Arianna Talks Iran, Republicans And Roman Polanski On "Morning Joe" (VIDEO)

Arianna was a co-host on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" today and the group discussed a wide range of topics, from the arrest of Roman Polanski to the escalating tensions with Iran to whether David Frum would ever leave the Republican Party.

WATCH:

Arianna on the news of the day.

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Would David Frum ever leave the Republican party? (He answers at the end of the video.)

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Madeleine Albright on Iran and her new book.

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Comments

[EndTheHumanWar]

Amazing that Pat Buchanan still has access to the airwaves. Recall -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pGyiMhLuUQ

[Ergon]

See the video, at the end. Both Mika and Arianna have NO problem calling him a pedophile.
I wonder why some commenters here do.

[NYCforObama]

What does this have to do with that former F-L-A pol who joked about her untimely passing?

[Bitsko]

Wow, a whole story about people jibber jabbering about everything under the sun, most of which they aren't experts at. Sounds like my regular bar.

[Yakadee]

Nobody condones a 45 yr old having sex with a 13 year old but what took place after the fact and continues to this day is equally as bad. The Polanski story is much more complex than the simple issue of a man having sex with a minor then fleeing the country to escape justice. I watched the documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted & Desired last night. It paints a number of not so pretty pictures, not only of Polanski but of the publicity loving, celebrity seeking misguided judge and the entire backroom dealing judicial system. The whole case is a lovely example of a travesty of justice from all sides, Polanski copping an easy plea to the judge loving the press and making lawyers jump through hoops for show to illegal deals and unethical judgments. The judge was eventually removed from the case because of his misconduct. It's truly sickening and makes one think about how much of this takes place daily and how much true justice there is in the US and elsewhere.

[QueenMaeve]

Judicial misconduct = wrong. Polanski STILL plead GUILTY to statutory RAPE. Did everyone forget that? You don't get away with raping a child because your judge has an ex parte meeting. You might get a trial. And, with the money Polanski has (and had then, I might add), you can certainly afford a good defense. This guy had sex with a minor without her consent, which she not legally able to give at age 13, and lived the high life in a European chalet. WTF?

And BTW, are we all pretending that guilty defendants don't often make plea deals because they know they'll likely be burned at the stake in open court?

[MalloMel]

What about the innocent people who accept a plead deal, "because they know they'll likely be burned at the stake in open court?" Let's not pretend that there are not innocent people who are wrongfully convicted in this country.

[Yakadee]

Sorry but you are wrong. Polanski was charged with rape but he certainly didn't plead guilty to it. He plead guilty to the lesser charge of "engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor" - recommended punishment for which was probation. You'll notice the word "rape", statutory or otherwise is not in the charge. Like I said, nobody condones what he did but why was he allowed to plead to such a comparatively minor charge? Lack of evidence or lack of support to prosecutors from the victim? Who knows. That should be what's at issue here - the root of the problem - a judicial system that allows pleading out to such a degree.

[caroledekamp]

Where was the girls mother? why would she let her 13 year old daughter go off with a 40 year old man?

[ImissBush]

she was a stage mother hu wanted her kid in shibiz

doesnt make it ok tho

[Balzac]

Pedophile? The girl's age was on the boundary of the definition of that word. If she were twelve, I'd say yes, he's a pedophile. She was thirteen, so we can only speculate on whether he is or isn't technically a "pedophile".

The language is not clear in the many accounts of the crime. Some say "forced sex", other say "statutory rape" and others simply say "rape".

"We sat on the sofa and that's when it happened," says Samantha. "He started kissing me, I protested but then just submitted. I'd been drinking and was too frightened to push him off - he was a famous guy, he was intimidating. We were alone and it was pitch-black. I was scared. I knew what he was gonna do - and I didn't want him to do it."

She can't call off the the justice system because she can't retroactively give consent for the 13 year old girl she was at the time. Age 13 doesn't make him a pedophile, it makes him a statutory rapist. Also, based on her own accounts from the trial and after, it was either a plain old rape, or a coerced "statutory rape".

Now the grown woman has forgiven him, but it's not up to her. I think he's in trouble now. The lesson is don't foist yourself onto a female of any age, and the younger she is, the more of a crime it is.

