During a CNN Newsroom segment on the "science" of pedophilia, anchor Don Lemon told guest contributor Dr. James Cantor that he felt a measure of sympathy for convicted child rapist Jerry Sandusky. "I know people are going to send me a lot of hate mail for this," Lemon said. "I've never been one to take glee in anyone's demise, and when I saw Jerry Sandusky walk out in handcuffs, I did kind of feel a bit sorry for him, even though the jury found him to do some horrific things, I was like 'His life is over.'"| Do You Like this Article? Then Like Us on Facebook. |
Before I continue, let me just say this: No, Jerry Sandusky's life is not over. He faces up to 400 years in prison, and if there's any justice, he'll spend as many of those years as possible in gen pop, with people who know exactly what he did.
But while Lemon is probably correct that he'll receive hate mail over this, I hope he doesn't. Lemon, himself, has revealed that he is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, which shouldn't disqualify him from reporting on the subject, but ought to be factored into the decision to blast him. A far greater likely contributor to Lemon's misguided sympathy is guest Dr. James Cantor's ill-founded declaration that "Pedophiles are born, not made."
The segment was pegged to a CNN commentary in which Cantor talks about scientific studies of pedophilia, and urges increased emphasis on treatment to prevent child molestation. While he declares, on the air and at the beginning of his piece, that "One cannot choose to not be a pedophile," the data he quotes doesn't support that conclusion at all: (emphasis mine)
Source: Mediaite.com | Tommy Christopher
