THE CONSPIRACY OF THE RED LIGHT

O.K., let’s file this one under…

THE CONSPIRACY OF THE RED LIGHT

Here’s a basic truth:  Sex sells. 

So, at the very least, this particular blog entry, with sex at the heart of it, should assure that this site gets some extra hits from Google searches. 

After all, bloggers like an audience.  So cut me some slack on this one.

This blog my soapbox, the very same box outside of which we all have to think. 

That little soap box sometimes feels about size the tiny East Village apartment in which me and my roommate Jeff continuously have that battle which has given the blog it’s theme.  Jeff offers a conspiracy theory, I search for the truth. 

Right, or wrong, the truth rules.

I know, as a culture, we are all too fascinated with what happens, say, between The President and the intern, or the Congressman and the missing intern, or the movie star Governor and the mother of the love-child. 

I did not have sex with that woman –

Each of those revelations, or accusations, have the potential to be career ending, inciting a scandal that gets so out of control that it dominates the twenty four hour news cycle.

We become horrified by the lurid conduct of our leaders and icons.  They get shunned, and then we forgive them. 

Sometimes somewhere in between the casting out, and the reeling in, comes a conspiracy theory.

This morning, Jeff came storming into the small living room that we share, those little dot-like pupils in the center of his eyes burning red with anger.  Right or wrong, Jeff takes his conspiracy theories very seriously.

I instantly knew an investigation, and an idea for a blog was in the offing.

Jeff: It’s a set up.

Me: I was hoping it would be, I have no ideas for my next blog.  I need a set up.

Which circles back around to this blogger’s dream post of the week, a conspiracy theory with lurid sexual details.

At the center of this conspiracy theory is Dominique Strauss-Kahn.  Strauss-Kahn is the former head of the International Monetary Fund.

On May 14th. Strauss-Kahn was pulled off a plane on the way to his native France and arrested by the New York City police.  In true move style, the plane was minutes from taking off. 

Law and Order style -

It is nearly impossible to get an extradition from the French authorities – remember poor movie director Roman Polanski.  He couldn’t even come back for his Oscar, so maybe it’s a long time for forgiveness. 

Bottom line in connecting the dots, improper sexual conduct, real or perceived, the alleged predator most often goes off the R.A.D.A.R. for years.

Harken back to the Salem Witch Trials.  The mere act of accusation brought the ultimate penalty.

Anyone got a marshmallow? –

Anyway, Strauss-Kahn was accused by the maid at his hotel of forcing her to take part in both oral and anal sex. 

The maid, a Guinean immigrant, told authorities that when she entered Strauss-Kahn's suite to clean it on Saturday afternoon, he emerged naked from the bathroom and chased her down a hallway before pulling her back inside.

Strauss-Kahn was indicted on two counts of a first degree criminal sexual act, two counts of sexual abuse, attempted rape, unlawful imprisonment, and forcible touching.    

You see, I’m really going for maximum hits this week.  There are all sorts of great search words in that paragraph.

Strauss-Kahn faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

According to Jeff, it was all a set up by rivals inside the International Monetary Fund, to bring Stauss-Kahn down with his push for more regulation.  The woman is just like those finger pointers in The Crucible, cry “rape”, and the victim becomes the alleged perpetrator.

Add to the fact that his name had been mentioned for potential candidacy for the highest office in the land, and you’ve got the makings of a great conspiracy theory.  Do the accusing in the United States, where sex sells, and the story is assured to dominate what’s left of the front pages.

The conspiracy theory flames have been fanned by the fact that certain political figures, supporters of Strauss-Kahn, have seemed unwilling to exclude the possibility of a trap or of manipulation.

During an interview with the French newspaper Libération that took place on April 28, Strauss-Kahn himself had alluded to the possibility that such a setup could be organized by his enemies.

A poll performed on Monday even found that fifty seven percent of the French public believes that he was the victim of a plot.

Now, this poor maid.  Raped.  Plastered all over the media in the twenty four hour news cycle.  What’s in it for her to go along with this plot?

Also, there is the messy matter of the medical personnel who performed a full sexual assault examination in hospital.  Were they in on it too?  Or was a rape faked to accuse Strauss-Kahn of rape?

The maid claims she then briefly fought him off before he dragged her into the bathroom and forced her to perform oral sex on him.

The woman said she was able to break free again as he tried to remove her underwear and ran downstairs to tell hotel staff what had happened.

I guess as an aspiring filmmaker, I can believe that these events can be faked and set up, except it just doesn’t ring true.  The woman did everything she could do to get him to stop.  She involved people in the hotel immediately after the incident.  It just doesn’t feel like a clean set up.

But that’s for the jury to decide I guess.

Meanwhile, I guess Strauss-Kahn won’t be seeking higher office.  But, then again, neither will Arnold Schwarzenneger, John Edwards, or Gary Condon. 

So the moral of the story is, sex sells, but the bill is huge.  Let that red light blink in your head, not over the door fellas.

Until next time, emails and comments are always welcome.