[Balzac]

Clarification: People shouldn't foist themselves on anyone of any age. Especially males shouldn't foist themselves on others. Foisting is not a good idea. Raping is even worse.

Regarding older women who "statutory rape" young men below the age of consent - this isn't as bad generally. However, if that woman gives a young man an STD, then it's a crime. Or if she traps him when he doesn't want to be a dad yet, that's pretty bad.

I remember at age 13, I was chasing the skirts of adult women. At 13, I was old enough to have been married in some cultures. I almost found myself a "Mary Kay Letourneau", but not quite. I'll never give her name or any details out of respect for her. There's no use speculating either because nobody knows who I'm talking about.

[LincolnParkChicago]

Was it Ann?

[spiritpony1]

re: Polanski-----I agree that "why now" is a valid consideration (NOT that we'll ever know); having said that, as a person who has been fuming for years that he has been roaming unfettered in France------and, frankly, I doubt his escapades w/ minors was limited to this one instance-----but, that, of course, is merely a conjecture-----in any case, I am glad he is finally having to "deal w/ this" rather than satisfying himself that he threw money at her and that took care of it; he's a predator--­-----that'­s it, regardless of his former life, brilliant films, if you perceive them thusly,

[katielady]

so succinct.. well put..

[QueenMaeve]

The "why now" issue has already been put to rest. The U.S. has attempted previously bring Polanski in while he was in countries that would extradite. Each time, either the necessary documents weren't prepared fast enough because they didn't have enough warning, or (in at least one instance) he found out the extradition documents were being prepared and canceled the trip.

[MAH999]

I'm puzzled by Frum's comment about no terror threat from Iraq. Put aside that they had nothing to do with the 9/11 attack. What we need to worry about is individual actors. Not governments -- when we are talking about terrorism. So how did we eliminate the threat of individuals form Iraq? Haven't we created more people who lost family members, or had family members who were maimed or otherwise negatively impacted by the invasion?

[MalloMel]

Why Now?

My guess is that there is a tie-in with the Swiss bank secrecy laws thing that has been in the news. I'm guessing that we did a little arm twisting along that line in order to get the Swiss to grab the guy. I can't prove it... it's just a guess.

[writer10027]

Thank you Arianna Huffington for emphasizing the fact that the double-standard that says Polanski shouldn't be subject to the law [because he is "brilliant"] is wrong!!

Wise words.

[kuwaitamoment]

Co-sign.

Excellent points Arianna. FINALLY, someone with a brain on that show. I couldn't believe how much
the ENTIRE cast made the Polanski arrest seem like a joke yesterday. They changed their minds after the massive e-mails and twitter posts that was sent to the show. It's sad that they need the audience to teach them morals and ethics. Shame on them.

[lordjin]

But she also didn't commit to that as her sole point of view, knowing that there is a strong "Why now?" contingent here at HP and all over the world.

Smart.

[georgiaR]

Regarding David Frum's interview. The argument that I hear from republicans has to do with taxes. They don't want to pay higher taxes for government programs that don't work. There is to much waste in government spending.

[SonofSolomon]

That would be fine if they were consistent. This didn't become an issue until Obama became President. Bush decimated the surplus he inherited and Republicans didn't make a peep.

[Katie101622]

Frum is his own problem.

"Conservatives need to do x, y, and z. Yes we have evil people. Yes education is not a priority. The world is changing and we're not. And I'm going to stay right here with my eyes shut and my ears plugged until we're back in power."

[edgemo]

Frum is also a Canadian... How's that make the GOP base feel?

[minty68]

I love how Frum said that the more educated a person becomes, the less Republican they become. Doesn't that tell you there is a problem?

[Clearing-Brush]

Rush will make him kneel, kiss his ring and apologize.

[AustinTX78759]

Rush the college drop out???

[Pammy2]

Yes, that little tidbit of honesty will surely cost him.

It's also self-evident by simply observing the tea-baggers and birthers and town halls. The people who are the most vocally conservative are so hopelessly uninformed and helplessly confused. And pretty darn proud of it, too.

The Republicans are circling the drain.

[lessbs]

Are any of the rethugs in jail that were trying to hustle the pages? How about the preachers that were caught buying drugs and paying male prostitutes?