Read other letters about this article

• Friday, February 16, 2007 06:03 PM

  Amanda Marcotte's Duke lacrosse rape post

  Amanda Marcotte's post about the Duke rape case underlines why she should never have been hired for John Edwards' political campaign. It also plainly shows why Edwards is CORRECT not to stand by Marcotte's blogging

  Here is what Amanda Marcotte wrote:

  "In the meantime, I’ve been sort of casually listening to CNN blaring throughout the waiting area and good fucking god is that channel pure evil. For awhile, I had to listen to how the poor dear lacrosse players at Duke are being persecuted just because they held someone down and fucked her against her will—not rape, of course, because the charges have been thrown out."

  Here we have Marcotte assuming she knows for a fact that the rape did take place. Had Marcotte paid any attention to this story as it unfolded, however, she would know that the attorney general exploited what turned out to be a very flimsy accusation to gain favor while he was campaigning for his post. We now know that the AG, Nifong, tried to manipulate and bury evidence that undermined his case, and that the accuser has changed her story so many times she has lost all credibility. We also know that there is no DNA evidence and no witness evidence (the accuser's friend and fellow stripper has contradicted her statements). Why is Marcotte immune to the truth of this case? As a feminist, she should be angry AT THE ACCUSER for potentially trivializing and promoting skepticism of actual rape cases.

  More from Amanda Marcotte:

  "Can’t a few white boys sexually assault a black woman anymore without people getting all wound up about it? So unfair."

  Here we see Marcotte being glib and sarcastic about a racially charged rape case. Again she repeats her conclusion that the rape accusations are true.

  And:

  "Yes, how dare a rape victim act confused and bewildered like she was raped or something."

  Marcotte proves she has barely done her homework. The victim is alleged to have been stumbling drunk that evening. There is good reason to believe that her confusion has been generated by her story not holding up to scrutiny, rather than by her trauma at being raped. I am very much in favor of taking rape cases as seriously as possible, but we should always allow for the possibility of a false accusation.

  Amanda Marcotte continues:

  "Natalia, do you know the details of the case? If so, why do you think a women enthusiastically jumped into a sexual situation with men making slavery jokes at her? Furthermore, what is your theory on why she supposedly looooooved having sex with guys holding her facedown on the bathroom floor? There’s no “if” they behaved in a disrespectful manner. We have conclusive evidence that happened."

  Here we see Marcotte suggesting that another person does not have the details of the case, while a few sentences later, she exposes her own lack of knowledge of the case. This is sloppy writing at best, horrible and irresponsible journalism (even by blogging standads) at worst.

  Marcotte's clincher:

  "This is about race and class and gender in every way, and there’s basically no way this woman was going to see justice. In her part of the country, both women and black people are seen as subhuman objects to be used and abused by white men."

  Certainly race, class and gender play a big role in the attention this case is receiving. But I do believe that in at least some cases lower-economic female minorities have seen justice served in spite of the odds against them. This is much more true today than it was a few decades ago, but our society has made some progress. As for women and black people being seen as "subhuman objects," that may be true in some Southern enclaves, but Marcotte is very inaccurate in painting the entire Southern region/population that way.

  Marcotte finishes:

  "Yeah, I know, Alon. Which is why I’m frustrated that people are pretending ‘can’t identify which one raped her” somehow equals ‘wasn’t raped’. I had some initial confusion about exactly who was assaulting me when I was assaulted, but that doesn’t mean that his hands weren’t actually where they were. Plus, the media is acting like these men are exonerated!"

  Certainly Marcotte is justified in being frustrated that people are jumping too quickly to a conclusion, or at the enthusiasm some of them might have had for finding out the rape charges were dropped. But the most important thing is not one's emotions at the unfolding of the case, the most important thing is establishing what truly did happen. If she wasn't raped, then no matter how vile those frat boys might seem, and no matter how much one might have invested in discussing the case and how it symbolizes mistreatment of women in U.S. society, then the truth must come out.

  In any case, it is clear to see that Amanda Marcotte's blogging style is problematic, and I think the John Edwards camp is fully justified in distancing themselves from her.

  —Xrandadu Nexter
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel