# Asshat Martha Stewart to Face Criminal Indictment **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 4, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561 "2003-06-04T12:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/141 "2003-06-06T06:39:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tlw \* > \*\*I’m sorry, I can’t let that one go by. I’ve never once been given the impression that she thinks that anyone **should** do _any_ of the projects she features, describes or demonstrates. I’ve never heard her use language to even so much as intimate as much. \<---------------Bangs head on desk. For the gazillionth time… My posts re: MS’s attitude etc were originally in answer to Zebra’s question as to why PEOPLE hate her, NOT why shoes dislikes her. I merely dislike her. I dislike her because she’s comes across as an unpleasant person. She’s bitchy. No, I’ve not read her books, but I’ve seen her on talk shows, and her own show, and once in a cameo in a sitcom. She’s snotty and condescending. I’m willing to concede that perhaps I caught bad shows, but from the ones I watched and from what I’ve read of her (and her own books might just be a teensy bit slanted to put her in a good light?), she’s an unlikeable person. That aside, and as I SAID in my previous posts, I do NOT think that she should be persecuted because she’s a bitch, and I WILLINGLY admitted my lack of knowledge of stocks and her role in the enron fiasco about 3 posts ago, and had never commented on that part of it anyway. And as I’ve said (6 times now?) I originally merely answered Zebra’s simple question “why do people hate her”. Then several people confused my answer of why PEOPLE hate her to mean why SHOES might hate her (I don’t, argh), and then went on to reply to their further questions etc. I still make better cornbread! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/142 "2003-06-06T06:43:01Z")
Martha had no role in the Enron fiasco! Giminypenobscot, next someone will suggest that the Arthur Anderson idgits were shredding documents in order to use the shreds in some Martha-inspired craft project. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/143 "2003-06-06T06:50:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tlw \* > \*\*Martha had no role in the Enron fiasco! > > Giminypenobscot, next someone will suggest that the Arthur Anderson idgits were shredding documents in order to use the shreds in some Martha-inspired craft project. \*\* Well there ya GO then!!! I told you I knew nothing about that part of it!! 😃 What’s funny is that I wasn’t going to comment at all, KNOWING my shortcomings in the old stocks and trades bidnizz. Then **Zebra** asked his damn question, and people’s attitudes (NOTE\*\* People’s attitudes!!!), toward Martha WAS something I’d seen and read quite a bit about. (zeb it’s all your fault :)). ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/144 "2003-06-06T11:30:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by D\_Odds \* > \*\ ***Evil Captor** , I closely follow financial litigation news, and it is common for cases to take 5 years or more before they get to court. I like getting litigation support assignments - it usually means an extended period of billable time (I’m a consultant - you can start the flames after this post)… \*\* I’ll flame you for what you say, not your occupation, if it’s all the same to you! Unfortunately, your post doesn’t contain any statements that are flame-worthy. Foiled again! \*\*Enron is a VERY complicated case. It’s going to take _at least_ 5 years to unravel the who, what, when, where and why of their financial records. By contrast, Martha Stewart is a near slam dunk in 2 years to indictment. Lastly, don’t forget that several Enron uppers have been indicted, like Fastow. My feeling is that Lay will get what is coming to him, but you are going to have to give it time. \*\* [/QUOTE] I am sure it will take awhile to prosecute Mr. Lay, but I am not at all sure the punishment will match the crime. Mr. Lay has some powerful friends, and after five years’ time the public will have forgotten him. I’m sure there are thousands of bilked investors who will have a hard-on for him for a lot MORE than five years, but I don’t know if that will be enough. Between Lay’s ability to hire topnotch legal help with all the money he stole, and the assistance of his good buddies in pressuring the justice system to go easy on him, I wouldn’t be surprised if Lay slides out of it. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/145 "2003-06-06T13:47:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Humble Servant \* > \*\*Just as an aside, Salomon Bros. and Smith Barney no longer exist. They’ve all merged into what is now known as Citigroup Global Markets Inc. \*\* _[hijack]_ I attended one of the renaming ceremonies a few weeks back (for the prime brokerage operations). Lots of forced smiles on Salomon people. _[/hijack]_ ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/146 "2003-06-06T14:06:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*How is the SEC focusing on anything except prosecuting her? She’s been charged with lying to the SEC and to the FBI. Are you seriously suggesting the SEC has been persuaded by the court of public opinion to indict her? \*\* I will say that. Given the size of the case (relatively miniscule), they should only be arguing over how long Martha Stewart is banned from the securities markets. However, due to the media spotlight (which is NOT created by the SEC or FBI), they can’t let Ms. Stewart off that easily. If she gets her hand slapped, people will think she is getting off due to her influence. CNN was reporting this morning that the only thing blocking a plea deal was jail time for Ms. Stewart (she refused to do any). I think she’s in the right. _I’m not forgiving any transgressions she might have made_, but sending her to jail is excessive punishment for the crime. As for the tell-all books: I think they were meant to be hatchet jobs, and that a dutiful reader should pare back anything said by at least 25%. While I haven’t read them, nor do I plan to, IMNSHO that is a general rule on any hatchet bios. