The hypocrisy of Disney/ABC...remember Fahrenheit 9/11?

[bliss_eternal]

One of the reasons this movement to stop the Path to 9/11 film is so important (to me at least) is to remind Disny of it's blatant hypocrisy.

Anyone remember this?

Wednesday, May 5th, 2004
Disney Has Blocked the Distribution of My New Film... by Michael Moore

Friends,

I 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.

Yesterday I was told that Disney, the studio that owns Miramax, has officially decided to prohibit our producer, Miramax, from distributing my new film, "Fahrenheit 9/11." The reason? According to today's (May 5) New York Times, it might "endanger" millions of dollars of tax breaks Disney receives from the state of Florida because the film will "anger" the Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush. The story is on page one of the Times and you can read it here (Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush).

taken from:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?messageDate=2004-05-04
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
and what about this?

Disney Says No to "Fahrenheit 9/11"
Posted on May 5, 2004 11:29 PM under: World News & Politics

The Walt Disney Company has blocked distribution of Michael Moore's new film "Fahrenheit 9/11" simply because it is critical of the U.S. President George W. Bush.

The film -- which links Bush with powerful Saudi families, including that of Osama bin Laden -- is set to debut at the Cannes Film Festival in France later this month.

The reason?
According to today's edition of The New York Times, it might 'endanger' millions of dollars of tax breaks Disney receives from the state of Florida because the film will 'anger' the governor of Florida, Jeb Bush.

taken from:
http://www.subzeroblue.com/archives/2004/05/disney_says_no_to_fa.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
excerpt of New York Time article referenced in both sources above:

Disney came under heavy criticism from conservatives last May after the disclosure that Miramax had agreed to finance the film when Icon Productions, Mel Gibson's company, backed out.

Mr. Moore's agent, Ari Emanuel, said Michael D. Eisner, Disney's chief executive, asked him last spring to pull out of the deal with Miramax. Mr. Emanuel said Mr. Eisner expressed particular concern that it would endanger tax breaks Disney receives for its theme park, hotels and other ventures in Florida, where Mr. Bush's brother, Jeb, is governor.

"Michael Eisner asked me not to sell this movie to Harvey Weinstein; that doesn't mean I listened to him," Mr. Emanuel said. "He definitely indicated there were tax incentives he was getting for the Disney corporation and that's why he didn't want me to sell it to Miramax. He didn't want a Disney company involved."

taken from:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/05/national/05DISN.html?ex=1157688000&en=6d795a4beb3375b9&ei=5070

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apparently Disney thinks we all lack the ability to recall what they cited as reasons for NOT distributing
F 9/11. That or this is the biggest case of collective corporate short term memory loss that I've ever heard of.

Let's ALL remind them of the values they claimed to have in 2004, and remind them that these values will indeed by violated if this film airs. They will no longer be able to hide behind "non-parisanship." The ugly truth will have surely reared it's ugly head. Is that what they want? For as many Dems, progressives and liberals as we can find to boycott their products, parks and resorts?

:)

[Bluzmann57]

1. Very true

Thanks for reminding us all of that. It is a great talking point which we should all point out. I know I will.

[bliss_eternal]

2. You're most welcome!

:hi:

[Mr_Spock]

3. ABC/Disney are skating on thin ice here

I am getting more and more angry about this travesty.

They want to be RW? Fine, join my boycott list whores.

[bliss_eternal]

6. I hear you loud and clear...they're already on my list.

I'm embarassed to admit that Dh and I give them a lot of money yearly. We were planning a trip to WDW this year. That's now history.

[Maestro]

4. I had forgotten that!

Thank you. Now I'm even more angrier and frustrated.

[bliss_eternal]

9. Glad you remember now...

...that's what matters. Now go and remind some progressive friends and neighbors! Forward this thread to progressive bloggers. Everyone must remember.

[Straight Shooter]

5. Good job, bliss eternal.

Bookmarked and recommended.

:patriot:

[bliss_eternal]

8. Thank you, Straight Shooter...

...I couldn't have done it without you! :hi:

[Straight Shooter]

16. Teamwork. But you did all the heavy lifting.

:hi:

[City Lights]

7. Disney sucks.

Totally.

I've already sent them a couple of howlers via email, and called them once, but I completely forgot about this. I'm going to make another phone call tomorrow. Thanks! :hi:

[bliss_eternal]

13. I'm thrilled that you're going to call them...

thanks for sharing this! :hi: You've made my evening. ;)

[Generator]

10. Propaganda is all they need

and they use it. It's OBVIOUS now, isn't it people. As we who have been bitching for a couple years now (and I was late to the game by far)-the news on TV is filled with purposeful pure propaganda. They KNOW it's bullshit and they know who their master is.

