteer faculty for the med school for a while).

The U.S. Army| 5.19.11 @ 1:21AM

Miss Alabama isn't your wife, right?

Occam's Tool| 5.19.11 @ 2:26AM

No. My wife was the counter of the votes in the initial Miss Cullman contest that decided THAT particular Miss America, though.

RINO Romney's a Statist| 5.19.11 @ 2:58AM

Just teasing, OT. She's lucky to have you.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:33AM

That's fine. No apology needed. However, you are wrong. I am lucky to have HER.

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 4:20PM

"Hopefully, he has never nakedly jumped out upon a cleaning maid during his traveling, hotel-staying career. If so, did the offended hotel staff member scream, BEULER.....BEULER!"

Old Flat - "getting the red-eye out" might take on a whole new meaning if that were the case.

Melinda| 5.17.11 @ 4:08PM

(1) Not having a criminal record doesn't mean one has never committed a crime. It means one has never been charged/convicted. A person of DSK's means/position might be better able to conceal previous bad acts than most of us. I'm not saying he has ever so much as jaywalked, but an absence of criminal record is no defense to a specific act.

(2) So because no economist or non-profit head you are aware of has been convicted of a violent crime, DSK cannot have committed a violent crime? Ridiculous, invalid argument. Even assuming no economist or non-profit executive has ever committed a violent crime (a ridiculous assumption, IMHO) there is a first time for everything. Education, societal position, and occupation do not mean that one is incapable of a violent sexual crime.

(3) Force requires a weapon? A naked male stranger is going to be damn intimidating to many women. A man who can afford such a suite has implied power, economic or otherwise, over a chambermaid.

(4) A man of his means, with no home in NY, is a huge flight risk. He surely knows people w/ private planes at their disposal. He may have a second passport (it happens).

(5) DSK is NOT recognizable to the vast majority of people in US or world. He has NO HOME IN NY in which to be confined on home detention. He should get special treatment because of his means/position?

(6) Her word alone would likely NOT be enough for probable cause. Her injuries, allegations, rape kit results, his behavior after the fact - those might add up to pc. Judge and police have incentive to make sure probablecause is strong in a high-profile case. Your question seems to imply that this maid might have a motive to lie about this assault. If she were seeking a big payout from accusing a man with deep pockets, going to the police wasn't too bright. After all, who's going to pay to keep you quiet if you've already gone public?

(7) The finder of fact at trial (jury or judge) must have a presumption of the defendant's innocence prior to hearing the evidence. The court has no control over Diane Sawyer's opinion or expression thereof. The media SHOULD refer to DSK as the accused, alleged to have committed a crime. If Sawyer implied he was already convicted, she screwed up. By stating that he is in jail "because one woman stood her ground," I believe she was trying to say that the accuser chose to report the alleged attack and declined to back down from her allegations just because the accused is a prominent person. I don't think that means that Sawyer has determined guilt, just that the accuser has chosen to press charges rather than cower. Presuming DSK's legal innocence does not require a presumption that the accuser is untruthful.

(8) The price of the hotel suite is relevant to public as it goes to a possible feeling of entitlement by the accused, the likelihood that hotel staff has been screened for criminal background, and explains how DSK could allegedly chase the maid down a hallway naked w/o attracting attention (that is, most hotel rooms don't have private hallways, but $3000/night suite would). I also do not know the accused or the complainant. But this accused is NOT being treated any differently than any other alleged sexual offender who is not a NY resident and has substantial means.

P.S. DSK is receiving special treatment b/c of his means/position in that he is being held separate from the general population at Rikers. I assume this meets with your approval, Mr. Stein.

Simon| 5.17.11 @ 5:41PM

Very well posed, yet so simple to understand and explain. Kudos to rational thinking. Go back to your cave, Mr Stein, this is a country of laws.

John Navratil| 5.17.11 @ 6:59PM

Simon,

Indeed it is, and the laws give this man his day in court and not before a lynch mob.

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:27AM

Please stop the hyperbole.

John Navratil| 5.19.11 @ 9:12AM

Annie,

I am not the one in a lather seeking to try this case before it has come to a judge. Stein says this man was mistreated (an assertion with which I disagree) and told to go to back to his cave as this is a nation of laws. I've said that the system will sort this out and both sides will be heard. Remember the sad case of Richard Jewell. And you accuse ME of hyberbole.

Perhaps your reply was meant for Simon.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:32AM

Exactly right, John. All are equal before the law, and await data before judgment. I knew there was a good reason I like you.

Pelligrino| 5.18.11 @ 3:53AM

Melinda, superb post. Merci beaucoup! Well written, well thought out. If only the author of the original piece had such straightforward presentation and articulation.

The cynic in me thinks that the original author has taken this bizarre tack to obtain "hits" on this web article in order to boost both ego and status in AmSpect. circles.

If the original author has any shred of integrity, there should be a follow-up retraction/correction.

RWAC| 5.17.11 @ 4:18PM

What a spectacularly disgusting column. You outdid even the French!

KEN KELLY| 5.17.11 @ 4:25PM

Ben you are beginning to worry me. First it was we need to pay more taxes, now this.

Marcus| 5.17.11 @ 4:44PM

Public service? Leave it to an LA "conservative" to regard the systematic rape of nations through IMF-induced bankruptcy "public service." Obviously Stein, the man who called Ron Paul an anti-Semite for proposing an end to foreign aid, has a real agenda here.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 7:04PM

Paul is an antisemite because of his writings and his sponsors.

Marcus| 5.17.11 @ 9:32PM

Would you be so kind as to post some links to Paul's writings betraying his "antisemitism." You can also contact me through my YouTube page linked above. I'd love to know what constitutes such a charge in the mind of an American Spectator reader. Thanks

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 10:53AM

I'm busy. Google Paul and Stormfront. Read for yourself, Marcus. You bore me.

Incidentally, I LIVED in Galveston for 4 years. I know the area (VERY WELL).

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:29AM

Hi, Marcus---the case is collapsing. Ron Paul is a well known antisemite. And, feel free to kiss my Harry Hebraic Hinder.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:29AM

Sorry, Marcus---pucker up and smooch my Hairy Hebraic Hinder. You too, Clint.

Niall| 5.17.11 @ 4:54PM

This is one of the most vile pieces I have ever read re: male attitude towards sexual assault allegations. No wonder women hesitate to come forward, never mind when someone wealthy and powerful rapes them. What a horrifying mindset. Ben Stein, you have problems.

Old Atlantic| 5.17.11 @ 4:57PM

Does the maid's entry key leave an electronic time stamp? Or the opening of the door at the front desk? Did DSK check out before the maid opened the door? Did the police check this? When? If she opened the door after he left, then she is in trouble. If she opened it before he left, then we move to phase two.

Laura| 5.17.11 @ 5:44PM

Thanks, Perry Mason. I'm sure no one's thought of this.

Old Atlantic| 5.17.11 @ 9:17PM

De rien.

Old Atlantic| 5.18.11 @ 10:58AM

There was a report a male hotel worker told her the room was empty and to clean it. So why did the male worker go in the room before check out?

Since when do hotel workers go into hotel rooms before guests check out and decide the guest has left and the room should be cleaned? Who was this male hotel worker? Did the chambermaid go to speak with him after she went to DSK's room? Was he the one who decided she would report it? Did he do it? Is he known even to the police?

When the guest is the head of the IMF at a top hotel the workers don't just decide he has checked out and clean his room before he actually checks out at the front desk.

Did DSK verbally abuse this male hotel worker at a prior stay? Someone else? Did the staff of the hotel resent him?

Some hotel worker entered the room before the guest checked out. Whether it was her or this male coworker. This has to be investigated as to why that happened.

We need a Perry Mason to ask these questions.

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:23AM

She entered the room AFTER checkout time and knocked repeatedly. The guy's a well-known pig in France. Give it a rest.

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 8:02PM

In a $3000 dollar a night hotel, it's chamber maid...not maid!!

She might be offended.

Old Atlantic| 5.17.11 @ 9:19PM

Laura or the chamber maid?

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 9:41PM

The chamber maid but also Laura if she decides on a career change :-)

jasonscs| 5.17.11 @ 5:03PM

Mr Stein... are you really this horrible or was this article a momentary loss of your mind?

TheNeoCon| 5.17.11 @ 5:10PM

Ben,
Will you be penning as witty and intelligent (sarcasm) a retraction if and when Mr.Strauss-Kahn is found guilty? You sound like a crotchety old white dude who is bitter against the world. Yeah, multi-millionaire heads of transnational organizations do not generally get accused of sex crimes. Neither to presidents. Where were you to defend Bill Clinton when he needed it? You have gone from telling jokes to becoming a joke. Don't you have some financial scam to peddle to Tea Baggers somewhere?

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:26AM

He won't have to. The case is collapsing.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:28AM

Dear Ben, the case is collapsing. As a fellow Jew, might I suggest that you post a followup column when he is found not guilty starting:

Dear TAS readers:

feel free to pucker up and kiss my Harry Hebraic Hinder.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:31AM

Damn,it's late. Hairy Hebraic Hinder, Ben. And, even though you're an attorney, you deserve apologies. You saw through this case faster than anyone else.

Pat| 5.17.11 @ 5:27PM

Wow, Ben sure knows how to get TAS readers stirred up, you might almost think he was one of the mainstream medias’ scribblers who purposely write inflammatory prose merely to grab their readers’ attention. But he makes some good points along the way – for example, we know short, fat, old guys don’t have to rape, they can easily have any woman they want just by snapping their fingers – we should have saved our suspicions for the likes of Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise.

And if Mr. S-Kahn had allegedly assaulted a woman in the hotel’s lobby instead of the privacy of his room, then probably at least one New Yorker among the 100 or so employees and guests standing about may have been willing to come forward and view a lineup – although New Yorkers generally have severe vision problems when it comes to crime scenes. Ben is also right about no previous incidents - although, today, the Wall St. Journal reported a similar incident in 2002 where the alleged victim described Mr. S-Kahn’s forcible advances as similar to a “chimpanzee in heat”. However, the alleged victim had never actually witnessed a chimpanzee in heat, so it’s a sure bet she was lying.

Also, Ben should have mentioned that $3,000 a night is only slightly above average price for a decent New York hotel room if you don’t want peeling paint and a surreptitious visit by one of New York’s famous cockroaches the size of a buffed up Pomeranian.

Why this “rush to judgment” is Ben’s contention and far be it from Ben to wax contrarian solely to goose his readers’ ire. Unfortunately, Mr. S-Kahn will be a certain victim of our thriving American legal industry just like us native born citizens. A small army of American justice system folks will swing into action now that charges have been filed – the district attorney and his assistants, defense lawyers, jury consultants, expert witnesses, the judge, the court reporter, bailiffs, the NYPD, sentencing specialists, a few psychologists and the poor immigrant maid who has to sweep out the courtroom at the end of the day. Could this be another bailout ploy by Mr. Obama to decrease our 15% unemployment rate?

Liz| 5.17.11 @ 5:29PM

Just to answer the one question, Eliot Wiggington the man who founded Foxfire and was an acclaimed non-profit leader, activist, teacher for decades turned out to be a sexual predator on a serial level. Just because something doesn't come out til later or only manifests once doesn't make it good reason to see it as unlikely.

Rusty| 5.17.11 @ 5:35PM

Yeah kind of like not handing Dubya over to the Hague for a war crimes trial is an embarrassment to this country. Ben Stein is an ass.

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:29AM

You're an embarrassment to your mother and your country, loser. Clinton was a rapist--now that's serious embarrassment!

Philster| 5.17.11 @ 5:35PM

"He is one of the most recognizable people on the planet. " By whom? Of the millions in the NYC area, what percent could recognize Mr DSK?

The judge's decision to remand was the correct one. Mr DSK is distinguished enough to have connections to get new travel documents from his native France, a country that refuses to sign an extradition treaty with us. Contrary to your assertion, he not recognizable by anyone who matters- in this case, cab drivers, airline counter workers, etc. He could easily escape justice.

And yes, "justice" means that he is innocent until proven guilty. Maybe the maid made up a story. Although I find that highly unbelievable- why would she? On the other hand, this guy is a politician who has enemies. They could have made up a story and paid the maid to tell it to the cops. That makes more sense to me than her making up a story.

If that's the case, it will come out in the investigation and the trial. But this is America- we don't let a suspect go just because he's a big shot. The French guy will get his day in court. If it turns out that the maid is working for Mr DSK's political enemies, she will also get her day in court.

LPBI| 5.17.11 @ 8:10PM

It grates on me when I read this kind of nonsense, and this is probably the tenth time in this thread alone.

There is no "justice system" in the United States. It's a legal system. "Justice" doesn't even enter into the equation. Jury trials aren't findings of fact. Who has the best and luckiest lawyer is as large a factor (in deciding who gets convicted) as such niceties as guilt or innocence. And most importantly, no one who was arrested for any crime ever in this country was "presumed innocent" by the "legal system". "Presumed Innoncent" is just a quaint phrase dreamed up by super-patriots to describe what a gosh-isn't-America-grand place we live in. The reason people get arrested is because they are "Presumed Guilty". Isn't that blindingly obvious? "Presumed Innoncent"? Hardly. It's the "Burden of Proof," that's the key. Somehow the fact that the burden of proof rests with the prosecution was twisted into this fairytale of American exceptionalism. "Y'see Omar, in America you are presumed to be innocent of any crime of which you are accused and locked up for!" For Christ's sake, does that even make sense? Would the guy be sitting in cell at Rikers Island if he were "Presumed Innocent"?

Wendell| 5.17.11 @ 5:40PM

The most interesting thing for a visitor to this site (first and almost certainly last time) is how some commentators are torn between questioning the alleged 'victim' - she's (i) a woman (ii) a chambermaid (iii) foreign and (iv) possibly illegal and the alleged 'perpetrator' because he's (i) foreign (ii) French! and (iii) a socialist.

It must be very challenging taking sides when both protagonists can be put into categories which immediately render them undeserving of consideration.

Paul McGrath| 5.17.11 @ 6:08PM

Much as I find your pompous condescension undeserving of consideration.

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:31AM

It's a blog, dumbass; what else are we supposed to do?

CB| 5.17.11 @ 5:46PM

The wealthy defending the wealthy. I'm not surprised.

Norm Astwood| 5.17.11 @ 5:50PM

Item 1- Some people (even politicians)don't get caught until later in life. (Think of Bill Clinton, Arnold S., and harassment.)
Item 2- I know economists are a "better class of people", but there is a first time for everything.
Item 3- The facts will come out at trial.
Item 4-Regardless of when the flight was booked, the man is a flight risk. (Think of Mark Rich or Roman Polanski.) Once gone, he ain't coming back to "protect his honor".
Item 5- As a "better class of person" our director of the IMF should have been taken back to the same hotel and put up in his suite with the City of New York providing guards that work week ends as waiters at the best restaurants in the city. This would be in accordance with the man's station in life and what he has earned through a lifetime of public service. Ben, get real.
Item 6- Strauss-Kahn is a socialist. Current statist thought in the United States is that women don't lie about sexual crimes. The man has to prove himself innocent. He is being treated the same as anyone else and in accordance with his political philosophy.
Item 7- The man should be presumed to be innocent.
Item 8- The room cost is not an indicator of guilt and no reasonable person thinks it is. It is an indicator of how our presumed "betters" have no regard for the way they spend our (the public's) money. These people are treated like rock stars and live a lush life that is provided by the middle class. Organizations like the IMF, World Bank and UN get a ton of money from U.S. citizens. Does anyone think they really try to control costs and spend in a responsible manner? That is what the comments on the cost of hotel room are about.
More important, than the above, Strauss-Kahn is being treated the same as most American males in this situation. Would Ben prefer that the woman's complaint be ignored; or Strauss-Kahn be released on his own recognizance and take off for France to return at a future date at his convenience?

Choire| 5.17.11 @ 5:51PM

It's like this is the very first time you've heard of rape.

Welcome. Your questions are quite ordinary. We've heard them before.

PGP| 5.17.11 @ 5:51PM

"the way this case has been handled so far is an embarrassment to this country."

On the contrary, see the justice system treat the head of the IMF the same way any other man would be treated (open arraignment, no bail for someone with a demonstrated intent to leave the country) makes me rather proud of the country. It's a lousy legal system in many ways, but except for Hollywood, everyone gets the same lousy.

Michael Lissack| 5.17.11 @ 5:57PM

Ben

You have truly lost all sense of perspective.

You are arguing that a "great man" should be treated differently from Joe Schmoe. Well Ben this is America. We treat folks "equally" here. (Which means we all get the Rikers treatment)

You are casting doubts on the account of the victim when NO defense has been offered by the accused -- other than "great men don't do this"

You are ignoring the reports of this kind of thing in DSK's past (well covered over by virtue of his being a "great man")

I guess you have never watched SVU

DSK is getting what he deserves. The NYC Police would not have taken this on on a whim. They believe the victim. The hotel believes the victim.

But not Ben Stein. You believe in Great Men.

And with that belief youa re proving yourself to not be one.

Petruk| 5.17.11 @ 6:03PM

Oh Ben ben ben... your words look delicious. You are going to enjoy eating them.

Lulzy| 5.17.11 @ 6:12PM

Replacing all instances of "Mr. Strauss-Kahn" with "Catholic priest", and "hotel maid" with "young alter boy", in this post, has interesting results.

Del| 5.17.11 @ 6:44PM

Wow, apparently Ben Stein hasn't taken one logic class in his life! Ben's Logic:
1) Vicious French politics must have rooted out all vices in the political class
2) DSK doesn't have a pattern of this behavior inspite of rumors, look at assumption #1
3) Old, fat people can't commit crimes like this, nor can they be commited in the crappy hotels Ben stays at.
4) DSK wasn't escaping, he had booked his flight months earlier. Apparently if you plan your escape before the crime it can't be considered trying to escape.
5) DSK shouldn't be determined to be a flight risk because, hey, he's a politician.
6) Ad homenium, blame the victim. A maid stole Ben's money from the crappy hotel he stayed at.
7) Apparenlty standing your ground means you are telling the truth.
8) Price of hotel not relevant. Well, except for Ben's logic #3 and #6.

Gern Blanston| 5.17.11 @ 6:52PM

Gee, Ben, could you be a bigger putz? Go back to selling eye drops. You really have no value to people who pay attention to the real world. You're an undeservedly famous guy, so you'd probably have a problem being put in a jail too (if you raped someone). If you raped my daughter, I guarantee you would hope like hell the cops found you before I did. So, maybe being "protected" by the cops by being in jail isn't such a bad thing for DSK.

mary| 5.17.11 @ 6:57PM

Unbelievable.

DSK received the same treatment as any other accused rapist. If Ben Stein has a problem with that, I wouldn't know, since I've never before heard him complain about conditions at Riker's for the great unwashed.

So because this guy is a well known economist (is he? 99.9% of the world's population has never heard of him and wouldn't know him if they fell over him) he should get some special treatment? I'm stunned that Ben Stein would advocate for this, but maybe I shouldn't be. The elites tend to hang together in situations like this. Handcuffs and a "perp walk" for thee, but not for me, don't you know?

Given the details in the police report, I'd say that there's ample evidence to hold DSK over for trial, and given his international connections--and his French citizenship, which would mean he could not be extradited if he'd been able to get to Paris on that flight--I'd say there's ample reason to consider him a flight risk. And it's not like he's being held indefinitely; the bail denial applies only until he is--or is not--indicted by a grand jury.

And as for why he's never been charged before, in what world is Ben Stein living? We've already seen what happens to women of all stripes who accuse men of rape--the defense is already stating that she essentially "wanted it". Yep, Mr. Stein, lawyers for this man you are defending so piously have already told the judge that the sex was consensual. So he has, in a manner, confessed. He admits that he had sex with her, and now he's going to take a page from the Bill Clinton handbook--roll out the "nuts and sluts" defense. She's a crazy whore who wanted me to force her to perform oral sex on her. She gets off on being being forced to submit to power.

