The Freedom Bulletin

Famous journalist, TV personality, and author Anne Sinclair officially started her new job today as editorial director of the French version of the Huffington Post. Sinclair, of course, also happens to be married to Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was the world’s most well-known rape defendant until the charges against him were dismissed and continues to be a major news story as he faces additional scandals. At a press conference today, Sinclair said that her site will not have any particular political viewpoint but will “give people space to talk.” The site’s founder, Arianna Huffington, said that Sinclair’s triumph over adversity ”gives hope and courage to every other woman,” and that DSK might even become a guest blogger.

Sinclair has faced criticism from people who doubt her ability to be neutral and wonder how her site would cover news about her husband. One even said that Sinclair ”is no longer a journalist. Ever since she compared the DSK affair to the Dreyfus affair, she is an interested party.” This is an interesting question, but ultimately I don’t think that Sinclair’s support of Strauss-Kahn should disqualify her from a job in journalism. First of all, do her critics think that if she threw her husband under the bus, that would make her neutral about his case? That wouldn’t make sense; no matter how she chose to react to her husband’s scandals, the fact that she is his wife means that she is affected by his legal struggles to some extent. If Sinclair’s critics take their reasoning to its logical end, the only conclusion they could come to is that anyone who has any relationship with a person in the news, or has expressed an opinion about any event in the news, is disqualified from being a journalist. That would disqualify almost everyone in the world. It’s perfectly reasonable for someone who is partial about a particular subject in the news to have a career in journalism but simply avoid covering that particular subject. This is what, for example, WCBV TV reporter Gail Huff does with respect to her husband, Senator Scott Brown, and what Sinclair says she will do with her husband: “It goes without saying that we will cover all news topics that come up whatever they might be. I’m not saying I would write the article but it will be covered and in the most professional manner possible.”

Additionally, as she has since she decided to stick with DSK, Sinclair faces criticism from so-called feminists who are in reality not feminists at all. People have referred to her as “undignified,” “shockingly weak,” “very very sad,” a “doormat,” a “terrible role model,” “an embarrassment,” and a “depressed woman with no respect for herself” who is “under submission.” They speak constantly of DSK’s “victims,” and what he “has done to other women.” They describe the prostitutes that DSK allegedly slept with as “vulnerable young women run controlled [sic] by pimps.” Most offensively, some even write that Sinclair “needs an appointment with a psychiatrist.”

In addition to the fact that it is wrong to disrespect the presumption of innocence, hideously offensive to claim that someone is mentally ill for making different choices than you, and bizarre to call someone weak and cowardly for defending an unpopular individual against an attacking mob, these comments are simply anti-feminist. It is anti-feminist, for example, to demand that all woman have the same standards and value the same things in a husband. It is anti-feminist to assume that in rape cases, women always tell the truth and men always lie. It is anti-feminist to treat sex, unless proven to be non-consensual, as something that men “do to” women. It is anti-feminist to treat women as inherently vulnerable and in need of protection, to assume that prostitutes are controlled by pimps, and to assume that Sinclair is weak, submissive, and controlled by DSK instead of being an autonomous and independent person.

In actuality, Sinclair and DSK are a couple that feminists should approve of. Instead of her staying home and being financially dependent on him, she is the wealthier one, and both are intellectual equals who have their own identities, their own lives, and (until DSK’s was unjustly destroyed) their own highly successful careers. Anne Sinclair is brave, independent, strong, intelligent, and feminist. People who make comments like the ones above are sad, undignified, and weak.

Because of her courage and her very impressive resume, Sinclair more than deserves this job. Congratulations, Anne, and the best of luck in your new endeavor.

