Ben Stein says DSK probably didn't do it because he is an economist and they don't do stuff like

[yellowcanine]

that. Seriously.


Stein: "In life, events tend to follow patterns. People who commit crimes tend to be criminals, for example. Can anyone tell me any economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes? 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."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/18/dominique-strauss-kahn-bernard-henri-levy-ben-stein_n_863633.html?ir=World

[CTyankee]

1. What a totally stupid, idiotic thing to say!

WTF is up with this guy?

[yardwork]

2. He's stupid.

[monmouth]

3. HA! He never met the accountant I had a fling with years ago...Whew....n/t

[blondeatlast]

4. And here I thought he was dead. (Great article at the link, btw). nt

[joeybee12]

5. Aren't the theories on jack the ripper that he was an upstanding upperclass

person?

[LiberalAndProud]

6. And priests didn't molest children. Except they did and the power structure shielded them.

Ben's logic is failing him. As if logic ever served him.

[Maru Kitteh]

7. I thought is was rich white socialist old guys that didn't do stuff like that.

[sufrommich]

8. That is the dumbest reasoning I've seen in awhile. nt

[Botany]

9. men married to pretty women never cheat

n/t

[blondeatlast]

10. Interesting that uber-Capitalist Ben Stein is defending a supposed 'socialist.'

What to think? :shrug:

[malaise]

11. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm didn't Poulantzas

kill his wife/woman?

[Distant Observer]

12. Stein raises a serious question about the justice system. Was NO BAIL capricious?

Is it usual to refuse bail for even such a horrendous charge? I have personally heard of bail being granted for much more violent crimes with greater prima-facie flight risk.

Stein: "Mr. Strauss-Kahn had surrendered his passport. He had offered to stay in New York City. He is one of the most recognizable people on the planet. Did he really have to be put in Riker's Island? Couldn't he have been given home detention with a guard? This is a man with a lifetime of public service, on a distinguished level, to put it mildly. Was Riker's Island really the place to put him on the allegations of one human being?

[blondeatlast]

13. Flight risk. Extradition problems (see Roman Polanski). And perhaps you might want to ask yourself

why an uber-Capitalist is defending your guy, the supposed "socialist'?

[LiberalAndProud]

15. That is the puzzlement, isn't it?

It's hard to imagine anybody with pull at IMF would be any sort of left. If I suspend pronouncement of guilt of rape on the man, I'll also suspend my belief in his unimpeachable political tenets. I'll want to tug on his wool garment first.

[blondeatlast]

14. "...allegations of one human being?" riker's has been the destination for many, many

ORDINARY people on less evidence than "the allegations of one human being."

[notadmblnd]

17. So their standing on the social ladder is what should keep a criminal out of jail?

Do you also think that the burger flipper that gets caught with a half ounce of Mexican dirt weed do life in prison?

[yellowcanine]

18. He isn't that recognizable. Most people have never heard of him.

It is up to the judge to weigh the flight risk against the seriousness of the alleged crime. She apparently considered it to be great enough to deny bail.

Lack of a passport only keeps you from leaving the country on a commercial flight. DSK has the means to charter a private plane and leave the country without going through a commercial airport.

Riker's is where criminal defendants are housed. DSK is a criminal defendant.

Home detention with a guard may be a possibility during the pretrial period. But it takes time to set up such an arrangement and furthermore - DSK is accused of a violent crime. It is not at all clear that he is not a threat to society even under home detention. If he can communicate freely he can potentially harass/intimidate the victim or potential witnesses. Is he going to have computer access, cell phones, access to individuals who could do his bidding? All these are questions which would need to be answered.

Allegations of one human being? Not really. There is physical and circumstantial evidence as well.
And they were strangers so there is no reason to suspect that she is somehow setting him up. This is not the same as a woman accusing an ex husband or boy friend.

And the "lifetime of service" etc is irrelevant at this point. Character will play a role during the trial. But it will cut both ways for DSK if the rumors are to be believed.

[LadyHawkAZ]

16. Even if he's innocent, they are making him LOOK guilty

Worst rape apologists ever, not that there have ever been any good rape apologists.

[Stevenmarc]

19. See... here's the problem... Ben Stein thinks he's witty. Too bad he's a tad deluded.

[11 Bravo]

20. Is anyone listening to Ben Stein? Anyone? Anyone?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

21. But he was moving from economist to politician.

:*