Ashe Schow:
The recent hysteria over sexual assault has resulted in some delicious comeuppance for some of the most self-righteous among us. The best example of this is Lena Dunham.
In August, Dunham tweeted: “Things women do lie about: what they ate for lunch. Things women don’t lie about: rape.” When someone responded, pointing out that “10 percent of all rape allegations are false,” Dunham modified her claim, writing: “The actual number, while hard to track, is much closer to 3%.”
Dunham’s claim is dangerously misleading, as the number of “false accusations” refer only to reports that have been filed with police and proven to be false. Seeing as it’s nearly impossible to prove a negative, this number is likely lower than it should be.
This percentage (whether you believe it’s 2 percent, 3 percent, or 10 percent) doesn’t apply to accusations that can’t be proven one way or the other. The same studies that found 2 percent (or 7 percent in the example I’m using for the following numbers) or so to be proven false also find that another 8 percent are “unfounded/baseless,” meaning they don’t meet the criminal level of offense or were improperly coded as sexual assault.
Another 18 percent are considered “informational” and don’t meet the definition of a crime. Another 29 percent are labeled “suspended” because there wasn’t enough evidence to say a crime occurred. Another 18 percent involve identifying a perpetrator but something “beyond the control of law enforcement” keeps them from making an arrest, such as a lack of victim cooperation.
A chart linked to the study I cited above breaks down what happens after an arrest is made. One-third of those cases are rejected by the prosecution, another 21 percent are dismissed with all charges dropped, and another 2 percent are dismissed without dropping the charges. Two percent went to trial and were found “not guilty,” a third resulted in a guilty plea, 6 percent went to trial and were found “guilty,” and another 3 percent were classified as “other.”
So using the same logic as Dunham and others who flaunt this statistic, one would only be able to say that a smaller or equal number of accusations turn out to be “true” (as in, someone pled guilty or was found guilty at trial). But Dunham and others imply that the statistics mean 98 percent of accusations are definitely true, thus we should never doubt one.
Those of us who follow the explosion of accusations on college campuses against young men have wondered what would happen if Dunham herself, or someone close to her, were accused of sexual assault.
The accusation of rape is a very serious charge and dangerous weapon. Anyone and everyone (even Republicans) are innocent until proven guilty or admission of guilt.
It is noteworthy that the liberal media merely digs up and reports the accusations against Moore but make no effort to research and provide any proof. Also noteworthy is that while some of the more notable leftists accused have admitted guilt (as though if they denied it, ample proof would be found), Moore has steadfastly and vehemently denied the accusations against him (as though he is confident there IS no available proof).
It appears the presumption of innocence only applies to liberals.
One accused jackass defending another:
Trump Defends Roy Moore, Citing Candidate’s Denial of Allegations
I’ll at least give Trump credit for being honest about his motives on this occasion:
Well, that short statement actually contains a lie. What “record” is Donald referring to? Doug Jones, Roy Moore’s opponent, has never before run for public office.
Perhaps Trump’s referring to his record as a prosecuting attorney? Jones did reopen and successfully prosecute two Ku Klux Klan members in connection with the 1963 Baptist Church bombing. Would that qualify as “terrible on crime?”
A presumption of innocence only applies to our legal process.
It does not apply to evaluations of a candidate’s character and truthfulness by voters, or to a parent’s evaluation of someone who wants to take their 14-year-old daughter on a movie date.
@Greg:
Certainly not if one wants to use false accusations to do what a political message cannot.
What about that false statement Trump has made concerning Roy Moore’s opponent, Doug Jones?
As previously asked, What record? The man has never previously run for elected office. He wasn’t “terrible on crime” as a prosecuting attorney. He has no record on the military.
That’s two comments now awaiting moderation. The floor is yours.
@Greg: They’ll clear. I have mine put in purgatory all the time, for no apparent reason.
@Greg:
I know Moore is a Republican, but has the thought ever occurred to you that he might be innocent?
That was how Obama got elected; no record. Nothing that can be used against him. However, Jones has made statements and has views on what he supports and doesn’t support. He’s a liberal pig that is a sexual predator. As a sexual predator, he should drop out (see how easy that is?).
@Greg: Waste of key strokes.