Why would such a man appeal to French Socialists? The answer is that he didn’t appeal to the party’s hard-left faction, but to the so-called moderate French voter in general, due in large part to his economic acumen as well as his previous track record in government as a junior Minister for Industry and Foreign Trade from 1991-1993, and Minister of Economics, Finance, and Industry from 1997-1999. During that last two year stint, he earned the admiration of his party’s rank and file when he catered to the immigrant community in Sarcelles, a Paris suburb. He resigned from government at that point to fight corruption charges against him for which he was eventually cleared. In 2007, he ran for the Socialist Party’s presidential nomination, but was trounced by 40 points. Seemingly out of government, he was appointed to head the IMF by Nicolas Sarkozy, who likely believed it would be a graceful way to usher DSK out of power permanently.
The financial crisis of 2008 propelled Strauss-Kahn back into the spotlight, and seemingly back into the hearts of the French electorate who saw him as a possible savior of the economy. His chances grew even better back in March when President Sarkozy’s UMP party was soundly defeated in regional elections, taking 35 percent of the popular vote, compared with 54 percent for the Socialists. The far-right National Front took nearly 18 percent in the 12 regions where it qualified after a runoff election.
Yet even with the sex scandal unfolding, Mr. Sarkozy, who undoubtedly benefits from DSK’s political ruination, remains cautious. Perhaps sensing he can win over some of Strauss-Kahn’s centrist supporters, he reportedly urged members of his party in a private meeting to “keep calm and display a sense of dignity and decency.”
UMP party member Michel Debre refused to remain silent. “It’s not the first time that DSK is involved in this kind of actions [sic] at the Sofitel,” he was quoted as saying on the Internet site of weekly L’Express. “That’s where he always stayed. It happened several times and for several years.” Front National party leader Marine Le Pen, who represents France’s blue collar voters and anti-immigration sentiment, was even more direct. “The truth, and everyone knows it, is that Paris has buzzed for months if not years in political and journalistic circles about the pathological relationship M. Strauss-Kahn has with women. This week’s news is not exactly surprising,” she said.
As for the Socialist Party itself, the internal battle to replace Strauss-Kahn has already begun. IFOP spokesman Jerome Fourquet and political analyst Stephane Rozes contend that former Socialist Party leader Francois Hollande is now the front-runner to replace Strauss-Kahn. ”He clearly gives the impression of a fierce and lasting desire to run,” Fourquet said. “In France we say the election is won by the person who wants to win it most.” Rozes added a different perspective. “DSK resembled Sarkozy, and in this regard Francois Hollande is much more dangerous for the president,” he said.
Socialist deputy Claude Bartolone has other ideas. “Let’s unite behind the person who has the legitimacy to represent this unity, the first secretary of the Socialist Party,” he said referring to Martine Aubry. Aubry remained noncommittal. ”Unity, responsibility, combativeness, these are the three words which came up the most this morning,” she told reporters after a meeting of party leaders Tuesday in Paris. ”There was emotion, of course, and the shock we all feel, but it is our responsibility to be up to the task [of replacing Strauss-Kahn].” Aubry feels optimistic about her party’s chances. “I say to the French people: we will be ready in 2012.”
Whether France is ready for Aubry remains in doubt: a small-sample Harris Interactive poll in French newspaper Le Parisien has Hollande at 49 percent, Aubry 23 percent and Segolene Royal, defeated by Sarkozy in 2007, at 10 percent. For Aubry, this is quite a comedown from the Socialists’ victory in March for which she received a large degree of credit. Unfortunately, according to many analysts, she is dogged by a combative style and a lack of charisma.
Yet the French political landscape is certainly fluid at this juncture. To give one perspective on how quickly things have changed, a poll immediately preceding the above had Strauss-Kahn at 41 percent, Francois Hollande at 24 percent, and Martine Aubry at 18 percent. And there are additional Socialist Party candidates who might run, including Former Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, who would be most appealing to the party’s left, and Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, who gained popularity for his out-of-the-box thinking on city projects.
France conducts its presidential election in two rounds, scheduled for April 29 and May 6, 2012. The Socialist Party’s primary will be held in October. And despite the fact that President Sakozy has yet to officially announce his candidacy, his UMP Party has no primary scheduled at all. Tellingly, the last IFOP poll taken before his arrest had Strauss-Kahn eliminating Sarkozy in the first round by a margin of 26 percent to 21.5 percent. He would have faced Le Pen and her 22 percent of the vote total in a runoff.