And one more thing, Mr. Stein. A man doesn't need a weapon to threaten a woman. For all we know (and for all you DON'T KNOW), he had his hands around her throat and was threatening to choke her if she didn't comply. And the fact that she immediately--contemporaneously--brought the attack to the attention of authorities speaks to her credibility. This isn't a case of a woman who had regrets hours or days or weeks later.

Joe Public| 5.17.11 @ 7:03PM

Ben Stein: asshole.

Occam's Tool| 5.17.11 @ 7:11PM

Again, folks, while this guy deserves to be in jail at this time while awaiting trial (France has no extradition treaty with the US), let's wait and see what the evidence shows. I am prejudging no one, nor am I defending him because he is Jewish. We shall wait and see.

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 9:44PM

I say we refrain from prejudging while he ponders his future and bonds with his bunkmate Leroy.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 4:07PM

Dominique and Buford, I think, Bob.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:25AM

Who is this guy Occam. What a master of wit and judgment and prudence. The case is collapsing. Occam must be a Mensan.

pomdter| 5.17.11 @ 7:14PM

It is amazing how many comments on here are attacking Mr. Stein for things he never said and never implied in his article.
I wonder if you ever read Scott Adams' (author of Dilbert comics) blog. He often writes about the many people who comment with vitriol and name calling because of an opinion that he doesn't even have.

shipley130| 5.17.11 @ 7:20PM

Have another go at reading the article.

fasteddie9318| 5.17.11 @ 7:17PM

Remember, you can't spell "stone-cold sociopathic commentator" without S-T-E-I-N.

shipley130| 5.17.11 @ 7:19PM

It's a shame to base a maid's word on other maids. It reminds me of Janet Napalitano's thesis that military returning from Afghanistan are a threat. Ben, Ben, Ben, Naughty, Naughty, Naughty.

STFUjustSTFU| 5.17.11 @ 7:36PM

Looks like the Jews are circling the wagons around their fellow brother DSK. Mazel Tov, Ben!

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 10:54AM

No, we aren't circling around.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:24AM

STFU, the case is collapsing. Why don't you take your white sheet and hood and cram it in an orifice where it will do the most good. Always use the RAZOR, folks. That's what it's there for.

jose | 5.17.11 @ 7:44PM

I completely agree, mr. Assange should be released, the women in his case even say it was consentual

shipley130| 5.17.11 @ 7:45PM

Maids need to start wearing undercover video cameras. Since it's clear that all the richie rich A-holes will come to each others cover-ups, something 21st century needs to be done to counteract the 17th century behavior. Ben Stein, you are a &^%$.

Egypt Steve| 5.17.11 @ 7:54PM

As to your question:

"How do we know that this woman's word was good enough to put Mr. Strauss-Kahn straight into a horrific jail? Putting a man in Riker's is serious business. Maybe more than a few minutes of investigation is merited before it's done."

In New York City, Ben-O, they have these guys called "police detectives." They are highly trained and experienced professionals who do just this sort of thing. So here's a question for you: Why don't you think that this was exactly what was done?

Justin| 5.17.11 @ 8:17PM

Stein's concern for Strauss-Kahn is as touching as the concern he's shown for all those accused of rape who aren't rich and famous. Good on you, Ben, for standing up for the presumption of innocence for the accused--I'm sure this column is just the last in a long line of concern trolling about the victims of rape where the accused is blue collar or non-white.

Kathleen| 5.17.11 @ 8:30PM

Mr. Stein, I find your questions disingenuous at best. The accused certainly is innocent until proven guilty - this does not mean he should be exempt from standard procedure if he is arrested for a violent crime. In order to get the arrest warrant, the detectives have to provide probable cause. What exactly is it that makes the case against Mr. Strauss-Kahn less than credible to you, or at least incredible enough that he should be able to avoid due process?

Sam Brasel| 5.17.11 @ 8:41PM

Stein: "And if he was so intimidating, why did she immediately feel un-intimidated enough to alert the authorities as to her story?" I nominate this for dumbest, most arrogant and most misogynist question of the year. Rather than ask this pathetic question, why didn't Stein instead hire a skywriting plane to write "Ben R Dumb" in gigantic letters? Ben, get a life. Please.

Eva| 5.17.11 @ 8:54PM

"People who commit crimes tend to be criminals, for example. Can anyone tell me any economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes?"

What the hell kind of earth logic is that??? Look how kind and neighbourly Mr. Smith is, with his dog-walking and nicely kept lawn and Little League coaching. He could never ever be a sexual predator--he goes to CHURCH. Sexual predators wear a big sign over their heads to announce their presence to all and sundry, everyone knows that. *eye-roll*

Feed Me Geek| 5.19.11 @ 7:14PM

Ha. Father Murphy is such a saintly man; there is NO WAY he could have done what that boy said. And look, the kid just dropped out of school; doesn't that prove that he's no good?

Jill| 5.17.11 @ 8:56PM

How does this make sense, Mr. Stein? You're lack of logical argumentation reveals your real motivation for writing this. If you want to whine and bitch that a good ole' (read: rich, privileged) boy like you is being treated the same way (GASP!) as a common person, then just do it. Don't prance around behind your 1, 2, 3, 4 points as though you're actually making a case. Here's just one example of your lack of logic.

Can anyone tell me of any heads of nonprofit international economic entities who have ever been charged and convicted of violent sexual crimes? Is it likely that just by chance this hotel maid found the only one in this category? Maybe Mr. Strauss-Kahn is guilty but if so, he is one of a kind, and criminals are not usually one of a kind.

She found who? A charged and convicted criminal? Give me a break. You sound like a buffoon.

Kate| 5.17.11 @ 9:24PM

For one thing, there are many more ways to intimidate someone into sex than having a physical weapon present on one's person. There is physical pressure, mental, the power-play (which, considering their roles, his as a highly respected international figure and a guest at that hotel and hers as an employee at that hotel, it's not unlikely that would be an effective intimidation tool in this scenario), and simply refusing to let someone say 'no'.

And in one measly paragraph you canonize this woman for her job and then condemn her for it? (And that is what it amounts to, when you imbue your writing about someone with such violent extremes.) Why is she the one on trial? You presume to judge her character and decide whether or not that makes her fit to cry rape. Why don't you focus on the man who has been accused, rather than his accuser?

It goes without saying that we should presume innocent before guilty - rather, it should go without saying - but this piece reads more as a pile of supposition and a defense of the person on trial instead of an impartial query. You raised an interesting point when you wrote about the vicious political sphere in France, but immediately left it behind without a cursory glance and pushed the blame on the victim. I would encourage you to talk with sexual-assault survivors, and place yourself in their shoes. Understand that it is articles like this, and respected figures like yourself who create a culture where it is better to be silent than to stand up for yourself and be attacked.

Old Atlantic| 5.17.11 @ 9:33PM

The maid's story lacks credibility. In their haste to give Stein a hiding, that is what many on this thread forget. (Sorry to the chambermaid and Laura, I should write chambermaid as Bob Grant pointed out.)

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:34AM

There's DNA that backs up the maid's story, braintrust.

G.N. Parker| 5.17.11 @ 9:39PM

Ben says that Strauss Kahn is "one of the most recognizable people on the planet."

Really?

This wild assertion is laughably absurd, as is most of the rest of the piece. Today's post is at once laughable and infuriating--but mostly infuriating.

Ben, you have really messed up this time. And by the way, I don't know if you know this yet, but the maid was an African Muslim. The fact that Strauss, a multimillionaire and Jewish, will, unfortunately, heighten the angry volatility between Jews and Mulims.

And your jaw-dropping concern for S Kahn (. . . he's being treated shamefully . . . ") will diminish your already weak credibility.

One thing is for sure: You will eat your words, and they will not be very tasty.

suzy000| 5.17.11 @ 9:44PM

Mr. Stein.....before reading your article, I had heard about it on the Tellie. I was so sure I would be fuming upon reading it but instead it brought me immediately to think about what is actually going on in our country and that is class warfare. No where in the last 50 years can I remember it being this prevalent. Yes, innocent until proven guilty is our country's motto but the class warfare is still a very serious problem that this President is creating and it is scary. This case really exemplifies that especially with the Obama media extorting it. If we are not careful, this alone will be devastating or worse yet, bring down our economy.

G.N. Parker| 5.17.11 @ 10:36PM

Suzyooo,

Class warfare? Not really. I do not define class by economic positions. "A stretch limousine; every redneck's dream" Get the point?

When was the last time you stayed in a $3,000-per-night luxury suite that your organization paid for?

The price is a tad expensive. Agree?

If you worked for IMF, would you consider yourself "entitled" to this expense?

Jason H| 5.17.11 @ 9:46PM

Simply put- as long as Mr. Stein is associated with the American Spectator, I will never again visit the website or purchase the print edition from any newsstand. What he wrote is repugnant, disgusting, and puts all modern Conservatives in a bad light. It's time to retire, Mr. Stein. Your day and your kind have gone.

Stankleton| 5.17.11 @ 9:47PM

Just so I have this clear: "Dr. Right" says that Jesus wasn't big on taking care of the least among us? He didn't advocate giving to those who could not repay?

I wouldn't be particularly surprised, but I do want to be clear that's what you're saying.

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:36AM

Doctor Right didn't say that at all. He said it's wrong for the government to steal money from some to give to others. Do you advocate theft? Jesus didn't.

stankleton| 5.17.11 @ 9:51PM

So you're saying that His message was, "Screw the poor, I got mine!" ? No, I don't think so. He had a few things to say about the eyes of needles, inviting the downtrodden to one's feast, and so forth. I'm not sure who filled your head with this nonsense.

Bob Grant| 5.17.11 @ 10:20PM

I can't speak for the good doctor but I interpreted it as the choice should come from the individual and not through coercion under the guise of "social justice". We get into all kinds of trouble when organizations or individuals force others the do the right thing. You can do the right thing aka "social justice" but it doesn't mean a thing if done for the wrong reasons. Jesus made this quite clear throughout the Bible.

MHB| 5.17.11 @ 10:52PM

Ben Stein is exactly right! Rikers Island for a man alleged to have commited an act? He has not yet been put on trial much less found guilty. Remember the Duke Lacrosse Players? Or the basketball players and the flight attendant? The DNA has not even been proven to be his yet. This sure seems as if he has already been tried and convicted.It is been a long time since NY cops have been as interested in the well being of african immigrants~

McSpinster| 5.18.11 @ 10:32AM

If African immigrants had assaulted a maid in Manhattan they would be locked up in a worse place AND they would no doubt get public defenders.

PolishKnight| 5.19.11 @ 11:34AM

True... but they would probably be locked up with other Africans and therefore wouldn't feel particularly vulnerable. Ben's expressing the elitist concern that when a rich white guy goes to jail, he's going to be singled out. But what about middle and working class white men who are thrown in? They're really up the creek without a paddle.

The Duke case was very useful because it illustrated the way that feminists had been using false rape accusations to keep men in line. The men had to treat strippers (or women who had the same scruples as such) as "ladies" lest they get thrown into the slammer.

Workplaces are rife with nasty, angry women who will use "sexual harassment" as a political tool.

Great this happened to a leftist either way. Either he's guilty and gets to go the slammer OR he's innocent and then has to undermine the whole feminist-leftist paradigm like Bill Clinton did.

James Legault| 5.17.11 @ 11:07PM

Wow, Ben. Your defense of this guy, given his history, is presumptuous in the extreme. Of course under our justice system, he is presumed innocent. And I will wait for the evidence before rendering my own judgement in this case. But given his past history, I have enough evidence to declare this guy a scum of the earth. A hypocrite of the first degree. Bad call, Ben.. Sad.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:22AM

James---the case is collapsing. I said to wait for data to come out. I did not say for the fellow to be treated uniquely. It appears I was right, and Ben took a LOT of hits for his request for prudence, even though his request for special treatment was wrong.

Dee See| 5.17.11 @ 11:09PM

---Great piece on small potatoes.

FACT IS Strauss is probably being stung
by the 'Big Boys' themselves as he's 'in the way'
viz a viz Sarkozy.

MEANWHILE, the monstrous operative likes
of third generation EUGENISTS David Rockefeller,
Ted Turner, Bill Gates and
Maurice Strong don't even get a glance.

Even as Fukishima chugs away in good sterilizing
and exterminating fashion.

"It's a world war going on. We are in the
middle of the most awful war history has ever
seen. A global war to 'change' society and
exterminate populations. REALLY. These people
are followers of a religion. Fanatical followers.
I think you know what that religion is."
-ALAN WATT
(essential online coverage)

WE THINK YOU DO TOO-----------------------------

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:38AM

God help us you're probably right.

Max| 5.17.11 @ 11:22PM

I read the original posting by Ben Stein with dismay. I read many of the comments with interest and amusement, until the poster who mentioned satire. At that point I went back and read the original more carefully. I really do not believe that the final sentence was meant literally. To me it seemed ironic. "But nothing has been proved yet except that the way this case has been handled so far is an embarrassment to this country." I do suggest a less involved reading of the original post.

Pelligrino| 5.18.11 @ 4:24AM

Max,
The problem is that we all lead very finite lives. Chief among the finite is time. With limited time, readers want to know they can reliably come to a news commentary web site and obtain quality information + opinion.

Rape/assault cases like this (real or alleged) are not the venue for satire or some sort of nuanced prose that is not up-front literal -- particularly when the case is just 48 hours old.

Straightforward commentary/writing style is the preferred when discussing someone's innocence or guilt and the ongoing legal proceedings.

Matt| 5.17.11 @ 11:34PM

Why did I read even the first two points of this shit?

Marielle| 5.17.11 @ 11:41PM

oh ha ha ha ha. omg. i'm so happy.

ben stein? you just ended your career. dead stop.

this makes me so happy. it's ridiculous how happy this makes me.

btw, what the fuck are you doing that pisses off the housekeepers? oh wait, i know. dude, you hid your tickets/money/meds from those dirty immigrant housekeepers and then FORGOT you did that and then blamed the housekeeper! (my gran did that with the silver and the maid!) that's old age man. that's just old age - doucebag bigot style.

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:39AM

Nutso alert!

Cabermon| 5.18.11 @ 12:13AM

1) He is French.
2) He is a Socialist
3) He is an Elitist.
Pour la guillotine. Maintenant!

sandy| 5.18.11 @ 12:15AM

Ben Stein asks, "Can anyone tell me any economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes?"

Well, does murdering your wife count as a violent sex crime? If so, then let me introduce you to former U. Penn. economics professor Rafael Robb.

Not that your point was remotely logical in the first place.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 10:57AM

Moshe Katsav, former Israeli President and Economist, was convicted of rape, Ben.

No, we Jews are not "circling the wagons." I want to know the facts in a court of law. That's all. In the meantime, as a flight risk to a country with which we have no extradition (France) let him rot in Riker's.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:20AM

It appears that the case is collapsing. In which case, we have just pissed off the future President of France.

Ben, you were wrong on separate treatement for the elite. You were right (as was I), on withholding judgment until the facts are in. I believe you are owed an apology, even though I disagree with you on many things. You took punishment on this you did not deserve.

Tim P| 5.18.11 @ 12:21AM

You're off the the rails Ben. Rather than wait for evidence to be presented in court, you decide to go after the victim. Clearly you identify with Strauss-Kahn -- why is that Ben?

james wilson| 5.18.11 @ 12:41AM

one name BILL CLINTON does it ring any bells ?

McSpinster| 5.18.11 @ 10:29AM

Not as many bells as Arnold Schwarzennegger, Newt Gingrich, John Ensign and all the other "family values" members of the Republican party in the news THIS WEEK.

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:44AM

Well, how about Elliot Spitzer, Tickle Me Eric Massa and John 'cheats on his dying wife' Edwards?

This French Socialist clown is a rapist like Billy Clinton. What is it with you liberal perverts?

windanon| 5.18.11 @ 1:01AM

I am utterly astounded that Ben Stein (BS), whom I had previously regarded as a friendly and intelligent conservative voice, would actually advance this clunky, specious argument of categories. Because DSK is an economist, this suggests that he is innocent? I have two Ivy League degrees, and I assure you that I wouldn't have casually entered the hotel rooms of my male classmates--for obvious reasons. Furthermore, how does the fact that he hasn't been brought down by a woman sooner cast so much doubt on the alleged victim? How about Bernie Madoff? How about Bill Clinton? How about Richard Nixon? These are all men who were tarnished by crime and scandal in the latter part of their careers. Duh! If one were to make an analogous argument in defense of the victim, Stein would laugh him out of the room, but he thinks it's okay to foist this nonsense on us!

Lisa O| 5.18.11 @ 2:06AM

http://www.thedailybeast.com/b.....s-accuser/
Sure would like to pull a laila lalami on Ben Stein, but he even causes HBL to pale in comparison and I am way too disappointed in the American Spectator on this.
Lisa

MrMackie| 5.18.11 @ 2:20AM

Isn't it common to put people in Riker's Island if they are charged with serious offenses and considered likely to flee? Have you been outraged about all of them? Why haven't you complained in print about this practice before now?

oh| 5.18.11 @ 2:05PM

Sometimes it just takes one remarkable case to bring ongoing grave injustices to one's attention! I'm sure he'll make it a regular feature from here on out.

Sarah Nelson| 5.18.11 @ 2:53AM

Of all the rich guests staying at this hotel where the Guinea maid worked, she picks an old fat guy to accuse without cause? Khan is not the exception, the maid is the exception who would not allow a powerful man to go without being charged for assault.

Steve| 5.18.11 @ 4:24AM

what a surprise one jew sticking up for another filthy jew.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 4:09PM

Thanks again, Clint, for being a swine.

ertdfg| 5.18.11 @ 4:36AM

"If he's found guilty, there will be plenty of time to criticize him and imprison him. But nothing has been proved yet except that the way this case has been handled so far is an embarrassment to this country."

Why is he locked up? Easy... they're worried if they don't he'll pull a Polanski. He's popular, well known, rich, and can survive never coming back to this country or a country that could extradite him (at least for 30-40 years).

The burned hand and all that... maybe it's overreacting; but I don't know for sure that it is or isn't. It isn't uncommon in many crimes for someone to be denied bail; and the Polasnki example shows that some rich privileged white males do in fact flee the system doesn't it?

john clement| 5.18.11 @ 5:29AM

apparently he had a special deal with AirFrance where he could get on any flight at any time and bump someone in first class. Hardly considered booking months in advance. He also left the hotel so fast he left his cell phone and other personal items. That sounds to me like someone who wanted to get out of the country fast.

Senorita Bontia| 5.18.11 @ 5:49AM

JB you possess the brains and gonads of
a gnat ~ OOPS I apologize to the gnats

Davis| 5.18.11 @ 5:49AM

He's been charged with a crime. Why should he be treated any differently? Because he's rich? Or because maybe you know him?

rapeyou| 5.18.11 @ 5:51AM

Mr Stein's arguments are retarded. Let's go through them point by point:

1-3) This is irrelevant. He'll be tried in the court of law.
4) He is a foreign national who can flee to a country where it is likely he can't be extradited.
5) Rikers is where he got jailed. Cry me a river.
6) I love the way Mr Stein skirts around saying "She's a lying nigger bitch" here. She made the accusation and the judge decided it was worth going to trial.
7) The gentleman from France is, of course, presumed innocent by the legal system. The rest of us are free to come to any conclusion we would like.

That being said, you know this guy is getting off. It is "he said vs she said". Unless the dumbass jizzed on her clothes there is no evidence and he is going to walk. Maybe in Florida they would railroad him but he will get a fair trial in that jurisdiction.

Davis| 5.18.11 @ 6:13AM

Perhaps he was confused. He thought he is the IMF and she was a small South American country. In which cas rape is the standard method of operation.

Shamus Goldberg| 5.18.11 @ 6:16AM

It sounds like the housekeepers stole Mr Stein's medication again.

Annie D| 5.18.11 @ 6:18AM

Ben Stein, you should go back to acting.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 4:09PM

You call what he did "acting?"