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/147 "2003-06-06T14:31:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CanvasShoes \* > \*\* > And to your question “does she deny having help”? I guess you’d just have to see her in action, her little comments “Oh I just whipped this up in my spare time” etc etc. > > Her lack of acknowledging any help she does get. And again (SIGH), I was originally attempting to answer Zebra’s valid question, NOT saying how I felt about her. > \*\* I have to agree with tlw, while you may be TRYING to continuously answer one question, you’re doing it WRONG and spouting things that aren’t true. Those of us who watch the show or subscribe to the Magazine (specifically Everyday FOOD, which barely mentions her name EVER) she is CONSTANTLY refering to her staff, even mentioning who’s in charge of crafts or decorations or flower arranging. I’ve never.,…EVER … EVER heard her say “I just whipped this up in my spare time”. She claims things are easy, or fun or a good use of spare time but it’s left to the consumer to decide if that’s true. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/148 "2003-06-06T14:32:36Z")
They’re not prosecuting her on her insider trading. Therefore it would be pretty dumb for them to argue about how long she should be kicked out. She is being prosecuted for lying to the FBI and the SEC. That, last I checked, is illegal. If she’s convicted, it’s because she was a celebrity, right?. Never mind that she actually did obstruct justice - apparently that’s okay if you’re a celebrity, right? Admittedly, because she is a celebrity, she’s damned if she’s convicted and damned if she’s not. She can’t win. But too bad. Perhaps she _shouldn’t have lied to the FBI and the SEC_. I don’t know why it’s even a debate. Lying to the feds is a federal offense, and people should damn well go to jail for it if they are convicted of it. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/149 "2003-06-06T14:35:36Z")
jessi - I will say this for sure, though. There are millions of people who have never watched the show. They see her on Today or in interviews and they base their opinion on what they see. Unfortunately, since they believe her to be a calculating bitch, they apply phrases like “I whipped this up in my spare time” to her even if she didn’t say them - simply because it sounds like something she might say to someone who hasn’t seen her show. Those people who think that way are a bit ignorant. I have not seen the shows, but since they are so popular, I can only assume that people are gleaning useful information from them. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/150 "2003-06-07T08:10:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*I have to agree with tlw, while you may be TRYING to continuously answer one question, you’re doing it WRONG and spouting things that aren’t true. The question was “why do people hate her”. How is “this is the reason people (those that DO hate her, I obviously wasn’t meaning those that don’t) hate her” and then listing the reasons that those that do dislike her hate her be “doing it wrong”? What I’ve said insofar as “why people hate her” ARE the reasons people either hate, or dislike this woman. As is evidenced by OTHER posters in this thread who’ve expressed a dislike for her. Like me, they see her in an interview, or in her show, or read about her, see how she comes across and based on their seeing this, either dislike (or hate) her. I have NOT said, “and this is right, people SHOULD hate her because of xyz that she does”. I have NOT said “everyone hates her”. I realize (and did before) that there are people who think she’s just dandy. Some people don’t find her attitude and way of talking to be snotty and condescending, some do. For the ones that do, we find her unpleasant, bitchy and snotty. I’ve not said anything to the contrary in any of my posts, and neither did the other posters who expressed a dislike for her in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/151 "2003-06-07T12:59:54Z")
But it’s like someone asked the question: why do people hate oranges? and you answered: It MAY be because they’re filled with poison. Oranges AREN’T filled with poison so that COULDN’T be the reason. She DOESN’T say “I just whipped this up in my spare time” and She DOESN’T claim to do everything herself, so there MUST be some other reason people hate her. I love her to death and I think she’s a snotty, condescending megalomaniac, but there are SOME things she does NOT do, so to attribute them to her is WRONG. Does that make more sense? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/152 "2003-06-07T19:10:12Z")
One of the reasons’s she’s hated is the patrition way she talks. Her voice is without inflection and she speaks with minimal movement of her jaw and lips. She has the voice of someone who would name her kid “Muffy”. People hate that. Also, though oranges certainly aren’t poison, they do cause heartburn, headaches, impotence, unemployment, canine distemper, cancer, terrorism, bunions, reality TV, illiteracy, hemmoroids, acid rain, projectile diahrea, ingrown toenails, and split ends.\* [size]\*brought to you by the American Assosciation of Apple Growers[/siz] ---