And now it’s over. Strauss-Kahn sits in a cell at Riker’s Island accused of forcing a housekeeper to perform oral sex against her will. He has been denied bail due to the fact that he is considered a flight risk after authorities took him off an Air France plane bound for Paris last Saturday only minutes before takeoff and because France does not extradite citizens to the United States. Further complicating matters for Strauss-Kahn is a report that his alleged victim lives in a Bronx apartment building reserved for people with AIDS. Strauss-Kahn’s lawyer Ben Branfman insists the sex was consensual. ”The evidence, we believe, will not be consistent with a forcible encounter,” he said. The alleged victim’s lawyer, Jeffrey Shapiro, was undeterred. “She will tell her story. She’s happy to do that because she’s telling the truth,” he said in an interview with Chris Wragge, co-anchor of “The Early Show” on CBS.
In the meantime, Strauss-Kahn, who is presumed innocent until proven guilty, remains on suicide watch at Rikers after undergoing a health exam. A grand jury has until Friday to decide whether or not the case goes to trial. Only the two people involved really know what happened. Hopefully, the truth, whatever it may be, will prevail.
Arnold Ahlert is a contributing columnist to the conservative website JewishWorldReview.com.
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The common thread that ties progressives and Marxists together throughout the world is that it is never the perpetrator's fault…. blame the victim instead.
Don't you think this is what happens when the whole French society looks the other way on this kind of stuff? More victims are coming forward now, and had they done so before, the IMF wouldn't be in trouble, and this guy would either have been ousted or in jail years ago.
Poll: Is Dominique Strauss-Kahn a.k.a. DSK guilty? http://www.wepolls.com/r/446301
I think it is a set-up…clearly he has been doing this for a while and have been untouchable in France becuase of the culture and his power. Somone set a abit and he bit it off real big…Prosecuting Dominic in NY whether he wins or lose raises doubt by other world leaders who could influence a decision regaring his election to government. Domonic aint stupid..he knows who is behind this and how this game is played as he may have helped to plan something similar on his adversaries…that said he knows what it takes to fight/derail this train which is why he gave up his position at the IMF…he knows he has to call in some favours to find out who is behind this and rally support from those who he has obviously pissed off/wronged who is clearly out to see him burn at the steak…My concern is…Dominic is a creep, but win or lose he may still get elected in France as the rest of the goons there dont see this as a big deal. Also…where is the maid? witness protection I guess!
It has been going on for so long. Yet women wouldn't dare lodging a complain because the French "justice" system is so adverse to the lower class. The guy is powerful.
So, so far, he has been unscathed.
But no more. Thanks to our American friends.
So bless you guys!
Signed: French citizen who loves America!
PS: For humor, guys, catch a maid game: http://www.maidcatcher.com/ .
Have fun!
Surely Strauss-Kahn is innocent until proven guilty.
Surely!
Just a thought. Sarcozy is ruthless. The girl is a Muslim immigrant. The rapacious DMS is Jewish.
This could be a set-up.
As an English barrister who has defended a major rapist among other famous cases I do not question the arrest and trial of an accused where there are probable grounds for doing so. However, I am absolutely appalled by Front Page joinig the lynch mob of prejuding a case before it has gone to th jury. Whatever happened tohe much vaunted claim by Americans of the Presumption Of Innocence? Or is it only now a legal fiction in the States. How can anyone get an unprejudiced jury after all this onslaught of adverse publicity? It makes any trial a mockery and a foregone conclusion of guilt. I am ashamed of you. In Britain we have a Sub Judice Law which prohibits comments in the press BEFORE a trial adn prevents Trial by the Media. Thank heavens!
Dear Mr. Stout-Kerr, the presumption of innocence is the cornerstone of the American jurisprudence system, really! We also have another freedom that enters into this discussion… that of free speech which we exercise on this site. This presumption and our freedom to discuss various matters both exist. Do you propose we suppress our free speech on any matter that might appear before the court???
England now has a law that makes it illegal to criticize Islam. Mr. Geert Wilders has been banned from your country for doing just that. It would have been interesting if that level of what is now considered "political correctness" for Islam might have done if it were in place when Nazi Germany was pockmarking your countryside with V-2 rockets.
A trial by jury does not always find the truth in a case. Most outcomes are decided by the evidence presented and often becomes a contest between two parties to determine which has the better lawyer.
Please step down from your high horse and feel free to discuss this issue with us instead of attempting to criticize the discussion. Your input is welcomed.
Hear! hear!
Thank you, Kristina.
