ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>OnlineColumnist®.com: Putin Punishes Georgia</title> <meta name="generator" content="Adobe GoLive 4"> <style type="text/css"> .style3 { height: 68px; } .MsoNormal {} h1 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; } .style4 { font-size: large; font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial; } .style6 { height: 69px; } h2 {margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center; page-break-after:avoid; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; } .style7 { width: 133px; } .style8 { font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; } </style> </head> <body bgcolor="white" vlink="black"> <center> &nbsp;<table cool width="624" height="2719" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" gridx="16" showgridx gridy="16" showgridy> <tr> <td height="118" rowspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style7"> <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="110" width="62" src="images/discobolos.logo.transp.gif" border="0"></a></td> <td width="7" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="482" colspan="2" valign="top" align="left" xpos="140" class="style6"><img height="75" width="450" src="images/banner.GIF"></td> <td width="1" height="118" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" class="style6"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="79"></td> </tr> <tr height="39"> <td width="182" height="39"></td> <td width="300" height="39" valign="top" align="left" xpos="322"><a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"><img height="14" width="267" src="images/divisionofNEW.GIF" border="0"></a></td> <td width="1" height="39"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="39"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="624" colspan="6" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style3"> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#99ffcc" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4"> <tr> <td align="center"> <div align="left"> <a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> HOME</strong></font></a><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> &#8226; <a href="articlesindex.html">ARTICLES</a> &#8226; <a href="books.html">BOOKS</a> &#8226; <a href="teflon.html"> THE </a><a href="teflon.html">TEFLON</a><a href="teflon.html"> REPORT</a> &#8226; <a href="mailto:letters@onlinecolumnist.com"> REACTIONS</a> &#8226; <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html">ABOUT DISCOBOLOS</a></strong></font></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr height="2"> <td height="2" class="style7"></td> <td width="489" height="2576" colspan="3" rowspan="2" align="left" xpos="133" content valign="top" csheight="2573"> <p class="style4">Mel Gibson&#39;s Latest Ballistic Episode</p> <p><b><font face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica">by John M. Curt</font></b><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b>is<a href="books.html"><br> </a></b></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><b> (310) 204-8700</b></font></p> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"><i>Copyright July 16, 2010<br>All Rights Reserved. </i></font>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <bAbout the Author</u> <p class="MsoNormal"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="style8">M</span>el Gibson s latest ballistic episode involving his girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, where the 40-year-old actress-singer claims the star of  Braveheart allegedly throttled her and injured their 2-month-old baby girl, opens up a can of worms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Whether the baby was actually injured by Gibson is anyone s guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>But one more ballistic episode doesn t help the 54-year-old actor-director-producer s credibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>It wasn t that long ago when Gibson was arrested July 28, 2006 for DUI with an open container, calling the arresting officer James Mee a  f---ing Jew among other vile things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While Gibson underwent a First-Offenders Program, it s clear, based on the latest incident, that there s there s unfinished business with his drinking and mental health, something known as co-morbidity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Recemt recordings of Gibson going berserk, spewing unspeakable profanity tell very little.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Los Angeles County Dept. of Children and Family Services, AKA, child protective services, opened up an investigation into potential child abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> They will be analyzed and reviewed, said LA County Sheriff spokesman Steve Whitmore, referring to the embarrassing recordings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>No matter how distasteful the recordings, they don t, by themselves, constitute child or domestic abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When police try to ascertain child or domestic abuse, it requires more than rage and foul language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While verbal rants don t reflect favorably on alleged perpetrators, they also don t constitute domestic or child abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> We want to speak to everyone involved in the case, including Mel Gibson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>There has been no objections from his representatives so far, said Whitmore, reluctant to speculate on the charges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While the media has a field day with the tapes, there are few conclusions that can be reached.