CNN’s Steubenville Coverage Horribly Slanted in Favor of Convicted Rapists

Gross and wrong. CNN needs to apologize.
Media • Views: 34,728

The best description I can think of for CNN’s coverage of the verdict in the Steubenville rape trial: freakishly distorted and reprehensible.

CNN’s Steubenville Coverage Focuses on Effect Rape Trial Will Have on Rapists, Not Victim.

Earlier today, many people were outraged and disgusted at Candy Crowley’s expressions of sympathy for the rapists, but that was not the end of it; CNN continued with this awful slanted reporting throughout the afternoon.

CNN’s coverage of the verdict in the Steubenville rape case appeared to be curiously weighted on Sunday, focusing on the effect the guilty verdict would have on the lives of the now-convicted rapists and their families, rather than that of the victim and her family.

Steubenville High School football players Trent Mays, 17, and Ma’lik Richmond, 16, were accused of raping a severely intoxicated 16-year-old West Virginia girl who also attends the Ohio school. Thousands of text messages introduced in the case presented a picture of teens swapping graphic stories about the assault.

In a Sunday afternoon segment, anchor Fredricka Whitfield followed the straight news of the guilty verdict (which she described as rape occurring “after a night of heavy partying”) by showing the rapists’ parents’ weeping in court. Footage of Richmond, his mother and father offering emotional appeals to the victim’s family dominated the segment.

Whitfield threw the story to reporter Poppy Harlow, but not before reiterating that Mays and Richmond’s “family members tried their hardest to plead for some forgiveness from the victim’s family, as well as from the judge.”

To her credit, Harlow appeared to try and correct the segment’s tone: “That’s true Fredricka,” she said of the tears of the convicted rapist’s families, “but this is an incredibly serious crime, it’s the crime of rape.”

And yet, the effects of the rape on the victim seemed to be an afterthought: “It was incredibly emotional, it was difficult for anyone in there to watch those boys break down,” Harlow said. “[It was] also difficult, of course, for the victim’s family.”

The thing is, I don’t believe these reporters actually are sympathizing with the rapists over their victim; I think it’s more cynical and base than that. Dramatic displays of emotion are what CNN is after, because they’re good for CNN’s bottom line. In their marketing calculations, emotional outbursts draw viewers and sell advertisements. They seek out these kinds of scenes — and in this case, since the victim’s identity is kept secret, the only emotional outbursts they could show were the rapists’. So they exploited those moments to the best of their ability.

And in the process, caused great harm to their reputation. CNN continued with this bullshit even after a storm erupted on social media, condemning their coverage. The sheer contempt they showed for their audience, and for the victim of this terrible crime, was breathtaking.

And one more point: the sentences these two kids got were absurdly, offensively light in view of their crime.

Here’s video of the Candy Crowley segment, via Crooks and Liars.

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87 comments
1 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:22:57pm
And yet, the effects of the rape on the victim seemed to be an afterthought: “It was incredibly emotional, it was difficult for anyone in there to watch those boys break down,” Harlow said. “[It was] also difficult, of course, for the victim’s family.”

It wasn’t difficult for me to watch the boys break down, except to the extent that it’s difficult for me to understand why they didn’t plead guilty.

I’m sure their parenting sucked if these are the ethics they had, but this girl is going to live with what they did for the rest of their lives. It seems only fitting that they live with what they did too.

2 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:23:36pm

Those 2 little shits should have gotten 5 years at least. Their sentencing is another slap in the face to the victim. Everything about this case made me want to break things.

3 b_sharp  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:24:58pm

Quite the society when rape is just a youthful mistake.

No worse than shoplifting a chocolate bar.

4 Targetpractice  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:25:11pm

The only part that the judge got right was requiring them both to register as sex offenders. But they should be serving 20 apiece.

CNN? Seriously fucking sad coverage, but at least they’re not trying to deny that a crime took place. I’ve gotten absolutely fucking disgusted with some regions of the net today, where they’ve basically taken the “She’s a drunken slut, her friends said so” bit and run with it. There’s now the accusation going around that she “changed her story,” suggesting that she cried rape only after the images and videos started circulating.

5 kirkspencer  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:26:51pm

re: #4 Targetpractice

The only part that the judge got right was requiring them both to register as sex offenders. But they should be serving 20 apiece.