Just like a sharp CUTTER;
Thank you MADAME
Mr. Stout Kerr, I thank you for reminding the American public of what used to be a reputable judicial system. I was also appalled to read in the papers as if there already was a trial and he was found guilty. There is no presumption of innocence in all these yellow rags. And I was also wondering that if the grand jury decides that a trial is necessary, how they will find unbiased jurors. The American public has earned your contempt, and I appreciate the fact that there is a law which prohibits such goings on in England, notwitstanding my contempt for their craven pandering to all manner of extremists.
I just had a sudden flashback to the Clinton administration.
I'm not comparing President Hot Pants to Pepe le Pew, but it is interesting how the left starts to "blame the victim" when even it pleases.
Clinton was scummy and lecherous but at least with Monica it was consensual.
with Monica ..but not with others. clinton's chief of staff said his primary function was to make sure NO WOMAN was alone with Bill Clinton.
I thought you were having a flashback to the Republinator in California. Guess not….
A hedonist! The French make this almost sound like a religious denomination. Of course, they also consider the Marquis de Sade to have been a profound philosopher.
I am not at all a socialist but this story until proven otherwise ,looks like a set up to me .
DSK is a women chaser ,98% of men in France are like him. They are not rapist. It is a big difference It takes two to tango. Romancing a woman whoever she is , a maid , a co worker , a friend is part of the french culture and women are very well aware of the tecbnique , It is up to them to stop the bla bla ….
I am pleased to know 98 percent of French men are normal women chasers and not rapists.
Are the remaining two percent rapists or hairdressers?
fifty fifty lol
DSK is 62 years old ….. for him to get out of the bathroom naked , jump on the maid rape he drag her again in the bathroom….. and finally let her go … he must be superman or from another planet
She left the room . For every one who knows the tight security in NY hotels , it is not a secret that it takes only a few seconds to answer a help… au secours call. DSK had time to dress , to leave . to go to the airport….
The maid alleged that she thought that the room was empty….. ok… when she sees the guy naked coming out of the bathroom , she should have left the room in a hurry.
DSK has a lot of enemies and a lot of jealousy around him . A few weeks ago, he was shown on facebook and in the medias coming out of a Porshe.. and criticized very badly. You cannot be a socialist and drive a Porshe. Well it happens that the man is super rich .. So what//
Is he going to be treated fairly in NY . ? that is the one million dollars question WHoever has experienced the American justice system knows that money is the key…. One thing is for sure ,,,,, the five American lawyers on the case are going to make sure that they get the biggest part of the pie…..
France is not concerned by its reputation.. It is already a done deal. The whole world knows that French men are lovers and love to romance..and the American men are all for the dollar and lowsy lovers..
"French men are lovers and love to romance..and the American men are …lowsy lovers"
Hmmmmmmmmmmm, are these conclusions based on significanr personal experience ?
1. Why am I surprised at how the Left smears the victim when one of their own is accused and insists examination of the victim is immoral when the accused is not one of their own
2. the American criminal justice system is the most fair to the accused of any in the history of the world. The French with its 'instant trials' for which the defense has no time to prepare and lack of 'procedural due process' (use of tainted evidence) is a disgrace compared to what is found in the United States.
French men are dogs, American men at least have some ideals….but then I am just generalizing for effect.
They so want to romanticize this lecherous and unrestrained satyric behavior.
If my thoughts about french and american men are based only on what is said in both countries , my notes on the American justice system is based on personal experience. The family court system at least where I am living is as corrupt as it can be. Women and children are abused by high powered predatory lawyers and corrupt judges You wonder if you are in America or in the Middle East and everything has to stay secret……. by law… What I saw here , would have never happened in a french court where lawyers are nothing but lawyers dont own the bench and jugdes have to go through a specia l school in order to get on the bench. French make a big difference in the sitting justice and the standing justice.
Our problem with justice in France is that the politics try always to interfere and undermine the Juridic System.
Sometime, we prefer your Justice, because the politics and the GOVERNMENT can not influence it for the GRAND AFFAIRS.
But, as you said, here in FRANCE the JUDGES are Graduated from the very restrict ECOLE Supérieur de Magistrature (BORDEAUX).
I think that in USA you should have Special institutions to form the JUDGES.
But, The French reaction to the history of DSK is not due to the Left or Right, this is FRENCH culture, SEX and politics is the very normal TRAIN DE VIE in France.
To give you an example: there was a big struggle between Sarko and Chirac, the major reason was that Sarko had taken Chirac's gorgeous Secretary of Elysée, and Chirac was with his Secretary.
and every body at UMP knew it.