Rebecca| 5.18.11 @ 7:01AM

Wow. So, according to Stein, a maid is a "lunatic" for throwing out important papers, or even for stealing and a man cannot force a woman to have oral sex without putting a gun to her head? Guess I would win Ben Stein's money for knowing that rape laws typically permit a basis of psychological force. Good to know what a sexist and elitist jerk he is. If I were Stein's wife, I'd be curious why he's so anxious to defend this guy and attack the alleged victim.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 6:47PM

Stein is an elitist, pro-attorney swine, who hates people who actually do work that helps people.

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:47AM

Hey, I like Ben! That's too harsh.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:17AM

Keep in mind, I bear no brief for Ben, or the IMF, or this French socialist. Nor do I believe in different treatment for important people. But it appears the case is disintegrating. I said before, and I'll say again: most attorneys and judges are idiots. It is important to withhold judgment before facts emerge.

Laura| 5.18.11 @ 7:53AM

Mr. Stein, I think your main complaint should be with the French government. If we had an extradition treaty with them, perhaps your fellow economist wouldn't have to be held at Riker's Island. For your information, that is why Roman Polanski's name has been brought up in reference to this situation - Mr. Polanski has escaped our justice system for years by hiding out in France. Also, are you telling me that folks accused of violent crimes, with credible evidence, are always allowed to post bail and go home? Hmmm . . . interesting. From your article, I take it you believe this person should receive special treatment because he is a rich and powerful person, and the maid's account should be dismissed because of her social station, and the fact that you have had bad experiences with other maids. Doesn't sound like a well-thought out argument to me.

walt| 5.18.11 @ 7:55AM

Yeah, sure Ben. You are just as idiotic as Sawyer.

RE Munn| 5.18.11 @ 8:18AM

This has to be the the dumbest thing Stein has ever written.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 6:48PM

REMunn:

No, it isn't. Ben also advocates higher taxes.

Mark| 5.18.11 @ 8:20AM

Mr. Stein clearly knows very little to nothing about the actual evidence against DSK. Thus, his analysis consists of the following unsupported generalizations: (1) economists are rarely sexual predators; (2) maids are thieves and "complete lunatics"; (3) it would be difficult to rape a maid in the hotel rooms Mr. Stein has stayed in because there are "people constantly passing" by; and (4) "short fat old men" can't intimidate women. Bravo, Mr. Stein.

Teflon93| 5.18.11 @ 8:41AM

Innocent until proven not a member of the Ruling Class, eh, Stein?

Hope that next project is worth the loss of your conservative friends.

Mary| 5.18.11 @ 9:03AM

"Socialist" and "a great man" are to appellations that don't ever go together.

Doug| 5.18.11 @ 9:06AM

Reports I have seen state the flight wasn't booked months ahead of time. That because of his status Air France has a standing agreement that the accused is allowed to board any Air France flight for travel at a moments notice.

John| 5.18.11 @ 9:06AM

Thanks Ben a little sanity in another electronic lynching, presumed innocents is the bedrock of a transparent criminal justice system.

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:48AM

Oh please.

Fred Beloit| 5.18.11 @ 9:31AM

But, Ben, there is this:
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/d.....in-france/

billyboy| 5.18.11 @ 9:49AM

Instead of going on about whether DSK is innocent or guilty, it might be a good idea to consider why he was set up and who organised it. If anyone's interested, then let me know.
Meanwhile all your talk about innocence, guilt, socialist elitism...etc, is just a waste of space.

Pragmatist| 5.18.11 @ 9:55AM

Hate to ruin your fantasy Ben, but as you well know Moshe Katsav - economist and former president of Israel, is a convicted rapist. There are others, as you know, (including one high ranking Saudi politician/economist) but this one's enough to show that you don't care about facts. Too bad. You're a bright guy. Your comment here is bad economics, bad probability theory and bad facts. You made a fool of yourself.

Bob| 5.18.11 @ 9:56AM

WOW! I've been a fan of Mr Stein for a long time. I don't mind being reminded not to jump the gun but these arguments are ridiculous. Special treatment because he's 'special?' That's the exact thinking that would have let him get away with acts like these. Yes he deserves a fair trial, just like anyone else. The presumption of innocence is before the courts, I however am still allowed to call it as I see it. And from what I see I think this guy is a POS.

Judd| 5.18.11 @ 9:56AM

Has Mr. Stein heard of Eliot Spitzer? Bernie Madoff? These were very public people who had been criminals for years, yet had never been charged with anything until their undoing.

Kip| 5.18.11 @ 10:00AM

Osama Bin Laden, too, was even more recognizable than Mr. Strauss Kahn. And he hid very well for a long time.

Roger Schlaifer| 5.18.11 @ 10:16AM

The fact that M. Straose-Kann is a wealthy beaurocrat doesn't give him a pass. His being an economist, or a financial wizard, has virtually nothing to do with the highly unlikely even that ANYONE who stayed in a hotel room over $500 would be prosecuted for attacking a maid. This could be the worst legal defense I have ever seen.

Hominidx| 5.18.11 @ 10:19AM

Presumed innocent, sure, but your reasoning is incredibly weak. Because he's rich? Because he hasn't been prosecuted in the past? Because you don't know how he allegedly raped the woman?

In the few times I've written for money, I was pressured to use citation and have a logical structure. Is this no longer the case here?

McSpinster| 5.18.11 @ 10:22AM

Ben Stein wonders "How do we know that this woman's word was good enough to put Mr. Strauss-Kahn straight into a horrific jail?"

Ben Stein. Mr. B. Stein. Mr. B.S. Here's your answer:

How do you know? You don't--unless you're in law enforcement or the NYPD. I guess you presume to know everything, but please recuse yourself and let the justice system in NYC do its job. Which it would do if the alleged perpetrator was a hotel maid and the victim a man of means--like yourself. And don't kid yourself: there are plenty of violent sex offenders with big check books renting $3000 a night hotel rooms. They just hide themselves behind their money and powerful friends when guilty. Or are you claiming their influence makes them morally superior?

Or, as I suspect, are you incensed that the gravy train doesn't, occassionally, lead to a jail cell at Rikers Island? Perhaps you'd rather he have house arrest at the Sofitel, like Bernie Madoff?

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:50AM

Both Madoff and this French creep are Liberals like you.

Mike| 5.18.11 @ 10:33AM

Most of these commenters are morons. They are incapable of understanding the concept of innocent until proven guilty. He's accused, therefore he must be guilty, therefore let's just throw him in prison. He'll have a trial eventually and whatever, maybe you're innocent maybe you're guilty, who cares. You've been charged, that's equivalent to you're guilty. Because we get the right guy every time. Except those 250 people on death row that have been exonerated.

Of course, Ben Stein hasn't spoken up about the thousands of people held without bail for no reason and charged based on the word of one person. He hasn't spoken up about the huge, massive problems with the criminal justice system until a famous economist got caught up in it. Yes it's unfair, but his outrage is strangely selective.

O'Kelley| 5.18.11 @ 10:34AM

Presumption of innocence exists in a courtroom, not in the court of public opinion, Ben. And what's with your gripe that DSK was accused by a "human being"? Does that suggest that DSK exists in a higher plane than the maid in your eyes? I had a hard time believing you wrote this piece, as it reeks of cheap sophistry. . . not normally your style.

J.Brenner| 5.18.11 @ 10:38AM

"3.) The prosecutors say that Mr. Strauss-Kahn "forced" the complainant to have oral and other sex with him. How? Did he have a gun? Did he have a knife? He's a short fat old man. They were in a hotel with people passing by the room constantly, if it's anything like the many hotels I am in. How did he intimidate her in that situation? And if he was so intimidating, why did she immediately feel un-intimidated enough to alert the authorities as to her story?"

This is a foreign woman who is reportedly shy and meek. She has for several years been employed in an exclusive hotel, an occupation where she is expected to work hard without being noticed and to be instantly deferential to guests. To hint that she was somehow consenting to sexual contact in a situation where she was suddenly and unexpectedly attacked by a man who was quite possibly larger and stronger than her is just plain vicious.

Did you think at all before you wrote this? How would you feel if you were alone at work and were, without warning, accousted by a large, strong naked man who was trying to force sex on you? To what extent might you cooperate if you thought your life depended on it? If you were ever in such a situation, how would you like to have someone suggest that you didn't resist sufficiently and that your decision to contact the authorites afterward was evidence that your story wasn't credible?

Rose| 5.18.11 @ 10:43AM

I don't know if the guy's guilty or not and I believe ALL people should be treated fairly until proven innocent, but we live in America and our blood lust seems to grow each day unfortunately. But it bothers me that there seems to be lots of men on here who are denying rape even happens at all, or most women lie about it. Look up the stats, I'm a victim and can honestly say that out of all the women I've met in my hometown and travelling the country as a kid, 70% of them were rape victims, and those are the ones who told me about it.

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:13AM

You traveled the country as a kid? Are you Huck Finn? Crazy.

Anil| 5.18.11 @ 10:43AM

This article is pomposity epitomized. For example, Point #2 summarized: He's unlikely to be a rapist because he has a job. Note to Ben Stein: There's a difference between presuming innocence and arguing that Strauss-Kahn is innocent.

larrykat| 5.18.11 @ 10:51AM

Has Ben Stein come to this? This might be the most ill-conceived and tone-deaf editorial I have ever read. It's one thing to argue the presumption of innocence. But it seems all Stein is doing is setting up a class warfare straw man and knocking it down. I liked him better on the commercial with the gophers.

Edward| 5.18.11 @ 11:30AM

There is a vast difference between reminding others of the concept of Innocent until Proven Guilty and demonizing the alleged victim and law enforcement. As I understand it, there is concrete forensic evidence in the form of DNA and the accused was at an airport about to leave the country. That justifies detainment without bail. And what difference does it matter where he is detained? If Ben Stein is appalled at the conditions of the prison on Riker's Island, it's a shame he waits until someone of international notoriety is held there to voice it. Way to take the high road, Mr. Stein.

spotster| 5.18.11 @ 11:56AM

Never before have I seen such breadth and depth of logical fallacy in a single advocacy piece, you outdid yourself Ben.

Peter Witting| 5.18.11 @ 12:13PM

Two word rebuttal: Eliot Spitzer.

ullariitta| 5.18.11 @ 12:21PM

America is getting more like the Stalinist USSR or Spain during the inquisition days. Why are we going backwards only?. Are the conservatives dragging us backwards until we are apes again?

Matt| 5.18.11 @ 12:30PM

Translation: because this guy is rich and powerful, and the person accusing him is a nobody, he should get extremely deferential treatment.

Analysis: the conservative mindset strikes again. If you have wealth and power, then you must be morally upright.

Denise Barber| 5.18.11 @ 12:59PM

Matt - please1 Thisi NOT an example of the "Conservative" mindset. There is one striking comment element. at play. Stein and Strauss Kahn, and Roman Polanski, and Phil Spector share something. This type of egregous "defense" is the mindset of the thing they share.

Bren| 5.18.11 @ 5:53PM

agreed! its the mind set of...oh..someone without a mind! so I guess it's just a set!

Sunny| 5.18.11 @ 12:31PM

Absolute drivel, written by an absolute idiot!!

Drew| 5.18.11 @ 12:34PM

Ben, you need to check out the booking sheet from NYPD. There is physical evidence, most not disclosed. Your items of defense, while mostly laudable are also laughable. I know of no evidence or precedence that being an economist prevents one from being a serial rapist. In the case of bill clinton being president didn't prevent him being a syphilitic pervert either. My advice is wait for the evidence. And, also I hope you get more work in hollywood so you stop defending their pals in socialist land.

Jeff| 5.18.11 @ 12:36PM

Ugh! The elitism of this post is incredibly vile. Playing the supposed class war card because a man is accused of rape is just sad.

Just because some is old, rich, and short does not mean that he could not or would not attempt to rape someone!

Occam's Tool| 5.19.11 @ 2:31AM

Also, Ben, I have treated plenty of women who have had forced sex from rather small men. This column makes no sense at all.

By the way, Dominique has resigned from the IMF.

RINO Romney's a Statist| 5.19.11 @ 3:04AM

Men always go for the throat. Scary and creepy!

Jeff| 5.18.11 @ 12:39PM

And, yes, DSK is innocent until proved guilty.

allthinky| 5.18.11 @ 1:04PM

Sir, these thoughts are neither humble, nor logical. Why not spare us your bloviating until you actually know something useful? Such as the statistical likelihood of a case like this being filed, when the complainant is an immigrant and the accused is a jet-setting gazillionaire?

Todd| 5.18.11 @ 1:19PM

Responses:

1) Some notable serial murderers we know of were only discovered by their most recent victims.

2) Are you kidding? Maybe you should watch America's Most Wanted a few times and hear some testimonials about how so many notorious serial killer or rapist seemed like the quiet, church-going friendly types.

3) Did the victim know that Strauss-Kahn had (or didn't have) a knife or a gun? What about verbal intimidation? Does a verbal threat uttered by (in your own words) "a short fat old man" automatically lose all legal/criminal relevance?

Lastly, I get the case you are making: presumed innocent until proven guilty. I agree that this concept is somewhat lost to us as a society, but why do you only bring this up now? Hundreds of thousands of American citizens deal with this every day, their homes invaded by police without warrants, property confiscated, and some are even jailed without charges, all of this before their legally entitled trial. The fact that this has been happening for more than a decade and you only speaking up about it now makes for hollow words.

Chris| 5.18.11 @ 1:48PM

The utter stupidity of this article cannot be overstated. He earned a better treatment b/c of his service? In other words if you are powerful, you should get a different treatment than other accused? Very French of you. And on and on the BS goes on. The guy (not DSK, who should be presumed innocent) is a disgrace.

Bill Sundling| 5.18.11 @ 1:56PM

I think we need to have a presumption that the accuser is telling the truth. Yes, false accusations happen. But they're rare.

Feed Me Geek| 5.19.11 @ 7:37PM

Oh...I don't know about a *presumption.* But a simple weighing of the relative credibility of the accused and accuser, as well as of any pertinent evidence, without regard to social class or access to money and power, would be...well, nice. Refreshing.

It may even have actually happened in this case! If so I applaud the police and the court.

If there is some coherent defense, I am sure the defense attorney will make the most of it. But I for one do not buy the story that a morning spent scrubbing toilets had made this chambermaid so hot that she insisted on having sex with him, OMG. How wrapped up in yourself do you have to be to even think of saying something like that?

barnegatlight4| 5.18.11 @ 2:05PM

Ben Stein sets a new standard for misogyny.

The comment that assault is impossible without use of a knife or gun is horrifically offensive (and imbecilic).

Glenn Beckenstein| 5.18.11 @ 2:30PM

I'm sure that if the defendant were a lower-class innocent black man, Mr. Stein would put the same amount of effort into defending him. Obviously, rich white men in the western world have been horribly persecuted, only controlling most of the wealth, government, and media. How can these poor people be expected to treated fairly by lawmakers that they pay to do their bidding? Thank you for bringing to light the horrible misfortunes of white men, Ben Stein. You are like the rich, white Rosa Parks.

No RINO Romney| 5.19.11 @ 3:14AM

Stick a sock in it, leftist clown. The French creep is a socialist like you.

FormerStudent| 5.18.11 @ 2:31PM

This is some fascinating reading, your comments and all. Stein's morsel is garbage.

As to sex crimes, I don't know of any economists who have been charged and convicted of sexual assault, but there probably are a few.. I do know of college professors--in my case, a math professor comes to mind, who were gropers. (A woman I know told me of another math professor we both knew who made a play for her under the tablecloth at a dinner. Both were married...yuk.) One economics professor from my schooldays, though--a guy well thought of at a big U., and tenured, AND former chief economist, US Department of Labor (for a Republican admin.) is now a huge 9/11 conspiracy theorist. Nucking futs, this guy! How often does THAT happen, Ben? Google up Morgan Reynolds, folks, if you want a bizarre diversion. I was a graduate TA for him for a term or two in the seventies. Boring computer crunching, nothing that interested me. But wow, he sure didn't stay, um, boring.

Phantomwarrior| 5.18.11 @ 2:33PM

It will be easy enough to tell if she is lying, She has aids.

FormerStudent| 5.18.11 @ 3:01PM

Or not. http://www.nydailynews.com/new.....did_n.html

Kent| 5.18.11 @ 2:38PM

Ben, let me respond to each of your questions.

1) Mr. Strauss-Kahn has not until now been arrested because until now, he has not been accused in a country other than his own -- e.g., in a jurisdiction where he can rig the game. Just because this is the first time he's been arrested does not mean this is the first time he's done it. It is the rare criminal who gets arrested on his first time out, and Mr. DSK, from all reports has more than enough intelligence to be a more capable criminal than some idiot failed bank robber whose incompetence becomes a humorous talk-show anecdote.

2) "Can anyone tell me any economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes? [Or] any heads of nonprofit international economic entities?" Well, Mr. Stein, until 30 years ago, you'd have been hard pressed to find any priests who had been charged with or convicted of sex crimes. Now you can find a few in any major U.S. city, and most of the European ones, too.

3) Mr. Stein, even someone as short and fat as you could violently assault a healthy athletic woman. If nothing else the sheer shock that someone was doing something this despicable to her would have frozen her into panic-stricken inaction long enough for the attack to successfully occur. And are you really, honestly criticizing a woman for having the presence of mind to go screaming for help the moment she got free? I wasn't aware that rape victims were supposed to wait 24 hours before filing charges.

4) Mr. DSK has an arrangement with Air France that allows him to board ANY Air France flight and get a first-class seat. Whether or not he reserved his spot this time is besides the point: this is a flight risk if I ever saw one. Moreover, any man with the international connections and powerful friends that he has should be classified a flight risk. If Roman Polanski -- merely a film director -- could do it, a man slated to become the next leader of France surely could.

5) Equal treatment under the law, Mr. Klein. Perhaps you've heard of it? As it is, DSK should consider himself lucky that he wasn't placed in with the general population; any run of the mill man-on-the-street accused of a crime like this would have been.

6) I have known Nobel Prize-winning economists. They are/were fine gentlemen. Then again, I have known economists who are true scumbags -- slimy lunatics who I would not trust around any female relative or friend of mine. Why should we take the risk of traumatizing this young woman even further and potentially endangering other women by letting this alleged rapist walk the streets? By the way, Mr. Stein, I can guarantee you that the NYPD has undertaken much more than "just a few minutes" of investigation into this case.

7) In this country, we believe questioning the morals and honesty of a woman after she's sought help for an alleged violent and despicable act perpetrated upon her person -- is a rather despicable thing to do. Yet that's what you've done. In this case, I'm rather inclined to think better of your friend Ms. Sawyer, Ben.

8) You are correct. The price of the hotel room is not relevant. So you're one for seven, Ben. You must be proud.

deserttrek| 5.18.11 @ 2:43PM

A job title or name should never shield a person from the law. Just as cops protect cops and politicians protect themselves, so its seems economists do the same. Ben, I am dissapointed in your piece. This guy should be treated the same as joe public. He is a flight risk, remember Roman Polanski? Let the process take it course and the chips will fall where they may.

Ben| 5.18.11 @ 3:09PM

Basic research, Ben?

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/.....d=13614641

Dayman| 5.18.11 @ 3:23PM

It's been a long way down from "Win Ben Stein's Money." Now it's more like, "Believe Ben Stein's Bullshit."

Kim| 5.18.11 @ 3:53PM

Dear Ben Stein,

Exactly how much crack have you been smoking?

Love, smooches, and puppy whiskers,

Kim

Steven Fabrizio| 5.18.11 @ 4:19PM

Pot stirred. Muck raked. Flames fanned. Another good days work Mr. Stein. Time to retire to the bunker beneath your secret island headquarters, pour yourself a congnac and pet the cat.

Michael| 5.18.11 @ 4:54PM

Thank you, Ben, for authoring this article. It pretty much seals your future irrelevancy. Seriously, did you think this was a good idea? Each of your points shows a fundamental misunderstanding of basically everything involved with US law and of sex crimes. Really though, the kicker is that "he couldn't possible do it, he didn't have a weapon". I mean that right there is something so profoundly ignorant I am at a loss for words.