There is nothing in F/911 but REAL CLIPS of HERR BUSH sitting on his ass doing nothing during and after and oh YEAH before 9/11.

The anger you feel is real. It is never going away.

I'm not the least bit surprised. Those of us that believe the 9/11 commission report was whitewash-are laughing because it's not GOOD ENOUGH to let Bush and the entire Pentagon and CIA off the hook for 9/11-no they have to MAKE SHIT UP and blame Clinton.

What a country. Back in the USSR you don't know how lucky you are!

[gully]

11. I had forgotten about this.

Bookmarked/recommended

[bliss_eternal]

12. Thank you...

and now that you remember, tell a friend. ;) :hi:

[AlCzervik]

14. Thanks to the Weinstein Bros for getting that into wide release and

thanks to Harvey W. for Project runway.

[bliss_eternal]

19. The Weinsteins' knew it was an important film,

Disney did too, they just didn't want to piss off the bush bros. and lose those Florida resort dollars. :eyes:

[AlCzervik]

21. oh yes i remeber it like it was yesterday and i was so thrilled when it

finally rolled iin to my hometown which is pretty red and the theater was packed.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

31. or the Saudi's.

from January, 2004....

http://www.bupipedream.com/012704/wire/w2.htm

Disney seeks help from Saudi Prince

His name is Alwaleed bin Talal. His grandfather was Saudi Arabia's founding monarch. With huge stakes in companies ranging from Citigroup Inc. to the Four Seasons luxury hotel chain, he is one of the richest men on the planet.

That's why Disney needs him. The company's Paris resort is suffering severe losses. Alwaleed came to the rescue before and is being courted once again.

The relationship between Disney and the prince is one of the most unlikely in the corporate world. Disney is notoriously insular and fiercely protective of its brand and its image as America's premier family entertainment company. The prince is outspoken and ostentatious, and his nationality alone attracts controversy these days.

In the mid-1990s, the prince chipped in $300 million to help keep Euro Disney afloat. Now, Eisner would like another helping of his largess.

Relations between the two men grew warm. ``I'm a friend and ally of Eisner's. I'm no Roy Disney,'' the prince said, referring to the former Disney board member who recently resigned after a bitter falling-out with the company's chairman.

and...

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/05/11/1341206

Did Saudi Investors Pressure Disney To Drop Michael Moore's New Film on 9/11?

Disney has been widely criticized for barring its subsidiary Miramax from distributing Fahrenheit 911, Moore's new documentary examining 9/11 and the ties between the Bushes and the Bin Ladens. Peter Hart from Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) reveals that a powerful member of the House of Saud, Al-Walid bin Talal, owns a major stake in Eurodisney.

and...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_9/11_controversy

An unnamed Disney executive said that the film was against Disney's interests not because of government business dealings, but because releasing it would risk being "dragged into a highly charged partisan political battle" and alienating customers. Emanuel stated that Disney chief executive Michael Eisner requested he back out of the Miramax deal, expressing concerns about political fallout from conservative politicians, especially regarding tax breaks given to Disney properties in Florida (e.g., Walt Disney World), where Jeb Bush is governor. Disney also has financial ties to members of the Saudi royal family, who were represented unfavorably in the film. Moore admitted later in a CNN interview that Disney had told him they did not want the film a year earlier, however, he had been advised by representatives that Miramax would continue to fund filming. Seemingly in approval, Disney continued to fund Fahrenheit 9/11 via Miramax throughout the remaining year of production.

[bliss_eternal]

35. Oh. my. gawd.

:wow:

Just when I didn't think I could think less of them. :puke: What a bunch of liars...

Thanks so much for posting this! :hi:

[EFerrari]

15. Yes! I do remember that but couldn't remember the exact

involvement! It was the distribution! MOFOS!

Edit: I was trying to remember the details last night:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2053529&mesg_id=2059059

:mad:

/ack

[bliss_eternal]

17. Yes, it was them. I sent them a letter ...

in honor of their hypocrisy. My letter:

As of today we are boycotting ABC/Disney. We believe this is a big statement for us, as we in the past have been ardent fans of the resort, it's films, entertainment and products.

In 2004 the Disney corporation stated it was not partisan, and as such could not distribute or support Fahrenheit 9/11. Given that we don't like to think about politics when we go to Disneyland, we respected that decision.

Given that ABC is airing The Path to 9/11, with no commercial interruptions and advertising it as a docu-drama you seem to have changed your minds, and are in fact a partisan corporation.

