Does Being Famous Guarantee You A Get Out Of Jail Free Card?

I don't believe that being a celebrity automatically guarantees you a get out of jail free card, but it does help to have that fame when sentencing comes around. All the celebrities in the news that get into trouble with the law either serve very little or no jail time because of their status. Michael Jackson, O.J. Simpson, R. Kelly, rapper T.I., Michael Vick, Martha Stewart, Lil' Kim, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Robert Blake are all examples of celebrities that get into trouble with the law, but manage to squeeze out of a major jail sentence.

I for one think that it's a shame that people can so blatantly get away with crimes that a regular citizen would never be able to escape. For instance, Lindsay Lohan was arrested for a DUI and was ordered to go to rehab without a jail sentence, okay I can see that happening. however, what I can't get behind is that when we she was caught with cocaine in her pocket just months later that should have been the final straw that sent her to the penal colony. However, much to my chagrin she only spent one day in prison now she's back to making movies. A person with a regular job would have lost his job and sent to jail for at least 30 days. R. Kelly is another example. He has a video of himself having sex with a minor. There is no need to search for evidence in this case the evidence is everywhere, people can buy that tape off the black market. You can see Robert Kelly's face and he was acquitted of all charges. This is a complete slap in the face to any man or woman who has been arrested for statutory rape. This man went on tour, made albums, and made videos all while awaiting to stand trial. There are people in jail right now who have been incarcerated for months that are still awaiting to stand trial, but this man is allowed special priveleges because he is famous.

What I don't understand is why some people believe that celebrities are so holy. They're people just like you and I. They just make more money than you and I. There are people willing to believe to their deaths that it's some sort of conspiracy when celebrities get in trouble with the law. It's no conspiracy, they broke the law, that's why they're in trouble; however, they never get into trouble. I compare celebrities to the "favorite child". For example if there are two children and they both do something mischievous, one child gets the severe punishment, like a spanking or grounded or both while the other child just bats their eyes and they just get sent to their room. Celebrities are like the favorite child and the judicial system is the weak spirited parent that can't get past the puppy dog eyes and give that child a good lashing.

The worst part is that celebrities can really be used as an example with their unlimited exposure and can be used to prevent some of the petty crimes in the world if they were punished like they were supposed to, but giving them sympathy only gives other people the false impression that they can get away with that crime as well. I wonder if people on trial for the same crimes that celebrities got light sentences for can cite that particular celebrity's case and get the same sentence the celebrity got. I say give these celebrities a reason to stay on the straight and narrow by setting an example, I'm not saying give them overly harsh sentences, but don't cut them any slack because the community uproars or because of their status. At the end of the day a crime is still a crime. A crisp dollar and a crumpled dollar can buy the same candy bar.