CNN? Seriously fucking sad coverage, but at least they’re not trying to deny that a crime took place. I’ve gotten absolutely fucking disgusted with some regions of the net today, where they’ve basically taken the “She’s a drunken slut, her friends said so” bit and run with it. There’s now the accusation going around that she “changed her story,” suggesting that she cried rape only after the images and videos started circulating.

Yeah, because that’s when she found out about it. (sigh).

I’m like my wife, wondering if maybe roofies or other date-rape drugs got in there because of the amnesia-like effect. No way to prove it now, of course.

6 thedopefishlives  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:27:29pm

re: #3 b_sharp

Quite the society when rape is just a youthful mistake.

No worse than shoplifting a chocolate bar.

I just told my wife about this case and she shook her head and said, “They basically got away with it, then.” Yeah, pretty much. She shook her head again when I told her that people were actually empathizing with the boys.

7 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:27:33pm

re: #2 Kragar (Antichrist )

Those 2 little shits should have gotten 5 years at least. Their sentencing is another slap in the face to the victim. Everything about this case made me want to break things.

They may be bringing more charges. I hope they do.

8 kirkspencer  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:28:45pm

Copied whole from the previous thread:

re: #111 Kragar (Antichrist )

Steubenville residents reflect on town’s demise: Football was city’s one bright light

Then your city is seriously fucked up.

But it’s typical of so many small towns.

Some of us have been screaming about this behavior, this sense of both privilege among the “sports heros” and its intersection with women’s rights, for a long time. Steubenville isn’t unique. It’s not even uncommon. And it’s not confined to small towns, either.

Expect a lot of noise in various places that try to imply it is uncommon, rare even. Trying to show what pushed Steubenville over the edge making it different. Because if it is different, nobody has to look in their mirrors.

9 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:29:48pm

re: #7 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

They may be bringing more charges. I hope they do.

I know the state attorney general is going over all the evidence to see who else can be charged with crimes like obstruction of justice and failure to report a felony crime, along with whatever else they can find.

10 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:33:03pm

And this crime destroys the idea that all a woman needs to defend herself from rapists is an AR-15.

11 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:36:46pm

re: #10 Kragar (Antichrist )

And this crime destroys the idea that all a woman needs to defend herself from rapists is an AR-15.

Oh, the same people that say that will be glad to say that it’s because she got drunk that this happened. As if males are just rape-robots that, when seeing a drunk woman, cannot resist molesting her and posting it on twitter.

13 Lidane  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:42:34pm

re: #2 Kragar (Antichrist )

Everything about this case made me want to break things.

Agreed. I’d say more, but I’ll just end up saying things I regret later.

Fuck these people. When these two assholes are given sympathy because their lives are somehow destroyed and the victim is ignored, that’s a sad indictment of our society. Fuck CNN and fuck the people who want me to feel sorry for two rapists over the girl they hurt.

14 Kragar (Antichrist )  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:44:24pm

Boehner ‘I Can’t Imagine’ Ever Supporting Gay Marriage

On ABC’s “This Week” Sunday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) addressed fellow Sen. Rob Portman’s (R-OH) newfound support for same sex marriage, which the senator said was influenced by his son coming out as gay.

Boehner said he appreciates Portman’s change of heart, but “can’t imagine” that his own opposition to gay marriage would ever change, even if he had a child who was gay.

Fair enough. I can’t ever imagine supporting a Republican.

15 Targetpractice  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:46:50pm

There deserves to be a lot more folks behind bars over this. That not a single adult was anywhere to be seen while this girl was being shuffled from house to house was shocking, but the only reason we have video and pictures of this whole debacle is because of the crowds of teens that just watched it happened and did nothing.

There is a serious breakdown of common human decency in that town, all because of love for a damned sport.

16 Lidane  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:48:40pm

re: #15 Targetpractice

There is a serious breakdown of common human decency in that town this country, all because of love for a damned sport.

FTFY

People will apparently forgive anything as long as their football team is involved. See also: State, Penn.

17 elizajane  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:54:00pm

What’s messed up is that entire town and its sports-hero-worshipping culture. I have two kids in high school and when they read about this story they had no sympathy, none, zero, for those boys. Sure, they know “slutty” girls at their school too. But they don’t think that makes it OK to rape them, photograph them, and shame them! And if I lived in a town where most of the teen-agers — and their parents!— did think that was OK, I’d be thinking about moving.
It just makes me sick.

18 Decatur Deb  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:56:49pm

The sentence legitimized ‘legitimate rape’.

