Sen. Hillary Clinton blasts Bush assassination film

[Quagmire05]

CHAPPAQUA — Sen. Hillary Clinton this morning blasted the producers of a new film depicting the assassination of Pres. George W. Bush.

"I think it's despicable," Clinton said of "Death of a President," a fictional film that features a staged assassination of the president in 2007. "I think it's absolutely outrageous. That anyone would even attempt to profit on such a horrible scenario makes me sick."

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060916/UPDATE/609160394

[COSPRINGS]

1. Well..

I hope he is removed by legal means. However bad it is, condoning political assassinations is a dangerous road to go down.

[Dinger]

3. True, But What About The Mock Assassination Of Bill In PT-9-11?

I didn't hear Hillary say anything about this:
http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/09/disneyabc-adds-mock-assassination-of.html

[COSPRINGS]

11. Well..

They hampered the film alot (with good cause). They might have not hit that, I am not sure but it doesn't show Clinton being killed.

[Dinger]

13. "It Doesn't Show Clinton Being Killed"? So You're Cool With It Then?

It's o.k. since it was a "dramatization"? Maybe you'd have liked it better if Clinton was actually assassinated? You are kidding, right?

[onenote]

40. I know you can tell the difference, so I assume you're just playing dumb

There's a big, and rather obvious difference between a dramatization that shows someone shooting at a picture of someone and one that shows someone shooting at the person.

[Dinger]

44. So Was That Perfectly O.K. Then? If It Was *, Would That Be ANY Better???

I can't believe Duers being pissed at this! Cripes they're making excuses for ABC! WTF???????????????

[Trajan]

67. This is a silly line of argument ....

and fallacious as well ...

The instance of one doesnt justify the other ....

It was WRONG in the first case, and wrong in the second case as well ...

WHO the fuck is making excuses for ABC ? ..... that is fucking nonsense ....

[Dinger]

76. So, Will Those Who Think That Scene Is "O.K." Please Explain?

[MannyGoldstein]

21. As Always - Follow the Money

Ms. Clinton gets contributions to her highest-in-the-senate warchest from Robert Iger and a bunch of other Disney honchos.

I doubt if the mock-Bush-assasination folks are forkin' cash over.

[napi21]

73. My God, do you hate Hillary that much that you can't even give her

credit for being human? I happen to think she was RIGHT in denouncing this film! As much as I detest the man, I could NEVER uphold the assination of ANY American President!

I remember talking to my son & his wife (who is a strong Pub) aboutthe Kennedy assination. When I explained how awful that time was, she looked at me quite funny and said "What do you mean?" I told her, no matterif you supported him or not, it was a terrible time in our Country!

[MannyGoldstein]

79. OK - How Do You Explain It?

Ms. Clinton blew a gasket over an obviously-speculative film, but not over the revisionist-history "Pat to 9/11". The latter was far more dangerous, yet we did not hear a peep from her. How would you explain it?

Can you give any example of where either Clinton did something that was not easily explainable by who had given the largest amount of cash to their campaigns? They are both pretty predictable, as far as I can tell.

[napi21]

80. The most conspicuos example is when she tried to enact

health care for all Americans. BOTH Clintons supported that, and so do most Americans, and as far as I know, NOBODY gave a lot of money for that.

I know you're going to say that was a long time ago, and it was, but I don't think the idea has vanished either.

I don't live in NY so I don't follow all of Hillary's speeches nor do I know her positions on everything. I realize most people on DU want her to say she is sorry for voting to give Shrub authority to go into Iraq, and that she supports pulling out now, but I actually agree with Hillary. I believe an immediate pull out would be wrong. However, I think putting the Iraq leaders on notice that you have until XXXXX to get your police and army together because this is YOUR Country and younow have to fight for it is imperative. I'm not sure if Hillary is in that camp or not, but she doesn't thing we should do an immediate pullout and neither do I. It was OUR President who created this mess, so we do have some responsibility here.

[MannyGoldstein]

82. Perfect Example of Pandering

Every other developed country in the world (except Switzerland) has health care for all citizens. It's inexpensive and straightforward, costing half what our healthcare costs, covering everyone, and providing care that's at least as good.

By contrast, Ms. Clinton devised the most complicated and expensive behemoth of a plan, with all kinds of unnecessary layers of insurance companies and all kinds of other crazy nonsense. It was not projected to save money - rather, it would have increased costs. She did this to appease the moneyed special interests - who would have been cut out of a rational system as implemented by any other country.

The kicker is that I've met a fellow who was on her health care team, a well-known academic - he had to resign from her team because he refused her demands to fudge his numbers.