So Ben, keep on churning stuff like this out. I really look forward to having a laugh at your stream of crazy.

ecomamacita| 5.18.11 @ 5:00PM

Curiously DSK's wikipedia profile was updated, by the time the headline was posted on Drudge, to include the "alleged" attack. Who does that? Who immediately updates the Wikipedia page of someone else...especially before the French public knows about the news. lame.

Deborah| 5.18.11 @ 5:16PM

I'm sorry Stein but you're an idiot! If you'd "had hotel maids that were complete lunatics, stealing airline tickets from me, stealing money from me, throwing away important papers, stealing medications from me" then you're a complete moron!!! I stay at cheaper motels than you do and I've never once had a motel OR hotel staff steal from me. Not to mention the nicer hotels provide SAFES to store all your important stuff!!!

FormerStudent| 5.18.11 @ 9:07PM

An airplane ticket? He LOST his ticket; it was not stolen. What tripe. It's been an awfully long time (if ever) that a stolen airplane ticket would get you a trip anywhere but to jail. And a hotel maid would take a ticket because she happened to want to go on a jaunt wherever the guest was? No. He lost his ticket and blamed it on the helpless help.

Bren| 5.18.11 @ 5:44PM

Mr. Stein needs to stick to commenting on things he actually knows about. Please tell me why a woman would put herself through the grueling process of reporting a rape and being judged by the public on false accusations. Mr. Stein, as the rest of us, has NO idea what went on behind that hotel door to "intimidate" her. Intimidation can come in many subtle forms - threats to harm her family, threats to ruin her reputation, threats to cause her to loose her job, etc. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but sexual assault does follow a pattern and most offenders have assaulted numerous times before someone is brave enough to step forward. Why do they have to be brave? Because of the exact experience this woman is having...because of the lack of belief and the blame that is put upon the victim. Also, sexual assault happens in ALL areas in ALL jobs from the janitor to the CEO. So, I encourage Mr. Stein to do some research before ranting on his next topic.
Bren - Sexual Assault Counselor

Mark| 5.18.11 @ 6:10PM

Can't believe you wrote this Ben. No judgment. No empathy. No shame. You need counseling man.

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:15AM

He also appears to be right, Mark.

Chris| 5.18.11 @ 6:25PM

From start to finish, this entire column was simply pathetic. You may not have ever met him, but you're proving that the Good Ole Boys network is alive and well.

Mark Licker| 5.18.11 @ 6:39PM

Dear Mr. Stein:
I fought for twenty years as a public defender to affirm the presumption of innocence. You do the presumption no service by seeming to equate it wealth and social standing. That merely reserves it to the wealthy, who typically are least in need of its protection. You also overlook the constitutional right in a non-capital case to reasonable bail- including those (but not just those) who can post millions of dollars in bail.

Very truly yours,
Mark Licker

Anne Hunt| 5.18.11 @ 6:48PM

Ten year old accounts by a journalist aren't exactly the most reliable. And the maid hasn't been identified (unlike Arnold's maid who's all over the NYT.) And I too wondered how this little fat guy could over-power her. Could his political enemies have set him up?

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:52AM

There's DNA evidence backing up her claims.

walt235| 5.18.11 @ 7:22PM

Typical joo! All jooz deserve to be exterminated once and for all!

Ross L| 5.18.11 @ 7:25PM

Oh look, the liar who deceptively edited various scientists in his documantary "Expelled" and defends Richard Nixon has crawled out of his hole to defend a rich rapist. Go away and never come back, Ben Stein. I can't even watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off without grimacing because of you.

Asha| 5.18.11 @ 8:28PM

Yes, I am female, and have major concerns. A lot of people try to make fame off of cases like these, and those who hide their head in the sand about all the books and position that comes out of high profile cases by judges, cops and the like are simply stupid. The handling of this case is a sad sad thing. Imagine on May 18th, almost five days after the alleged attack the cops are now trying to get the DNA supposedly spat out by the victim. If you were a minority you would know why we are so skeptical of these types of cases. Michael Jackson went through the same thing and was found NOT GUILTY by a jury. His treatment was similar. It ruined him financially, healthwise and in many other ways. why all of a sudden White men ( and women) are so sympathetic to a Black person? Is it because you take this opportunity to vent your hate, bigotry and other crap on this foreigner who just happens to be wealthy? How quickly you will disparage all blacks if she is found to be a liar. How quickly you will turn on other women who say they are raped. Men rape women all the time, and even rape their own daughters and sons too, but society keeps silent and pretends they don't know what they know. Police often treat them like trash. I have a friend who was abused and when she call the cops, the boyfriend told the, she was just trying to set him up because he refused her sex. They laughed said they understood and left. But this guy, they go after with cameras in the court room, and much publicity.

Where were you guys when Abner L. was trying his case? you did not give a fig. Where were you when Black teenagers were shot by cops either on their roof, in their own home or on the street, and then got off on claims that they thought he had a gun. You only care now because venting on this rich white foreigner, suddenly makes you have some misplaced 'American pride'. But if tomorrow another Black maid gets raped say, by her White boss, you would not give a fig. So don't go pretending that you care about the alleged victim, she is the last thing on your minds. If she cannot or does not deliver, watch you wolves turn on her and rend her.

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:53AM

The French creep accused of rape is a Leftist just like you.

shl| 5.18.11 @ 8:28PM

How typical of a man to write such an article. Is the writer unaware of DSK's past assaults?
Women have been subjected to a lower status than men worldwide; they are aborted as fetuses, underfed as children, left to work while boys go to school or play, and then raped, beaten and impoverished as teenagers and adults.
Relief organizations including the UN recognize that if you want food and resources to benefit a community in need you give it to the women who will make sure their families are fed and cared for. These agencies have learned that giving aid to men too often means the resources will never reach those in need but instead will be wasted on alcohol, drugs, prostitutes and or gambling.
This habit of vilifying a woman for daring to challenge a man, a powerful one at that, is not surprising in a culture that wants to maintain a dominant social structure. Placing one half of humanity below the other makes it easier to convince people that this is the natural order of society.
It is a false assumption and against the true teachings of Christ. May the author have the experience of living as a woman some day so that he may personally know how wrong his assumptions are.

asha| 5.18.11 @ 8:01PM

I am grateful that you have represent the other side of American hoopla, judgment by the media. I think that judge should be looking at demotion, as I suspect she is full of ego and wanted to make a name for herself. As for the maid. I can't get over WHY no one asks, about who told her the room was empty. And how is it he was in the shower and 'just happened to come out naked". Everything is a bit too opportune, including that he just happened to be on personal and not private business which leaves him wide open without even diplomatic immunity. If a man was trying to run, why would he even bother to call the hotel about his cell phone. It was simpler to have them ship it in a diplomatic bag to his location. He DID NOT ACT LIKE A FUGITIVE at all. People are ALWAYS hurrying to get out of hotels, especially business men and women. The more I learn about the alleged victim, the less I like her story. If she is found to be lying and opportunistically looking to exploit, or taking a payoff to implicate this man, the process of justice should be just as swift to jail her, AIDS or no AIDS. However, apparently, it is being said that she had connections that let her live in an AIDS apartment when she did not have the disease. Why is noone allowed to question this victim's integrity when a prominent man's career is being destroyed by her accusations, even without trial.

NoBama| 5.20.11 @ 12:15AM

Someone's been dropping acid.

Anne| 5.24.11 @ 8:30PM

No-one is allowed to question the victim's integrity because the legal system is not based on gossip and the wild speculation of random citizens. It's based on evidence and the due course of the law. It's that simple.

Occam's Tool| 5.18.11 @ 8:45PM

At any rate, some definite food for thought. I've treated many rape victims; it is a horrible, and common, crime. The chimpanzees of justice will go through their dance with the organ grinder of the media.

P.S. By the way, Ben, he may be famous in economic circles or in academe, but he is not famous, in a general sense. There are plenty of really accomplished people like that.

For example, I'm going to hear Fred Goodwin speak this August on Mood and Anxiety disorders. Fred is a former head of the National Institutes of Mental Health and the author of THE definitive textbook on Manic Depessive Illness symptomatology. He is one of the most accomplished psychiatrists on the planet. But you are more likely to know of Dr. Phil than him.

And you, for example, are a lot better known than the Nobel prize winner in the U of Minnesota's Dept of Economics (recently deceased, I think). And very few people here could tell me the name of the Greatest Humanitarian in Modern History, who saved over a billion lives. He was the most deserving winner of the Peace Prize ever, and attended U of Minnesota. He died within the last two years (roughly, I think). But I doubt many people here know who he was, and I know more people in the USA know who you are than knew who he was, even though your accomplishments compared to him are as an ant to a planet (no, he wasn't Jewish). Hint: Last name began with a "B."

O'Kelley| 5.19.11 @ 4:25PM

I thought for sure you meant John Moses Browning!

paul| 5.18.11 @ 9:17PM

Wow, Ben. You're kind of stupid after all.

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Donna V.| 5.18.11 @ 9:42PM

I'm not googling this so I might have the name wrong, but you mean Norman Borlund (sp?), right, Occam's Tool?

Occam's Tool| 5.19.11 @ 12:06AM

Borlaug, Donna. You win!!!!!!

Matt| 5.18.11 @ 9:45PM

Ben, I totally agree. Rich economists don't commit crimes, poor hotel maids do! Why can't everyone in America just understand it already?!? Rich people are so much better than everybody else. I think rich people should never be sent to actual prison. Go Ben Stein you are a Great American!

Donna V.| 5.18.11 @ 10:01PM

Bren wrote:

"Please tell me why a woman would put herself through the grueling process of reporting a rape and being judged by the public on false accusations."

You know about the Duke lacrosse players who were wrongly accused? The woman who brought the charges against them was a liar and a criminal (didn't she just get arrested for stabbing her boyfriend?) and her story had more holes in it than Swiss cheese and yet her story was not questioned by the media, the DA on the case or the Duke faculty - because she was black and the jocks she accused were white. And of course, because of people like you who say "Women NEVER lie about rape." So the lives of several decent young men were almost ruined. Then there was Tawana Brawley (sp?), who concocted a rape story that Al Sharpton rode to fame on. She was another liar.

For the record, I don't think DSK's accuser is lying (the DNA evidence will tell the story). But it's as muddle-headed to believe that women never lie about rape as to it is to believe women always lie about it. Women are human, not plaster angels, and human beings sometimes lie for personal gain and out of sheer vindictiveness. And as a rape counselor, you should be the first to denounce women who do lie about rape, because they are the ones who make it easier to discredit the honest women who truly are rape victims.

Occam's Tool| 5.19.11 @ 2:34AM

I agree with you, Donna.

The major effrontery of Ben's article is the concept that he should have some leniency on a violent felony charge because he is a "special person."

Kelly| 5.24.11 @ 8:50PM

The percentage of false reports for rape is no greater than for false reports of other crimes and is relatively low, particularly in light of the fact that most rapes go unreported altogether. Yes, false reports are detrimental to women but I think that culture wide victim-blaming and mysoginist rape apologia such as is dispayed in this article is far more significant and influential in making it difficult for women to report rape. Even children aren't safe from the vicious victim-blaming that is flung at rape victims like clockwork whenever they report the crime. This disturbing article is just one example of many.

trunk_monkey| 5.18.11 @ 10:11PM

Fuck you Ben Stein, Fuck you.

PJ| 5.18.11 @ 10:24PM

Ben Stein, you are a monster.

Philip Hades| 5.18.11 @ 10:32PM

I refute Ben's argument with one name "Roman Polanski" rich famous recognizable, never convicted of a crime and living openly in France despite his conviction as a rapist.

jcp370| 5.18.11 @ 10:58PM

Coincidentally (or not) I canceled my subscription to the print edition of The American Spectator about 6 weeks ago because I refuse to support any publication that labels itself conservative yet provides a platform for this aging, unhinged leftist.

My perpetually-adolescent hippie sister and brother-in-law constantly try to push their lefty talking points during family discussions saying "even conservative Ben Stein" agrees with them. A traitor in your midst is so much worse than a declared enemy.

Donna V.| 5.18.11 @ 11:05PM

Matt: kindly remember that DSK isn't just rich - he's a member of the SOCIALIST Party. Just like thousands of Left Bank "caviar communists." Heck, DSK and Obama buy their fabulously expensive custom-made suits from the same Beverly Hills tailor. Basically DSK figures that he can get away with treating ordinary nobodies like crap because he's working for The People.

Why Stein, who claims to be a conservative, is defending this socialist scumbag is anybody's guess. Stein must be confusing himself with John Kerry or John Edwards or a member of the Kennedy clan - you know, those filthy rich leftists who believe that rules are for the little people.

ben| 5.18.11 @ 11:42PM

The French Socialist Party is not actually socialist in the sense that Americans use the term. They're actually moderate-left. You would know this if you were literate and did research.

Ben Stein defends him because he's part of the wealthy elite, as is Stein. Any ideological differences they might have are swept away by his horror at the idea of a member of capitalism's aristocracy having to enter a criminal justice system designed and maintained for the poor and the colored.

Ben Stein is a disgrace.

RINO Romney's a Statist| 5.19.11 @ 3:08AM

BS on your definition of a French Socialist. All democrats are Socialists these days. He's a freakin' hypocrite, a rich socialist--a typical liberal liar just like you.

lwwalker| 5.18.11 @ 11:42PM

There is one reasonable point in this article, and you can find it in the title. The accused should be considered innocent until demonstrated otherwise. The rest is nonsense.

Paul Bernardo. Economist, rapist, serial killer. I'm afraid Mr. Stein's sense of who seems criminalish, or not short/fat enough to warrant suspicion is insufficient. He's been arrested, arraigned, and a judge (who is more expert on this process than Mr. Stein) assessed the degree of flight risk. Mr. Strauss-Kahn can transit our justice system, his rights intact, just as everybody else, rich, poor, white, black, economist or ditch digger does. Our criminal justice system ain't perfect, but it's ours, and it's how these things are sorted out, no matter who you are.

Alison Barton| 5.19.11 @ 12:22AM

Ben Stein clearly has no understanding about sexual assault, rape, power and control, or gender hierarchies. In fact I'm just wondering how ignorant a person has to be to question whether people in positions of power abuse that power, or indeed rape and sexually assault women. Wake up Ben. How on Earth did this ignorant and ill-informed article get printed? When will women stop being held responsible for men's behaviour, and stop being assumed liars in rape/sexual assault cases?

Unpopular Opinion| 7.4.11 @ 2:21AM

Alison,

Complainants, including women alleging rape, MUST BE ASSUMED LIARS if we are going to have this fundamental tenet of democracy and justice called the presumption of innocence. In other words, if it's her word against his word - without a video tape, or a beating that leaves no room for reasonable doubt, the accused should always be ACQUITTED.

You cannot ruin and end people's lives on the simple say so of a woman who cries rape.

This is obvious in principle, except to American liberals, especially women, who don't understand the justice system or fundamental tenet of our Constitution and have taken over big swath of the justice system.

It should not be obvious in practice as it's becoming increasingly clear that Dominique Strauss-Khan, like countless men before him, has become the VICTIM of a LIAR.

So stop. Do you realize that a man's life was about to end (75 years in Rikers he risked) - ALL BECAUSE THE POLICE HAS BEEN BEATEN BY THE FEMINISTS INTO BELIEVING RAPE ALLEGATIONS BY DEFAULT?

He got lucky that he's a prominent enough guy that the prosecutors went the extra mile and checked on here. But if he hadn't - he'd probably be rotting in jail for the rest of his life.

You people disgust me.

-- Unpopular

A. McDaniel| 5.19.11 @ 12:40AM

This article is disgusting. This ignorant rant about how people with power should be less accountable for their actions and deserve a different form of justice than the rest of us has made me lose all respect for Ben Stein. Even just the first point he made that criminals are a separate category from wealthy respected individuals just shows that he has no idea what the world is really like. It is just as ignorant as suggesting that because a priest is a man of god, he is incapable of soliciting children. Wake up Ben Stein!

Stuart Jesus| 5.19.11 @ 1:14AM

In a just world Ben Stein would be raped in the butt.

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:55AM

Leftists are filthy losers.

Kritch| 5.19.11 @ 1:20AM

The biggest problem I have with this article is Mr. Steins statement are 2. The first is the question "why didn't he ever get charged till now. Dude, do some research. How many serial killers (not saying the perp in question is one) have had long streaks of offenses before they got caught?

the second is the ABSURD statement "Can anyone tell me any economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes?". Now this is assuming that economists are not capable of a certain behavior, namely sex crimes. take a look at the list here:
http://jamesurbaniak.tumblr.co.....97856/oops

Donna V.| 5.19.11 @ 1:20AM

"They're actually moderate-left."

Oh, Ben, that changes things entirely. I have such warm and fuzzy feelings toward the "moderate-left."

You're a complete ass-clown, you moronic bonehead.

Donna V.| 5.19.11 @ 1:28AM

Face it, Ben, it is YOUR side: the Al Gores, the Roman Polanskis, the Strauss-Kahns - who believe they should make the rules and the little people count for nothing. That is leftism. And sad little fools, pitiful eunuchs like you lick the boots of your masters, while operating under the delusion that you believe in equality. You sorry pitiful fool.

Annie| 5.19.11 @ 1:56AM

Leftists are big-government filth--the liberals in our own country.

Donna V.| 5.19.11 @ 1:33AM

Oh and I mean Ben at| 5.18.11 @ 11:42PM not Ben Stein. But they are essentially one and the same, even though one pretends to be "progressive" (today's "progressives" are actually the most reactionary, elitist people on earth) and the other pretends to be conservative.

Ben, shake hands with ben. Birds of a feather, you are.

No RINO Romney| 5.19.11 @ 3:12AM

Exactly. Democrats = Liberals = Socialists = Progressives = Commies. They're all filthy stinkers.

Jenny Creed| 5.19.11 @ 1:34AM

It may be partly due to sleep deprivation, but I'm actually going crosseyed reading this page. What you're saying, Mr. Stein, seems to me like a) Wealthy people with good reputations are all but incapable of committing crimes, and b) If they do, the law should give them special treatment. Both of which arguments I find so loathsome I can't even begin to tell you where you are wrong, for fear of losing my temper. I can only suggest you read more, perhaps beginning with some light fairy tales used to teach children the basics of essential concepts like law and democracy.

MrMackie| 5.19.11 @ 1:42AM

Set up? Maybe. The bright side is he'll never be the president of France. The other choices are probably less corrupt.

lesliewright| 5.19.11 @ 1:56AM

http://jamesurbaniak.tumblr.co.....97856/oops

Its took this man a simple google search to answer #2: "Can anyone tell me any economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes?"

nd when did "I've never heard of it" become sound evidence? If that's the case, i'vew never heard Ben Stein ever say anything intelligent so he must be an idiot.

Thanks for continuing America's decline into idiocy Mr. Stein.

Alex| 5.19.11 @ 2:02AM

Innocent until proven guilty is a valid point. Everything else is nonsense.

RINO Romney's a Statist| 5.19.11 @ 3:10AM

DNA is not nonsense.

jim miles| 5.19.11 @ 3:46AM

Stein's piece makes sly reasonable points necessarily, or it couldn't be published.
But the gravamen would have us believe that the smart and rich are intrinsically "nicer" than the hoi polloi. Maybe they have better connections to get away with things. Strauss-Kahn may not be a Polanski, but if he gets bail, he'll surely try to escape and receive a Roman-scale hero's welcome in France. A private guard? That's politically impossible!

Søren| 5.19.11 @ 4:00AM

DSK should obviously be treated as an innocent until proven guilty, regardless of the type of crime he is accused of.
Ben Stein's words cut through the bigoted bullshit like a hot knife through butter! Keep on telling the truth, Ben!

No RINO Romney| 5.19.11 @ 5:05AM

DSK will be treated fairly in our justice system, but we're under no obligation to do so .

The woman who was attacked was black, perhaps it is the rich Socialist, DSK, who is the bigot.

andy| 5.19.11 @ 5:55AM

1. " If he is such a womanizer and violent guy with women, why didn’t he ever get charged until now?
" He has tons of cash- desperate, poor people keep quiet when handed enough.
2. "This is a case about the hatred of the have-nots for the haves, and that’s what it’s all about."
OH really? thats all huh? You seem sure of that. OK your right. Those that HAVE been raped, those that have not.