In good conscience, we can no longer purchase Disney films or go to see them in theaters. We won't be purchasing anymore Baby Einstein for our niece, or our friend's children. We won't stay at the Disneyland resort, as we've done in the past for over night stays in the off season. Nor will we visit or shop at the parks as we do on a regular basis as passholders. We won't be renewing our passes with the resort, and will advise our friends to do the same. We will also be selling our tickets to see the Lion King show when it comes to Los Angeles in the fall of this year. You should also know that we will be cancelling our WDW vacation, as we choose not to fund your partisan acts or help to reimburse your company's cost for it's 30 million dollar film--Path to 9/11.

Thanks so much for helping to show me the hypocrites that the Disney company are, and saving me so much money this upcoming Christmas season.

:hi:

[EFerrari]

18. Lol! Hey, I'm going to have three politically correct nieces!

:)

[bliss_eternal]

20. LOL!

I hope our niece enjoys the last batch of Disney gifts--because that's it. She's a leapfrog, American Girl(the doll manufacturers with multiracial dolls that contribute to left wing causes) kiddo from here on out!

[Catherine Vincent]

22. Calling all bloggers!

Recommended!

[bliss_eternal]

24. Thank you, cat_girl...

...I sent a link to dailykos. I hope some other bloggers drive this point home! :hi:

[Catherine Vincent]

29. No, thank you, bliss_eternal!

That was a good find! :hi:

[bliss_eternal]

30. Oh, thank you...

:blush: I'm just so pissed about this.

[chat_noir]

23. democrats.com

http://archive.democrats.com/elandslide/petition.cfm?campaign=disney

[bliss_eternal]

25. Wow! Thanks for providing this...

I don't know how I missed this, but am glad to see it now. More proof...
:hi:

[cascadiance]

50. Write or email ncaa.org. Tell them you will be boycotting ESPN, etc.

... for sports broadcasts of college games, etc. I haven't decided yet to yank my ESPN Gameplan package (don't know if I can at this point), but I noted to them that their ratings numbers would decline and they might be getting less revenue from ESPN and ABC as a result of many otherwise good fans boycotting this company. Pro sports teams or other companies that do business with ABC/Disney that are all part of the corporate America conspiracy might be less inclined to listen to our appeals, but public institutions like ncaa.org and the various college conference organizations might have more people that would listen to us and perhaps put pressure back themselves onto ABC to back away from this film or that they might try to back out of many of their lengthy sports broadcast contracts.

Go here to send a letter to NCAA.org public relations.

http://www.ncaa.org/cgi-bin/staffmailform2.pl?id=[e-mail]&name=Public+Relations

[bliss_eternal]

56. This is a GREAT suggestion...!

Thank you, calipendence! While everyone may not be a fan of Disney, their films or products--substantially more people ARE sports fans. Hitting them through ESPN is brilliant!
:applause:

On edit: Would you mind starting a thread, asking the sports fans to send letters of protest through the link you provided?

[cascadiance]

65. Done... Started a thread here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2079827&mesg_id=2079827

[morningglory]

26. Good points! However, I am a Democrat. I want them to show the piece of

crap, and then we want the old fairness doctrine, equal time, let the people know what lying corp-o-fascists they are.

[bliss_eternal]

28. You're so awesome...

I wish I could be as open and fair minded as you. :yourock:

Sadly, this admin. has contributed to my pessimism and I feel they wouldn't allow another side of the story to be shown or told. This will be presented as the truth, and that makes me very angry.

If they were so open, and/or willing to allow fair press, etc. they would have distributed F 9/11 and then created this piece of tripe and shown them together. This seems to reek of a smear campaign to me.

:hi:

[Spirochete]

47. I'm with you there...

Turnabout being fair play, someone should make a movie called MIHOP, and air it right before Halloween. Bet they wouldn't like that much.

[oasis]

27. Elementary: The ABCs of rat bastardom.

:puke:

[originalpckelly]

32. Eisner is a Republican/Neo-Con Democrat...

look him up on the FEC website. Don't get him confused with the attorney fella.

[Triana]

33. EXACTLY! This is what I've been writing about in my letters to ABC

and Disney. The bastards wouldn't air or support Farenheit 911 but they WILL air and support "The Path to 9/11"?

:wtf:

I've told them:

"Be careful, your rightwing agenda is showing"

[bliss_eternal]

34. Your letter sounds like mine...

...Good for you, for writing them! :applause: :woohoo:

I tried to call them, to no avail sadly. I think they prepared for our calls by making sure no one would reach a human being. :eyes:

My heart is broken. I really enjoyed Disney...

