Bush Friends Move to Censor New Film from Michael Moore
Commentary
~ May 6, 2004: Disney has banned Miramax, its film company subsidiary,
from distributing director Michael Moore’s latest film, Fahrenheit
9/11, because it criticizes George Bush’s handling of
the September 11 terrorist attacks and connects the Bush family
with many prominent Saudis – mostly notably that of Osama
bin Laden.
Moore said in a Reuters interview that the film also
focuses on whether the White House used the 9/11 attacks to promote
its agenda to go to war in Iraq.
The film will premiere at the Cannes film festival
in France this month, and Miramax had hoped it would be in U.S.
theaters in July.
The New York Times reported that Disney pulled out
of its deal because it could jeopardize tax breaks the company receives
from the state of Florida, where Mr Bush's brother, Jeb, is governor.
The principal investor in the film is Miramax Films,
a division of Disney. After it learned of the film’s content,
Disney told it not to release it to the public.
In a statement on his website,
Moore said he would have hoped “by now that I would be able
to put my work out to the public without having to experience the
profound censorship obstacles I often seem to encounter.
"At some point,” he added, “the
question has to be asked, 'Should this be happening in a free and
open society where monied interests essentially call the shots regarding
information that the public is allowed to see?'
"If this is partisan in any way it is partisan
on the side of the poor and working people in this country ,who
provide fodder for this war machine."
Moore's Oscar-winning "Bowling for Columbine"
earned $22 million at domestic box offices, making it the highest
grossing documentary of all-time.
Commentary
~ May 6, 2004: Disney has banned Miramax, its film company subsidiary,
from distributing director Michael Moore’s latest film, Fahrenheit
9/11, because it criticizes George Bush’s handling of
the September 11 terrorist attacks and connects the Bush family
with many prominent Saudis – mostly notably that of Osama
bin Laden.