19 Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 3:59:08pm

re: #15 Targetpractice

There deserves to be a lot more folks behind bars over this. That not a single adult was anywhere to be seen while this girl was being shuffled from house to house was shocking, but the only reason we have video and pictures of this whole debacle is because of the crowds of teens that just watched it happened and did nothing.

There is a serious breakdown of common human decency in that town, all because of love for a damned sport.

It’s also because of the larger patriarchal culture that excuses male sexual aggression and portrays women as insane when it comes to sex, both secretly wanting it but unable to express that desire.

20 calochortus  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:02:38pm

Seems to me that this is an example of why adolescents need adult supervision.

As I posted elsewhere, I think the sentences for the 2 defendants was both too little and too much-not very long in jail, a lifetime as registered sex offenders which will make it impossible for them to live normal lives. I don’t think the latter will really help society much and is overkill.

At the same time, at least so far, no one else is being given any responsibility. I’m not surprised the other teens didn’t come to the girl’s aid. Even adults are far less likely to go to someone’s aid if there are several other people around who are not doing so either. It’s not a moment for them to be proud of by any means, but I think we all want to think we’d have done better-even at that age. The fact is that on average, we wouldn’t have.

What were the parents thinking to let their kids roam from house to house, drinking heavily?

21 efuseakay  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:06:46pm
22 calochortus  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:09:06pm

re: #21 efuseakay

“In the outreach portion of the plan, Priebus said, the RNC will pay people “from coast to coast in Hispanic, African-American, Asian communities” to talk about the GOP brand. “

Really? That’s it-bribing minorities to talk up the GOP?
FAIL.

23 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:13:35pm

You know, I can remember being drunk once at a college party. One of the girls was too. She was being flirtatious towards me but I decided to do the right thing and not take advantage of her or the situation. Why some people think it’s acceptable to take advantage of someone like that, I do not know. And then hearing these kids bragged about what they did. Agh. I feel for that girl. Feel for her because she’s not the bad guy here. These guys were. I don’t know why that’s so hard for some to acknowledge.

24 Decatur Deb  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:13:43pm

re: #22 calochortus

“In the outreach portion of the plan, Priebus said, the RNC will pay people “from coast to coast in Hispanic, African-American, Asian communities” to talk about the GOP brand. “

Really? That’s it-bribing minorities to talk up the GOP?
FAIL.

They’re talking about it—trust me.

25 calochortus  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:14:22pm

re: #24 Decatur Deb

“In the outreach portion of the plan, Priebus said, the RNC will pay people “from coast to coast in Hispanic, African-American, Asian communities” to talk about the GOP brand. ”

They’re talking about it—trust me.

Too, too true, LOL

26 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:15:23pm

re: #24 Decatur Deb

“In the outreach portion of the plan, Priebus said, the RNC will pay people “from coast to coast in Hispanic, African-American, Asian communities” to talk about the GOP brand. ”

They’re talking about it—trust me.

Ah minority outreach, GOP style. Can’t actually improve our brand. No, sir, just continue to be patronizing assholes to racial minority communities.

27 dragonath  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:16:18pm

Greece Didn’t Collect 99.86% Of Big Tax Debts

Greece has collected only $19 million of $13 billion owed by the country’s biggest tax debtors, a rate of only 0.0014 percent, Deputy Finance Minister Giorgos Mavraganis has admitted, although he said it’s because many companies have gone out of businesses and people are using fake invoices to throw inspectors off the track.

Wow, sounds like Grover Norquist’s dreams.

28 calochortus  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:16:42pm

re: #23 HappyWarrior

Good for you. Seriously. You have fundamentally sound morals.
It is sometimes harder for people to act when they are in a group-for example, the Kitty Genovese stabbing.

29 majii  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:17:35pm

I’ve seen this defense of, and unequal treatment of, high school athletes many times. I taught high school for 33 years, and I cannot count the number of times that athletes were treated as if they were minor gods. When they would get caught breaking school rules, it never resulted in them being kicked off the athletic team, but if another student committed the same offense, he/she was suspended or sent to in school suspension for two weeks. The athlete would always receive some sort of “punishment” related to the sport he/she was involved in. Many high schools place a lot of emphasis on sports and athletes because they are sources of revenue for the school. I’m sick of the double standard. These guys were found guilty and they should not receive the sympathy of anyone. The girl’s reputation is likely shot, and she has become a pariah to some in the community. That CNN took the easy route doesn’t surprise me, not after seeing the way Zerlina Maxwell was attacked because she spoke in favor of teaching males not to rape women.

