Does Roman Polanski deserve more jail time?

In 1977, Roman Polanski had sex every which way to Tuesday with a 13 year-old-girl that he loaded with alcohol and half a Quaalude. Whether or not the girl was consenting or not, she was a minor and it was a crime. If Roman Polanski appeared on an episode of To Catch a Predator, he would be ridiculed rather than celebrated as an amazing director. I don't know what the laws surrounding statutory rape were in '77 so that may not matter, but he DID serve the time that judge at originally sentenced him to. It was only 44 days but he did it. During the media circus, Polanski fled the country when learning that the judge was going to give him more jail time.

Now that he has been arrested again, a new media frenzy is developing around Polanski and his then victim, Samantha Geimer. Hollywood starts like Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, and David Lynch  have rushed to show their support by starting a petition requesting Polanski's immediate release. First off, why so quick to show support? What do these men share in common with Polanski?

• Woody Allen - Infamously had sex with and later married his underage adopted daughter with Mia Farrow.
• Martin Scorsese - cast an underage Jodi Foster to play a provactive looking prostitue in the movie Taxi Driver.
• David Lynch - he's just weird. (doesn't really support my point.)
  

Legally, we cannot go back and re-charge people for crimes just because we know have stiffer penalties. It is what it is. I would just like to see someone in Hollywood stand and say "Hey, Polanski may be a brilliant director, but he's a sick pedophile too. So, maybe I won't work with him or support what he's doing because I think f-cking kids is pretty messed up." I promise that once I get to Hollywood, I'll say that.

Posted via email from Chase's posterous