It Wasn’t Rape-Rape

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Photo of Samantha Geimer, image from River Daughter.

Over the past few days, I have been spending a lot of time in my Way Back Machine. I have been mentally, with assistance from the Internet, traveling back over the years, reading quotes so idiotic, so insane and so evil that my head has felt at times as if it would just spin around 3 times and explode. But in all my research, I forgot something.

Roman Polanski, for those of you too young to recognize the name, is a very, VERY famous director. In 1977, Mr. Polanski was arrested for “rape by use of drugs, perversion, sodomy, lewd and lascivious act upon a child under 14 and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor.” His victim, then 13-year old Samantha Geimer, was taking part in a private photo shoot with Polanski. He plied her with champagne and performed oral, anal and vaginal sex acts on her as she repeatedly said “no.” Geimer also has stated that Polanski gave her part of a Quaalude. Describing the event in his autobiography, Polanski stated that he did not drug Geimer, that she “wasn’t unresponsive”, and that she did not respond negatively when he inquired as to whether or not she was enjoying what he was doing.

All the charges were dropped except for what is commonly called “statutory rape,” and Polanski pleaded guilty to that. Geimer’s attorney accepted the plea deal to keep her from having to testify in court. Roman Polanski raped a 13-year old girl. He spent 42 days in a prison here in America, undergoing a “psychiatric evaluation,” then fled to London, ending up in France, where he maintained citizenship. France refused to extradite Polanski back to the U.S. Samantha Geimer sued Polanski and that case was settled. Samantha Geimer has moved on, and in 2008, stated in an interview that she wishes Polanski would be forgiven, “I think he’s sorry, I think he knows it was wrong. I don’t think he’s a danger to society. I don’t think he needs to be locked up forever and no one has ever come out ever – besides me – and accused him of anything. It was 30 years ago now. It’s an unpleasant memory … (but) I can live with it.”

Some people, especially in the entertainment industry, have always defended Polanski. Even recently. In 2009, during the morning chat session on “The View,” Whoopi  Goldberg made her position on Roman Polanski very clear, saying:

“”I know it wasn’t rape-rape. It was something else but I don’t believe it was rape-rape. He went to jail and and when they let him out he was like ‘You know what this guy’s going to give me a hundred years in jail I’m not staying,’ so that’s why he left.”

Rape-rape. What the hell is rape-rape? Is it “forcible,” or “honest,” or “assault” or “legitimate” rape? Is rape-rape different than RAPE?

Roman Polanski got a 13-year old girl drunk, may have given her a prescription drug and performed sex acts on her against her will. That’s rape. Heck, it’s even rape-rape. Sodomy? Against a child? Yes, times were “different” back then, but 13 is still a little young to be anally raped by anyone. Of course, maybe because, at least according to Polanski, Geimer seemed to be enjoying herself, it’s not rape-rape. Here’s a clue, Whoopi-rapists often think the victim they are raping is enjoying it, because rapists are typically narcissistic sociopaths who actually don’t give a shit if their victim is having fun or not. It’s all about them. And thanks in no small part to the element of society that thinks like you do, Ms. Goldberg-famous people have different rules-often excuses are made and the victim recants or changes his or her story out of fear.

So, thanks, Whoopi, for reminding me that it’s not just conservative men who are totally ignorant about rape. Thank you for being a wake-up call, at least for this survivor, that anyone can make a stupid comment about a 13-year old girl being violated. It’s not rape-rape if it’s a famous guy in the freewheeling 1970’s right? It’s…oh, it’s like the weather. If it’s inevitable, just lie back and enjoy it.

Update: A few days after her initial comment on rape-rape, Ms. Goldberg attempted to (wait for it) walk back her comments. Are we sure she’s not a Republican? She explained that the charges were dismissed (true) except for the charge to which Polanski pleaded guilty to, unlawful sex with a minor. Which, Whoopi said, is not rape. In Ms. Goldberg’s strange world, performing anal, vaginal and oral sex on a 13-year old child while she says “no” is not rape-rape. Thanks for clearing that up for us, Whoopi.

Thanks to Jezebel, The View and Wikipedia for contributions to this article.

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About Post Author

Erin Nanasi

Erin Nanasi is an avid underwater basket weaver, with a penchant for satire and the odd wombat reference.
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Valentin Cheatwood
10 years ago

Roman Polanski was imprisoned since September when he entered Switzerland’s Zuric Airport for accepting an award. He is not only accused of raping an underage girl of 13 years but also is accused of escaping from the US police since 1978. If the charges against him are proved then he might face severe penalty like extradition. The director though has escaped all charges and has moved freely in different parts of Europe like any other independent citizens, now he will have to defend himself from the charges against him if he wants to live freely rest of his life.-

See all of the most up to date piece of writing on our new internet page
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Kathy Green
11 years ago

Thanks Erin. I have been enlightened to what she said. I have only recently been following things so closely such as politics and news in general. It usually depresses the shit out of me so I avoid it. I’m glad I don’t now. Yes, still very depressing but it is an insight to how we are as people and a nation. Right now I feel there is such a divide in this great country of ours that we might not ever be the same great nation we once were. I have come to realize that many women think like Whoopie and Todd. I find it sickening and disheartening but it’s how they really feel. My boyfriend says most Republicans do not feel this way, but go with the flow in order to not rock the mighty conservative island. And that the right media only say it for the money. Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck come to mind. There was a time when this was the greatest and proudest country in the world. The rest of the world envied us. Although I love my country and would not want to leave it I think that we are missing one basic idea. Love. John Lennon sang about it as did many other artist during that time. He talked of peace and love. I wish it was not missing from our society as much as it is. I wish we could obey the rules and play nice with each other and most of all, protect one another. Imagine.

Erin Nanasi
11 years ago

Bob-Thank you. I will take anyone to the proverbial woodshed if they deserve it, no matter how they vote. I agree about Gauthier-that was a disaster of epic proportion.

For me, it’s the language used and the effects of that language. Survivors of sexual assault are often told they somehow deserved it, or that, to use Ms. Goldberg’s phrase, it wasn’t rape-rape. It’s always rape if the victim says no and the perpetrator continues the assault.

11 years ago

This essay is a great example of why I’m such a big Erin Nanasi fan and return to Mad Mikes each day to read her work. Unlike FOX NEWS, Erin actually is fair and balanced.

As Liberals I feel it’s critical we don’t fall into the “It’s OK if we do it, because the Repubs do worse” trap. We must be better and to be better we have to make judgments based on principles, not politics or party.

Todd Akin is still an asshole and an idiot who should not hold any public office. Recognizing that Roman Polanski, a Liberal icon, is also a rapist and child molester doesn’t excuse Akin in any way. It makes us credible critics.

By the way, I also have a problem with Dem Representative Kerry Gauthier of Minnesota who decided it was a great idea to have a homosexual liaison with a 17 year old at a public rest stop. Thankfully Democratic Party leaders have had better luck getting him to withdraw from his re-election bid than Repubs did with Akin.

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