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Gibson s criminal defense attorney Blair Berk was quick to neutralize the media feeding frenzy burning up the Internet and tabloid Web sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Mel was a wonderful and loving father, wrote his soon-to-be ex-wife Robyn, attesting to Gibson s upstanding character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> I don t have any f----ing money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I have to support you and everybody else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I have to sell paintings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>I have to sell my box seats at the Lakers game, Gibson complains on the tape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> I spent too much g damn money on you, and my wife knows, reacting angrily but saying little about whether the star of  Lethal Weapon engaged in child or domestic abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Spewing racial epithets or offensive language no matter how revolting doesn t qualify as child or domestic abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Gibson s foul language, racial and ethnic slurs, sexist profanity doesn t constitute child or domestic abuse, though reflect poorly on his character.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Oksana s careful Jan 6 tape recordings of the incident raise the possibility of a set-up or extortion plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Visiting dentist Dr. Ross Sheldon soon after the Jan. 6 incident, there s no definitive proof that Gibson punched his girlfriend in the mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Visting Dr. Sheldon, Oksana complained of a chipped porcelain veneer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Sheldon couldn t say whether she was punched directly in the face or whether she bit down and caused the veneer to dislodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Carefully recorded tapes indicate, at the very least, that Oksana sought to document the incident for her advantage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Locked in a bitter custody dispute, evidence of domestic or child abuse sway judges determining child custody arrangements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When the tapes surfaced this week on RadarOnline.com, it raised questions whether it were leaked by Oksana s attorneys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span> Domestic or child abuse allegations are common in custody battles.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Winning the PR battle, Oksana s attorneys have Gibson on the run, with few people showing sympathy for the erratic actor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Gibson won a loyal following from the Christian right for his 2004 film,  The Passion of the Christ. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>While some critics viewed the film as anti-Semitic, blaming Jews for murder of Christ, others dismissed the idea as unfounded paranoia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>When Gibson s 2006 DUI arrest resulted in a public tirade against Jews, the film s critics said,  I told you so. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Whatever happens with Gibson s latest episode, it s more clear than ever that he has anger management problems, more than likely exacerbated by alcohol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Getting himself into so much hot water shows that, at the very least, Gibson can t control his temper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Oksana s meticulous documentation suggests that she was using the tapes to substantiate a child and domestic abuse claim to help her custody battle.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <![if !supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><span style="mso-tab-count:1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Reports by the celebrity Web site TMZ, though not verified, indicate that Oskana s attorney sought a $10 million settlement from the mentally troubled actor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Given his stormy relationship and propensity toward ballistic behavior, Gibson was probably provoked into a rage, recorded and set up to look bad in his ongoing child custody battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Restraining orders, child and domestic abuse reports, typically go hand-in-hand with child custody battles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Gibson s past or current tirades no matter how distasteful don t qualify as child or domestic abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Oksana may be winning the PR battle but she may have overplayed her hand by leaking her secret Jan. 6 recordings to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>the tabloids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Trying cases in the media can backfire by exposing hardball tactics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Gibson s Hollywood career may be down the tubes but his current legal battles are far from over.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <b>John M. Curtis </b>writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He&#x2019;s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of <a href="books.html">Dodging The Bullet</a> and <a href="books.html">Operation Charisma</a>.</p> </td> <td width="1" height="2576" rowspan="2"></td> <td width="1" height="2"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2"></td> </tr> <tr height="2574"> <td height="2574" valign="top" align="left" xpos="0" class="style7"><img height="172" width="111" src="images/johninframe3.jpg"></td> <td width="1" height="2574"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="2574"></td> </tr> <tr height="1" cntrlrow> <td height="1" class="style7"><spacer type="block" width="133" height="1"></td> <td width="7" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="7" height="1"></td> <td width="182" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="182" height="1"></td> <td width="300" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="300" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"><spacer type="block" width="1" height="1"></td> <td width="1" height="1"></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="597"> <tr> <td><font size="1" face="Arial,Geneva,Helvetica"> <hr noshade size="1"> </font><a href="index.html"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><strong> Homecobolos> <p><font size="2" face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">©1999-2005 <a href="aboutdiscobolos.html"> Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.</a><br> (310) 204-8300<br> All Rights Reserved. </font></td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>