30 PhillyPretzel  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:18:38pm

re: #22 calochortus

re: #24 Decatur Deb

re: #25 calochortus

Someone should remind the GOP talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words.

31 Decatur Deb  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:19:41pm

re: #30 PhillyPretzel

re: #24 Decatur Deb

re: #25 calochortus

Someone should remind the GOP talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words.

Actions like killing the minimum wage increase? Guess who is clustered around minimum wage.

32 calochortus  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:19:53pm

re: #30 PhillyPretzel

re: #24 Decatur Deb

re: #25 calochortus

Someone should remind the GOP talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words.

Cheap? They’re willing to spend $10 million.

33 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:20:47pm

re: #28 calochortus

Good for you. Seriously. You have fundamentally sound morals.
It is sometimes harder for people to act when they are in a group-for example, the Kitty Genovese stabbing.

Yeah, that’s for sure. Really, I don’t care how drunk you or the other party involved is, you’ve got to use sound judgment.

34 PhillyPretzel  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:21:44pm

re: #32 calochortus

For the GOP that is peanuts. Hmm. Maybe they should follow Yoda’s advice to Luke: “Do or do not there is no try.”

35 calochortus  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:22:15pm

re: #33 HappyWarrior

Yeah, that’s for sure. Really, I don’t care how drunk you or the other party involved is, you’ve got to use sound judgment.

Makes for a better life for all.

36 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:23:25pm

re: #35 calochortus

Makes for a better life for all.

I’d drink to that.

37 calochortus  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:24:09pm

re: #34 PhillyPretzel

For the GOP that is peanuts. Hmm. Maybe they should follow Yoda’s advice to Luke: “Do or do not there is no try.”

I know, but if they paid me $10 million it would be a lot of money. Of course, they might not like what I said about them, even for that kind of money.

38 majii  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:26:36pm

re: #22 calochortus

Priebus brought his “Let’s try to get blacks and other minorities to vote for republicans” BS here to Ga last month. He met with black and Latino business persons. Based on what I’ve heard/read about the meeting, nothing changed. These folks are tone deaf. Once a douchebag, always a douchebag. If Priebus and his cohorts don’t know that it’s going to take more than “talking” to us to get us to vote for their politicians, they’re dumber than a stick of wood. If one of these “black recruits” comes to my door to discuss the GOP, I already feel sorry for him/her because I’ll waste no time telling him/her to get that BS off my front porch.

39 Decatur Deb  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:26:59pm

re: #37 calochortus

I know, but if they paid me $10 million it would be a lot of money. Of course, they might not like what I said about them, even for that kind of money.

The more money they spend sending shills into the neighborhoods, the worse it’s going to turn out for them. Perhaps they’ll contract it to the outfit that destroyed their GOTV and registration efforts.

40 Decatur Deb  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:28:28pm

re: #38 majii

Priebus brought his “Let’s try to get blacks and other minorities to vote for republicans” BS here to Ga last month. He met with black and Latino business persons. Based on what I’ve heard/read about the meeting, nothing changed. These folks are tone deaf. Once a douchebag, always a douchebag. If Priebus and his cohorts don’t know that it’s going to take more than “talking” to us to get us to vote for their politicians, they’re dumber than a stick of wood. If one of these “black recruits” comes to my door to discuss the GOP, I already feel sorry for him/her because I’ll waste no time telling him/her to get that BS off my front porch.

Nope—set him down with a glass of sweet tea and take up his afternoon.

41 Targetpractice  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:29:06pm

re: #34 PhillyPretzel

For the GOP that is peanuts. Hmm. Maybe they should follow Yoda’s advice to Luke: “Do or do not there is no try.”

To make it happen, they’d first have to acknowledge that the problem is the message, not the messenger or the presentation. But they refuse to believe that there’s a problem with their party. They just assume that if not enough people vote for them, it’s because they’re not convincing enough people of just how “great” they are.

42 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:29:46pm

They could start by stopping to assert minorities vote Democratic because of “promises of free stuff” especially while their own party pushes tax cuts to reward their wealthy contributors.

43 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:31:11pm

re: #41 Targetpractice

To make it happen, they’d first have to acknowledge that the problem is the message, not the messenger or the presentation. But they refuse to believe that there’s a problem with their party. They just assume that if not enough people vote for them, it’s because they’re not convincing enough people of just how “great” they are.