3. " So far, he’s innocent, and he’s being treated shamefully. If he’s found guilty, there will be plenty of time to criticize him." If he's so innocent what are you worried about? Why so feisty?
4. " Can anyone tell me any economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes? " One now, what's your point? Can anyone tell me any barbers that have been accused of sex crimes? No? What's it matter?

5. " Maybe Mr. Strauss-Kahn is guilty but if so, he is one of a kind, and criminals are not usually one of a kind. " Why is he one of a kind again? He's a rich douchebag with power that's corrupted him. He's just like about 1000 other politicans ive watched. how is that unique?

6. "He is one of the most recognizable people on the planet. Did he really have to be put in Riker’s Island?" Yeah, he raped someone in New York. All scum goes through Rikers? Awww... sorry we don't have an elitist plush prison for you.

7. " A man pays $3,000 a night for a hotel room? He’s got to be guilty of something. Bring out the guillotine." Yeah- he blew $2940 extra on a hotel room. He also claims to be a Socialist and drives a New Porsche. He's a rich prick, and yeah- when people are starving and out of a job, blowing 3 grand on a bed seems wastefil. Next question.

8. "Was Riker’s Island really the place to put him on the allegations of one human being? Hadn’t he earned slightly better treatment than that?"
No, He lost his right to much of anything when he shoved his junk in someones face against there will. It's called rape. Learn about it.

9. "Can anyone tell me of any heads of nonprofit international economic entities who have ever been charged and convicted of violent sexual crimes? " Yeah, this guy. Next question that actually matters and isn't a repeat.

10."People accuse other people of crimes all of the time. What do we know about the complainant besides that she is a hotel maid?
" Yes, unlike you many people take women seriously . I take her, and the other woman's word for it.

Cían Nihill| 5.19.11 @ 6:25AM

This thread is precisely the problem with leading a man on the perp walk prior to trial (and the disgraceful media coverage), many here are already presuming his guilt, he may be but he is innocent until proven otherwise, nobody on this site has heard all the evidence as not all of it has even been presented yet.
To jump to conclusions is ridiculous and shame on mainstream American media for doing so

andy| 5.19.11 @ 6:28PM

No, you are wrong. I read the police report. That's a lot of evidence. You know what's lame? Presuming innocence by an obvious douchebag with a lot of evidence shown to you, just because you're mad that one of your rich a-hole buddies got caught.

Aaron W| 5.19.11 @ 6:47AM

Mr. Stein, I used to look up to you as a great source of intelligence. This article is even more disappointing because of that fact. It is poorly planned and insulting at best. Not because of the argument of guilt or innocence, but for the false logics used in your points.

For example, The answer to your #2, something that was as easy to obtain as 15 minutes on the web, is Paul Bernardo. Others were also listed, but the Bernardo case was especially atrocious. Similar arguments to yours were used when he and his wife were first suspected of the crimes.

The rest of your arguments, other than the fact that Strauss-Kahn IS innocent until proven guilty and should be treated as such, are equally as weak and, in some instances, quite insulting.

Elizabeth C| 5.19.11 @ 7:32AM

Yes, Mr. Stein, everyone should be presumed innocent until proved otherwise.

How about you offer the same to the maid who claimed to be sexually violated? You could ask the same can't prove a negative questions about her.

Why did she wear such a short and sexy skirt that day to work?

Why did she go into an occupied room?

Why did she allow herself to be sexually molested if the perp didn't have a weapon?

I find this whole article massively offensive. I would assume that as an attorney you would bring all of these questions to a jury to try to work on their prejudices. But I sincerely hope as a human being that you don't blame her because you want to believe him.

Sally Renk| 5.19.11 @ 9:19AM

Unbelievable! You have shown your true colors. I have lost all respect for you. But I'm sure in your sexist mind you are justifying it by saying, "who cares, it's just one worthless woman's opinion of me."

J.M. Dziba| 5.19.11 @ 9:36AM

Mr Stein

I find your comments and questions very ignorant, naive, sexist and offensive, all in one. At the very least, I find your whole commentary very insincere. I wonder if you would be asking these same questions if the victim happened to be your daughter. What would be your suggestion for how this whole case should have been handled? And if the victim were your daughter?? There is time to be intellectual, philosophical and academic in life, but please, do not do so at the expense of a poor individual whose life has been completely ripped apart. Perhaps the very fact that the victim is a poor woman from a third world country, and the perpetrator is a powerful and rich male has something to do with your warped perspective and insincere argument!?

Is there a guide that defines what is standard and acceptable in a rape case or sexual assault case? If there is, and you seem to suggest there are standards that such cases should follow, then please simply point us all to that guide for reference. This is so pathetic it makes me sick.

marcia| 5.19.11 @ 9:46AM

Because you have grown up a privileged white male, you have no comprehension of the power disparity between an ethnic female immigrant from an impoverished country and a white male from a dominant Eurocentric culture. She has most likely learned to surrender to power because there is no other option. Only resignation and despair.
You are an intelligent man, Mr. Stein, but clueless about the politics and power of gender and privilege.
I write this from a white woman's perspective.

peter| 5.19.11 @ 10:12AM

Great article. I am a non american journalist and I feel bad watching how you people destroy a person because of an accusation. Right or wrong accusation your courts have to decide. Not the media.

Rafael Calsaverini| 5.19.11 @ 10:18AM

Well, here's a list of economists convicted for violent sex crimes:
http://blog.xkcd.com/2011/05/1.....-question/

Apparently having an economics degree does not preclude anyone from being a sex offender.

LWA| 5.19.11 @ 10:19AM

Clearly, Mr. Stein has never been raped. He should thank his lucky stars for that and keep his nose out of matters of which he has no understanding.

Seth Avakian| 5.19.11 @ 10:27AM

Former International Monetary Fund managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn faces charges of attempted rape and criminal sexual contact in the alleged attack on a maid who went into his room to clean it. In his letter of resignation from the IMF Mr. Strauss-Kahn denies “with the greatest possible firmness all of the allegations that have been made against me." The media’s response, especially the opinion pieces, provides a window into how the issue of sexual assault, survivors, and the people accused of perpetrating such crimes are treated by our society. On one hand, women like NYT’s Maureen Doud praise the American judicial system “where even a maid can have dignity and be listened to when she accuses one of the most powerful men in the world of being a predator.”

Others, like French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy (reacting to the photo above), believe that “nothing in the world can justify a man being thus thrown to the dogs.” Absent in his article in The Daily Beast is any concern for the trauma that the woman is experiencing as a result of the alleged assault, or the ensuing media circus that ensued. But, it is our very own Ben Stein who sets a new low in his American Spectator article. Mr. Stein callously throws out worn-out and intellectually anemic arguments in a trite defense of Mr. Strauss-Kahn's presumed innocence. Permit me a brief intellectual battle with Nixon’s former speech writer.

#1 “If he is such a womanizer and violent guy with women, why didn't he ever get charged until now?”

Serial killers, con-artists and all repeat offenders, be sure to ask for Mr. Stein’s representation at your first trial. I wonder how long habitual criminals need to get away with their crimes before Stein's “well, they’ve never been caught before” line of defense becomes valid? If it wasn't defending against such a violent crime, this question would be delightful in its nonsense. Mr. Stein’s statement also manages to be ignorant of the low rates of reporting these crimes (explaining why he might not have been charged until now) while reinforcing one of the main reasons people don’t report: survivors think they won’t be believed.

#2 “Can anyone tell me any economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes?”

Mr. Stein must be writing this with a Mad-Libs generator. Can anyone tell me any (insert profession here) who have been convicted of (insert crime here)? It works with almost every profession and crime! While Mr. Stein may know hundreds of economists to sample from, I’ll wager that the average reader could name less than 10 economists. Considering that studies estimate that around 5% of men (American, not French) have committed a violent sex crime, basic math dictates that most people would not know of an economist convicted of sex crimes. Of course, this estimation ignores that a) people generally don’t know the criminal history of said economists, b) conviction rates for these kinds of violent sex crimes are low, c) prosecutors have a high bar for taking reported sexual assaults to trial and d) sexual assaults are rarely reported to police to begin with. Mr. Stein should get to know more statisticians, or perhaps a high school math teacher.

#3 “He's a short fat old man… How did he intimidate her in that situation? And if he was so intimidating, why did she immediately feel un-intimidated enough to alert the authorities as to her story?”

It’s probably impossible for Mr. Stein, a wealthy Hollywood actor, lawyer, news pundit and author to put himself in the place of a poor, immigrant single mother and evaluate how someone in "that situation" (a violent sexual assault) might be intimidated, so I won’t bother asking him to. Personally, I would feel intimidated just being in a $3,000 a night hotel room, let alone being in there to clean and suddenly having a man run naked at me, shut the door to the hallway that I left open and physically force me to perform sex acts. I'll wager that if Mr. Stein was in the exact same situation, he’d feel intimidated too. And when Mr. Strauss-Kahn was finished with his assault, and Mr. Stein was let out of the room and safe, I bet he would consider reporting.

Thinking more about Mr. Stein’s description of Mr. Strauss as “short-fat-old” and if the sex was consensual actually makes me lean even more towards the conclusion that it was not. Does Mr. Stein presume that a maid in their 30's is excited when they enter a hotel room to clean it and find out that a short-fat-old man that they've never met wants to have sex immediately?

#4 “How do we know that this woman's word was good enough to put Mr. Strauss-Kahn straight into a horrific jail?”

In these kinds of cases, a woman’s word typically isn’t good enough to bring charges. Most prosecutors won’t take a pure “she-said, he-said” case. If you were a prosecutor, would you charge Mr. Strauss-Kahn in such a high-profile case, with your professional reputation on the line, for a crime that is incredibly difficult to get a conviction for if you didn’t have confidence in that the survivor wasn’t just telling the truth, but that you had additional evidence to corroborate her story?

#5 “In what possible way is the price of the hotel room relevant except in every way: this is a case about the hatred of the have-nots for the haves, and that's what it's all about.”

No, it’s about rape. History teaches us that all too often the ‘haves’ believe they have the right to act with impunity and take advantage of ‘have-nots’ in whatever way they want. This is a case about rape and power, and that’s what it’s all about.

#6 “Diane Sawyer (said) that Mr. Strauss-Kahn is in Riker's... "because one woman stood her ground..." That assumes she's telling the truth and he's guilty…it's unfortunate for ABC to simply assume that an accusation is the same as a conviction.”

First, ABC did not report that Mr. Strauss-Kahn is guilty or was convicted. The phrase “stood her ground” is generally accepted to mean standing up for one’s rights or stick by an opinion, and historically is about a person’s refusal to move backwards when challenged in a fight. In this case the phrase likely refers to all of the forces that would influence someone in her position to not report such a crime. She could jeopardize her employment, endure the painful experience of having to re-tell her story over and over, refute claims against her story, and attacks on her personal character by the defense.

Secondly, the second half of Ms. Sawyer’s “unfortunate” sentence is “and said he attacked her.” Ms. Sawyer did not state “because he attacked her.” Mr. Stein might argue that the report didn’t do enough to emphasize that he is innocent until proven guilty. Yes, the media have a responsibility to report fairly, but that doesn’t mean they are required to conform to the standards of the legal system.

I’ll save most of my thoughts on how we can uphold our commitment to “innocent until proven guilty” while simultaneously believing survivors of sexual assault for a separate article. In a few words, guilt is the determination of a judicial system, not a personal belief. No citizen (or non-citizen!) has "the right" to demand that other people suspend their beliefs. I have every right to look at the evidence available and make a personal conclusion. Right now, from everything we know about this case, additional claims of sexual assault against him, the high frequency of sexual assault in our society, the incredibly low rates of reporting, and how rapists target their victims to reduce the likelihood of being accused, Mr. Strauss-Kahn sounds like a guilty man to me.
This letter can be found at www.menspeakup.org/6-reasons-ben-stein-is-wrong

Donna V.| 5.19.11 @ 7:48PM

Seth, let me compliment you on your excellent fisk. Your rebuttal is far more logical and well-written then Stein's piece.

Back when Polanski was in custody in Switzerland, Anne Applebaum of the WaPo wrote a disgusting defense of Polanski. (Applebaum then dug the hole even deeper when it came out that her Polish husband was on Polanski's legal team.) That one really bothered me, because I was a great admirer of Applebaum's history of the Soviet gulag. How could a woman who had written so movingly about Stalin's victims be so callously indifferent to the rape of a 13 year old girl?

This article is not as much of a let-down, for I never had a fraction of the regard for Stein that I had held for Applebaum. When I subscribed to AS, I found Ben's column tedious and mushy and his prose clumsy. Give me P.J. O'Rourke any day. Nevertheless, Stein's response to this story reveals, yet again, that the deep divide is not between left and right as much as it is between those who believe the elite should not be subjected to the same rules and laws as mere mortals and those who want the rules to be applied evenly (although we recognize that there will never be complete justice in this world.)

What Ben Stein and Applebaum and Levy are arguing for is a world in which the proles know their place and chambermaids and 13 year old nobodies can be raped with immunity if their attackers are rich and gifted and move in exalted circles.

Cassie F| 5.19.11 @ 10:29AM

And Hans Reiser didn't kill his wife because computer programmers don't kill people...

Wait, that's some sort of logical fallacy, isn't it?

knoxharrington| 5.19.11 @ 11:01AM

Ben, Ben, Ben ... your comments are not nearly humble enough. Please, take your meds and lie down - you have clearly overtaxed yourself. DSK is not entitled to any special treatment - maybe in Rikers he can experience what he allegedly did to this woman in NY and to another in France. I'm sure these claims are the tip of the iceberg. As to your question of which economists have been accused of sex crimes it is well known that Lord Keynes used to go to Africa and get "a bed and a boy for a pound." I think you and the other Keynesians have a screw loose and, given that in the long run we are all dead, feel like you can cut loose and the morals be damned. Please, stop writing and just stick with shilling for Clear Eyes.

Skip| 5.19.11 @ 11:14AM

Although Mr. Stein's comments on the presumption of innocence are appropriate, it is not hard to imagine a man over powering a small woman and attempting sexual assault. Mr. Stein seems to instinctively favor the powerful over the weak in most of his commentary, so this colimn must be taken in that perspective

Søren| 5.19.11 @ 11:20AM

Why do people keep referring to the "victim", like it's beyond doubt that a rape even took place? No verdict has been given, and until then, she's just an alledged victim.

andy| 5.19.11 @ 6:32PM

You must be a rapist.

andy| 5.19.11 @ 6:32PM

You must be a rapist.

sam mckinney| 5.21.11 @ 11:02AM

You're a sociopath!

Maggie| 5.19.11 @ 11:21AM

Why was this printed and when did Ben Stine become an armchair criminologist. Ridiculous and reckless.

Kevin Roddy| 5.19.11 @ 12:06PM

Ben: I like you. I often enjoy your commentaries. I enjoyed working with you when I was at Milberg Weiss and you were a consultant/expert witness. But your lengthy experience with the principals of that firm should have taught you that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Like Mel Weiss, Bill Lerach and Dave Bershad, who went to federal prison and were disbarred for their abuses of the legal system, DSK appears to believe that he is above the law and that "little people" like hotel chambermaids exist to be taken advantage of. (I am quoting Leona Helmsley.)

P.F. Bruns| 5.19.11 @ 12:41PM

We are finding out that in fact Mr. Strauss-Kahn does have a history of accusations of sexual harassment, abuse, and other sexual predation. Mr. Stein should research topics before pontificating on them, as this history completely invalidates most of his screed.

stu| 5.19.11 @ 12:47PM

ben stein is an idiot. every point he's wrong on.

Unpopular Opinion| 7.4.11 @ 2:24AM

Except he isn't, and is now being proved right. She framed him. Everyone on this board who didn't understand Ben's article or the presumption of innocence is a idiot, including you, stu.

-- Unpopular

Eddie| 5.19.11 @ 12:58PM

Until proven guilty, I think his life was even more at stake. He walks out of the bathroom and there was a cleaner cleaner in his room his bedroom? What if she was a killer ? He could have even shot her if he was armed for fear of his safety. Dosnt the hotel have a way of making sure there is no one in the room before entering ? Come on !!!! somethings are not adding up to me. Lets see what happens.

figleaf| 5.19.11 @ 1:13PM

Hey Stein, how many air force base commanders have been convicted of violent sex crimes?

It's not a trick question.

Former CFB Trenton Base Commander Russell Williams, an college economics classmate of Paul Bernardo, was also a serial rapist and murderer. Link: http://www.torontosun.com/news.....45451.html

And if it's unlikely that a highly-placed economist like DSK would commit a violent sex crime consider how much less likely it would be for a respected, decorated, and politically-conservative base commander to have done so? I think you and The American Spectator should do another editorial decrying the improbability of the considerable physical evidence and confessions that led to Williams' arrest and conviction.

figleaf

p.s. Hey Spectator, I know Conservapedia is your go-to source but Google's really great too -- try it some time.

Lazlo D'Ementia| 5.19.11 @ 1:45PM

Ben Stein is absolutely correct and courageous in his conclusions.

This cockroach should be honored to have received the sanctifying balm of this august banker and son of France.

In fact, all women everywhere should beg him for a chance to receive his turgid member in every orifice in which it would fit as a Gift from God!

Stalinists won't understand why DSK is entitled to access to all wombs and mouths he desired - and we won't pretend to be able to correct their deranged thinking.

Lazlo D'Ementia| 5.19.11 @ 1:48PM

Oh, it is well known that SDK's preferred method of oral entry was by a powerful grip on the supplicant's ears.

That way, the supplicant maintains an understanding of who is in charge and enjoys the abandon of complete domination - or she loses her ears.

Kevin| 5.19.11 @ 2:12PM

Uggh, as if Ben Stein wasn't repulsive enough! "People who commit crimes tend to be criminals..." Well DUH, like bankers maybe? There are few classes of people more likely to commit crimes than bankers, as the past few years have show all of the world that's paying attention. Bankers are sociopaths, rapists are sociopaths, Ben Stein is an ignoramous.

Andrew| 5.19.11 @ 2:30PM

Wow. Ben Stein has managed to include almost all of the standard defense attorney arguments brought forward in every sexual assault case since the beginning of western jurisprudence.

Yes, there is a presumption of innocence. And yes, the 'perp walk' is unnecessary and probably prejudicial when it comes to jury selection. These are legitimate arguments.

But while making these points Stein is sneaking in his own clear prejudice against women who have experienced sexual abuse. There is simply no reason for calling into question the accuser's mental health or the accused man's lack of prior accusations. None of this is relevant outside a court of law, and Stein is either absolutely ignorant or willfully malicious to be coupling concern with the circumstances around media commentary on the man's guilt or innocence with insinuations about the accuser's mental state.

Reputable media organizations need to stop publishing the opinions of nitwits like Ben Stein merely to generate attentention.

Chris| 5.19.11 @ 2:37PM

This article is proof that just because someone is hired to play someone smart in television and movies it doesn't mean they are smart in real life.

Sigmund| 5.19.11 @ 2:44PM

Mr. Stein,
I agree with much of what you say. But I think the police and the courts were following standard practices. From the small amount that has been revealed, the maid's story has been consistent and unwavering. On the other hand, initially DSK's lawyers were saying he was elsewhere when the attack presumably happened and now they say it the attack was consensual. So he has changed his story at least once. That does not prove him guilty, but it does cast doubt upon his veracity. Also, there actually has been a lot of investigation. Apparently the woman's story is quite believeable to the detectives who regularly investigate such crimes. So I do not think there was much choice but to arrest him.

Regarding bail, I do not think he was fleeing but the judge needs to investigate this thoroughly before agreeing to bail. He does have unusual resources and she knows little about him. Her initial decision seems prudent. If you were her advisor, would you really advise her to risk her career by letting him out on bail? I doubt it. You woud tell her to keep in jail until arrangements could be made that would insure that he would not leave the country.