I think that most people agree with you that the right thing to do is to put Iraq on notice that we're pulling out on a certain date. Certainly, I agree with you. Ms. Clinton, however, disagrees with you and me - she has parroted Bush's position that a deadline should not be set.

[rzemanfl]

16. Do you think people in U.S. audiences will cheer or applaud

when fictional W gets it?

[Dinger]

45. You Know, I Never Thought I'd Say This (& Mean It), . . . .

Even if it's *, it's not cool, even if it's "fake."

[rzemanfl]

59. I you sad when lying, murdering thieves get it in other movies?

It is, after all, a movie. Bush should not have "respect for the office" attach to him, because he stole, not earned the job.

[Dinger]

63. True

I just think that image was wrong.

[rzemanfl]

85. Thanks for responding, dunno what I was thinking when I typed

"I you sad... I think Bush's speech patterns are catching.

[mikelgb]

74. yes

I think some will

[rzemanfl]

86. Me too, hope they don't ship us to Gitmo...eom

[ShortnFiery]

88. I for one want to "UNDERSTAND" the larger part of this critically

acclaimed film. Gee, we're Democrats NOT pandering knee-jerk criticizers - especially of film making (FICTION!) by one of our closest Allies = the UK.

This is just reactive - partisan politics. She needs to back off. :(

[rodeodance]

2. Thanks HIl. that needed to be said. --this is the first major politician

to speak up about this movie (I think)

[IndianaGreen]

43. Perhaps Hillary can get a job as hostess for Entertainment Tonight

a role that seems better suited for her talents and interests.

[Cha]

57. Did she speak out against the

faux "path to 9/11"? I voted against her in the primaries and it sure felt good..I don't care if she did win.

[Henny Penny]

72. Was the President in the movie a woman?? n/t

[AndyTiedye]

4. I Want To See a Film Where ** Gets Impeached and Sent to the Hague

[JohnnyLib2]

6. thanks for the pic--

perfect end to my day.

[goclark]

8. I will book my tickets for my vacation in the Hague

the moment I hear the word!
I am not kidding one little bit.

[Henny Penny]

71. I want to see that in the news..

not in the movies.

:-)

[AndyTiedye]

78. That Would be Far Better, Of Course

[JohnnyLib2]

5. Good for her

She has every reason to speak out, as she does on many aspects governing.

[IndianaGreen]

7. Hillary speaks about a fictional film but remains silent about Iraq

and the carnage there. Nice to know where her priorities are.

[geomon666]

34. Thank you!

:applause:

[ckramer]

47. Exactly. She's a republican in drag

[MannyGoldstein]

9. She Should Be So Incensed Over Violating The Constitution

And commiting troops based on fanciful wishes of WMD.

Etcetera.

[agincourt]

10. Like any terrorist organization,

that hates the USA would kill that ratshit.

[CJCRANE]

29. Good point.

Even Bin Laden said in his "November '04 Election Special" broadcast that B*sh was doing exactly what he wanted:

"So we are continuing this policy in bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy...

That being said, those who say that al-Qaida has won against the administration in the White House or that the administration has lost in this war have not been precise, because when one scrutinises the results, one cannot say that al-Qaida is the sole factor in achieving those spectacular gains.

Rather, the policy of the White House that demands the opening of war fronts to keep busy their various corporations - whether they be working in the field of arms or oil or reconstruction - has helped al-Qaida to achieve these enormous results.

And so it has appeared to some analysts and diplomats that the White House and us are playing as one team towards the economic goals of the United States, even if the intentions differ."

(Those lines were censored from the transcript on the CNN website but the full transcript is on the al-Jazeera site)

[Tellurian]

30. IYO, what would be the differing intentions?

"Rather, the policy of the White House that demands the opening of war fronts to keep busy their various corporations - whether they be working in the field of arms or oil or reconstruction - has helped al-Qaida to achieve these enormous results."

"And so it has appeared to some analysts and diplomats that the White House and us are playing as one team towards the economic goals of the United States, even if the intentions differ."

Blood spillage of disposable troops volunteering to fight for corporate greed?

[CJCRANE]

31. Pretty much.

Although the neocons do seem to be an unholy alliance of different pathologies.

Of course their motives overlap but they seem to get the following benefits:

In the short term B*sh's oil buddies benefit from high prices and in the long-term they may get access to Iraqi oil profits.

For Cheney there are the no-bid military and reconstruction contracts for Halliburton.