**Author:** ![StanDup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@StanDup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StanDup)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/153 "2003-06-07T19:25:40Z")
Wonder what color paint goes with prison bars? Jailbird Green? ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/154 "2003-06-08T05:04:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*But it’s like someone asked the question: > > why do people hate oranges? > > and you answered: > > It MAY be because they’re filled with poison. > Oranges AREN’T filled with poison so that COULDN’T be the reason. She DOESN’T say “I just whipped this up in my spare time” and She DOESN’T claim to do everything herself, so there MUST be some other reason people hate her. > > I love her to death and I think she’s a snotty, condescending megalomaniac, but there are SOME things she does NOT do, so to attribute them to her is WRONG. > > Does that make more sense? \*\* Aha, yes, more sense. Sorry, that’s not the impression I was going for. And as to the “I just whipped this up” I’m not going to hunt back through the pages, but I could have sworn I said “along those lines”, not that she says exactly that. One show in particular was where she was making these praline type cookie things. They had to be rolled just so, otherwise they’d fold over and not make the little tube that they were supposed to make. For the entire segment it was “…and _I_ did this to make them roll the correct way” or “_I_ always make sure _I_ xyz the pan”. etc etc The whole time it was spoken in the way **Monkey** describes. Very haughty, very “I’m better than anyone else,” very looking down her nose. And FTR it’s not the scandal she’s mixed up in that made me dislike her, I’ve felt that way since she first started doing guest spots, before she even had her own show. Just the way she talks and behaves on camera, and like another poster said, if she’s that way in interviews, imagine what she’s like in real life. Granted, neither I, nor any of her other detractors, KNOW that that’s the case, she could be as sweet as pie off camera. I guess I just look at her compared to her counterparts. Christopher Lowell, Bob Vila and all the HGTV hosts. Unlike her, they all behave just like plain old “people people”. And can’t understand why she behaves in such an unpleasant way. And I don’t begrudge her her money either, it’s not that (at least not for this non-fan :)), after all Oprah’s richer than Martha, and I like her, not her show, I think that’s kind of corny, I just like the way Oprah is. She’s down to earth, friendly, genuine (though I suppose it’s possible she’s a big old fake…but according to her staff and friends, she’s a sweetheart). And it’s not that she’s “serious” either, Bob Vila is very matter of fact and quiet, but his humility and goodheartedness still comes across. Now, if it makes you Martha fans feel any better, I have to admit, that of all the designers, I do like that at least the colors in her collections are pretty. I swear, the designers on some of my favorite decorating shows seem to think that tan, brown, baby poop yellow and puke green (in fact, so many of the “earth tones” look like they came out of the wrong end of an infant:D) are “THE” trendiest colors. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/155 "2003-06-08T13:49:50Z")
You just said that: Christopher Lowell. Acts. Like. A regular…person. Well, I can see that you are beyond hope. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/156 "2003-06-08T13:57:47Z")
By the way, if Bob Vila appeared to engage in insider trading and sneered at everyone who contradicted him and adopted an “I’m much better than you” attitude, you can bet I’d be pretty miffed at him, too, and if he were caught doing the former, I’d be very happy to see him fall. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/157 "2003-06-08T22:31:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jarbabyj \* > \*\*You just said that: > > Christopher Lowell. Acts. Like. A regular…person. > > Well, I can see that you are beyond hope. 😃 \*\* LOL, see now that’s what you get for misquoting me. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/158 "2003-06-08T22:34:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*By the way, if Bob Vila appeared to engage in insider trading and sneered at everyone who contradicted him and adopted an “I’m much better than you” attitude, you can bet I’d be pretty miffed at him, too, and if he were caught doing the former, I’d be very happy to see him fall. \*\* You’re right. Sounds as if we’re saying the same thing. Like me, a lot of people have disliked Stewart for her attitudes and actions since long before this scandal. And as is human nature, when someone behaves in such a way, well… When the chickens come home to roost, most people are going to have a “what goes around comes around” attitude about it. What I’ve been saying all along is that she’s not being persecuted, hated and disliked because of her wealth or celebrity status, but for her personality. Right or wrong, that’s what’s happening. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/159 "2003-06-08T23:03:33Z")
If it helps any, I used to know her webmonkeys, and they all said she was a psychotic bi\*\*\* who would turn on you at the least little thing, ruled by terror… the lot. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561/160 "2003-06-08T23:08:06Z")
😃 I don’t know about “helps me” but you made me giggle, does that count? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asshat-martha-stewart-to-face-criminal-indictment/179561.md?page=9)