Was She "13" or Was She "13 13?" [Greg Pollowitz]
Via Patterico, Tom Shales of the Washington Post gives his thoughts on child sex in Hollywood:
Dunn Loring, Va.: Just wondered if you've noticed your habit of apologizing for media figues? For example, Polanski rapes and sodomizes a drugged 13-year-old and you write a flattering article that falsely understates his crime; Letterman jokes about the statutory rape of the teenage daughter of a conservative politician and you call the joke inartfully phrased but otherwise fine; Letterman admits to affairs with subordinate employees and you state it's alright because he's just a media personality. Do you ever condemn anything done on TV unless it's done by a conservative?
Tom Shales: Hello, Dunn Loring, I didn't want to sign off without trying to answer your question. I didn't realize I had written a column defending Roman Polanski and minimized his crime - are you sure it was me? I mean, I? There is, apparently, more to this crime than it would seem, and it may sound like a hollow defense, but in Hollywood I am not sure a 13-year-old is really a 13-year-old.Do I ever condemn anything done on TV unless it's done by a conservative? Honestly - I don't think you could build a very strong case against me on that particular charge. I'd have to go back and read dozens and dozens of columns from the past several years - UGH! You can do that if you want. But remember, I am a critic, I don't have to be "fair and balanced" and critize every faction equally. I swear to you I do not do it on ideological or political grounds, not consciously. I would hate to be that predictable. Thanks for dropping by.......
As for Shales not remembering his column minimizing Polanski's crime, Patterico has the details here. In a nutshell, if someone were to yell "you lie!" at Shales, he'd be more correct than not.
10/07 12:10 PM
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