Condi seems to have a bit of the Ann Coulter in her. I get the feeling she likes to see muslim countries get knocked down with the intention of christianity getting a foothold in them at some point in the future (she often talks about replacing their "hateful ideology" with our ideology).

Rumsfeld of course gets to play with his toy soldiers and test his innovative military tactics. Plus with a state of permanent war he gets a lot of power and a sort of mini-empire to play with.

[bling bling]

12. What else could she say that wouldn't be political suicide?

I think I'm in the minority overall, but I really don't think the film is that outrageous and despicable and horrible, nor does it make me sick. I reserve those words for actions that actually deserve them. Bush's entire presidency has been despicable. The lies, the manipulation, the greed, --- that's outrageous. The death and destruction makes me sick. And the direction he's sent this country into is horrible.

A film with a fake assassination is peanuts compared to reality. In fact, the way Bush has pillaged this country and killed it's children and destroyed the land and families abroad deserves outrage in any fucking form that people want to express it. Fuck Bush. He's disgraced the office of the President. He's a tyrannical insane maniac and a threat to everyone on this planet.

But that's me. As for Hillary, there really wasn't any other answer for someone in her position. So good job, then, Hil.

[PFunk]

22. I'm also with you in this.

For me the assassination isn't the part of the film that interrests me. It's what happens AFTER it that does-which, while believeable isn't good. So it stands as a warning why killing Bush now isn't a good idea.

It's a shame not too many press gave some insight to this part.

[Tellurian]

28. Yep, but it was the tone of the statement, as usual, that gets reported..

Her words are said with such vehemence or at least thats the way it comes off in the report.
Why was this even addressed at a community function?

If in fact, this was a question asked by the press, rather then "identify" with the movie..
A better less emotional response could have been, "In case you haven't noticed, public figures
go through this all the time." and end it right there. I'm sure in print, the press would have
done their job and referenced the recent flap over PT 9/11, the former President is involved with,
and would have made the correlation for their readership.

She could have made the opportunity a 2 for 1, with her husband receiving a bit of a publicity update.
The article's tone comes across as a little too pro-active when it's really not appropriate for her to
do so. Now, if the article is set in hyperbole..well then, it's par for the course with the press.

[IndianaGreen]

41. Why speak up about a film that hasn't been shown in America?

Coupled with her silence about the crimes of the Bush regime, her commentary about this fictional work of art is rather peculiar and odd. Who could she be pandering to, the voters that see Bush as Gawd's anointed one?

[dkofos]

51. She could have kept her mouth shut

AND LAUGHED ABOUT IT WITH THE REST OF US.

[rzemanfl]

60. She could have said she had not seen the final cut and under-

stood that the movie contained fictionalization and time compression.

[Benhurst]

14. Great judgment call, Hillary.

A fictional assassination in a movie is far worse than an illegal, immoral war and the shredding of the U.S. Constitution. Glad you've got your priorities straight.

[midnight]

33. Not only that ,but how many movies are there out there that show

civilians being blown away for entertainment. When do our leaders step out to say a bit about how outrages it is that we seem to favor so much violence as a form of entertainment?

[Benhurst]

37. ...

:thumbsup:

[LibDemAlways]

15. What's truly "despicable" and "outrageous" is all of the

ongoing criminal activity, death and destruction perpetrated by the Bush Crime Family each and every day. If Hillary was as pissed off at the actions of the real life Bush as she apparently is by this fictitious movie, I'd be a hell of a lot more impressed.

[Prophet 451]

17. Hyperbole much, Hillary?

The film isn't encouraging anyone to assassinate W or any other politician. It's a "what if" scenario, looking at the likely fallout if someone did assassinate him. "What if" scenarios are commonplace in historical writing (look for "counterfactuals" on Amazon, there's dozens of them), this one is a bit more current than most but what difference does that make?

Would it be equally outrageous if this were an entirely fictional president they were talking about? Yes? Then why are the apocalyptic scenarios of The Day After Tomorrow not offensive? Or the depiction of an ethically bankrupt president in Absolute Power (forgotten gem starring Eastwood and Hackman)? Why is a fictitious example of what might happen if one president was assassinated so much more offensive than a film showing a murderous president or any number of documentries examining the fallout of the Kennedy assassination?

Hillary, are you honestly arguing that no-one has thought of putting a bullet in W's ear before this film? Presidents receive death threats all the time, you of all people should know that. No-one is going to see the film and suddenly go after W with a high-powered rifle unless they were already a mental case and if we start judging art on whether it will trigger the already disturbed, there's pretty much nothing we can watch.

