Without differing with anything in this column, I'd like to ask a couple of questions.

Why did the girl's parents allow her to go to this assignation alone? They sound very neglectful. I'd even suspect the girl could have been a pawn in some kind of shakedown by the parents--it's hard to believe adults wouldn't have been aware of the possibilities of the situation. Were they ever make to answer legally for their treatment of their daughter?

This happened at Jack Nicholson's home. Where was he? Did he know Polanski had a heavy date with a minor on his property? I'd think he'd bear some responsibility as well.

This happens rarely----we agree. I think you've stopped ingesting so much kool aid and it shows. Keep up the good work

Thank you Susan... I rarely agree with you, but on this your are 1000% correct!

And you Anne W. are just another apologist! Typical liberal applying moral relevancy. If I let my 13 year old girl go with an adult somewhere I don't expect her to be drugged and raped!

Oh my god. I agree 100%.

Susan, you and I rarely agree, but I have read and respected your opinions for years ! I am a 47 year Mom and professional and I am intrigued by your experiences and knowledge. Please continue standing up for the truth and thanks for being consistant on these issues. Polanski deserves his arrest and most of all his punishment !
Kim

BobM, if you had read my post, you would have seen I agreed with everything Susan said. How does that make me an apologist? I believe, in addition to Roman's criminal culpability, that several other people have misdeeds to answer for.
You really ought to listen to other people before you start with the name calling.

Stunningly, I agree with every word written in this column. Well done...well said.

Agreed! He was and still is a monster!

Its ironic that upon his return 30 years later the penalties against Polanski's crime have only risen -- along with the social stigma. I don't think they had a sexual predators list in the 1970s.

Hearing the Hollywood moguls talk about this case I can only conclude that they have an entirely different set of facts than I (and evidently Susan) have access to. Well, I guess the other option is that they could be morally corrupt elitists who feel they belong to a class that is above the law.

Excellent column! I am a conservative, and I regularly disagree with this writer. But I read her opinion because she is thoughtful and a good writer. This column is an excent example of that.

Can you imagine the outrage, if this set of facts existed, except that the name of the fugative was "Father Polanski"?

Absolute hipocracy from Hollywood. And thank you for saying the simple point that rape is rape. Polanski doesn't get any sympathy from me. God have mercy on his soul.

"BobM, if you had read my post, you would have seen I agreed with everything Susan said."

Anne W. This is a column about Polanski and not about the girls parents. To anyone else into this discussion can only be construed as an effort to spread some of the blame.

Thanks for the sanity check Susan! My goodness - has the Art World gone made? Would we pardon a Priest that raped a 13 yr old girl? I can't believe ANYONE is defending this guy.

dear susan, wonderfull article and opinion. i adore you. a sean conservative hoping you will get the real picture as you are a nice old style stevenson liberal and not a new dictatorial socialist criminalism,, love tom

Bravo. It's disheartening that so many Hollywood airheads are defending a child rapist instead of a terrified 13-year-old.

Thank you Susan - I was starting to think I was the only one not feeling sorry for poor Roman. I am a strong believer in forgiveness, but am saddened by the lack of consideration for the victim of this crime, and for the laws that are meant to protect our citizens.

Does anyone understand Whoopi Goldberg's "he's not guilty of rape-rape" comment? I don't get it.

Thank you Susan - I was starting to think I was the only one not feeling sorry for poor Roman. I am a strong believer in forgiveness, but am saddened by the lack of consideration for the victim of this crime, and for the laws that are meant to protect our citizens.

Does anyone understand Whoopi Goldberg's "he's not guilty of rape-rape" comment? I don't get it.

Great article, Susan. Reasoned people of all political views will not be able to defeat any points that you presented. There is no statute of limitations on fugitives. Somehow, I have a feeling that Obama will make a deal to keep his European friends happy, since Europeans and Americans definitely view this crime differently. Also, this center right conservative will do something that I thought I would never do. I will defend Whoopi Goldberg. Her "Rape, Rape" comments were taken out of context. She was discussing the guilty plea submitted, not the crime. He plead guilty to a lesser crime in a plea deal, that was not a Rape charge. She was talking about the plea deal when she said the charge was not Rape, Rape. which it was not. What is this world coming to when I am defending Whoopi???

God I love you. Politically, I am just to the left of Genghis Khan. But you are a delightful person. Stand up for the right thing! Thank you , Thank you.

Susan, great article.

Of course, Polanski showed such remorse, that he promptly began a relationship with Nastassia Kinski (then all of 15). Furthermore, his current wife is 40 years younger than he is.

Disgusting.

Susan, great article.

Polanski showed such remorse that he then began a relationship with Nastassia Kinski (then all of 15). Disgusting.

Excellence article Susan. I cannot understand why the Womens Organizations have not been screaming extremely loud about this issue. As for the Europeans just yesterday a Science Teacher pretending to be a teenager picked up a 13 year old and forced her into submission and he was sentenced to 5 years in jail, banned from ever being a teacher again so some European countries do enforce the laws.

Anne W. as for your questions in the case. The mother signed a consent form for Polanski to do a Photo Shot for the daughter to be in a magazine. After she left thinking everything would be ok is when he first gave her a drink and then drugs. Do not know if you know anything about the drugs used, but, regardless of the drugs she repeatedly told him NO to everything he wanted to do. Jack Nickolson was out of the country, but, he certainly did not know that in allowing Polanski to be his guest that he would be raping a 13 year old.

Polanski took off when the judge refused the deal made with the prosecutor which I applaud the judge for refusing to accept as it was only a 90 day sentence. The French will protect anyone who comes from America in trying to escape their crimes against Americans as we have a couple of cold blooded murders still sitting in France who killed Americans. Even 60 Minutes did an article on one case and the French refused to extridiate him back to New YorK.

If Polanski does not go back to California then it will send a clear signal that rape is permissible around the world.

No cheers for Susan on this one. When it comes to holding public figures accountable for sexual violence Susan is a hypocrite and a fraud. I feel like I am in a TwilightZone world where the timelines have diverged somehow. Wasn't it Susan Estrich on point when Bill Clinton's rapes of Juanita Broaderick and Elizabeth Ward-Gracen were the subject? Didn't she call Paula Jones a liar? Didn't she say that Kathleen Willey was delusional? Don't remember Willey? She was the woman who, on the day her husband killed himself, went to her aquaintance Bill Clinton to see if she could get a paying job rather than be a WH volunteer. He pushed her into a washroom off the Oval Office and groped her breasts and crotch. I recall Estrich's defense on workplace sexual harassment grounds that, even if this had happened (and she denied it did, on NO evidence) it was not a hostile workplace violation cuz he only did it once. She was a happy proponent of the "little nutty, little slutty" counteroffensive. Estrich is a vile, execrable figure who has used her own (alleged) victimhood to beat and berate those few victims of Clinton's numberless predations willing to stand up. Shame on you, Susan Estrich. Shame, shame, shame. And I can't believe self-described "conservatives" are so ignorant or so forgetful. Shame there, too.

Susan--dead-on analysis. The behavior of Polanski's defenders is so juvenile it makes me laugh. He pleaded, he fled--everything else has no bearing on his current troubles.

Well hello there Susan. Please review what a rape is....he (Roman) did not have "sex" with a 13 year old. Rape is a violent crime against a person, not just against the state! As for Whoopi well, not sure what the heck a rape-rape is. Do you?

Well hello there Susan. Please review what a rape is....he (Roman) did not have "sex" with a 13 year old. Rape is a violent crime against a person, not just against the state! As for Whoopi well, not sure what the heck a rape-rape is. Do you?

Your Billy Boy is also a rapist, Susie