“But, as you said, here in FRANCE the JUDGES are Graduated from the very restrict ECOLE Supérieur de Magistrature (BORDEAUX).
I think that in USA you should have Special institutions to form the JUDGES.”
If that’s true about all the judges in France graduating from the same college, that scares the crap out of me. That’s one group of people–those who run ECOLE Supérieur de Magistrature (BORDEAUX)–who wield way too much influence over French juris prudence.
I’ve got enough of a problem with so many U.S. federal politicians and judges coming from a couple of schools (i.e. Harvard & Yale).
YOU speak so much BULLSHEZE!
Although i do not believe i could ever vote for a socialist, and do not have high regard for the French, especially due to their convenient moral amnesia regarding their Vichy and Dreyfuss past. I think that Dominic Strauss Kahn has been been treated shabbily by the NYPD and the American Press. He has neither been indicted by a grand Jury nor has he been convicted by a jury of hs peers. Yellow journalism while certainly practised by the extreme left in France and elsewhere does not have a monopoly on uncivil discourse.The extreme right has its own uncivil agenda too. StrausKahn could have been placed under house arrest with a monitoring device and a bodyguard, to prevent any attempted escape. The possible future president of a soveriegn nation and the leader of the IMF need not have been paraded around like a montser waiting for the hangman's noose. . Bob maram
His arrest for what is considered a serious offense dictates he be treated the same as someone with far less stature… in this country or the world. Your post suggests that he should be treated differently. There are too many instances of preferential treatment and political favors taking place in the US as this is written. You'd like to start down this slippery slope that would treat the accused differently based upon class in society. This country was founded so that a "faux royalty" with privilege for some would not exist.
The American press cannot be controlled (yet) but our laws and procedures should apply to all equally. Too many have died to ensure that this continues.
unfortunately your laws and procedures are not applied to all equally…. I did not say DSK should not have been arrested if there is a complaint against him.and his position should not allow him to a special treatment… IF CONVICTED . I just have my doubts about the word RAPE in this case
Maybe the NYPD treats everyone shabbily. This is the U.S. not France. We don't pretend to be "sophisticated".
Too bad. It wouldn't hurt us to be a little polite. And in this case a man has been exposed to such indignity without anyone knowing whether there is any truth in the woman's accusations. What do we know about her? But for our brainwashed public it is enough that she is a maid, and he is a rich and powerful man. From what I've read in many papers, all the comments accept her story. Why? Because according to what they have been taught by our schools and television, the working person is aleays truthful and honest, while the rich are arrogant and perfidious louts. The time to talk about a case is after the verdict.
I am retired law enforcement, and I can attest that working people, and the poor, have no monopoly on virtue. That said, my point was that law enforcement in the U.S. is not paid to be "polite". They are not even paid to "help". They take an oath, and the language of that oath, basically, proscribes their duties.
Interesting to see the Elitism, of the French Left.
What happened with the REVOLUTION of EGALITE, FRATERNITY et LIBERTY???
Out manouvered by a bunch of Crotch Cannibals,. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!
May Armageddon visit them.
SEAMYSTIC
Socialist, elitist, and Jewish……At least he'll get a jury of his peers in NYC.
lets not emphasize the 'jewish'. abuse of women is something quite foreign to jewish culture. as a jew, this man is an aberration.
My comment is meant in the most clinical terms, given what is being written in Le Monde and its associated blogs about the American system and DSK being “setup.” FWIW, my mother's maiden name was Esther Frank and my comment directed at denoting this particular defendant could not possibly find a greater proportion of his peers (socialist, elitist, and lastly, Jewish) anywhere else on the planet….Certainly NOT in anti-Semitic France.
Maybe the socialists ascribe to the "Divine Right of Kings" who had the right to drop off at any village and have a go at the fair maidens there. The liberals could call it the "Divine Right of Socialists".
With their sympathy for the" religion of the dark ages" we might conjecture that the left is it's self a throw back to the dark ages.
This head of the IMF with it's "screw the poor" way of doing business might be an other symptom of their regressive mentality.of those who sympathize with him.