[texpatriot2004]

36. An excellent point nm

[LaPera]

37. So who is more republican, ABC-Disney * Fox-Murdoch * CBS-Viacom

NBC (MSNBC)-General Electric or CNN (Headline)-Time-Warner?

Who else is there? ALL five are big time republican supporters & donors.

These five right-wing networks is where over 80% of the American people get their television news.

Who is more conservative - is there a difference?

[Maven]

38. Let's not forget the 20/20 segment on Matthew Shepard

they aired, basically suggesting that the murder wasn't a hate crime and that Matthew had provoked his murderers.

They're total. fucking. scum.

[bliss_eternal]

41. OMG! They did THAT?!

That is horrible... :puke:

Thank you for sharing this Harvey. I tend to not watch 20/20 frequently, as John Stossel frankly makes my butt itch--I can't stand that guy. This boycott is worthwhile for Matthew Shepard alone. Disney offers gay days in their parks, for crying out loud. I wonder if it ever occurs to them that THEIR network has no integrity in regards to covering the death of a gay man? :banghead:

[Maven]

43. nah...they'll take money with both hands.

Here's a statement by Matthew's parents after the episode was announced. Apparently ABC chose to cut out statements by local officials and Matthew's parents clearly establishing that the crime was motivated by hate in order to prop up their "new" theory.

http://www.matthewshepard.org/2020_statement.html

GLAAD tears apart the piece and all of its selective omissions here:

http://www.matthewshepard.org/involved_2020.html

And here's the story by ABC, which takes pains to establish the killers' "troubled" pasts and to make Matthew look like a depressed drug addict, and claims that the crime was committed for money and drugs, not because Matthew was gay--while at the same time reporting that it Matthew's supposed "unwanted advances" that provoked the beating.

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=277685

There was a boycott planned, apparently (boycottformatthew.org - no longer active), but it didn't go anywhere.

Edit: Thanks for this thread, b_e. :hug:

[nicknameless]

39. Great OP, Bliss!

Follow the money and the hypocrisy.

Wonder when they're planning to air Fahrenheit 9/11... Think I won't hold my breath.

A number of people are slandered in this film. Why don't they take legal action to prevent these lies from being broadcast?
That's what the rethugs do. They sue everyone (or threaten to) in order to get what they want.

:thumbsup:

[bliss_eternal]

42. Apparently a few from Clinton's team are asking them

to revoke the film.

Here's a link about it:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2067684

[nicknameless]

45. These propagandists aren't seeming to respond to *requests*.

They should be forced to cease and desist.

[bliss_eternal]

46. I agree wholeheatedly!

I'm hoping they pursue legal channels...:)

[samsingh]

40. i most certainly do.

[Rex]

44. Jizney and the M$M, corporate assholes that deserve

to be treated like shit. Fascist enablers if ever there was a group. Just look who they got to play Dick Cheney in his new mini-series:

[bliss_eternal]

59. You almost gave my dh hysterics today with that picture...

:rofl::rofl::rofl: Too funny!

[chat_noir]

48. CBS: Disney Blocks Anti-Bush Film

A Disney executive says it told Miramax last May that it did not want to be connected to the North American distribution of the film because it could be politically divisive.

But Moore claims Disney is worried it could lose tax breaks it gets in Florida, where the president's brother Jeb Bush is governor. Disney denies that, according to The Times.

Miramax says its deal with Disney only allows the company to block distribution of a film if it is over budget or gets an NC-17 rating, neither of which appears to apply to Moore's movie. The two companies could go to mediation over the dispute.

...

Miramax bought the film last May when Mel Gibson's Icon Pictures backed out, triggering complaints by conservatives to Disney. Overseas distribution rights have already been sold.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/05/entertainment/main615648.shtml

[chat_noir]

49. Disney blocks Michael Moore film on Bush links with leading Saudis

The Disney company is blocking distribution of Michael Moore's forthcoming film, Fahrenheit 911, which exposes the links between George Bush and prominent Saudis.

Mr Moore's agent said Disney had pulled out because its involvement could jeopardise tax breaks the company receives from the state of Florida, where Mr Bush's brother, Jeb, is governor. Disney claims it does not want to be associated with the film because it risks politically alienating too many people.

...

"Michael Eisner asked me not to sell this movie to Harvey Weinstein," Mr Emanuel told the New York Times. "That doesn't mean I listened to him. He definitely indicated there were tax incentives he was getting for the Disney corporation and that's why he didn't want me to sell it to Miramax. He didn't want a Disney company involved."

...

