This week we have been deluged with a number of intriguing yet appalling news stories. The creepy sociopath who abducted Jaycee Dugaard, raped her repeatedly, and kept her from her family for eighteen years wrote a rambling letter to media again professing his love for his former hostage. Michael Jackon’s autopsy revealed that he was indeed healthier than most initially believed and, of course, this nasty and unfortunate business with acclaimed director Roman Polanski. I heard Whoppi Goldberg say on The View this week that she didn’t believe that the rape of Samantha Geimer some thirty years ago was rape rape? I humbly ask Ms. Golberg, “Are you crazy?” or “Have you simply just lost your mind?”

How in the world does she justify such an asinine and inappropriate comment? How does anyone? Really. The sex was consensual was another quip I heard by some delusional Hollywood pundit. Who are all these people perpetrating such utter stupidity? Where are all of the therapists? For all of you Hollywood types who have suddenly become intellectually and morally challenged, I pose a reasonable yet clearly necessary question. If it were your thirteen-year old daughter who had been sodomized, given Quaaludes and champagne by a man in his forties-by any man for that matter, would you be so deliciously understanding? I think not. Seriously, I hope not.

In 1977 Roman Polanski admitted to unlawful sexual intercourse with a thirteen-year old girl. He was -subsequently charged with five other offences including rape by use of drugs and sodomy. Grand Jury testimony revealed that Mr. Polanski supplied the child, yes child, with controlled substances as well as committed acts of oral copulation on her. Shall we also consider that he took nude and topless photos of this child? I keep writing child because many seem to have forgotten that this was somebody’s babygirl. Somebody’s princess. Somebody’s daughter whose life  that day took a anguished turn. Did Ike really beat beat Tina Turner? Was Elizabeth Smart really kidnapped kidnapped? Or perhaps Matthew Sheppard wasn’t really tortured tortured before he was murdered. If these musings sound obtuse and downright absurd to you, then you apparently have more sense than Ms. Goldberg.

He raped a child. He fled. He’s been apprehended. America, it’s time for Mr. Polanski to answer for his crime. Period. Sooner or later everybody’s bill comes due.