With regard to Riker's Island, I think we should have kinder, gentler detention facilities for everybody, rich or poor. Today we incarcerate too many people for things like minor drug offenses. The prisons get filled with young, angry men who become more dangerous to themselves and others with every passing day and they make the prisons violent and dangerous. Though true rehabilitation via prison for most criminals is probably a naive liberal dream, prisons in some other countries are more effective than ours both in deterring future crime, giving just punishment, and sometimes truly rehabilitating. So I deplore the "perp walk" and shackles but I also deplore it for the cafeteria working with three children who is arrested on a marijuhana charge.
Finally, do you actually have statistics on how many economists commit rape? We usually do not break down crime statistics by such categories. How many rapes are committed by chess masters, crossword puzzle enthusiasts, necktie salesman, or professional scuba divers? Just because you can categorize someone in a way that does not immediately suggest an illegal activity does not mean that he could not commit such an activity. Why not ask "how common is rape among those who have been repeatedly accused of showing accessive sexual aggression toward women." That is a category that he apparently includes him according to many reports.
Like you, I presume him innocent until proven guilty. But he is not getting unusually bad treatment. He is getting, if anything, somewhat better treatment than most would receive for similar evidence.

Lazlo D'Ementia| 5.19.11 @ 2:56PM

Ben is right.

Rape is the highest compliment a man can give to a woman.

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:19AM

Why don't you go "compliment" yourself?

Lazlo D'Ementia| 5.19.11 @ 3:02PM

If a woman cannot appreciate the honor of being raped by SDK, can she really be taken seriously as a normal human being?

Lazlo D'Ementia| 5.19.11 @ 3:05PM

I think this is Ben's most courageous reporting to date. Still, he doesn't have the guts, yet, to admit that he secretly desires to be sodomized savagely by SDK and, in his heart of hearts, is overwhelmed with jealousy for this ungrateful chambermaid.

Mary Drake| 5.19.11 @ 3:42PM

Shame on you, to say that a man, even a short, fat old man, can't sexually assault a woman without a weapon. I hope you never have the horrifying experience of watching someone you love go through the aftermath of a sexual assault. I hope your mother, sisters, and daughters can forgive you for your insensitive comment.

Barney in New England| 5.19.11 @ 4:51PM

Stein sets a new standard for misogyny ....

His most despicable comment: “....The prosecutors say that Mr. Strauss-Kahn 'forced' the complainant to have …. sex with him. How? Did he have a gun? Did he have a knife? …. How did he intimidate her in that situation?”.

This effluent is beneath further comment.

Dave| 5.19.11 @ 5:06PM

I too have many questions that seem to not add up at this point. Keep in mind that I am no fan of any International Banker. As a matter of fact I am a White Nationalist, but having said that, this man is presumed innocent until he has been convicted. Is there any doubt at this point that in America, once you have been arrested, for all intense and purposes, most people believe you are guilty.
It is a shame that we no longer live in a free society but live in some sort of stazi police state.
We have given up the right to allow our citizens to carry sums of cash more than 5,000 dollars while traveling across the Country and for goodness sake, don't make the mistake of filming a police officer while he is committing a crime because it will be you who goes to jail. Who do we have to thank for this Mr. Stein?
Yes, we have for the most part to thank people like you who have sat idly by and said nothing about this, yet when one of your own kind gets arrested, you come out here and start talking about the presumption of being innocent. Well here's a News flash Ben, the man is probably innocent and it is my belief he was set up by men who did not like the direction he was taking the IMF.
It is sad when bad people develop a conscious and decide to change that those on the top will do all that is in there power to send a message to the next schmuck to stay in line or the same will happen to him or her.

Jenny Creed| 5.29.11 @ 7:02AM

Wow, even Stormfront here knows your bullshit when he sees it. It must be painful for you, Mr. Stein, to be lectured on morality by an individual who admits, without provocation, to beliefs that are fundamentally at odds with behavior worthy of human beings. It reminds me of KKK's official condemnation of Westboro Baptist Church.

Tina Trent| 5.19.11 @ 5:44PM

Here's one: "a top Harare economist closely linked to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono remains a free man despite substantial proof that he raped an 11 year-old girl."

Shame on you. Really.

rastajan| 5.19.11 @ 6:39PM

I don't want to rush to judgment except to say that Stein's sleezy approach in this article is despicable. And if he thought it could help this man the was seriously deluded.
In terms undertones on this blog from the anitsemites, anti accused, anti accuser and those who see their personal agendas, behind every event. Please get a life.

rastajan| 5.19.11 @ 6:48PM

then he was seriously deluded....but this Spectator publication (if you can call it that) got what it wanted..some readership.

Perhaps we should be dissecting the way in which media routinely manipulates everyone by spinning such wild nonsense.

Delores Smith| 5.19.11 @ 8:45PM

BEN STEIN,
You are right on the mark. This case will reveal a lot more when we learn who the new Chairman of the International Monetary Fund is and to which countries he distributes funds eagerly. I will do all that I can do to find out if this is a set-up. I believe this is more about the control of IMF than it is about his plan to run for President of France.
Guilty until proven Guilty in Obama Country.
Delores Smith
Delores109@cox.net

Doris| 5.19.11 @ 9:09PM

OMG. Ben Stein is sooo not right on this matter. Let the legal system figure this out, not Ben Stein.

Colleen | 5.19.11 @ 10:28PM

Fire Ben Stein - he is a dinosaur and completely out of touch with the real world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim| 5.19.11 @ 11:34PM

Hi Ben:

I just caught "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart. You may want to reconsider Point 2!

credibility gap| 5.20.11 @ 3:16AM

Yes, Mr. Stein, things do follow patterns. People who get away with it tend to continue getting away with it - - and think, therefore, they will always get away with it.. Hope you caught the Daily Show with Jon Stewart tonight. You might be familiar with the Economists he named who didn't. (Get away with it.)

Speaking of getting away with it - if TAS paid you for submitting this defense of IMF guy, you are really getting away with it. But then you have been, for quite awhile.

db saxton| 5.20.11 @ 3:17AM

Bravo Mr. Stein!!

Jonathan| 5.20.11 @ 3:21AM

Is Stein serious? Is he completely unaware of how many rapists, pedophiles, sexual molestors, etc. get away with their crimes until their 50s or 60s before finally getting thrown in jail for the first time? And does he really think we're going to fall for the "rich men don't sexually violate vulnerable women!" argument? It's like he's living in the 1950s and expect's the good 'ol boys club to keep on keeping on.

Jonathan| 5.20.11 @ 3:32AM

p.s. - Stein is also apparently unaware of the physical evidence collected in the case, the strong work already done by police investigators, prior allegations made against the alleged perp, and sexual assault in general. It's amazing that someone writing an article about not jumping to conclusions without the facts would write such an article with so little knowledge of the facts himself.

Dwayne Hillhouse| 5.20.11 @ 4:41AM

Now I can see the route cause of Ben Steins brain fart article, his dementia meds were stolen by a maid from the last hotel he stayed in just prior to writing this article, Ben Stein truly is a Idiot.

G| 5.20.11 @ 6:02AM

Hello I'm french and I would give my thoughts to all this.I'll try to express myself the best I can cuz my english is not perfect sorry.
First of all I feel chocked by all this.WHY?
Because simply in my country the justice not works same than in the US.
DSK is accused of graves things.Til now he has been considerated like a sexual criminal by the american justice, but Nothing prooved yet he is guilty.PLus there is a lot of inconsistencies and versions of the facts.That will be the work of the advocates and investigators to clear that.
He didn't have yet the right to express himself on it and didn't have the occasion to proof his innocence.Is that right? Not for me.
There is also a thing I would say about the case that I find it strange that this story happened right at some month of the french election and that DSK was very pre disposed to become our new president.In the french politic, it's a very hard place and there is no pity...the politican are ready to anything to crush its adversary...that's why I find it strange too.
Now, Let us admit a second.. it has no rapport ok...I find it strange too this eagerness on DSK without to know the truth even if it's like this , that the american justice works.Plus this exorbitant caution and the conditions posed thought him to give him the right to prepare and present his defence...O.o It's show me even more that they are ready to all to breack him, guilty or not any way.
I take in consideration this women... and her version of the facts... of course it can be possible that she got agressed sexualy, like it could be possible NOT and that all this could be a conspiracy.
I really whish all this story get more clear but please let him the right to express himlself on it and respect him as an human, as this women... cuz til now we don't know who is the victim.
If he is guilty, he'll pay for it and if it's the contrary and that the women lied, I hope she'll pay for her lies too!
To finish I'll say that I read around about the case the americans were remembering about the story polanski and it's understandable.. but it has nothing to do with it.... so don't mix the both ...could be an error... because we are not talking about the same story... don't have prejudices before the truth come up.
I hope I didn't hurted anyone...I'm just expressing myself and giving my opinion.I'll be very sad , mad and disappointed if DSK is guilty because I don't accept this kind of crime too! That would be a shame!!! But in the contrary case, I'll be very sad if he is inculped and get his life ruined if he is innocent.that would be so unfair.Politican important or not! we are judging a MAN first.

Kiss xxx

;)

Just a girl| 5.20.11 @ 6:13PM

I'm sorry that this upsets you so, i'm sure its a culture shock but in the US we don't call it swagger when its stalking and we don't call unwanted advances loving women, we call it a complete disregard for others.
This man had power and he was set at a higher standard, so not to abuse that power, If he didn't abuse the power this time its obvious he has in the past even making advances on other women while married is a sign that he is to week to maintain his commitments in the simplest of relationship, a relationship what is bonded with love. who the hell are the people of Africa of France for that matter if his family is nothing to him.
My heart goes out to the victims both his family and the women.
Lets get some real men in power,real men are comfortable with them self and don't look to have power over others.

reality check!| 5.25.11 @ 9:13AM

Just pointing out that humans are polygamous by nature. ask your neighbourhood biologist. your preposterous babble about fidelity and "love" shows you must not be much older than 12. post again after puberty hits you, and we'll see if you still have the same opinion.

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:21AM

Rapist!

Jonathan| 5.27.11 @ 3:59AM

What an ignorant comment. I can tell you learned your biology lessons via internet comments.

Ann| 5.20.11 @ 9:09AM

Mr. Stein makes comments that most of the time makes no sense. It is the same old tired thing. Blame the victim. Whenever Mr. Stein comes on when I watch CBS Sunday morning I turn off the TV or change the channel.

Susan Komisar Hausman| 5.20.11 @ 10:06AM

Ben,
While you are highly educated about many issues, clearly sexual assault is not one of them. Your beliefs about a predator's possible profile are incorrect. ANY person, male or female, can be a predator; most predators, when found, have no previous criminal record, even if they are older; every educational level, race, religion, ethnicity, socio-economic class is equally at risk for being assaulted and producing predators.
Until thinking like yours changes, our culture will support the vast numbers of assaults that occur everyday and those that go unreported.
It remains to be seen if Mr. Strauss-Kahn will be convicted. Meanwhile, I encourage you to get educated about sexual assault. Perhaps you can begin here, at the National Sexual Violence Research Center: http://www.nsvrc.org/news/5221.

OYVEH| 5.20.11 @ 10:20AM

This article is a nice and loud message to all women on earth: stay far, far away from Ben Stein.

Michael Topper| 5.20.11 @ 10:27AM

I can't believe I even read this.
Mr. Stein, you are an idiot.

Jay| 5.20.11 @ 10:32AM

Maybe these cases will refresh Stein's memory, so economists can do no wrong...ha..what a douche!

Cobourg’s former economic director goes to jail for sexual assault
Economist on governor’s staff charged with child sex abuse
Former Rockford College economics professor pleads guilty to sexual abuse
W&M assistant [economics] professor charged with online sex crime
Colby [economics] professor resigns amid secret-camera flap
Economics professor caught in teen sex sting
CSUN economics professor Kenneth Ng runs Thai sex tourism website

William| 5.20.11 @ 11:28AM

Slime defending slime!

Grace| 5.20.11 @ 11:31AM

I agree with you completely, Mr. Stein. This is a very suspicious charge, it seems to me.

FormerStudent| 5.20.11 @ 1:29PM

Let's see. This "brilliant" man announces that he believes that the opposition will "set him up", possibly on a sex-scandal thing, a few weeks ago. Then the "brilliant" man has a "consensual" roll in the sheets with a relatively poor woman who appears in his hotel room who he doesn't know at all.

Bull. That one doesn't pass my smell test.

johny| 5.20.11 @ 11:44AM

Hey Ben Stein, did you know that people who report the news on TV, tend to be TV news reporters? Also, people who clean teeth, tend to be dental hygienists?

Secondly, a person's occupation should not have any bearing whatsoever in this...a person's status should not give them anything more than anyone else. So for example, had DSK also been a maid, then you wouldn't have any problem with this because, after all, hes just a maid.

steve| 5.20.11 @ 12:38PM

a lifetime of Public Service? - the guy makes over $400,000 / year and stays in $3,000 / night hotel suites .... yep, what a hero - thanks for all your 'sacrifice' DSK!!!

Jewell| 5.20.11 @ 12:40PM

Mr. Stein, I have read some idiotic op-eds in my time, but yours takes the cake. I don't know where to begin shredding your opus. Yes, we should presume Strauss-Kahn is innocent until proven guilty, period.

As for your other assertions & questions so lacking in tact, compassion, and logic, you need to check yourself. Perhaps become a defense attorney for sex offenders because you've offered up the most disgusting distillation to date of this story. It's offensive in every way possible.

Allen| 5.20.11 @ 1:02PM

Ben Stein is a pompous ASSHOLE. He should stick to comedy.

Rev| 5.20.11 @ 1:09PM

I think this article is supposed to be comedy. Just like Ben's "documentary" about creationism...

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:22AM

Shut up commie.

Nate| 5.20.11 @ 1:06PM

I admit that this looks very suspicious.
However I will add that it could be possible in Francd he's a member of the untouchable leftists ,like Danny the Red from Germany, who while on a TV show admitted to letting children get way way way way to close to him while he was running a school i.e. Teaching naked, letting children touch him in special places,etc.
Disturbing this man still has great popularity among the leftists

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:23AM

It's because leftists are godless sociopaths.

LW360| 5.20.11 @ 1:49PM

Disturbingly illogical presentation of "if A=B then C" arguments. DSK may certainly be innocent, but not based on BS logic.

Lazlo D'Ementia| 5.20.11 @ 2:02PM

I had a psychiatrist read this column.

He concluded that Ben Stein wants SDK to fist fuck his asshole and allow him to lick SDK's fist clean.

I know, not completely obvious from the prose but there you are.

Matt| 5.21.11 @ 2:24AM

Um, I thought these comments were moderated... how inappropriate and juvenile. Grow up, fool.

Amanda| 5.20.11 @ 2:30PM

Although my first instinct is to tear each of your individual arguments to shreds, I'm just going to say that you have a lot to learn about rape and sexual assault. Please research this topic. Educate yourself so that you don't look like a complete moron (which you do now).

BenSteinLoony| 5.20.11 @ 2:32PM

This article is COMPLETELY devoid of logic. Ben Stein, you have LOST IT! I get defending "innocent until proven guilty", but by making mostly offensive statements about maids, women, economists (wrong there BTW), you are not making that case effectively. Please revoke Ben's writing credentials. GUILTY!

james m| 5.20.11 @ 2:45PM

I can't believe Stein had the audacity to publish these thought-free, moronic (and offensive) comments. Shame on the editor for publishing this flop of an essay! How about 30 days service in a violent sex-offender wing (dressed as french maids, of course) for both him and the humble Strauss-Kahn?

PatrioticAmerican| 5.20.11 @ 2:59PM

All you that are criticizing Mr.Stein's reasonable take on this matter are just being racist, anti-semites. Shame on you.

Flora| 5.20.11 @ 4:26PM

Since when does disagreeing with someone's point of view on this issue make them an anti-Semite? People are making a lot of salient points that have NOTHING to do with Ben Stein's religious background. This is just a lazy way to deflect criticism. Shame on you.

Eduardo Mazzini| 5.20.11 @ 3:02PM

Mr. Stein: For the first time ever, maybe, I completely agree with everything you say here; even thogh my background is entirely different from yours. And yur point (7) - just the tip of an iceberg!- should be important to every citizen.

Eduardo Mazzini| 5.20.11 @ 3:07PM

I must take back something. I don't believe in the innocence of all economists.

Gbaby| 5.20.11 @ 3:12PM

Ben Stein is a weasel. Check out my rebuttal on this article at

http://popcornpolitics.com/in-.....stupidity/

StopSpamming| 5.20.11 @ 5:16PM

Stop spamming with your own links.

Rich Capitalist| 5.20.11 @ 5:19PM

I totally agree with Ben Stein. The maids are just out to con the innocent rich people. Never trust the lower class or the middle class either. They are all out to con their way to riches instead of working hard like those of us who have made it. Those railing against Ben here are just jealous losers who dont want to work hard like us to make money.

Just a girl| 5.20.11 @ 5:51PM

Yuck, Ben , Yuck... I've seen you on tv and read things you've written and thought , theirs some disconnect with this guy and his compassion for others, he seems to really relish in his self importance, but this a violent sex crime and the need to defend a sexual predator because you feel a kine to him , well all I can say is YUCK.
Its just so little, petty, simple and well Yuck!!

Just a girl| 5.20.11 @ 5:51PM

Yuck, Ben , Yuck... I've seen you on tv and read things you've written and thought , theirs some disconnect with this guy and his compassion for others, he seems to really relish in his self importance, but this a violent sex crime and the need to defend a sexual predator because you feel a kine to him , well all I can say is YUCK.
Its just so little, petty, simple and well Yuck!!

flameaway| 5.20.11 @ 5:56PM

Okay, Ben. First, you crack me up. Second, you don't know shit about your topic here.

You wonder how a short fat old man, with international status, can force someone, a hotel maid, to have sex with him. Intimidation isn't about size it's about power. That fat old man is an expert on power and it's manipulation. The hotel maid changes beds and worries about how to buy milk for her kid. It'd be like pitting Micheal J. Fox against Mike Tyson in a street fight.

You question that the maid found the only economist on earth with a prediliction for sexual violence. I have to say that is a fairly naive argument. Economist have to be smarter than your run of the mill sex criminal. I knew an accountant that was locked up for rape. Does that come close to counting? I guess what I'm saying is that smart or dumb prince or pauper men have the capacity for sexual violence. I would go further and say that men of all professions have been guilty of it at one time or another; however, I have no proof for this. Only a deep faith in human nature.

CheGuevara| 5.20.11 @ 6:59PM

From his bio on this website:

Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes "Ben Stein's Diary" for every issue of The American Spectator.

=====

He can totally understand how the maid is out to get the rich people. He has dozens of maids in his houses in both Beverly Hills and Malibu.

Pat| 5.20.11 @ 7:36PM

Ben Stein has become the guy everyone loves to hate, and for good reason. He gets most everything wrong. If his stock picks and economic predictions are a good indicator of his future performance as an expert in criminal psychology, I'd say he is completely wrong.

sdfs| 5.20.11 @ 7:38PM

Pretty damned retarded article. Hope you get hit by a bus.

Just a Rich American| 5.20.11 @ 8:18PM

Y'all poor folks suck. You are all just jealous of the rich like me and Ben. We work hard to make our money. We may have 2-3 mansions on the West Coast but we also hire cheap Mexican maids and therefore save a lot of money which we then carefully invest in the Cayman Islands thereby saving more taxes. Unlike you the poor and dumb who dont save much because you are too lazy. It's not easy being rich. Grow up y'all already!

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:25AM

You a commie like the French bastard?

C. Taylor| 5.20.11 @ 10:11PM

Seriously, did you wake up one day in 2005 and decide, "Hmm, I'm tired of having any sort of goodwill with anyone. Let's see how thoroughly I can squander it over the next few years."

sara warriner| 5.20.11 @ 10:19PM

Having oral sex with the charming, intelligent rich powerful head of the IMF. How is that a brutal crime? I think this woman knew exactly what she was doing. In my experience many immigrants, especially those from Africa, figure out very quickly how to work the system here to their own benefit. Isn't it interesting how she has already filed the civil suit?