We also have other symptoms of the lefts longing to return to the dark ages with their attempts to prohibit free speech at the cloisters called universities.
as for the past behavior of dominic strauss kahn the man has never been convicted of a crime as has roman polanski yes, there have been moral sins and indiscretions but is for another judge at another placeand at a later time to determine. i am reminded of chekov"" great story, ""lady with the white dog"" where the hero or rather the anti hero believes(as i also do) that many if not most men leadtwo lives(chekov is not referring to behavior that is legally felonious) and that their secret lives are precious and must be protected against a world hungry for scandal, ridicule and vengeance. bob maram
As a human, this man is an aberration. Neither his political inclinations nor his religion have any bearing on his repetitive behavior as a 'womanizer'. To glorify his insatiable sexual proclivities as excusable becasue it is somehow representative of French men is to make them all sound like towel snapping high school jocks who regale one another with tales of sexual conquest.
As we say, there are two kinds of people. Those who have been convicted, and those who haven't been convicted, yet. I was having an off the bench conversation with a judge one time. We were talking law enforcement, and I voiced my concern about shooting and striking an innocent person, either as a result of missing, or the round passing clear through the suspect. He replied, "Inoccent person? Not in Laredo."
Hedonist. Just a hedonist. Same ole, same ole I heard years ago as a leftist. They make it sound kind of cool, all this sexual "adventure," and they cast aspersions on those of us who like things done in a more orderly manner sexually, such as having simple moral boundaries.
,” an idea shared by Paris regional councilor Michelle Sabban who is convinced the alleged assault “is an international conspiracy,” adding that “[E]veryone knows that his weakness is seduction, women. That’s how they got him.”
The left play the victim card. The weak DSK was 'got'. All humans have frailties but the challenge of living is to overcome them in order to avoid what consequences they may bear, not to give into them and to then attempt to avoid their attendant consequences.
The issue at this point is not judging DSK's guilt or inncoence-a US court of law will determine that- but to question the moral compass of a group of people who take umbrage at holding any human being resposible for his or her actions.
Both sides are shameless, vicious,immoral, hypocrites because as usual and, like in Islam they criticize so easily, the victims are ALWAYS the WOMEN.
this is a sick pervert and I hope he dies in prison an old man.
the socialist so worried about one of their own and not a word for the victim.
that is all I need to know about socialism and france
The conspiracy theorists are out in force, I see. How ridiculous. All we have here is a man who's finally received his comeuppance. No, Sarkozy didn't manufacture this; DSK did it all by himself. Yahoo has a nice article on the subject:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20110519/wl_time/085…
And you can laugh over this, from Time's NewsFeed: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/05/17/put-on-your-b…
MEMO to Bill Clinton: Don't go to France any time soon….."I like women" no longer works as an excuse for rape.
You are absolutely right that this could have been a set-up. It is a very suspicious story. Here is a 62 year old man who doesn't seem to be Hulk Hogan, and a 32 year old woman who works at a menial job for which she has to have some physical strength. And he overpowers her forcing her to do cunilingus on him? Really? As long as he doesn't have a weapon, a knife or gun, the man can not force the woman to do any such thing. Also, everybody feels for this poor woman . What about him? He was lied to by our police, he was yanked off a flight for which he had a previous ticket, and ignominiously put in handcuffs for everybody to see, on the say so of a woman. This is a he said, she said case, and who said that what she says is the truth, and what he says is a lie? Sodizzy's contention that she was seduced is laughable. Not because he is not attractive, but because she is a grown woman and not some underage child.
So there is rape. Where? And I was right. Even in this place truth is only truth as long as it fits your ideas. You have all decided that he is guilty without having any evidence except for the word of one woman. So I presume you would trust her with the number of your savings account? Yes? NO? And he, of course is a horrible person. How do you know? Because you've read it in the papers. And, of course, the papers always tell the truth, and nothing but the truth.
The revellation of a so called socialist staying in a $3000 per night suite sets the tone. All goes downhill from there.
I agree with the innocent until proven guilty but for the NYPD to act as they did must have been supported by some pretty strong evidence.
Lets hope they got it right.
Funny , how the "bogey-man left " is brought to the fore , in some sort of imaginary defence o Kahn …When in reality , Kahn is a member of the far right in France, in fact a favorite of :La Penn . Buit I guess FPM has to put their patented " left " spin on everthing evil that happens .
Gee ! That reminds me of another group of people that kinda blame everything that's wrong in their own lives and the universe , on their preferred target group / btw , the left does the same , but I ain't talking about that particular group .
Bearing false witness is the most evil of crimes, it destroys innocence. Jews have lost millions of their people because of lies; the Diallo video tapes make it obvious that she is one of those liars. Diallo was motivated by hatred and the fact that DSK has the appearance of a stereotypical Jew. Diallo must be punished for bearing false witness and not rewarded with riches.