Because we've been covering the auto scene in southern California for 35 years, it's only right that we weigh-in on the Paris Hilton story, right? Also, we might as well get her name asociated with our BLOG to try and capture a few more hits, like every other BLOG in the universe ... right? And after all, Ms. Hilton does drive some great cars!
Tim Rutten, in his always-enlightening "Regarding Media" column in today's LOS ANGELES TIMES (May 
12), suggests that those involved in reporting the news take a few minutes to do something different when it comes to this week's ongoing fascination with the 45-day prison term given Paris Hilton by a judge in downtown Los Angeles. Rutten says that maybe someone out there, whether in the "real" media or the "celebrity" media (and the line between the two is barely visible these days) take some time to perhaps call the judge's office and check-out his record when it comes to handing out sentences for similar driving crimes. (Photo - Paris driving her tasteful Bentley).
Rutten correctly points out that with most all editors and producers working on the "real" news (say, NBC as opposed to MSNBC, or the NEW YORK TIMES as opposed to, say, the NEW YORK POST) absolutely blinded by their daily desperate attempts to garner "website hits", there is no difference between the mainstream media and the celebrity media. Rutten points out that the LOS ANGELES TIMES is itself in the process of hiring a journalist (we assume) to cover the "celebrity justice beat", whatever that may be. In fact, with the NATIONAL ENQUIRER, since breaking many stories during the OJ trial which proved true, now considered as "real" as almost any other major news outlet, some industry observers think that only by combining the best elements of traditional journalism with the worst of celebrity gossip, can any media outlet hope to bring readers/viewers in the preferred advertiser demographic (18-49 years) to their publications, whether traditional print or electronic.
And what did Rutten find out, by doing a little old-fashioned "gumshoe journalism" on the Paris case?
"Had such questions (about the time given Hilton) been asked, the reporters would have found that (Judge) Sauer's sentence was unusually harsh for a defendant who had behaved as Hilton had. It was far more typical of the kind of sanction a judge might have imposed on somebody who had violated probation by drinking and driving again, which she did not do. (In that context, it's also interesting that no one bothered to debunk early reports that Hilton also had failed to enroll, as her probation required, in a program to discourage alcohol abuse. In fact, she's close to completing such a program.)"
Pretty interesting, isn't it? We'd imagine a solid majority of "Paris-watchers" think she was being sentenced for at least having been caught again for driving under the influence. As Rutten point out, of course that was not the case.
Rutten also goes on to write: "The harshness of the sentence ought to have loomed larger, when put together with Sauer's unusual ruling forbidding Hilton from paying to go into one of the private jails usually open to suitable defendants with sufficient financial means." Rutten goes on to (correctly) state that these "private jails" springing up around the country (and out of the country, but those are run by the CIA) raise serious and real questions of how criminals are treated in America, and whether the amount of cash they have in the bank has an effect on their overall experience with the justice system (and of course it does ... see above, re: "OJ"). (Photo - An absolutely reasonable amount of media greet Paris Hilton as she leaves court).
So, bottom line, Rutten opines that it appears Hilton was being singled-out by this jurist for her celebrity and wealth, in other words, the judge was using the defendant's social stance "to make an example of her".
Now, around every April 15th (tax day), it seems the Internal Revenue Service makes some huge bust of some rich celebrity involving tax charges. No one ever says that the IRS is making an example of whoever this "victim" might be, but the implicit warning is that "If a big celebrity can go to jail for not paying taxes, then you, Joe Public, had better pays yours!" The reality is that practically no one ever goes to prison for non-payment of taxes, but the IRS would rather you didn't know have bit of information.
Rutten correctly points out that ours is a land of laws and a series punishments created to fit the breaking of those laws. In other words, no citizen in America is to be made an example of by any jurist. Here's what Rutten said:
"... it's troubling that none of the mainstream print or broadcast journalists commenting on the case pointed out that the American criminal justice system does not make examples of people. It penalizes people for specific individual acts and punishes them according to the law. We do not punish one person to instruct others. We rely on the public administration of disinterested and dispassionate justice to educate and deter." (Photo - Paris drives some more).
To view Rutten's complete column, simply click here: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-
rutten12may12,1,7389668.column and Enjoy!
And if your idea of entertainment is to wait for Paris crying her eyes out on Larry King this coming week (almost a sure thing), then you need to spend more time reading real newspapers than watching CNN. Hey ... I've been a guest on THE LARRY KING SHOW, twice in fact ... Take it from me: For a guy who brags that he never reads the books his guests are promoting on his show, he sure has done well for himself. In fact, King, who amazingly is celebrating 50 years interviewing anyone and everyone with his famous softball questions, is probably the world's first true nexus of news and entertainment. And how a near-80 year old Jewish guy from Brooklyn can live happily married with a bleached-blond Mormon is, well ... All we can say is: Good for him! (Photo - This is what Larry looks like under the make-up and hair color --- Kind of snake-like, wouldn't you say?).
And just be glad YOU are not the person some judge (or Larry King's producer) decides to make an example of ... At least not yet! And, yes, we do appreciate Paris' taste in cars, too.
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