We have created a culture of victims. The women who complain about sexual predators are the ones who didn't get ahead by sleeping with the right guy.

Jean Clelland-Morin| 5.21.11 @ 12:12PM

Maybe you're just making a sick joke, sara warriner. My Mormon parents voted against the ERA when I was a single mom. The fact that women have had, and often still have to depend on a father, husband or "friend" to survive is the basis for prostitution. Many marriages have really been about survival rather than "love". Pointing to African women is particularly disgusting. Please offer "charming, intelligent, rich" Strauss-Kahn all the BJs he wants and keep him away from others. // Jean Clelland-Morin

Another Sara| 5.21.11 @ 1:12PM

Sara,
You make me sick. You are truly an evil representative of womankind. Shame on you.

Sarah in Texas| 5.23.11 @ 3:57PM

...and another Sarah. You're pathetic, and you're also incorrect. A bad combination for you.

Matt| 5.21.11 @ 2:18AM

Ha, ha, Ben. You got slammed on The Daily Show! What a stupid article. You should be ashamed of your self.

Anna| 5.21.11 @ 4:00AM

The suggestion that economists and people who work for non-profit organisations never commit violent crimes is laughable. This may come as a surprise, but criminals come from all walks of life.

Also, women who are being sexually assaulted can freeze in shock and often do as they're told in order to survive the ordeal or avoid being further assaulted or perhaps murdered. This is a very real fear for a woman who is a victim of a violent criminal. Men can overcome women by threats, violence and sheer force of strength.

The fact that she immediately reported the assault afterwards is usually what people do after they've been assaulted. If she had waited a few days I suspect you'd be asking 'why did she wait a few days to report it if she was really assaulted?'

The police and legal authorities are well equipped to discern when there is enough evidence to charge someone or put them on remand, regardless of who that person is, what their career or title is or how much money they earn. This is what they're trained to do. People don't 'earn' the right to special treament within the legal system. That would be unjust and against everything the US legal system stands for. Even hotel maids deserve justice, regardless of your personal opinions about hotel maids.

I agree, innocent until proven guilty. This goes for the accuser as well. This is precisely what our legal system is for - to determine guilt or innocence. The legal process is in effect in this case. That's how it works. This is our justice system in action. Which is why I'm struggling to make sense of this bizarre, nonsensical article.

Ted| 5.21.11 @ 5:51AM

Stein writes, "But, so far, he's innocent, and he's being treated shamefully." How does he know he's "innocent"? There's a difference between being "presumed innocent" and being "innocent" and it's not just semantics. If Strauss-Kahn is somehow innocent now but later is found to be guilty, then it stands to reason that he somehow will travel back in time to commit a crime he was accused of but previously didn't commit. Also, Ben Stein's enormous ears make him look ridiculous.

kris| 5.21.11 @ 8:44AM

ARE YOU KIDDING ME BEN!!! DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF???
You are laying out a defense for a man who has been accused of a terrible crime. This is not a "Brush with the law" as you describe but a serious matter. You downplay the history of this mans aggression to women and would have us believe that he is incpable of the crime he is accused of.
Furthermore, I don't know if you are married or have female children but you do have a mother and I wonder if you would be saying any of the crap you wrote if something like this happened to her.
You should be ashamed of yourself!!

oh wow| 5.25.11 @ 9:21AM

"You are laying out a defense for a man who has been accused of a terrible crime."

We should murder all defense attorneys, hmm?

carmen| 5.21.11 @ 9:04AM

Ben Stein needs to be raped by a short fat man without a gun or knife. This blaming of the victim was well and good in the 19th century but has no place today...except in the land of honor killing and multiple wives. Perhaps Ben Stein is really Al Qaeda...

anonymous| 5.21.11 @ 10:04AM

"2.)...Maybe Mr. Strauss-Kahn is guilty but if so, he is one of a kind, and criminals are not usually one of a kind."
Ever heard of Osama bin Ladin? or Hitler?

anon-chan| 5.25.11 @ 9:19AM

godwin's law!

opinion invalidated.

Scott Lahti| 5.21.11 @ 10:25AM

"Stein - pogrom of one?"

sam mckinney| 5.21.11 @ 10:58AM

There's no doubt about it: DSK was set-up and a victim of chemical induced psychosis. His behavior was just too bizarre for an aging, short, fat, kurmudgin who spent the previous 24 hrs. traveling, and it didn't take a genius to set-the-stage (it's been done before). The cast of characters included: a crooked maintenance man and housekeeper, front desk clerk, pest control applicator and bellhop to hold the elevator door open on the floor while the room was being sprayed and wiped down with the real dangerous and deadly chemicals/gases -- the whole thing took a minute and a half to pull off.

I hope his attorney is investigating all angles and leads aggressively, "cause this stuff goes on.

Zertie| 5.21.11 @ 11:54AM

I'm appalled. I've never read so much garbage on one single page. Short fat men can't be rapists? Rape can only take place at gunpoint? Powerful economists can't commit rape? IMO, Ben Stein is an idiot.

Sarah in Texas| 5.23.11 @ 3:55PM

Agreed.

Jean Clelland-Morin| 5.21.11 @ 12:00PM

Strauss-Kahn is not being treated more shamefully than anyone else under the same circumstance - and his money put him in something a whole lot nicer than prison. 1) The French are basically blind to the difference between private, consensual sex and the abuse of power. (I'm a legal French resident). 2) Economists HAVE committed violent crimes - just not sexual - and many deserve punishment. 3) How dare the victim have the audacity to speak up right away. 4) Maybe no sudden flight but, Roman Polansky. 5) My son spent 5 months in prison for recidive homelessness (a UCLA scholarship student who had to learn to communicate with a rewired brain after an accident and being in a coma). What makes S-K so special he can stay in a fancy apartment? 6) Did this housekeeper steal from you? S-K has already called her a liar. 7) I don't know one way or another either, but it's time to speak out against the eternal abuse of women by men of relative power. 8) Hate of the haves by the have-nots!!!! Do "haves" deserve more rights than others? We already know that that crap about the poor and rich getting equal treatment under the law. Justice in the U.S. is expensive. // Jean Clelland-Morin

Sad Millionaire| 5.21.11 @ 1:22PM

It makes me sad the way you guys are attacking Ben just because he is rich, own two mansions in California, a high rise penthouse in New York, a vacation home in Italy, and a $90,000 luxury sedan. Remember, without the rich, this country will not exist. The rich are what made America.

BMW2011| 5.22.11 @ 2:30PM

I totally agree. The middle/lower class is totally ungrateful.

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:27AM

I never got a job from a poor person, did you?

Don't hate anybody.

Jack Haesly| 5.21.11 @ 1:31PM

Is it possible Mr. Stein is using his literary position...i.e., throwing up a smoke screen in Dr. Strauss Kahn's defense because they both have common links to rich and powerful political friends and a sinillar or shared secular background? I would hope not. Hwever, as distasleful as the suggestion may be...none the less, Mr. Stein's motives need to examined in detail. "Me thinks...possibly he complains too much".

shelby new| 5.21.11 @ 2:18PM

Weaponized accusations: Ben Stein poses salient questions, all 8 of them. Indeed, the outline of this case, as reported, does present some troubling implausibilities, not the least of which is a presumably spry 32 year old chased down by a chubby, rheumatoid arthritis suffering 62 year old? And the spontaneity of it all! - is there really a male enhancement product THAT good? Absent any spontaneous crime of opportunity, it's just as much a struggle to believe that he lye in wait naked for the maid to enter the room, given who is is, as Mr. Stein adroitly points out. And that especially lurid detail of the alleged victim's unseemly cooperation to the extent she finally needed to expectorate - yikes! Then, after all that, and some inexplicable lag time, she finally somehow musters resolve to complain. Then, she "was treated and released for minor injuries." I appreciate that Mr. Stein poses these 8 critical questions, notwithstanding that he advocates special treatment for a special high profile world financier. Reading the feckless twittering tweets and twists of those predisposed - no, make that hellbent - on discrediting Mr. Stein's 8 rhetorical questions, even before any vetting of facts, registers on my caution meter as having as much chance for intellectually honest debate as to debate the trumpeted rapture (end of the world today, May 21) with a religious zealot. So I harbor no illusions of persuading or debating anyone on this forum. But for my own 2 cents I sum it up this way: NO, I am not devoid of sensitivity and compassion for a credible sex assault victim. But let's be vigilante for those who weaponize an allegation. And dittos for the paparazzi enablers of this pernicious weaponized anthrax-like form of accusation. One day, just as one of our loved ones could be a real rape victim, it is just as troubling the prospect that one of our loved ones could be on the receiving end of the loose cannon fire of false accusations. Mr. Stein, I thank you for the refreshing read and counter point to the paparazzi.

ASSumption Galore| 5.21.11 @ 8:29PM

presumably spry 32 year old
-----------
How do you know? Are you just ASSuming?

shelby new| 5.21.11 @ 9:47PM

The frail, the infirm, slackers need not apply to any hotel cleaning job. Lot of lifting, stamina, endurance, yes can be ASSumed if you prefer. There are plenty of instances in recent history where the innocent were ASSumed guilty by innuendo and media hysteria. Need I name them?

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:28AM

Please do ASShole.

TP| 5.22.11 @ 3:32PM

chubby, rheumatoid arthritis suffering 62 year old
---------

Are you a friend of Ben Stein? He sure doesnt look chubby here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....plane.html

He sure uses crass language.

Innis| 5.24.11 @ 9:18PM

The problem with your 'intellectual' argument is that it's pointless, superfluous speculation. The legal system is there for a reason. Citizens have a right to due process, regardless of our personal opinions. The legal process has begun and will come to a conclusion one way or another - guilt or innocence. This is where the story ends. Our own biases and pontifications have nothing to do with anything but ourselves. So Stein has a jones for wealthy economists and issues with hotel maids? That's all fine and good, but it's comepletely irrelevant to the case.

Sal| 5.22.11 @ 1:59PM

"Can anyone tell me any economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes?"

Paul Bernardo, serial rapist and serial killer, and Russell Williams, serial killer, both have economics degrees. And that's just in Canada.

So yes Ben, I can in fact tell you about economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes. PS - you're making Yale look bad.

jean Kanig| 5.22.11 @ 4:17PM

Ben you are a big disappointment to all
you had a couple valid points yes he should have gotten out on bail and removed his passport we should not have paraded in front of the press But you slandering the maid , and there were rumors of his bullying for sex and there are political figures who sexually attack interns in the senate and white house so just becuase your in politics like he is does not make him innocent
1, 2 and 3 of your points are not valid And how does anyone rape any woman or force her to have have oral sex they are stronger then her and a person is threatened YOU are more ignorant and arrogant then I ever would have thought a big disappoint ...blame the press blame the police not the maid

Marcus Oliverstein| 5.22.11 @ 5:24PM

Stein, please for the sake of humanity, STOP writing! We have enough BS in this world.

ahansen| 5.22.11 @ 8:09PM

BS:
After reading this twaddle, I'm glad I nixed your screenplays all those years ago. What dreck.

This piece as well.

Dumb in America| 5.22.11 @ 11:46PM

Ben Stein,
You don't seem too smart.
Your first question is so divorced from reality that is is pitiable. Ever heard of Tiger Woods and the 12+ mistresses he had for years before things finally came out?
Your question about him paying $3000 a night for a hotel is lame too - he did not pay. The IMF paid. So the IMF might not like that they paid $3000 a night for him to go sexually assault a woman. Capiche?

christian conservative| 5.23.11 @ 12:39AM

the dirty little jew ben stein ever ready to lie to americans on behalf of another scumbag jew, PURGE JEWS FROM MEDIA!!!!!!!!!! germans banned these scum from media banking and government all of which they controlled and in 2 years they were an economic powerhouse again, americans need to free themselves of the parasite NOW

Ben Dover| 5.23.11 @ 5:25PM

I despise Ben Stein, but people like you should be linched! You're a vile, racist rep..scumbag, and Stein etnicity is ony one of your victims, Obama is the other, latinos, or anyone who dont think like you(wich is 90% of the people). We see everyday in the news who you are through your disciples of hate, Rush, hannity, Beck, Palin, Bachman, Trump,etc...I dont know why you even say that about Ben, because he thinks just like you and all those jerks i mentioned!! You, insulting Ben Stein is like Hitler accusing Stalin of..genocide! 'Christian conservative' is worse than nazi german! Go back under your sore -loser rock! I bet you;re one of the idiots that carried those 'end of the world' signs' last week in New York!

A kind warning| 5.25.11 @ 8:55AM

did you read the "don't feed the trolls!" notice before posting? because I don't think you did.

mzk1| 5.26.11 @ 6:05PM

Interesting. The two of you are two sides of the same coin.

MAvenger| 5.31.11 @ 2:07PM

idk if u rrealiz how stoooopud ur, like, comment looks.
Dude. Not everyone can be grammatically or politically correct all the time, but can you at least get yourself a little bit of intelligence before commenting?

MAvenger| 5.31.11 @ 2:10PM

"Dirty little Jew"... now where have I heard that before? Hitler called, he wants his anti-Semitism back.
Again: this kind of attitude leads to HITLER. Oh gee, only most likely the most evil person the world has ever seen. That's not so bad.
Really. Get yourself some morals and humanity.

Lancelot Gobbo| 5.23.11 @ 1:54PM

Points 1-6 sound like defense counsel. Point 7 references the presumption of innocence - perhaps Mr Stein should think about his stance on THAT before writing the first six points which argue for the innocence of this alleged perpetrator. Point 8? Yeah, but it's America, where wealth is everything, and thus a legitimate cause for criticism.
More importantly, how can we develop a little tiny bit of intelligence in Mr Stein's head? And why the hell is this poky little magazine paying him to write articles supposedly worth the effort of reading when he has not yet grown that tiny bit of intelligence? What's that? The editors are morons, too? Oh, sorry, didn't mean to draw attention to the intellectually handicapped in the American magazine business. I'll go mind my business elsewhere, then.

Sarah in Texas| 5.23.11 @ 3:53PM

Thanks, Ben Stein. There are never enough men promoting this viewpoint in cases of alleged sexual assault.

Sarah in Texas| 5.23.11 @ 3:53PM

Thanks, Ben Stein. There are never enough men promoting this viewpoint in cases of alleged sexual assault.

Joe citizen abroad| 5.23.11 @ 5:24PM

Ben Stein's major beef seems to be with journalists who rush to judgement. He has a point there. But then he goes on to commit the opposite sin, reflecting stunning naivete regarding the dynamics of sexual assault...or just plain physical assault...or just plain life. I'll single out the most glaring. His first argument, "why didn't he ever get charged until now?" could have been used to defend Al Capone. DSK may be a "short, fat old man" to Stein, but he seems vigorous enough to use that weight as an advantage to subdue a woman. It's also typical for a creep in a position of power to use that position as a weapon (an alleged creep, of course, Mr. Stein). Not hard to imagine said creep...on his way to and from meeting heads of state, for instance...saying something like, "I know people who could have you deported, no matter what your status." Or, "I know people who can make sure no one else from your family ever gets into the US." And in the maid's state of panic, that may have worked, until the disgusting nature of the situation overcame her, or she saw an opportunity to flee. As far as Mr. Stein's assertion that lots of people were passing by the room, this wasn't simply a room. It was a large, multi-room suite, with plenty of opportunity to stay far away from the hallway. To be sure, there may be other arguments that raise reasonable doubt, but after Mr. Stein's embarrassing attempt, I'll bet DSK is thankful he has someone else representing him.

MAvenger| 5.31.11 @ 2:01PM

Couldn't have said that better. Those examples were particularly relevant. Everyone judging this maid or saying she couldn't really have been raped needs to put themselves in her shoes for once.

Eddie Armenta| 5.23.11 @ 5:54PM

I've lost a lot of respect for Ben Stein. All of his defenses assume a hostility for the rich by everyone who isn't rich. Mr. Stein seems to feel hostility for the poor, who can be "complete lunatics" and steal, steal, steal. Yet an economist-rapist is unfathomable, a mathematical annomaly, a radical exception. Ridiculous. His concern for the comfort of the accused, and lack of concern for a woman who is claiming sexual assualt, is disturbing.

MAvenger| 5.31.11 @ 1:58PM

Hear, hear. Hopefully the American justice system can find out the whole truth and nothing but the truth. In the meantime, we all need a little concern for our fellow human beings, and Stein is clearly concerned about the wrong person.

Rob| 5.23.11 @ 6:32PM

Ben Stein....amazingly OWNED by Jon Stewart and The Daily Show. Hahahahahaha Ben, you used to be somewhat amusing and you seemed smart, but you really need to keep quiet.

John| 5.24.11 @ 12:23AM

Wow, those members of The Tribe really stick together, don't they?

What? No, the Economist Tribe...what did you think I meant?

Fabienne Debaix| 5.24.11 @ 3:13PM

Completely agree
How can a short older man drag a 30 year old amazon into a bathroom and force oral sex Can't she...bite?

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:35AM

Amazon? She's tiny you freak.

Joe| 5.25.11 @ 6:59AM

Man--Trump, Stein, Arnold, Ryan (in fact the whole House GOP), Republican governors, etc etc. It's like the 'wingers have joined a suicide cult.

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:34AM

I don't know about that; the Obumster looked pretty depressed and humiliated after he made a laughingstock of himself before the Queen and the whole world today. LMAO!

Besides, the French rapist is a leftist like you.

MAvenger| 5.31.11 @ 1:54PM

Can we please keep politics out of this? People are already insulting each other enough as it is, and now that it's Republicans vs. Democrats, the entire discussion is just going to be elephants and donkeys yelling at each other and blaming the entire world on the other.
People in each party believe in this guy's guilt, as well as his innocence. It's not that political beliefs are completely irrelevant, but they just fuel more hatred and spam.

Mark Wailwood, Herpetologist| 5.25.11 @ 8:51AM

More than the erratic logic displayed in the article, I was highly exasperated by the complete stupidity and intolerance of (most) of those posting comments here. Most of you are arguing about the most inane and unrelated subjects, or judging anything about this case before the end of the actual trial. I sure hope you are all trolls, or you shouldn't be surprised why the US as a country are losing any credibility as a country they had left.

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:31AM

What dump hellhole of a country do you call home?

MAvenger| 5.31.11 @ 1:49PM

Did you know Einstein once said "the two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity"? Well, he did. Yes, people are judgemental and probably aren't qualified to determine guilty from innocent. But does that mean we don't have the right to form our own opinions?
If you look around online (P.S. this applies to all of you, not just Wailwood), there are people judging each other all over the place. Lots of these people are addressing valid arguments about human nature and society, although maybe not specifically this case. There are plenty of intelligent comments here too, if you only care to look for them.
Read what I have written and tell me I'm not good enough to post a comment here.
Okay, I'm a while female high school student. What now?

Objectivity or Silence| 5.25.11 @ 11:06AM

could we please hold our judgment until after the case is over? everyone here is judging without either sufficient knowledge of the case, or sufficient brain capacity

NoBama| 5.26.11 @ 2:30AM

There's plenty of evidence against the French pervert, moron. Try to keep up.

Debbie| 5.27.11 @ 9:30AM

There was evidence of sex, not rape.

RAPESTEIN| 5.27.11 @ 1:09AM

Presumption of innocence does not sell papers and TV add space. It may be unfair, but that's advertisement based media.

If you are going to defend innocent people being demonized by the media, choose a PROVEN to be innocent individual. The three Duke Lacrosse players is a good example. But make your point about defending the presumption of innocence, don't make lame excuses for why this guy couldn't have raped this woman (He's a short fat old man.) Stein you suck.

Victoria Green| 5.27.11 @ 5:05AM

What appalling drivel - where has this clown been for the last thirty years.

Debbie| 5.27.11 @ 9:29AM

Mr. Stein brings up some very good points about how we view suspects in criminal cases. Its very hard to view someone as being innocent until proven guilty, especially if someone is caught in the act.
In this case its the maids word against Khan's. I was wondering how he could force the woman to perform oral sex. As a woman I don't see how this could be accomplished unless he was using physical torture to get her mouth open. Were there bruises on her face and body?
This will be interesting.