To mark her comeback, Sinclair gave an interview to the French version of Elle magazine, in which she explained a little bit more about her ordeal, her idea of feminism, and why she supports her husband. Some of the best quotes:

• “To be an object of speculation, of permanent harassment to know what is happening in my home, has something about it that is Orwellian, totalitarian.”
• “There are trashy newspapers in the U.S., like everywhere, and violations of privacy. But, in regard to the big media, the press is demanding, precise, and hardworking.”
• On her presidential ambitions, or lack thereof, for DSK: “I wasn’t keen on the idea of candidacy. Power? I’ve seen it too close up to find it fascinating. As for the role of First Lady, it doesn’t exist in France. All that leaves me totally cold.”
• On her new job: “It brings me great pleasure to resume my career, in the euphoria of participating in something new! … I think that I can still bring something to this field. What makes me nervous is the launch of a journal, that it wouldn’t be ready in time, the stress, all that. But my return to the spotlight, as you say, it already happened, no? … But it’s true that the professional spotlight is always more pleasant.”
• On people who say that she should leave DSK: “Well then, leave your husband if you want to want to leave him. That’s your problem.”
• On accusations that she is condoning violence against women: “It’s unacceptable because there was no violence. If there had been, the prosecutors would have pressed charges. They didn’t. Violence horrifies me – verbal violence too.”
• “I, too, felt a great violence when certain self-proclaimed feminists unleashed themselves on me. I am a feminist, I always have been; I always will be. I have been part of all of the battles, on abortion, on equality at work, on the dignity of women here and elsewhere, on the role of women in public life. I think I have done at least as much as packs of ‘feminists’ for the advancement of women in men’s fields.”
• “Unconditional support does not exist. One supports if one has decided to support. Nobody knows what happens in the intimacy of couples, and I deny anyone the right to judge mine. I feel free in my judgments, my actions, I decide about my life in all independence. I am neither a saint nor a victim; I am a free woman.”

Sources: Elle.fr, The Telegraph, Daily Beast

Each New Year here at the Freedom Bulletin, I make a list of the top people of the year. It has taken different forms and has used different criteria over the years, but this year, like last, I decided to do a top 10 list. The following people are the 10 who, in my opinion, mattered the most in the fields of politics, law, individual rights, and freedom. The people in the list were chosen based on a combination of how interesting, influential, high-profile, and unique they are, as well as the importance (in my humble opinion) of the issues that they stand for or are associated with. Without further ado, here are the top 10 people of 2011:

10. Casey Anthony – Accused of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, she was almost universally vilified by talking heads, trial watchers, and the general public, who ridiculed her partying ways and presumed her guilty because of the large amount of circumstantial evidence in the case. But her acquittal this year showed that, to one jury at least, reasonable doubt is still the standard to which criminal defendants must be judged, no matter how wrong the verdict may intuitively feel and no matter how unpopular it may be.

9. Dr. Virginia Moyer – The chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, she was behind the decisions to recommend fewer pap smears, mammograms, prostate cancer tests, and other medical screenings. After decades of ever-increasing pressure by society, government,  and doctors to undergo more and more frequent medical procedures, which take a huge toll on human dignity and quality of life, this is a small and long-overdue step in the right direction.

8. Gabrielle Giffords – This congresswoman from Arizona doesn’t need much of an explanation. It is amazing that she survived being shot in the head, let alone managed to return to Congress the same year. Her strength and bravery make her more than worthy of a place on this list.

7. SEAL Team 6 – Responsible for the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, they don’t need much of an explanation either. While I don’t believe in celebrating another person’s death, no matter who it is, it is undeniable that bringing an end to America’s 10-year-long pursuit of the world’s most dangerous terrorist is a significant event that changed the world.

6. Jesse Ventura – The former Minnesota governor and wrestler won at least one fan with his opposition to the TSA’s pat-downs and full-body scanners. Although his lawsuit against these unconstitutional and degrading security policies was (wrongly) dismissed, everyone should admire his outspoken and courageous stand for freedom.

5. Susie Castillo – A somewhat unlikely freedom fighter, this former Miss USA similarly gave star power to the fight against airport security excesses. Her candid and brave YouTube video decrying a pat-down that was more like a sexual assault went viral and brought much-needed attention to this issue.