It's an absurd statement and an absurd arguement that makes me wonder what the hell Hillary has been smoking.

[lostnotforgotten]

18. Once A Bush Enabler Always A Bush Enabler

eom

[RBInMaine]

38. You're way off base on this one. Hillary's exactly right here.

C'mon, let the right-wingers be the extremists. If there is a film that depicts Bush's assassination, that is just plain going over the top. Fine to criticize Bush very heavily on his policies and his terrible administration, but assassination depictions will hurt much more than they would ever help. Hillary has been VERY outspoken against Bush and the R Congress, but she is right to say that this is going way over the top. And that in no way makes her a "Bush enabler." Please get more grounded.

[lostnotforgotten]

42. She Supported The War - I Am Grounded!

He is a war criminal!

Draw the appropriate conclusions!

[truthisfreedom]

19. hah. and bushco is left dazed and wondering how to be against Hillary

but not be against her position, once again.

[dflprincess]

20. So it's wrong to profit from a fictional assassination

but it's apparently okay to profit from a war.

[Boo Boo]

23. Whoop-dee-frickin'-doo

I guess "Sister Souljah Moments" are hard to come by these days.

The movie is in bad taste, perhaps. So what? Do yer fuckin' job, Hillary. We don't really need U.S. Senators that quote Daffy Duck while moonlighting as movie critics.

Pretty obvious she hasn't seen the movie.

:eyes:

[samsingh]

24. shouldn't she save her ire for the Path to 911?

[ima_sinnic]

25. gee, take it easy, Hil, or you'll burst a blood vessel.

Think of that FICTIONAL scenario the same way you think of the REAL outrage, the REAL carnage, and the REAL scenario that is making billions in the world sick--the unnecessary, illegal, unconscionable, atrocious, abominable, unspeakable WAR on the innocent citizens of Iraq--you know, the young children with no limbs, no parents, no food, no water--you know, that horrible scenario that you and the other korporatists are profiting on so much? think of it that way and you'll apparently feel a lot better, since REAL outrages don't seem to faze you. sheesh, clueless sell-out much? what a disappointment you are.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bamacrat]

27. I think we're the only one's who can like this movie....

If she says its worthy of an Oscar then she has no chance, if we do then well, I want to see it damnit.

[Disturbed]

32. She is so brave lately.

Speaking out about Video Games, burning the flag and now a film that she has not seen.

[Leopolds Ghost]

35. I predict she will oppose "the culture of the inner city" next n/t

[bling bling]

53. Come on now. She's spoken out about a lot more than that.

If you need references about it I guess I can do a search and provide them for you. But I really think it behooves us to use a frame of reference that reflects REALITY before spouting off about how much she hasn't done or said. It only makes us look political rookies to dismiss everything she's said against the administration and conveniently ignore the great bills she's co-sponsored and make it sound like she's ONLY talked about video games and flag burning.

[Brian Stevens]

36. Sum the entire topic up with 2 words

Leon Czolgosz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Czolgosz

This film has the basis of the McKinley assasination.

[RBInMaine]

39. Hillary is right on this one. This will hurt us much more than help.

Hillary has been very outspoken on Bush and the R congress, but assassination films are going over the top and will hurt much more than help. Get involved in campaigns to defeat the R's, write letters to the editor, write letters and make calls to the D's opposing Bush's policies, contribute to the D's, etc. etc. etc., but producing assassination films is NOT the way to go. That kind of stuff makes us look like nutty extremists and will galvanize the R base in a cycle where we need moderate R's to vote with US. Let the R candidates be the nutty extremists, and let us point out just how nutty and extreme THEY are.

[bitchkitty]

46. Makes us look like nutty extremists?

How so? Are the Democrats now in the business of filmmaking? I don't see that it hurts anyone, except that people will be paying attention to the controversy and miss the important things.

[stepnw1f]

61. Excuse Me... What Does This Movie Have to Do With Dems/us?

So, how does this hurt us exactly?

This movie was not made by us or dems... let's get that straight right here right now.

[ckramer]

48. I didn't know there is such a film until Hillary brought it up

Wonder what she's reading daily.

[0007]

49. The sheeple will love it!

Notice how shook up Hillary is, seeing junior dead with his boots on

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bling bling]

54. Gross. n/t

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lynne]

52. Her viewpoint may reflect that her husband once held that office -

- and she may have thoughts of holding that office one day herself. Her take on it is more personal than most as I doubt she'd like to see a film showing the assassination of either her husband or herself.

[leesa]

55. Good ol Hillary. Incensed about fiction, but nary a word about the illegal

war murdering tens of thousands in Iraq.

