What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
Over at the Wall Street Journal, Brett Stephens confesses that he so wanted the powerful DSK brought down that he neglected to judge the merits of the case fairly. When I reflect on my own writing about the charges against him, I have to admit that I gave only lip service to the idea that he may be innocent.
Stephens notes how this rush to ill-considered judgment plays out elsewhere:
So this is as good an opportunity as any to ask where else we might be committing similar blunders. The climate change obsession, with its Manichean concept of polluting corporations versus noble eco-warriors? The Wall Street obsession, with its belief the boardroom boys were criminally guilty of the financial crisis? The China obsession, with its view that the Middle Kingdom is destined to overtake the U.S. in global economic and political clout? The Israel obsession, with its notion that if only Jewish settlements were removed from the West Bank peace would break out throughout the Middle East?
In each of these cases, the media (broadly speaking) has too often been guilty of looking only for the evidence that fits a pre-existing story line. It doesn't help that in journalism you can usually find the story you're looking for, whether it's record-breaking heat in some corner of the world, or malicious Israeli settlers making life miserable for their Palestinian neighbors, or evidence of financial chicanery in Manhattan, or of economic prowess in Shanghai.
These are all great examples of sloppy ways of thinking, of confusing anecdotes and data, and buying into reductionist arguments about power.
The DSK case is complicated and we will never know exactly what took place and whether he is just guilty of being sleazy or of something much worse, but it is a good time to reflect on how journalists handle accusations of rape and stories about politicians and sex in general.
But are people going too far in the other direction now? It seems that the media might be confusing the legal and ethical problems of the accuser with certainty of DSK's innocence.
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Aug '10
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
Reading an account of this married man having illicit sex with a complete stranger in a hotel room, I must admit that innocence isn't the human quality that came to mind. He should at least be hauled to small claims court for refusing to pay the poor sex worker . Not knowing her tawdry background he might have assumed a standard cost, but instead expressed his usual, as was widely reported, aggression , albeit in the fashion of the IMF. Screwing small countries and not following through with cultural empathy is a trademark move isn't it ?
May '10
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
I second flownover. And VDH yesterday in the Corner. Rape was the worst charge against him from a moral and criminal standpoint, but it wasn't the only charge. And no one is denying that the head of the IMF was using a third world immigrant for sex. I agree that the "perp walk" was too much, and that there was an undue rush to judgment. But it depresses me to no end to hear him now being called innocent. He is not innocent. I don't know whether he deserves jail, but by his own acts, he has forfeited his career. Or at least it ought to be forfeit. Shame on the French if it's not.
Further, as Jonah said at the time, for all the excesses of the media frenzy, I'm proud of a justice system that can get a rich diplomat pulled off a plane by a maid. And proud of a justice system that will let him go when the charges are shown to be false or the accuser not credible.
Edited on Jul 5, 2011 at 5:41amAug '10
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
We’re living under a tyranny of incompetence and ineptitude beyond anything ever seen in America. It’s difficult not to see malice in it. There’s never been a blunder of such magnitude in the US justice system, and this is just the latest of many. When France sues the City of New York, how much do you think they’ll ask for? Can they possibly lose? It’s only a question of how much the citizens will have to pay as a result of their idiot District Attorney.
Aug '10
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
On what grounds would DSK personally sue the city of NY? (I'm going to put aside the idea that France or the IMF would be so stupid as to further stake their reputations on this priapic troll). The NYPD acted lawfully and in good faith based on what seemed like compelling evidence at the time. When they discovered exculpatory evidence they turned it over to the defense in a timely fashion.
Aug '10
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
Exactly, I had a similar feeling regarding the Duke lacrosse players (a case that involved a far less ethical prosecutor). These were people who were not criminally guilty, but neither were they angels and I thought it was bizarre how the conservative press in particular portrayed them as such, rather than parsing the distinction that you can be an obnoxious sleaze without being a criminal.
Mar '11
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
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Jun '10
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
Basil Fawlty
? · Jul 5 at 6:36am
???????
Innocent men have been executed. OJ spent years on the golf course. Bill Ayers & his wife are college professors. Black Panthers threaten voters with impunity. Decades of civil rights violations committed against blacks in the south. Etc etc etc......this case hardly rises to the level of a blunder of great magnitude!
A well-connected Frenchman with the means to escape prosecution is grabbed & held on what appeared to be credible evidence as he is rapidly attempting flight. So eager is he to escape that he leaves behind his cell phone. He has a history of abusing women & any cop would be very suspicious of his behavior. After the victim's credibility began collapsing, the prosecution sent a detailed letter to the defense and quickly worked to free him. While, as others have noted, he may be innocent of rape, he is guilty of engaging in behavior quite unsuitable for an IMF head honcho.
Hind sight is 20/20.
Dec '10
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
Re: "Journalistic Excess" in the DSK Affair
Rule #1: In my lifetime, every single story reported by the major media that I have first hand knowledge of - is incorrect in one or more major aspects.
Rule #2: Traditional journalists are lazy, plagiarist drunks. Copy & paste is far easier than working, and their judgement is usually impaired.
May '11
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
John Steele Gordon at Commentary makes a good point this morning that this episode shows us that the the current practice of the "perp walk" for people who have been accused of crime but not yet convicted is at odds with a system of justice that presumes innocence until proven guilty. Serious allegations warrant sober investigation and should not be tried by the press for our salacious entertainment.
Jan '11
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
David Holtkamp: Re: "Journalistic Excess" in the DSK Affair
Rule #1: In my lifetime, every single story reported by the major media that I have first hand knowledge of - is incorrect in one or more major aspects.
My experience also.
Your Rule #2 goes a long way towards explaining it.
Aug '10
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
Basil Fawlty
? · Jul 5 at 6:36am
Thank you, Basil. Sloppy thinking there. I meant to say that this is a blunder of unique magnitude, due to its implications for an allied country, France. But we've seen extraordinary blunders in the last few years under Eric Holder.
Aug '10
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
anon_academic
this priapic troll
Perfect !
Aug '10
Re: What Can We Learn From The Dominique Strauss-Kahn Case?
Truffles await the prosecutors demurrals . Le Grenouille will welcome you to a world of gourmandaise wonders. Try the wine now, perdition doesnt sate as well.