Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush

As you may know, I'm not a Disney fan because of their sexism and colonialism. This is beyond even my low expectations of them. No company has the right to control political discourse, and that is exactly what is happening here. No artist should be censored in this manner. I was horrified when the publisher wanted to shred Stupid White Men and I am absolutely sickened by this interference. Miramax wants to distribute the film; If Michael Eisner is getting special tax breaks for Disney World, I think that bears legal investigation. Since when do we give special consideration in the application of tax laws? Seems to me the name Jeb Bush comes up an awful lot in this article - didn't he engineer a bloodless coup a few years ago? Is he behind this? Maybe we need to start looking at Jeb's activities now, before the election. Maybe we need to stop giving our money to Michael Eisner. We should definitely throw in with MoveOn.org, in this phone campaign. Here's their email:

Dear MoveOn member,

Oscar-winning director Michael Moore has finished his latest documentary, but The Walt Disney Company is refusing to let the American public see it.

The film, "Fahrenheit 911," is critical of President Bush's actions before and after Sept. 11 and describes Bush's relationships with powerful Saudi families, including that of Osama bin Laden.

According to the New York Times, Moore's agent says embattled Disney chief Michael Eisner feared the documentary could endanger the company's tax breaks in Florida, where Bush's brother, Jeb, is governor.

We can't let corporate favors for politicians dictate what movies we see. Tell Disney to show us Michael Moore's documentary:

John Spelich
Corporate Communications
The Walt Disney Company
Phone: (818) 560-8543

If the line is busy, call a Disney store near you. The salespeople aren't responsible for this decision, but ask them to pass your concerns on to the manager. To find the Disney store nearest you, click here .

Finally, if you own any Disney stock, call:

Wendy Webb, Investor Relations
The Walt Disney Company
Phone: (818) 560-5758

Let us know that you've called:

http://moveon.org/disney_moore.html?id=2791-1424107-MuI9BNysXZTKtxhPP7xEBQ

The documentary, which heads to the prestigious Cannes film festival next week, was expected to be distributed by Miramax this summer. But Disney, which owns Miramax, blocked the plan. Denying allegations of political favoritism, Disney said it doesn't want to be involved with a partisan film.

Moore responded, "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."

The film details financial connections between the Bush family and powerful Saudi Arabian families over the last thirty years, including the evacuation of Osama bin Laden's relatives from the United States two days after Sept. 11. Also included are American soldiers in Iraq describing their doubts about the justification for war.

Michael Moore has commented, "At some point the question has to be asked, 'Should this be happening in a free and open society where the monied interests essentially call the shots regarding the information that the public is allowed to see?' "

Today, we will tell Disney the answer is no:

John Spelich
Corporate Communications
The Walt Disney Company
Phone: (818) 560-8543

Let us know you're calling, at:

http://moveon.org/disney_moore.html?id=2791-1424107-MuI9BNysXZTKtxhPP7xEBQ

Sincerely,
--Noah T. Winer
MoveOn.org
May 5th, 2004

P.S. This story appeared on the front page of today's New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/05/national/05DISN.html