[mike_c]

64. egg zactly....

Pot, meet kettle....

[CHIMO]

56. Death of a President scores TIFF critics' prize

Death of a President scores TIFF critics' prize
Last Updated Sat, 16 Sep 2006 16:45:53 EDT
CBC Arts

Death of a President, directed by Gabriel Range, was chosen "for the audacity with which it distorts reality, to reveal a larger truth," said a statement released by the festival.

The film is described as having a "unique premise, told in the style of a retrospective documentary, which offers a critique of the contemporary U.S. political landscape."

The director said he found it encouraging that his film found a distributor at the festival as well as winning an award.

"I hope that's proof that people can see beyond the premise and see that it's a film about this post 9/11 world we live in," said Range at the ceremony.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/09/16/tiff-awards.html

[gasperc]

62. Rove can't do a fake Bush assination now

to pump up Bush's numbers

[geek tragedy]

65. For her critics: Just maybe, as the wife of a former president

who faced such assassination attempts, she's a little sensitive on the subject.

[Prophet 451]

66. Fair point

Perhaps we're being a little harsh on her in that regard. Still, her sensitivity, understandable as it may be, doesn't make her comments here any less silly.

[NotGivingUp]

68. it's not AS despicable as the real death of a president and

countless many others.

[NOLADEM]

69. What else could she possibly say here?

I mean really. This is the equivalent of being opposed to child rape. Who isn't?

Bush should be tried in the Hague, not gunned down. Plus, martyring him would make him even more powerful (learned that from Dirty Dozen) ;-)

She is the wife of a prez and a highly divisive candidate for Prez herself. Any response not exactly this would lead to an insane six week hoot fest of wing nuts talking about Hillary wanting to kill Bush.

Now, when Jesse Helms threatens Clinton's life if he comes to Carolina, well, that's no big deal because Bill was a dirty Democrat :sarcasm:

Ugh, I hate (but don't wish death on) Repubes.

[IndianaGreen]

75. She could have kept her mouth shut, as she has about Bush's crimes

She is so out of touch with the burning issues of the day, and she is becoming more irrelevant as time passes.

A candidate that stands for nothing other than "vote for me because I am a Clinton and a woman" is as shallow as George W. Bush.

Hillary didn't even go to Anne Richards memorial, but she sure wasted time babbling about a film that she hasn't seen, and that hasn't been shown in the US.

[NotGivingUp]

70. Doesn't she have anything more important to talk about?...or is

this the only kind of stuff 'they'll' report about her?

[NeoConsSuck]

77. "That anyone would even attempt to profit on such a horrible scenario ..."

hmmmmm..... but it's ok for thousands upon thousands of Iraqis to die so capitalism can profit from Iraqi oil fields.

You didn't get my vote in the NY primary, and you won't be getting it in the general election.

[VegasWolf]

81. Another reason never to support Hillary. She worries about FICTION

on a filmstrip and yet advocates the continued deaths of innocent Americans and Iraqis all for Bush's OIL war. Way to go Hillary, you certainly have YOUR PRIORITIES screwed on straight.

[saigon68]

84. She will be fiction

Unlike Gore and Kerry she will never carry my state.

[IndianaGreen]

83. Bush assassination film defended

I will point out to Hillary that in the film Black Sunday there is an American President (a Jimmy Carter look-alike) in the Super Bowl stadium when it is the target of terrorists aboard the Goodyear blimp.

Bush assassination film defended

The director of a movie portraying the fictional assassination of US President George Bush has defended his film after critics called it "irresponsible".

Gabriel Range said people had rushed to judge the film as it received its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.

"It is using the lens of the future to look at the present," Range said. "It is about issues that have affected us all in the last five years."

<snip>

The ensuing investigation focuses on a Syrian-born man and recalls the controversy over President Kennedy's assassination in 1963, as debate rages over whether the sniper was a lone gunman or part of a bigger conspiracy.

"It is a film about America today," Range told the audience after the premiere.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5333220.stm

[ShortnFiery]

87. Hillary Clinton is sadly OUT OF TOUCH with a increasing percentage of

Americans who call themselves "Democrats." However, she fits in perfectly with those Democratic Representatives who warmonger and lean to the center-RIGHT.

We're not buying your act Hillary, stay as an honorable Senator of NY State - that is where you belong. :(

[President Jesus]

90. Question: who *is* in touch with an increasing number of Americans?

If you say Howard Dean or Russ Feingold, you are living in a fantasy world.

[yojon]

89. Iths dithpickable