Yeah they think the problem is with messaging rather than the message itself. It’s stubbornness. I don’t know what it will take outside a large electoral landslide which frankly I don’t see happening in the near future since I think the GOP is bound to get at least 45% of the vote for the near future in presidential races.

44 Targetpractice  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:31:31pm

re: #42 HappyWarrior

They could start by stopping to assert minorities vote Democratic because of “promises of free stuff” especially while their own party pushes tax cuts to reward their wealthy contributors.

The list of things they could stop doing in order to attract minority voters is long, because they’ll do none of it because they tell themselves if they do, they’ll be “no better” than Democrats. They convince themselves that their 19th century view of the world isn’t what’s turning people off, it’s that others are too successful spreading “lies” about them.

45 PhillyPretzel  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:34:36pm

re: #41 Targetpractice

I agree. And we know they “think” they are the greatest in the world. There is very little chance they will wake up and fully understand how distorted their collective view is wrong.

46 Renaissance_Man  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:35:03pm

re: #41 Targetpractice

To make it happen, they’d first have to acknowledge that the problem is the message, not the messenger or the presentation. But they refuse to believe that there’s a problem with their party. They just assume that if not enough people vote for them, it’s because they’re not convincing enough people of just how “great” they are.

I would not be so cavalier about the GOP’s idea of simply convincing minorities to vote against their interests, stupid as that sounds.

Remember, the GOP is now entirely the political arm of the Conservative cult media. And it is fairly blatant about only representing the top 1%, or even realistically the top 0.001%. Yet millions of Americans consistently vote for them against their best interests, vote to hurt themselves, because they hate Democrats, brown people, and others so very much. They vote to hurt themselves because they insist that Team GOP is their Team. This idea of simply telling people to vote against their best interests has worked just fine on much of white America - it could easily work just fine elsewhere.

47 Decatur Deb  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:38:07pm

re: #46 Renaissance_Man

I would not be so cavalier about the GOP’s idea of simply convincing minorities to vote against their interests, stupid as that sounds.

Remember, the GOP is now entirely the political arm of the Conservative cult media. And it is fairly blatant about only representing the top 1%, or even realistically the top 0.001%. Yet millions of Americans consistently vote for them against their best interests, vote to hurt themselves, because they hate Democrats, brown people, and others so very much. They vote to hurt themselves because they insist that Team GOP is their Team. This idea of simply telling people to vote against their best interests has worked just fine on much of white America - it could easily work just fine elsewhere.

There is no mystery in their message to white working class voters: “You ain’t got shit, and the boss could take it away tomorrow, but at least you’re not black or brown. And how about Dale Earnhart Jr.?”

48 The Ghost of a Flea  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:44:18pm

re: #47 Decatur Deb

There is no mystery in their message to white working class voters: “You ain’t got shit, and the boss could take it away tomorrow, but at least you’re not black or brown. And how about Dale Earnhart Jr.?”

You forgot “You deserve your entitlements from the government safety net, those people don’t.”

49 Decatur Deb  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:44:49pm

re: #48 The Ghost of a Flea

“You earned them.”

50 Targetpractice  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:46:19pm

re: #46 Renaissance_Man

I would not be so cavalier about the GOP’s idea of simply convincing minorities to vote against their interests, stupid as that sounds.

Remember, the GOP is now entirely the political arm of the Conservative cult media. And it is fairly blatant about only representing the top 1%, or even realistically the top 0.001%. Yet millions of Americans consistently vote for them against their best interests, vote to hurt themselves, because they hate Democrats, brown people, and others so very much. They vote to hurt themselves because they insist that Team GOP is their Team. This idea of simply telling people to vote against their best interests has worked just fine on much of white America - it could easily work just fine elsewhere.

They’ve spent decades convincing those folks that Democrats are hiding in the weeds, waiting to tax away everything they have. And then giving them a friendly slap on the back while telling them that if they just agree to give their bosses a little more money, then it’ll “trickle down” to them and their kin with jobs and raises. And their bosses remarking aloud if them there Democrats win this election and get their way with taxes and regulations, then there might not be as many jobs come next year.

Thing is, the folks they’re supposed to be selling this message to aren’t dumb. The old guard of women raised to believe that a woman’s place is at a man’s side are dying off, with younger women brought up to realize the value of birth control, legal abortion, and equal opportunity. Same with black voters who have grown up under a GOP that’s made it increasingly clear just how much they’d like to roll back the clock on Civil Rights. And Latinos? Republicans are waking up to realize that, as religious a minority as they may be, they’re also big on all those things that “liberals” support, like health care reform and abortion.