4. Gary Johnson – Although he never picked up a lot of steam in the Republican primary and is now running for president as a Libertarian, he is a man of principle who, both in his personal life and his political life, stands up for what he believes in instead of doing whatever he thinks will make him popular.

3. Anne Sinclair – Married to possibly the most hated criminal defendant of the year (see below), she showed tremendous bravery by fighting for her husband’s freedom when most of the world expected and wanted her to abandon him. By standing up for his presumption of innocence, she also became an icon of loyalty and true feminism.

2. Dominique Strauss-Kahn – No longer a powerful politician or banker, he is an important figure nonetheless because he is this year’s most high-profile victim of race, gender, and class stereotypes. Accused of sexually assaulting an African hotel maid, the wealthy, libertine Frenchman was the perfect villain to many people, who ensured that he was immediately convicted in the court of public opinion. The charges against him were dismissed for lack of evidence, but not before he was severely and unjustly punished, losing his reputation, his privacy, many of his friends, and his political career.

1. Ron Paul – What is there to say about the good doctor and congressman that I haven’t already said somewhere on this blog?? One of my favorite politicians of all time, he has managed this year not only to bravely, consistently, eloquently, intelligently, and passionately voice his pro-liberty views on almost every issue, but actually gained quite a bit of popularity as well. It is exciting to see his poll numbers placing him in the top tier of presidential candidates and sometimes even as the frontrunner. In addition to being a warrior of principle, he has actually changed public opinion and GOP ideology in the direction of liberty, and it is that achievement that lands him in the top spot on my list.

The other day, I found this great article by Celia Larkin at the Irish Independent, explaining why Anne Sinclair deserves respect:

“Shame on those who criticise the readers of Terrafemina for selecting Anne Sinclair, Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s wife, as France’s Woman of the Year. Shame on those — particularly women — who condemn her for staying with him.

It’s outrageous, this idea that if a woman, of her own free will, stays with someone widely regarded as a sexual philanderer, then she must have something deeply wrong with her. Anne Sinclair is a smart, decisive woman. Not a victim. She is not a person whose future career or financial security depends on the man in her life. She is truly an autonomous individual who has chosen to stay with the man accused of sexual misconduct. An affront to feminism? Not at all.”

Read the rest at the Independent.

I completely agree that self-proclaimed “feminists” are wrong to look down on Sinclair and that, in general, a lot of people who call themselves feminists have anti-feminist ideas about the DSK case. Some people argue that Christine Lagarde, Strauss-Kahn’s replacement as boss of the IMF, should have won the Woman of the Year poll because she achieved success without relying on the men in her life. But the same thing is true of Sinclair. She was a highly successful journalist before she even met DSK, is more wealthy than he is, and was better-known than him for much of their 20-year marriage.

To be a feminist means to fight against stereotypes and social rules that treat men and women differently, such as the belief that women are weak and vulnerable and should be protected and doted on by men. To assume that any man who is accused of sexual assault is automatically guilty is anti-feminist (and wrong), because it is based on the assumption that women are inherently vulnerable to rape, and men are inherently predisposed to be sexual aggressors. On the other hand, for a woman to financially support her husband, help him with his career, and bravely fight on his behalf when almost everyone else condemns him, is exactly what feminists should respect and admire.

Guess who was recently in Beijing to give a speech on the European economy? None other than Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who chose today to make his return to the world of economics after his career and presidential hopes were derailed by (ultimately dismissed) sexual-assault accusations in May. In a 35-minute address at a business conference hosted by internet company NetEase, he said that European leaders are in denial about the severity of the financial crisis, that countries need to work together more, and that his former rival, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel don’t really understand each other. According to news reports, he received a warm welcome, and Chinese economist Li Daokui told him that many people in China love and support him. He looked and sounded just like his old self. Although DSK’s politics may be different than mine, I am so glad to see him back.

