The Real Dominique Strauss-Kahn Story: We’re The Little People, He’s Not

Via Professor Bainbridge, comes this observation about one part of the Strauss-Kahn story that isn’t being emphasized:

Just note that the New York Times states that he was staying in a $3,000 a night suite and was taking a first class flight to Paris.

One more detail emerged this morning. According to the London Times, Mr Strauss-Kahn had an arrangment with Air France whereby he could just turn up and be put on the first plane. Tough luck, presumably, if you had paid for the flight with your own money and the IMF man wants your seat.

Since he was hired by the IMF in 2007, Strauss-Kahn has earned just a bit more than $440,000 per year, plus an additional $73,000 allowance, plus benefits.

All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.

 

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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. wr says:

    Class warfare!

  2. He’s living of the public teat, and living quite nicely

  3. Murray says:

    The IMF claims he paid 525$ out of his own (very deep) pockets for the suite. He had apparently booked a smaller room but thanks to overbooking ….

    As for the Air France deal, guess what, it’s not uncommon for VIP frequent fliers, and in this case he did have meetings scheduled on Monday in Europe.

    The guy is obviously a perverted prick, but spare me the “he’s more equal than others” meme. Only children believed otherwise.

  4. Murray says:

    I almost forgot. The real story is that for all his status he’s in jail without bail because a maid’s word is as trustworthy as his in this rather equal world.

  5. MM says:

    Why do libertarians always pull the class warfare card?

  6. MM,

    It’s not class warfare, it’s people living off the largesse of the state. Or, in DSK’s case, several states

  7. JKB says:

    Murray, if he were an evil capitalist then his expenses and privileges would be deserved. But he’s a Socialist, which for him apparently means he gets to live high on other people’s hog.

    As for his status protecting him, I suspect the NYPD moving quickly due to his flight from jurisdiction had more to do with his “friends” not being able to interfere. Had they given State or Treasury or the White House time to interfere, it might have turned out differently.

  8. wr says:

    Right. When hedge fund managers swindle people into crappy deals and make a billion for themselves, they are the nobility of society, and should be worshipped by all good libertarians. When someone from the IMF does it, he’s a parasite living off Doug’s hard-earned money, and thus should be condemned.

  9. Tano says:

    Yes, this is a truly bizarre post. 400K a year is chickenfeed in the corporate financing world – the Wall St. guys, who brought us global financial crisis, can easily make that in a week. And Doug tries to play the class resentment card with this???
    Like there aren’t enough guys out there making far more than this creep,. who have financially raped millions of people, and are completely getting away with it. Oh, but its the private sector – all is forgiven there….admired even….

  10. TG Chicago says:

    I guess this explains why Mataconis suddenly doesn’t care about publicizing the name of someone accused of rape. He’s got a bone to pick with the guy anyway. Last week’s concern for the poor rapists and their malicious victims is quickly forgotten.

  11. Just 'nuthuh ig'rant cracker says:

    As is true, apparently, of many other posters, I get the feeling that I am supposed to be insensed about this story for some reason. Beats me; I can’t figure out why. But I am reminded of Captain Reynaud’s insistance: “I’m shocked, shocked, I tell you, to discover that there is gambling going on here.” Sadly, I’m not even shocked.

  12. Southern Hoosier says:

    I’m suspicious of the her story. It does sound too much like a set up.

    Prosecutor John McConnell described the accuser as a highly credible victim who “provided a very powerful and detailed account of the violent sexual assault.”

    She told hotel staffers and cops her story immediately after the alleged attack Saturday afternoon at the Times Square-area Sofitel New York hotel. While sources say neither Strauss-Kahn nor the woman had bruises or scratches, McConnell said in court that a hospital exam supported her account.

    Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/05/17/2011-05-17_us_justice_will_be_served_maids_kin.html#ixzz1MbZnlwuw

  13. Ben Wolf says:

    @Southern Hoosier

    ” Sources say . . .”, means no one said anything.

  14. Southern Hoosier says:

    I understand. A poor Black women working hard ,trying to get ahead in life and some rich white jerk rapes her. And if anyone dares questions her story, then they are a racist. Just like no one dared to question Crystal Mangum,