MAvenger| 5.31.11 @ 1:43PM

You bring up a good point about the forced oral sex. But I took a moment to think about how that maid would have felt. Consider her position: she is a worker and he is a guest. He is wealthy and powerful, while she most likely has a lower-class background and not much education (not stereotyping but a fact). She is a woman. He is a man.
We say the double standard has disappeared. We say we are not sexist. But men still rape and sexually abuse women every day. She could've bit him, yes. But what would he have done then? Until you can put yourself in her shoes, until you are in her place and being forced down against your will, don't judge her.
I'm proud that she had the courage to speak up afterward. Not all women can do that.

Greg| 5.27.11 @ 10:50PM

The asinine, criminally inept, misogynistic, senile, boorish, stupid ramblings expressed in this column are truly amazing. Incredible in their complete absence of conscious thought.

Tom Lintz| 5.29.11 @ 11:47AM

Here you are, Mr. Stein, as one of the "haves", asking for special privileges for Mr. Strauss. You have a very skewed perception, Mr. Stein. You've just shown us why you "haves" can't be trusted and why we should treat you more harshly when you're arrested for a crime. I guess I could call your approach narcissism. Since you think that you "haves" deserve much better treatment than we "have nots".

MAvenger| 5.31.11 @ 1:36PM

You are completely right and I wish I was able to say this as well as you did.

MAvenger| 5.31.11 @ 1:34PM

"Innocent until proven guilty" is one of the most fundamental principles of the American justice system. Yes, we understand that he may not have committed such a crime, and it's great that Mr. Stein still has enough faith in humanity to say That Man Might Not Be Guilty, Just Give Him A Chance.
Or does he have no faith at all? He says in his sixth point that he "loves and admires hotel maids"? What? WHAT? He loves and admires them, and then goes on to say that they have stolen from him on numerous occasions before. That's an outright contradiction, not to mention a blatant stereotype. He says that the maid is "probably a lovely woman" and then raises doubts about her loveliness.
If Mr. Stein-- no, he doesn't even deserve that formality-- if Stein had just kept to the "innocent until proven guilty" point and left all else alone, he would've had a very nice and true editorial that could be applied to all sorts of cases. But as anyone with half a brain, at least one functioning eyeball, and even the sliver of a conscience could tell you, this so-called editorial is a vile monologue on why the upper class deserve rights, privileges, and the full benefit of the doubt time after time while lower classes should be denied these rights. Stein is prolonging a narrow mindset found far too often in this world. As a person who grew up middle-class white in a town full of minorities, I've seen firsthand the hatred that class divisions can cause and the societal problems that pathetically self-deceptive attitudes such as the one exhibited by Stein here prolong.
I salute you, Stein, for your ability to completely ignore the voices of the lower class and your unswerving faith in the wisdom of society's elite.

Freddie| 6.1.11 @ 8:31PM

"I am sure she is a fine woman."
Most of this piece was clearly bulls**t, but this really stood out. He's 'sure' of this fact, despite knowing absolutely nothing about her character.

Also, point 8), about the price of the hotel room, seems to clearly state that Mr Stein believes Mr Strauss-Kahn is certainly innocent, and is accused because he is rich.
Either there's some massive (and surprisingly effective) 'conspiracy of the poor' to frame Mr Strauss-Kahn, which is ridiculous, or the maid framed him. Why him, as opposed to any other guest? (who ALL paid £3000 a night).
I'm not stating an opinion on whether either party are speaking truth, merely pointing out that Mr Stein's opinions EITHER way do not seem worth listening to.

MarkDeth| 6.2.11 @ 6:25PM

Sheesh. Some guy gets charged with felony rape and they arrested him??? The nerve! Rich white man just can't get a fail shake in this country.

amused| 6.3.11 @ 12:33PM

This has to be one of the worst articles I have ever read. I won't even pass much comment on the offensive nature of the context, as one has to assume it is down to the bare lack of intelligence on behalf of the author. Stupid, rubbishy tripe.

mac| 6.4.11 @ 12:21PM

Mr. Stein,
you owe d s k an apology. your defense has all the grace of a one legged man flopping about the stable trying to clean up what the jackass left behind.
you, sir, are a lawyer? in good standing? the one item in your defense that is truly a thumb in the eye that no economist has ever been charged with a similar crime and ergo, d s k possibly could not be guilty is enough to send you back to remedial Yale. remind me not to hire you.
Kropotkin has done a fine job summing up the counter to your babbling, so it leaves only this to be said.
1) you ought to be ashamed.
and 2) you really got to be kidding

PLAAS| 6.6.11 @ 12:30PM

How much money Stein gets from the billionaire clan around DSK. its a very naive comment on the whole situation and a disgrace to all women

Steve Bull| 6.16.11 @ 8:15PM

shame on you, Ben

theman| 6.27.11 @ 3:04AM

Mr. Nobama;
after all this posts i have read i ask why Usa government does not want DSK to be the next president of France, so you might understand that i agree with Sir Ben, that is the root of everything.

weddingdresses| 6.27.11 @ 5:00AM

How much money Stein gets from the billionaire clan around DSK. its a very naive comment on the whole situation and a disgrace to all women

theman| 6.27.11 @ 2:29PM

touché!, where are the physics evidences, if she was raped, something about the dna, why she could enter so easily to the room when someone prestigious was finishing his shower.....a lot of suspects facts...stranno stranno tutto....

theman| 6.27.11 @ 2:30PM

Although we all know boys it is not the first puzzle at the History of The Usa....

fred| 6.30.11 @ 11:22PM

Prescient, anyone?

Occam's Tool| 7.1.11 @ 12:11AM

As I stated much earlier, while I believe all should be treated equally under American Law, it is important to withhold judgment until the facts COME IN. For this reason, we owe Mr. Stein a BIG APOLOGY. Please note below: (NYT on line)

"Strauss-Kahn Case Seen as in JeopardyBy JIM DWYER, WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM and JOHN ELIGON
Published: June 30, 2011
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LinkedinDiggMySpacePermalink. This article is by Jim Dwyer, William K. Rashbaum and John Eligon.

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Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg News
Dominique Strauss-Kahn could be released on his own recognizance, and freed from house arrest.
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Differing Takes on Accuser’s Credibility (July 1, 2011)
Times Topic: Dominique Strauss-Kahn
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Dominique Strauss-Kahn arrived at Manhattan Criminal Court for his arraignment in New York on June 6.
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The sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn is on the verge of collapse as investigators have uncovered major holes in the credibility of the housekeeper who charged that he attacked her in his Manhattan hotel suite in May, according to two well-placed law enforcement officials.

Although forensic tests found unambiguous evidence of a sexual encounter between Mr. Strauss-Kahn, a French politician, and the woman, prosecutors do not believe much of what the accuser has told them about the circumstances or about herself.

Since her initial allegation on May 14, the accuser has repeatedly lied, one of the law enforcement officials said.

Senior prosecutors met with lawyers for Mr. Strauss-Kahn on Thursday and provided details about their findings, and the parties are discussing whether to dismiss the felony charges. Among the discoveries, one of the officials said, are issues involving the asylum application of the 32-year-old housekeeper, who is Guinean, and possible links to criminal activities, including drug dealing and money laundering.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers will return to State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Friday morning, when Justice Michael J. Obus is expected to consider easing the extraordinary bail conditions that he imposed on Mr. Strauss-Kahn in the days after he was charged.

Indeed, Mr. Strauss-Kahn could be released on his own recognizance, and freed from house arrest, reflecting the likelihood that the serious charges against him will not be sustained. The district attorney’s office may try to require Mr. Strauss-Kahn to plead guilty to a misdemeanor, but his lawyers are likely to contest such a move.

The revelations are a stunning change of fortune for Mr. Strauss-Kahn, 62, who was considered a strong contender for the French presidency before being accused of sexually assaulting the woman who went to clean his luxury suite at the Sofitel New York.

Prosecutors from the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., who initially were emphatic about the strength of the case and the account of the victim, plan to tell the judge on Friday that they “have problems with the case” based on what their investigators have discovered, and will disclose more of their findings to the defense. The woman still maintains that she was attacked, the officials said.

“It is a mess, a mess on both sides,” one official said.

According to the two officials, the woman had a phone conversation with an incarcerated man within a day of her encounter with Mr. Strauss-Kahn in which she discussed the possible benefits of pursuing the charges against him. The conversation was recorded.

That man, the investigators learned, had been arrested on charges of possessing 400 pounds of marijuana. He is among a number of individuals who made multiple cash deposits, totaling around $100,000, into the woman’s bank account over the last two years. The deposits were made in Arizona, Georgia, New York and Pennsylvania.

The investigators also learned that she was paying hundreds of dollars every month in phone charges to five companies. The woman had insisted she had only one phone and said she knew nothing about the deposits except that they were made by a man she described as her fiancé and his friends.

In addition, one of the officials said, she told investigators that her application for asylum included mention of a previous rape, but there was no such account in the application. She also told them that she had been subjected to genital mutilation, but her account to the investigators differed from what was contained in the asylum application.

A lawyer for the woman, Kenneth Thompson, could not be immediately reached for comment on Thursday evening.

In recent weeks, Mr. Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers, Benjamin Brafman and William W. Taylor III, have made it clear that they would make the credibility of the woman a focus of their case. In a May 25 letter, they said they had uncovered information that would “gravely undermine the credibility” of the accuser.

Still, it was the prosecutor’s investigators who found the information about the woman.

The case involving Mr. Strauss-Kahn has made international headlines and renewed attention on accusations that he had inappropriate behavior toward women in the past, while, more broadly, prompting soul-searching among the French about the treatment of women.

The revelations about the investigators’ findings are likely to buttress the view of Mr. Strauss-Kahn’s supporters, who complained that the American authorities had rushed to judgment in the case.

Some of Mr. Strauss-Kahn’s allies even contended that he had been set up by his political rivals, an assertion that law enforcement authorities said there was no evidence to support.

Mr. Strauss-Kahn resigned from his post as managing director of the International Monetary Fund in the wake of the housekeeper’s accusations and was required to post $1 million bail and a $5 million bond.

He also agreed to remain under 24-hour home confinement while wearing an ankle monitor and providing a security team and an armed guard at the entrance and exit of the building where he was living. The conditions are costing Mr. Strauss-Kahn $250,000 a month.

Prosecutors had sought the restrictive conditions in part by arguing that the case against Mr. Strauss-Kahn was a strong one, citing a number of factors, including the credibility of his accuser, with one prosecutor saying her story was “compelling and unwavering.”

In the weeks after making her accusations, the woman, who arrived in the United States from Guinea in 2002, was described by relatives and friends as an unassuming and hard-working immigrant with a teenage daughter. She had no criminal record, and had been a housekeeper at the Sofitel for a few years, they said.

Mr. Strauss-Kahn was such a pariah in the initial days after the arrest that neighbors of an Upper East Side apartment building objected when he and his wife tried to rent a unit there. He eventually rented a three-story town house on Franklin Street in TriBeCa.

Under the relaxed conditions of bail to be requested on Friday, the district attorney’s office would retain Mr. Strauss-Kahn’s passport but he would be permitted to travel within the United States.

The woman told the authorities that she had gone to Mr. Strauss-Kahn’s suite to clean it and that he emerged naked from the bathroom and attacked her. The formal charges accused him of ripping her pantyhose, trying to rape her and forcing her to perform oral sex; his lawyers say there is no evidence of force and have suggested that any sex was consensual.

After the indictment was filed, Mr. Vance spoke briefly on the courthouse steps addressing hundreds of local and foreign reporters who had been camped out in front of the imposing stone edifice. He characterized the charges as “extremely serious” and said the “evidence supports the commission of nonconsensual forced sexual acts.”

Mr. Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers, Mr. Brafman and Mr. Taylor, declined to comment on Thursday evening.

The case was not scheduled to return to court until July 18. "

Denver2tor| 7.1.11 @ 5:37PM

Mr. Stein,
I wondered what happened to you after unable to find you at your old domicile at the NEW YORK TIMES.
This is the first time I meet you again. I agree with your article completely. However, reading most of the comments, I feel like having visited an asylum for lunatics and sordid exhibitionists who want to see the product of their (?) minds published. Normality seems to be in short supply now.
Your readership, if their statements are representative, is not worthy of any rational analysis by you or any other commentator.

Denver2tor| 7.1.11 @ 5:39PM

July 1, 2011.
Will anyone apologize now for their premature, and often vicious, comments?

Jaime| 7.2.11 @ 7:37AM

No one need apologize for comments regarding the flawed thinking and poor writing done by Ben Stein. DSK does not deserve any special consideration because of his position, he does indeed need to be subject to the same laws as any other citizen. I am no stranger to people being falsely accused and thus you get no qualms from me about presumption of innocence, but Ben Stein's article is riddled with protected class exceptionalism and bias. It is one of the more sexist things I have read lately, and the arrogance of privilage of which this article reeks just shows me how out of touch the elite class are from the struggles of those who biologically are their fellow human beings, but who are never treated as such in all other respects.

Even the first line of the article is a laugh line.

"Now for a few humble thoughts..."

Humble? These thoughts are anything but humble.

A final thought. In this country, our COURTS function under the presumption of innocence. There is no requirement for individual citizens to have the same presumption of innocence. We are free to think what we want.

M Stewart| 7.2.11 @ 1:37PM

Events have vindicated Stein and shown he was spot on from the beginning. I hope apologies from all the would-be lynchers will be forthcoming, but I doubt that will happen.

R Close| 7.3.11 @ 6:28AM

Haha, apologies? Very funny.
Do you mean that we should apologise for attacking the validity of a man who thinks that status is an indicator of how likely someone is to commit a crime? I don't think so.
Yes, the general concensus on criminal convictions is "Innocent until proven guilty", but the police have a duty to treat every criminal accusation with appropriate seriousness. A rape charge is not something to be taken lightly, and police procedure is generally to arrest someone they suspect of commiting a crime. I don't know where Stein gets his idea of the police from, but they don't leave suspected criminals running around the streets when they have probable cause to arrest them.
As for Stein's insinuation that people in higher classes don't generally commit crimes, that is utterly preposterous. Sure, the majority of convicted crimes are among the working classes, but not all crimes are convicted. A massive amount of white-collar crime is suspected of going unconvicted because there is so little evidence.
As for his second point, ("Can anyone tell me any economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes?")
Yes actually, I can. As Randall Munroe of xkcd.com has pointed out in his blog, Paul Bernardo, the infamous Scarborough Rapist who stalked and raped at least 15 women and later tortured and killed around 3 more, was a qualified economist.
Whether Strauss-Kahn is innocent or guilty, he deserves no special treatment for being rich. That is preposterous. Mr. Stein's points are ridiculously elitist and show no knowledge or research into proper police procedure. Mr. Stewart, we have nothing to apologise for.

stealthcook| 7.3.11 @ 10:22AM

i am ashamed - i ASSUMED guilty

Clau| 7.3.11 @ 8:26PM

Well, at the ending Monsoieur DSK is free....so Vance ius going quite pretty down i at his politic carreer......^je suis content^not about this late new, `cuz one Proffessional man is a free man.

BobSmith| 7.5.11 @ 2:36PM

Obviously this article is immensely well thought out, articulate, and well considered. Also, Stein is very handsome and not at all pudgy and balding.

His first point is "How come if he's such a womanizer he hasn't been caught before now?"

A natural question, because, of course, rich people always go to jail for the bad things they do, and having lots of power, money, and influence could never make it any less likely for him to get caught/go to jail. How come you liberals can't get this?

His second point is that life follows patterns. And yeah, I expect you nitpicking bastards can find one or two or five or ten well known economists who've done horrendous things, but that doesn't change the point that they don't do horrendous things. You lose again, liberals!

His third point is that Khan is fat and short and old, and couldn't possibly force or coerce or intimidate anyone, ever, which is so obviously true, because no one short or fat or old has ever forced anyone to do anything, ever. QED, pinkos.

His fourth point is something about an airplane. Planes confuse me, and because I don't understand how they work, I don't believe in them. If planes are a fiction, how was he a flight risk? You can't argue with that one, socialists!

His fifth point asks the very valid question "Why should we incarcerate accused rapists?" Why indeed? I mean, he was merely accused of forcing his genitals into another person's orifices, leaving them a shocked, broken shell of a human being. I mean, it's not like he stole anything!

As far as his sixth point goes, of course she's a crazed medication stealing maid, just look at her picture! And obviously no one could have done any investigation to judge the merits of her story before arresting him. It's not as if that's a thing police actually do very commonly on a regular basis as one of the core duties of their job, aided by special training in investigation. Another salient point, Mr. Stein.

Onto point seven. Obviously one anchor on ABC's opinion on the matter is very important to the merits of the case and whether or not he's guilty, and should clearly be discussed in this article. Thank you for tackling this difficult point so succinctly, Mr. Stein! Bravo, sir!

Onto the last point. See, it's all class warfare! It's the poor condemning the rich just because they've been accused of a sickening and soul-destroying crime! Clearly this shows how innocent the poor man is.

The obvious point Mr. Stein leaves out, I think, is that old fat people can't get erections! I mean, Ben could have used himself as an example. Who would believe a fat, wrinkled old man like Ben Stein could get his tiny, flaccid member to stand erect long enough to rape someone? It's laughable! And Khan is nearly as old and fat as Stein is! He's clearly innocent. And this one has nothing to do with the rich getting away with things because they're rich, so you can stop whining, liberals.

Mr. Stein is clearly a genius well beyond the minds of all you whiny liberals, as he made clear in his groundbreaking, brilliant film "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." This breathtaking and exquisitely crafted masterpiece was denied its rightly deserved academy award wins by the liberal elite, on the supposed grounds that it was "boring", and "terrible", and "the worst piece of film making in the history of mankind, if not other, extraterrestrial cultures across the galaxy and universe."

You should all go apologize to Mr. Stein right now for being so very rude.

Aurelius| 7.13.11 @ 11:18AM

I've read Stein peripatetically for decades, primarily in these pages. His narcissism and complete dissasociation with the real world (aka non-Malibu) was sometimes offset by a somewhat droll humor, though not as amusing as he clearly thought. But this revolting tripe is the last I will read of his. And I no longer have any use for the Spectator, either, of which he is a representative sample, along with the equally out of touch Tyrell. The rag reads like a parody put out by the hard left.

Estelios| 7.27.11 @ 2:31PM

Hello there;

well, as we have seen at the news the war of currecies will start at august as the Beijing review told it before February, so by neu me thinks about the other parallel of this darkened engagement, why sarkozy does not want DSK to be the next president of the suffered Frànce, me insists .....me insist in this line and i do know that nobody is puttin attention to my comments `cuz to be a coward is easier than to have the " skills"....for not to say balls.
So if i speculate that to bring DSK down is the itinirerary of a 3rd. war of the world am i wrong? anyone prophetic? how many dollars spent in armamentism by the Government? how many ? which weapons ? i do know all, and u are all wrong, bored peoples.

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reno law firm| 9.13.11 @ 2:26AM

"Innocent until proven guilty", but the police have a duty to treat every criminal accusation with appropriate seriousness. A rape charge is not something to be taken lightly, and police procedure is generally to arrest someone they suspect of commiting a crime.

drew bitsko| 9.26.11 @ 5:56AM

Obviously one anchor on ABC's opinion on the matter is very important to the merits of the case and whether or not he's guilty, and should clearly be discussed in this article. Thank you for tackling this difficult point so succinctly, Mr. Stein! Bravo, sir! at home mole removal

onketing| 11.11.11 @ 3:00AM

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river sea| 2.21.12 @ 3:47PM

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl.....estigation

Whoops..sorry about that Ben. Yes...economists can be rapists....also turns out evolution is true, climate change is real and businesses can drop you as a spokesman when they learn how insane you are, but go ahead and keep suing. Can I sue you for polluting the minds of America with your factually incorrect nonsense?