51 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:46:50pm

It’s about resentment. It’s curiously the same thing that they accuse Obama and the left of doing. OBAMA WANTS TO USE YOUR HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS SO PBS CAN INDOCTRINATE YOUR KIDS.

52 calochortus  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:48:46pm

re: #50 Targetpractice

So if them there minorities are having zillions of kids and taking away all ‘our’ stuff, why not support easily available contraception? (Yeah, I know….)

53 PhillyPretzel  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:49:26pm

re: #51 HappyWarrior

This is what I am watching: whyy.org

Oscar Hammerstein II: Out of my Dreams. Really awful stuff. //

54 Decatur Deb  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:50:33pm

re: #53 PhillyPretzel

This is what I am watching: [Link: www.whyy.org…]

Food porn.

55 Bubblehead II  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:51:03pm

Watched the vid. To say that I am pissed/outraged is an understatement.

The Justice system has once again failed.

Those two should be thankful it wasn’t my Daughter/Wife. Because they would be dead. You don’t do something like this, post it on the Internet and then walk away with a slap on the wrist.

Nuff said.

56 PhillyPretzel  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:51:37pm

re: #54 Decatur Deb

That too. America’s Test Kitchen has the best recipes.

57 calochortus  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:57:32pm

re: #56 PhillyPretzel

The perfect time to mention I need to go start dinner.

58 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 4:59:13pm

re: #18 Decatur Deb

The sentence legitimized ‘legitimate rape’.

Not really. Being labeled as sex offenders will cause those two assholes permanent damage. They are golden boys no longer, instead having officially dubbed shitheads by the judge.

59 Patricia Kayden  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:02:16pm

re: #14 Kragar (Antichrist )

Boehner ‘I Can’t Imagine’ Ever Supporting Gay Marriage

Fair enough. I can’t ever imagine supporting a Republican.

Isn’t this a losing proposition for the Republican party? Young people don’t care about sexual orientation for the most part and the country as a whole is moving towards acceptance of SSM.

60 Decatur Deb  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:04:10pm

re: #58 Dark_Falcon

Not really. Being labeled as sex offenders will cause those two assholes permanent damage. They are golden boys no longer, instead having officially dubbed shitheads by the judge.

You don’t get grounded for a year for legitimate rape.

61 Romantic Heretic  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:04:21pm

re: #15 Targetpractice

There deserves to be a lot more folks behind bars over this. That not a single adult was anywhere to be seen while this girl was being shuffled from house to house was shocking, but the only reason we have video and pictures of this whole debacle is because of the crowds of teens that just watched it happened and did nothing.

There is a serious breakdown of common human decency in that town, all because of love for a damned sport.

As I said at another forum during the UP debacle, it’s what happens whenever religion is involved. The saints and preachers become beyond question, and they start acting like the human beings they really are.

62 Patricia Kayden  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:05:09pm

re: #38 majii

Priebus brought his “Let’s try to get blacks and other minorities to vote for republicans” BS here to Ga last month. He met with black and Latino business persons. Based on what I’ve heard/read about the meeting, nothing changed. These folks are tone deaf. Once a douchebag, always a douchebag. If Priebus and his cohorts don’t know that it’s going to take more than “talking” to us to get us to vote for their politicians, they’re dumber than a stick of wood. If one of these “black recruits” comes to my door to discuss the GOP, I already feel sorry for him/her because I’ll waste no time telling him/her to get that BS off my front porch.

But if the Supreme Court tampers with the VRA, perhaps the GOP can suppress enough minority votes to steal the White House. I’m sure that’s what they’re aiming for in 2016.

63 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:07:32pm

re: #60 Decatur Deb

You don’t get grounded for a year for legitimate rape.

Well Mays will do at least two years; Only Richmond got a one year minimum sentence. And again remember, those are the minimum sentences for the two of them: They can be held till they are 21 if it is thought likely they will reoffend.

64 Decatur Deb  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:08:51pm

re: #62 Patricia Kayden

But if the Supreme Court tampers with the VRA, perhaps the GOP can suppress enough minority votes to steal the White House. I’m sure that’s what they’re aiming for in 2016.

Yup—so we don’t let the effort go into a coma between elections. Here in Baja Alabama we are figuring out how to make sure our voters meet the requirements of the stricter voter ID law. GOTV will include assuring photo identification in time to get it. Old(er) people in my group will show you the poll tax receipt they’ve been keeping. They’re not going back.