Disney said distributing the film would be against the company's interests because Disney caters for all political persuasions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1210534,00.html

[cascadiance]

51. Another thing to note...

"Path to 9/11" is being aired over the PUBLIC airwaves, for which ABC affiliates must have licenses to operate. Therefore their obligations to be non-partisan are far MORE the case over the public airwaves than they are in distributing films, which aren't utilizing this publicly owned resource. So even though Disney/Miramax was trying to claim the need to be "neutral" in its policies earlier for distributing Fahrenheit 9/11, in the distribution space there arguably is LESS of a need to be neutral than over the public airwaves where ABC is given license to use these airwaves by WE THE PEOPLE in distributing their content. Broadcasts over the air should arguably be MORE concerned about maintaining neutrality than distribution of films. That's why this analogy, though great, doesn't even do enough to show the evil that ABC is engaged in in its partisan policies that go against it's customers, many of its investors, many of its employees, and the public owned resources its using.

And for them trying to argue that it is about making profit, they don't seem to be getting advertisers, and note what happens in the past when you have partisan "deals" with the GOP by other companies. Right wing CEO Patrick Byrne of Overstock.com is probably costing that money quite a bit of money with his partisan "exclusive" distribution of Fahrenhype 9/11, which he was having to practically give away now on his site, selling of his inventory of book together with DVD for $1.00. Looks like he now doesn't have the DVD for sale any more, but he still has the DVD companion book only for $1 now.

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&PROD_ID=998047

I'm sure that investors aren't happy with this sort of partisan political running of companies that he and those at ABC are running that is not profitable for their investments.

[Miss Chybil]

52. Why doesn't Disney want to pay their taxes? Do they hate America? nt

[bliss_eternal]

58. LOL--Yeah, they're unpatriotic, right?

;)

[specimenfred1984]

53. P-R-O, P-R-A, T-E-E-R-S, Propateers Propateers

Disney = Fascist liars and traitors to America

[bliss_eternal]

57. LOL! Well said...

and sadly, true. :(

[DWilliamsamh]

54. Letter I sent to Disney.

I have called and e-mailed my local affiliate (WPVI 6ABC in Philadelphia) and I Sent this e-mail (since snail mail won't get to CA in time from the east coast) to Disney Stockholder Services:

Jennifer,

Thanks you for your attentive response to my concerns regarding the airing of "Path to 9/11" on the Disney owned ABC television network.

I wanted to reiterate that as a Disney stock holder (ING) I will be placing a sell order to be executed on Tuesday morning. Like many Americans I have had a love of almost all things Disney from the time I was a child and have spent many vacations in Disney resorts and both the major theme parks. I will no longer knowingly spend my money on any Disney product, in including television, merchandise, theater releases, DVD video or any other media.

The reason I have made this decision is very simple: When Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" was set to be distributed through the Disney company, Disney refused to distribute the film, explaining that it is a political film and is outside Disney's interests and that the corporation was afraid that it might endanger millions of dollars in tax breaks. Disney also clothed its public face in a facade of "non-partisanship."

Yet now a Disney division is airing a commercial free "docu-drama" that contains serious errors of fact, not to mention defamatory assertions of events that never happened. That is according to one of their own advisers regarding terrorism, Richard Clark, who served in an anti-terrorism capacity in the first Bush administration, the Clinton administration and the second Bush administration. To add insult to injury ABC has provided advanced copies of the film to the likes of Rush Limbaugh, but refused copies to the actual people depicted; including President Clinton, and Secretary Albright when they requested them.

It is obvious that the Disney Corporation has decided to distribute a blatant piece of right wing propaganda.

It is of the utmost urgency that Disney direct ABC to either correct the factual errors or refuse to run this politically biased filth.

With Sincere Regret and Anger,

Jennifer was the representative I spoke with on the phone. I told her much the same thing that I said in the letter.

[bliss_eternal]

55. Your letter ROCKS--I LOVE it!

Bravo! :applause: Have you put out a call on DU to the other Disney shareholders to call Shareholder services? This is a brilliant strategy, as they seem to expect you guys to eat the cost of their crappy propaganda film.

[DWilliamsamh]

67. No I have not... which forum do you think would be best? (n/t)

[bliss_eternal]

68. Sorry I'm just now seeing this...

General Discussion and maybe some of the financial forums...

[intheflow]

61. Very good letter.

Clearly p.o.'d, but factual, logical, and concise. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Imagevision]

62. DWilliamsamh, your letter should make it's way to Clinton...

[DWilliamsamh]

66. I'd be happy to send it to him if I knew where to send it (n/t)

[helderheid]

60. Send this to Dean, Conyers, Clinton, ... EVERYONE.

[Imagevision]

63. Disney Says No to "Fahrenheit 9/11" then it grosses almost a billion

worldwide...

[bliss_eternal]

64. They didn't figure on that, did they?

;)