Roman Polanski drugged and raped a 13 year old girl.

Nowhere in that sympathetic article does it ever mention that fact.

THIRTEEN! That is the type of behavior that the worst of the worst of our society mete out 'justice' in prison to attempt rectify - and they get exactly what they deserve, if not too little. In other words, even those who are multiple murderers think that pedophilia and the rape of children is an offense that isn't punished harshly enough. Yet there are those that want to let Polanski back into the country???????

He used his wealth to flee our criminal justice system and now expects us to welcome a unrepentant, cowardly rapist back into the country without any chance that he will actually pay for his crimes?

If that isn't the epotime of the 'Do you know who I AM?' type crap that comes out of Hollywood celebrities all the time, I simply don't know what is.

And why is he supposedly deserving of this virtual pardon for rape and evading arrest? Because the scumbag can direct a movie better than some? Is that really a reason to completely forget and ignore his disgusting crimes? If it is, America is in worse shape than I thought.

It is time the American movie industry stood up and said with one voice that they do NOT condone Polanski's actions, that he deserves to be treated like the pedophile rapist that he is, and that they would fully support his arrest and prosecution the SECOND his foot touched US soil.

I have not, and will not, ever watch any of his films. I will not support a depraved, yet indifferent, child rapist in any way and shame on those who do.

All true, but then: Hollywood has a lot of child rapists. Roman was just stupid enough to get caught.

That's probably true. I really take exception to the quote that Polanski has lived "a blameless, hard-working life in exile in France." And the other quote, "Americans are prudes." That is why his life has been blameless in France. The French aren't such prudes as we are. They can understand why a rich, famous director must have sex with 13-year-olds. Maybe he has even had sex with younger children.

I can't even talk about it rationally. There is even the implication that he was targeted because he was a Jew. So whoever said that thinks that if he was a WASP that it would be okay?

Slate is about elitism and elitism is about priviledge.Slate has no problem with the 'elite' raping children-as long as an elite does it. Look at all the references in Slate stories to the 'masses' and the need to help the masses to better appreciate their betters among the elite.Being able to commit crimes against those with less power is an intoxicant of the elite. The justice system should make no deals and the US goverment should have moved to extradite Polanski years ago. Polanski, Lohan , Hilton and all their ilk should always face the same court any other citizen would face.