65 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:10:29pm

re: #62 Patricia Kayden

But if the Supreme Court tampers with the VRA, perhaps the GOP can suppress enough minority votes to steal the White House. I’m sure that’s what they’re aiming for in 2016.

Don’t get into conspiracism like that.

66 Decatur Deb  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:12:34pm

re: #65 Dark_Falcon

Don’t get into conspiracism like that.

They don’t even bother to hide it.

Shameless Republican Brags About Voter ID ‘Winning the State of PA’

videocafe.crooksandliars.com

67 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:12:54pm

re: #65 Dark_Falcon

Don’t get into conspiracism like that.

No, let’s. Conspiracies do exist, and the GOP hasn’t exactly been subtle about their intent to disenfranchise groups of likely Democratic voters.

68 jamesfirecat  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:19:13pm

re: #65 Dark_Falcon

Don’t get into conspiracism like that.

Did you miss all the ways yr party tried to suppress the vote a few months ago?

69 Bubblehead II  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:20:26pm

Night Lizards, Sorry about the drive by, but felt the need to post on this topic.

Seep well

70 steve_davis  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:20:31pm

re: #4 Targetpractice

The only part that the judge got right was requiring them both to register as sex offenders. But they should be serving 20 apiece.

CNN? Seriously fucking sad coverage, but at least they’re not trying to deny that a crime took place. I’ve gotten absolutely fucking disgusted with some regions of the net today, where they’ve basically taken the “She’s a drunken slut, her friends said so” bit and run with it. There’s now the accusation going around that she “changed her story,” suggesting that she cried rape only after the images and videos started circulating.

Unless I’m just completely misunderstanding the news coverage, they were found guilty of “digital penetration.” In other words, they fingered an unconscious girl, which in the circumstances (posting vile text messages, clearly knowing what they were doing had to be wrong, etc.) is heinous, but hardly warrants “doing 20 apiece.” When I was a teenager, I came about two punches from turning my bloodied opponent into a corpse, and turning an honor fight into second-degree murder, so I try not to turn my inner villager-with-a-pitchfork on for stuff that teenagers do.

71 Lidane  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:34:59pm

re: #63 Dark_Falcon

Well Mays will do at least two years; Only Richmond got a one year minimum sentence. And again remember, those are the minimum sentences for the two of them: They can be held till they are 21 if it is thought likely they will reoffend.

Given their actions and their complete lack of remorse, coupled with the entitlement culture they were living in as football players, I’ll put money down now that they’ll be charged with rape again as adults. Count on it.

72 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:35:30pm

re: #70 steve_davis

Unless I’m just completely misunderstanding the news coverage, they were found guilty of “digital penetration.” In other words, they fingered an unconscious girl, which in the circumstances (posting vile text messages, clearly knowing what they were doing had to be wrong, etc.) is heinous, but hardly warrants “doing 20 apiece.” When I was a teenager, I came about two punches from turning my bloodied opponent into a corpse, and turning an honor fight into second-degree murder, so I try not to turn my inner villager-with-a-pitchfork on for stuff that teenagers do.

Hey buddy, rape ain’t “stuff that teenagers do.”

73 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:37:47pm

re: #66 Decatur Deb

They don’t even bother to hide it.

Shameless Republican Brags About Voter ID ‘Winning the State of PA’

[Link: videocafe.crooksandliars.com…]

I’d also point out that the Voting Rights Act case before SCOTUS right now doesn’t deal with Voter ID. It deals with the rules for redistricting.

74 Decatur Deb  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:41:13pm

re: #73 Dark_Falcon

I’d also point out that the Voting Rights Act case before SCOTUS right now doesn’t deal with Voter ID. It deals with the rules for redistricting.

The Shelby County AL case involves reducing the Federal oversight of ex-Confederate state voting laws.

aclu.org

75 palomino  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 5:44:42pm

re: #73 Dark_Falcon

I’d also point out that the Voting Rights Act case before SCOTUS right now doesn’t deal with Voter ID. It deals with the rules for redistricting.

Yes, and the GOP is pure as the driven snow when it comes to making it easy for all people to vote, including minorities.

Because, you know, the GOP can be trusted to make sure that blacks will get their “racial entitlement” (in other circles, also known as their constitutional right) to vote. Why even imagine (southern strategy) that the GOP would do anything different?