In related news, DSK’s wife, Anne Sinclair, was named France’s woman of the year on the same day by the magazine Terrafemina. The magazine cited her loyalty and courage and called her “both a heroine and a kind of anti-heroine.” I also was impressed by her support of a man who was hated and presumed guilty by so many. In my opinion, it is Sinclair, and not those who jumped to conclusions based on sexist and racist stereotypes, who was the true feminist throughout Strauss-Kahn’s ordeal. Although there have been rumors in the past month and a half that she might be thinking of leaving him, this seems to be false for now (knock on wood), as they were recently seen visiting Israel together and later celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary. As long as Sinclair doesn’t end up ditching her husband in the midst of his continuing legal and reputational struggles, I’d say she deserves this title for sure.

And finally, another surveillance video from the Sofitel hotel was published by French magazine Le Nouvel Observateur. It shows Brian Yearwood, the technical director of the hotel, following DSK around, perhaps a little suspiciously.

Sources: AFP, AP, Financial Times, IBN Live, News.com.au, RFI, Telegraph, Wall Street Journal

The conspiracy theories about Dominique Strauss-Kahn have continued to be in the news, especially now that security footage from the Sofitel hotel has been released by French TV channel BFM. The video (which you can watch below) shows DSK calmly checking out at the front desk and leaving in a taxi. Later, it shows Nafissatou Diallo, the hotel maid who accused DSK of sexual assault, appearing to describe and act out the alleged crime to security personnel. And, strangest of all, the tape shows two hotel employees doing a 13-second victory dance immediately after the police are called.

Diallo’s lawyer, Kenneth Thompson, who has filed a civil case against DSK, had the audacity to hold a press conference, declaring that the tapes are ”further proof that Ms Diallo is telling the truth” because she “is shown on video demonstrating to her supervisor and hotel security how he pushed her down the hallway to the back of the hotel suite.” That is quite a leap of logic. All the video shows is that Diallo told security that Strauss-Kahn assaulted her. I don’t think anyone is denying that. Yes, some of the gestures she makes in the surveillance footage seem to match details she gave in interviews and other descriptions of the alleged assault, but that doesn’t prove that the totality of her story was consistent, let alone that it was true.

Plus, as DSK’s biographer Michel Taubmann points out, ”At no point in time…does Ms Diallo seem to complain or to cry. The fact that she does not cry does not mean she was not raped but it contradicts the account of her lawyers, who say she was overwhelmed, that she suffered horribly from pain in her shoulder. She is seen leaning against a wall, waving her arms about.”

And the celebratory dance, although not the three minutes originally described by investigative journalist Edward Jay Epstein in his excellent article about the case, sure looks suspicious. Either the two employees were involved in a conspiracy to bring down DSK, or they decided to high-five and congratulate each other about sports in the middle of dealing with an alleged sexual assault. Either way, not classy.

What the video does show clearly is that Strauss-Kahn was in no particular hurry to leave. This contradicts Diallo’s civil complaint, which says that DSK “fled the hotel like a common criminal…In his haste to flee the scene of a crime, he rushed out of the hotel with toothpaste smeared on the outside of his mouth and was looking over his shoulders.”

It is beyond me how Diallo’s lawyers can claim victory in a video that shows that they lied in their complaint. My verdict? Although the video doesn’t definitively prove that DSK was the victim of a conspiracy, it sure helps his case more than it helps Diallo’s.

Plus, French government officials may have called the Manhattan D.A.’s office to tell them of other allegations against DSK, which were not yet publicly known, in order to ruin his chances of being granted bail. According to Liberation, DSK’s lawyers had reached an agreement with prosecutors to release him on $250,000 bail, but after learning about attempted rape allegations by author Tristane Banon (which have since been dismissed) and links to a prostitution ring in northern France (which DSK is still waiting to be questioned about by French police), prosecutors backed out of the agreement, and DSK ended up spending about a week in jail.