[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 26, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H1358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CONDEMNING THE OSCAR NOMINATION OF ROMAN POLANSKI

  (Mr. PUTNAM asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, just about every day the media glorifies and 
offers a platform for actors and actresses who speak out on the great 
issues of the day: war, environment, human rights. These social icons 
usually stress that they are taking these stands for our children; and 
rightfully so, cause we should all strive to be models for future 
generations.
  That is why I was puzzled to learn that the Academy of Motion 
Pictures Arts and Sciences has nominated Roman Polanski for an Oscar as 
best director. Mr. Speaker, he fled the United States a quarter of a 
century ago to escape sentencing after having pled guilty to the rape 
of a 13-year-old girl. In fact, if he returns to the United States to 
receive his Oscar, he will be apprehended by the LAPD.
  The Academy, however, is in good company with their nomination. The 
French have also nominated Mr. Polanski and are recognizing him by 
bestowing their Cesar Award for his work.
  Mr. Speaker, there is something fundamentally wrong with the value 
system present in Hollywood today when the Academy would honor a 
pedophile who fled the country rather than face sentencing. It is times 
like these when it becomes brutally apparent just how out of touch 
Hollywood is with mainstream American values.

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