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Are Rich and Powerful People Above the Law in America?

Posted on 07/01/2011 9:13:33 AM PDT by pinochet

The latest news concerning the Strauss-Kahn rape case, is that prosecutors are considering dropping the case, after Strauss-Kahn's lawyers managed to attack the reputation of the witness. I am convinced that rich and powerful people are above the law in America, because decisions on prosecuting people are made by politicians, or by prosecutors who have an eye on a political career, and do not want to piss off potential donors to their future campaigns.

In 1991, William Kennedy Smith, a nephew of Ted Kennedy, RFK, and JFK, was tried for rape. The facts of the case reported in the media were so convincing, that I had no doubt that he would be convicted. Three women had come forward with accusations that Smith had raped them in the 1980s, and were willing to testify on behalf of the victim. But my Uncle, a retired police officer in Portland, Oregon, told me that no nephew of Ted Kennedy and JFK was ever going to do time in prison. He made me a $500 bet, that the Kennedy nephew was going to walk. Foolishly, I made the bet, and I lost $500 to my uncle. The testimony of the 3 women who said that they were raped by Smith, was excluded by the Judge, and Smith was acquitted.

Two more women came forward in 2004 and 2005, alleging having being raped by Smith. One case was settled out of court, and the other resulted in a failed lawsuit. You are, of course, all aware of Kathleen Willey's rape claims against Bill Clinton, which the mainstream media had no interest in.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: New York; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: kennedy; power; strausskahn; wealth
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If you talk to any senior police officer who is well-informed on political issues, he will tell you horror stories about crimes committed by rich and powerful people in America, against ordinary American citizens, which are never prosecuted. Prosecutors are often vulnerable to pressure from corrupt big city mayors and corrupt governors.

Rich people are mostly jailed when they commit crimes against other rich people, such as Bernie Maddoff, who stole from other rich people.

I am not engaging in left-wing class warfare by mentioning this fact. I am just stating a fact. Strauss-Kahn, Kennedy Smith, and Bill Clinton, are powerful men of the left, who have escaped accountability.

1 posted on 07/01/2011 9:13:41 AM PDT by pinochet
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To: pinochet

See this wikipedia entry on William Kennedy Smith http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kennedy_Smith


2 posted on 07/01/2011 9:15:57 AM PDT by pinochet
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To: pinochet

Well we know that ‘Bammy’ thinks so.


3 posted on 07/01/2011 9:17:23 AM PDT by Kartographer (".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
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To: pinochet
Are Rich and Powerful People Above the Law in America?

Short answer, yes. Longer answer, H#LL YES!!! We are supposed to be a nation of laws, NOT men. However, court proceedings involving the rich prove otherwise.

4 posted on 07/01/2011 9:17:54 AM PDT by DustyMoment (Go green - recycle Congress in 2012!!)
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To: pinochet

YES!


5 posted on 07/01/2011 9:18:17 AM PDT by The Cajun (Palin, Free Republic, Mark Levin, Rush, Hannity......Nuff said.)
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To: pinochet

Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailable for comment.


6 posted on 07/01/2011 9:18:33 AM PDT by Hodar (Who needs laws .... when this "feels" so right?)
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To: Kartographer

ALL leftist elitists think they SHOULD be above the law,
and not subject to the consequences of the rules they would impose on the rest of us.

Their goal is neo-feudalism under the guise of benevolent socialism.


7 posted on 07/01/2011 9:18:52 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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To: pinochet

I wouldn’t say they’re above the law but they can sure afford to destroy others in court. In the case of political criminals, they can pull in a lot of high powered favors.

Not all rich guys walk as Bernie Madoff shows. Andrew Luster is another rich guy who had the book thrown at him.


8 posted on 07/01/2011 9:19:20 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: pinochet

Mostly!!!!


9 posted on 07/01/2011 9:19:22 AM PDT by org.whodat
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To: pinochet
yes...I agree......look at K. Bryant....there was no way a small town girl was going to last "attacking" a very rich celebrity sports "hero"...one that had her blood on his shirt.....they demolished her before the trial...

well at least she got a quick settlment and a so-so "apology"....

10 posted on 07/01/2011 9:19:41 AM PDT by cherry
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To: pinochet

Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think that’s what’s happening here. I think that Strauss Kahn certainly misbehaved, but that the maid is, as reported, mixed up with drug smuggling and other fishy activities and that she disappointed the prosecutors by changing her story until it fell apart.

Clinton and Kennedy, of course, are quite another matter. But you didn’t find the law going out, clapping them into handcuffs, doing a perp walk for the news media, and spreading enough scandalous accusations that they lost their jobs.

I think they were out to nail Strauss Kahn, but the case fell apart on them. Just an opinion, of course, but I don’t think they treated him with the kind of kid gloves they would use for a Kennedy or Joe Biden’s son, or that type of situation.


11 posted on 07/01/2011 9:20:13 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: pinochet
Most often, but particularly if you're a democrat.

Then it's impossible to be above the law........

12 posted on 07/01/2011 9:20:23 AM PDT by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: pinochet
after Strauss-Kahn's lawyers managed to attack the reputation of the witness.

What are you talking about? Everything I've read was that law enforcement discovered serious character issues.

I think you should get your facts and thoughts together before posting a screed like this.

Oh, and wikipedia is not a source.

13 posted on 07/01/2011 9:21:07 AM PDT by End Times Sentinel (In Memory of my Dear Friend Henry Lee II)
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To: pinochet

There is some truth in what you say, but particulars matter. Rich people rarely do the kind of violent, predatory crimes that merit severe punishment. When they do, they tend to be clever enough to diminish their risks. Finally, many poor people represented by public defenders also go free because of the same technicalities and weaknesses in prosecution that the elite benefit from.


14 posted on 07/01/2011 9:21:29 AM PDT by Rockingham
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To: pinochet

They aren’t above the law but their money puts them above the law because they will find someone in authority who can be bought. Same as this case here - only it took a bit longer. This does not surprise me at all. High priced lawyers - high priced results. It has nothing to do about justice.

If truth is not on one’s side - attack the accuser. Nothing new under the sun.


15 posted on 07/01/2011 9:22:09 AM PDT by presently no screen name ( The Palin Party: The Party of Patriots.)
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To: MrB
Also to big to fail bankers and brokerage houses don't seem to see any reasons to follow the law.
16 posted on 07/01/2011 9:23:26 AM PDT by Kartographer (".. we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.")
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To: pinochet

That used to be the case, but with cellphones equipped with still/video cameras, the modern Internet and TMZ.com, not so much anymore!


17 posted on 07/01/2011 9:23:58 AM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: pinochet
Are DemoRat Rich and Powerful People Above the Law in America?
18 posted on 07/01/2011 9:24:32 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (Holy flippin' crap, Sarah rocks the world!)
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To: pinochet

Yep. Life ain’t fair...


19 posted on 07/01/2011 9:25:46 AM PDT by subterfuge (BUILD MORE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NOW!!!)
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To: pinochet
I am an admirer of General Pinochet, who saved Chile from the Marxist degenerates, but your comments miss a very essential point.

False sexual activity charges are more likely to be made against the rich and powerful, for obvious reasons, than against just anyone. (Not that there are not a plenitude of false sexual assault charges filed out of spite--the woman scorned syndrome.)

On the other hand, many genuine rapes go unreported, simply because nice women do not want the attention on a terribly humiliating episode, or are afraid of retaliation. The whole subject has now been politicalized to an extent which makes much improvement nearly impossible.

20 posted on 07/01/2011 9:26:12 AM PDT by Ohioan
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