# Gore Vidal calls Polanski victim "little hooker," claims anti-Semitism got "poor Polanski"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [October 31, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793 "2009-10-31T00:34:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/1 "2009-10-31T00:34:53Z")

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\*“I really don’t give a [expletive]. Look am I going to sit and weep every time a young hooker feels as though she’s being taken advantage of?”

“Anti-Semitism got poor Polanski.”\*

You gotta see it to believe it.

[Link](http://entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/10/30/gore-vidal-thirteen-year-old-roman-polanski-rape-victim-was-a-hooker/?test=faces)

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**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/2 "2009-10-31T00:42:18Z")

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I wish we lived back in the early 1900’s when we didn’t have a problem with underaged prostitution.

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**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/3 "2009-10-31T01:43:18Z")

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From the [interview](http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200910u/gore-vidal):

> [@](#):
>
> **So what’s your take on Polanski, this many years later?**
> 
> I really don’t give a fuck. Look, am I going to sit and weep every time a young hooker feels as though she’s been taken advantage of?
> 
> **I’ve certainly never heard that take on the story before.**
> 
> First, I was in the middle of all that. Back then, we all were. Everybody knew everybody else. There was a totally different story at the time that doesn’t resemble anything that we’re now being told.

“I was there, i know what was going on. Doesn’t matter what anyone else says.”

He sounds a lot like **Starving Artist**.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/4 "2009-10-31T01:50:17Z")

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Somebody should probably explain to Vidal that statutory rape is wrong even if the victim consents.

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**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/5 "2009-10-31T02:12:00Z")

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> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> Somebody should probably explain to Vidal that statutory rape is wrong even if the victim consents.

But, in this case, she didn’t consent, either.

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/6 "2009-10-31T03:12:08Z")

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I think Roman Polanski’s movies are worth seeing even though Polanski made them. Likewise, I think Gore Vidal’s books are worth reading even though Vidal wrote them.

“Gore Vidal says something provocative and insensitive” isn’t really a new story.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/7 "2009-10-31T03:16:58Z")

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> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> But, in this case, she didn’t consent, either.

No, but the argument he’s making appears to be that she did, and therefore Polanski is being wrongfully persecuted. Which is rubbish.

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/8 "2009-10-31T03:44:48Z")

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Hey, straight folks? We’ll trade you Gore Vidal, Ernst Roehm and a third old gay fart to be named later for Matt Damon. Whaddaya say?

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**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/9 "2009-10-31T03:51:10Z")

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Who the fuck names thier kid “Gore”? And do you really expect them to be normal?

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**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/10 "2009-10-31T03:52:14Z")

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> [@jayjay](#):
>
> Hey, straight folks? We’ll trade you Gore Vidal, Ernst Roehm and a third old gay fart to be named later for Matt Damon. Whaddaya say?

You’re new to this bargaining thing? See, you have to offer something we _want_. Start with Anderson Cooper and Neil Harris, come back, we talk.

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/11 "2009-10-31T03:52:41Z")

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> [@Captain\_Amazing](#):
>
> I think Roman Polanski’s movies are worth seeing even though Polanski made them. Likewise, I think Gore Vidal’s books are worth reading even though Vidal wrote them.

This needs to be the epigraph of a book club or library society or something.

> [@jayjay](#):
>
> Hey, straight folks? We’ll trade you Gore Vidal, Ernst Roehm and a third old gay fart to be named later for Matt Damon. Whaddaya say?

Being a straight guy, I can’t tell if this is a bargain or not. But this doesn’t look like a good deal for us.

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**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/12 "2009-10-31T03:57:13Z")

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> [@Gatopescado](#):
>
> Who the fuck names thier kid “Gore”? And do you really expect them to be normal?

His full name is Eugene Luther Gore Vidal, with ‘Gore’ being in honor of his maternal grandfather, Thomas Gore, a Senator from Oklahoma. Vidal decided to go by Gore supposedly to honor him as well. Given his personality though, I think it’s just as likely that the real reason was to draw attention to himself.

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/13 "2009-10-31T04:01:58Z")

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> [@jayjay](#):
>
> Hey, straight folks? We’ll trade you Gore Vidal, Ernst Roehm and a third old gay fart to be named later for Matt Damon. Whaddaya say?

One dead, one nearly dead and another ‘old’ guy for Matt Damon!!??

Ok, deal.

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**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/14 "2009-10-31T04:05:57Z")

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> [@Annie](#):
>
> You’re new to this bargaining thing? See, you have to offer something we _want_. Start with Anderson Cooper and Neil Harris, come back, we talk.

Or, alternatively, something we are eager to take off our hands. Fred Phelps? It would be kismet…

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**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/15 "2009-10-31T04:14:21Z")

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> [@Dangerosa](#):
>
> Or, alternatively, something we are eager to take off our hands. Fred Phelps? It would be kismet…

Someone in Gay America able to take one for the team to bring Fred into the fold? That’s dedication 😃

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/16 "2009-10-31T04:28:03Z")

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> [@jayjay](#):
>
> Hey, straight folks? We’ll trade you Gore Vidal, Ernst Roehm and a third old gay fart to be named later for Matt Damon. Whaddaya say?

Don’t be silly. Matt Damon _is_ gay. Of course, if you want us to pay you off with your own money…

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**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/17 "2009-10-31T04:44:55Z")

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Gore Vidal: What an offensive, unpleasant and delusional man.

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/18 "2009-10-31T04:48:37Z")

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> [@Annie](#):
>
> You’re new to this bargaining thing? See, you have to offer something we _want_. Start with Anderson Cooper and Neil Harris, come back, we talk.

Well, that’s why I’m giving you THREE for one!

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**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/19 "2009-10-31T05:00:03Z")

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> [@jayjay](#):
>
> Hey, straight folks? We’ll trade you Gore Vidal, Ernst Roehm and a third old gay fart to be named later for Matt Damon. Whaddaya say?

I thought that Matt Damon was at least an honorary gay, along with his bud Ben Affleck.

I’m not interested in Roehm, but Gore Vidal has a raging sarcasto queen tongue that when properly directed, like against Bill Buckley, was enjoyable. I’m not terribly surprised he doesn’t get that Polanski is a child rapist.

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**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gore-vidal-calls-polanski-victim-little-hooker-claims-anti-semitism-got-poor-polanski/515793/20 "2009-10-31T05:31:02Z")

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Hold out for NPH!

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