Repubs to use Federal Election Commission to shut Moore down?

[wtmusic]

From NYT/Frank Rich's oped yesterday:

"New York's Daily News reported that Republican officials might even try to use the Federal Election Commission to shut the film down. That would be the best thing to happen to Michael Moore since Charlton Heston granted him an interview."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/23/arts/23RICH.html

What kind of basis could they possibly use for that (actually I really, REALLY hope they try!)?

[progressiveBadger]

1. Do these people know what the constitution is???

Or do they just ignore the amendments that they don't like?

[aquart]

2. No. Yes.

[soothsayer]

3. cool, this is gonna get a "passion of the Christ" controversy bounce

that's gonna make it INCREDIBLY POPULAR TO SEE!

bwa ha ha ha ha!

[Beetwasher]

4. They Are Going to Make this the BIGGEST THING EVER!

Hahahahahaha!

THE FILM BUSH DOESN'T WANT YOU TO SEE!!!

[punpirate]

5. The only thing that comes remotely to mind...

... since they mention the FEC is that they might try to classify the movie as a political attack ad and the money used to produce it was an undeclared (and therefore illegal) political contribution... which would be a stretch, even by the standards of the Bushies.

But, if there's more to this than just disgruntled talk by Republicans, and there's some formal effort to censor, especially through some back door, woe be it. It would be monumentally stupid.

Oh, wait a minute... that's what these guys are really good at....

[wtmusic]

7. Wouldn't fly, unless they actually paid to air it

And most feel millions would pay to see it!

[maxrandb]

10. Wow! Wonder if they will, or the Dems could do the same

to Pigboy, Insanity, Savage, Michael Reagan and the thousands of other local Pigboyettes on AM radio? Maybe we could do the same to get the FCC to cut off Faux News, or count it as an illegal campaign contribution in kind. What about all the Rupert Murdoch rags and the Mooney Times?

This could be interesting.

[Jimbo2K1]

11. It could work both ways...

I think this is a fantastic idea. Once Moore is shut down, then we can use the same argument to shut down the never-ending political ads of Limbaugh, Hannity,...

[ElementaryPenguin]

6. Great! Howard Stern will be plugging the film 24/7!!

Stupid fucks! EVERYTHING this group of assholes does BACKFIRES!! Tell me again what a genius Karl Rove is!

[Old and In the Way]

8. I don't recall them saying the fictional movie that was pro-Bush on 9/11

was a political problem....just more hyprocrisy and reality censorship from the Right.

[spotbird]

9. Here's the origional story.

Moore GOP controversy

Michael Moore's Bush-whacking documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," could become a campaign issue.

We hear that Republican officials plan to complain to the Federal Election Commission that Miramax honchos Harvey and Bob Weinstein have violated campaign-finance laws by bankrolling Moore's film, according to one well-placed GOP source.

"This is a blatant political ad in the guise of a documentary," says the source. "It's totally in contravention of the McCain-Feingold ."

http://www.nydailynews.com/05-17-2004/news/story/194061p-167696c.html

[Terran]

13. What IDIOTS

It's not a f8cking political ad if YOU PAY TO WATCH IT!

:grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr:

[K-W]

14. They know its rediculous, but they want to end all public discourse

these people are just completely corrupt.

[K-W]

12. The same way they are trying to shut everyone with a liberal point of view

out of all media. Its disgusting.

[wtmusic]

16. It's actually reassuring

It will never happen of course, and just like the O'Reilly/Franken lawsuit it would prove to be an enormous backfire.

Nice to know they feel so threatened. :)

[K-W]

18. I'm still not sure that one day it wont just work for them.

I think our nation is very close to the edge, at least too close for comfort. Our policy has become so completely divorced from fact and reason.

[wtmusic]

19. Well if it did

there would be a revolution. It's their line to cross.

[Jacobin]

15. We should all hope fervently that they try to do so

As "forbidden fruit" it will make this film more sought after than Mel Gibson's Ode to Sado-Masochsim.

[ThoughtCriminal]

17. They know they will lose

but probably hope to delay release until after election. That is also very naive.

[kimchi]

20. Rots of ruck, idiots.

We love free advertising.

Hey...why don't you sue Moore also? I'd pay to sit in the courtroom and hear the judge say "frivolous lawsuit".

[K-W]

21. Possibly trying to scare potential distributers.

That makes the most sense to me.

[genius]

22. THat would be a violation of the First Amerndment

[beyurslf]

23. But... but... those nasty trial lawyers are what's wrong with the country

with all of their frivolous suits. They just couldn't clamor for tort reform and still file silly lawsuits with no basis in law. I mean..... what would be an obvious flip flop and hypocrisy...

And the Repubs would NEVER do that :)