76 SteveMcGazi  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 6:09:14pm

I don’t know what the law is regarding juvenile sentences, but I have a hunch that’s why they only got a year. Worse yet, their records will probably be cleared after they turn 18. On the bright side, they’ll never outrun Google.

77 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 6:09:45pm

re: #75 palomino

I didn’t say that. Please don’t read to much into what I say. I’m not much for subtext.

78 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 6:12:10pm

re: #76 SteveMcGazi

I don’t know what the law is regarding juvenile sentences, but I have a hunch that’s why they only got a year. Worse yet, their records will probably be cleared after they turn 18. On the bright side, they’ll never outrun Google.

No, their records won’t be cleared. THAT much was made clear: Their being required to register as sex offenders is permanent. I think the only way that could be ended is with the direct clemency of the governor of Ohio. And even then I’m not sure, though in other states the governor has that power.

79 Lidane  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 6:12:13pm

re: #70 steve_davis

Unless I’m just completely misunderstanding the news coverage, they were found guilty of “digital penetration.” In other words, they fingered an unconscious girl, which in the circumstances (posting vile text messages, clearly knowing what they were doing had to be wrong, etc.) is heinous, but hardly warrants “doing 20 apiece.”

Bullshit. They sexually violated her without her consent. That’s rape.

80 steve_davis  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 6:51:12pm

re: #72 Dark_Falcon

re: #79 Lidane

Bullshit. They sexually violated her without her consent. That’s rape.

(sigh) oh dear god. Yes, thank you for the lesson in what rape is. I’m not arguing that rape didn’t occur. I’m arguing that perhaps the circumstances don’t warrant feeding two teenagers who assaulted someone with their fingers to Gen Pop at an Ohio max facility somewhere. If the girl were my sister, these assholes would be dead, but thankfully the law doesn’t mete out justice based on honor killings.

81 Bubblehead II  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 7:32:54pm

re: #70 steve_davis

“In other words, they fingered an unconscious girl, “

Fuck You.

What part of rape don”t you understand?

82 palomino  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 7:52:46pm

re: #77 Dark_Falcon

I didn’t say that. Please don’t read to much into what I say. I’m not much for subtext.

I wasn’t trying to suggest that you said that.

I was just riffing off the topic of your comment.

83 palomino  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 7:56:07pm

re: #70 steve_davis

Unless I’m just completely misunderstanding the news coverage, they were found guilty of “digital penetration.” In other words, they fingered an unconscious girl, which in the circumstances (posting vile text messages, clearly knowing what they were doing had to be wrong, etc.) is heinous, but hardly warrants “doing 20 apiece.” When I was a teenager, I came about two punches from turning my bloodied opponent into a corpse, and turning an honor fight into second-degree murder, so I try not to turn my inner villager-with-a-pitchfork on for stuff that teenagers do.

20 years? They’re doing 1 and 2 years, respectively. (Kinda like Martha Stewart, among many others, who get similar sentences for nonviolent, non-digital penetration crimes.)

Since they’re in the juvie system, it’s pretty unlikely they’ll go to an Ohio max facility for these offenses.

84 BongCrodny  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 8:31:43pm

re: #80 steve_davis

re: #79 Lidane

(sigh) oh dear god. Yes, thank you for the lesson in what rape is. I’m not arguing that rape didn’t occur. I’m arguing that perhaps the circumstances don’t warrant feeding two teenagers who assaulted someone with their fingers to Gen Pop at an Ohio max facility somewhere. If the girl were my sister, these assholes would be dead, but thankfully the law doesn’t mete out justice based on honor killings.

So if that girl were your sister, those guys would be dead, but because she’s *not* your sister…

What am I missing here?

85 Tigger2005  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 8:50:21pm

Ever since O.J. Simpson was given two free murders for being a famous football player (and 3rd rate comic actor), nothing surprises me.

86 Tigger2005  Sun, Mar 17, 2013 8:59:14pm

re: #80 steve_davis

re: #79 Lidane

(sigh) If the girl were my sister, these assholes would be dead

Everybody likes to say this, but how often do you hear about the families of rape, or even murder, victims actually offing the perps?

87 Flavia  Mon, Mar 18, 2013 4:44:21pm

re: #80 steve_davis

If YOU would have killed them for “fingering” YOUR SISTER, WHY shouldn’t anyone else demand they do “20 apiece” for doing it to an unconscious person (who they probably drugged)???


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