Michael Moore’s under investigation by the US Treasury Department for bringing ailing 9/11 rescue workers to Cuba during production of his upcoming health-care documentary Sicko, which takes the American healh-care system to task. According to the Associated Press, Moore didn’t complete the necessary paperwork before "engaging in travel-related transactions involving Cuba." (Side note: That quoted portion of the sentence sounds like something I’d say if I was hazy on the topic, which I usually am when it comes to the government and/or Cuba.)
In a statement today, Sicko producer Meghan O’Hara insisted that "the efforts of the Bush administration to conduct a politically motivated investigation of Michael Moore and Sicko will not stop us from making sure the American people see this film." Clearly they won’t stop you. They can only help!
I bet Moore sits around dreaming up the most perfect unintentional-publicity scenarios possible. Then they all come true, and he continues to sit around, saying things like "No comment" while blissfully stroking his apparently now stubble-free chin. Is he just lucky, or is he pulling the strings himself?
Comments (1-15) of 17 Add your comment
Moore’s claim of “politically motivated” attacks by Bush is wack.
FACT: Unless you are on an officially sanctioned trip (either a religious group or a member of the press who’s pre-approved), it’s ILLEGAL to travel to or do business with Cuba. It has been since President Kennedy signed the Cuban Embargo.
People in Miami scam the system because the large ex-pat Cuban population there is allowed to enter and return on direct chartered flights. Why? No one’s going to accuse Miami’s Cubans of being pro-communism.
During Clinton, these restrictions were lifted a bit to allow cash sales of US agricultural products (cash sales only, no credit), but for the most part, it’s illegal to have ANY Cuban products in the US. Including those Cuban cigars you bought in Jamaica last year, bub.
Moore’s azz broke the law and is claiming like Bush is on some witch hunt. I know this not to be true. Why? Because my old Senator boss got TONS of letters from people who got caught doing the same
And before anyone starts hating, I worked for a DEMOCRATIC Senator from New Jersey and have NEVER EVER EVER supported Bush on anything. Just try and call my leftist azz “conservative”.
Can’t wait to see the new Michael Moore film and I have not doubt this investigation is a witchhunt due to the subject matter of the film.
And to EP…Sato — Working for a Democrat does not make you a leftist! Both parties are virtually the same and so your viewpoint about Moore’s actions is fully expected, as you are obviously anti-Castro and anti-revolution (in other words..conservative). Real leftists call all ‘ya all RepubliCrats.
STOP THE WAR AND BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!
Even the hardcore Bush-hater Keith Olbermann has called out Moore for his inconsistencies, so Moore claiming a witch hunt doesn’t really hold water.
Bring back the stubble..I’m not enjoying my view of Moore’s wattle.
Wouldn’t he have a right to go, as a member of the press?
This whole Cuba thing is so ridiculous. Are Americans still so afraid of communism? Really? The good thing is all of us Canadians and Europeans can vacation in Cuba without having to worry about obnoxious Americans. (not that all Americans are obnoxious, just the obnoxious ones).
I think Micheal Moore is an American hero..too bad Canada doesn’t have a Michael Moore…if we did he would be free to travel to Cuba. It’s OK..like our great neighbours to the south,we trade with China too and that doesn’t make us “Commie lovers” either.
I so wish that I was Canadian or European so I could live secure in the knowledge that there was not a single obnoxious person among my national brethren. Too bad the most obnoxious Americans are famous, like a certain documentary film maker (who is just an opinionated film maker, not a journalist).
Moore is NOT a journalist, he’s a filmmaker with a political agenda. And if you don’t believe this is another stunt for his own publicity, you’re way too naive. He’s way too intelligent and savvy to make a “mistake” like this that – OMG! – results in more publicity for his movie. As a registered Democrat, I think Moore is one of the worst things to happen to our party. He’s a proven hypocrite and he brings others in the party down by association (fortunately, I suppose, the Republicans have Ann Coulter doing the same for them….).
I couldn’t agree with you more Jason. My most memorable vacations have been in Cuba. Where there are no KFC, and McDonalds at every street corner and no Americans. Just Mojitos and Cohibas.
Ep Sapo – you’re absolutely right – he did break the law. So did Rosa Parks. Some stupid laws deserve to be broken and free people should not have restrictions on where they are allowed to travel. So good for him. What are we going to say as patriotic Americans when we see this movie and find out that the “evil commie” Cubans care more about our sick rescue workers, who heroically sacrificed so much for their country, than their own government does?
I’m trying to figure out what in the world Keith Olbermann has to do with Michael Moore. Keith Olbermann pretty much picks on everyone; it just seems like he goes for Bush more often because it’s such easy pickings.
There’s nothing like a story about Michael Moore to bring out all the “Democrats” who can’t wait to tell us how much they hate him.
Maybe you don’t agree with his methods but there’s no doubt he spotlights important issues.
As someone who lived in a communist country for two years (China) I can assure you that we have absolutely nothing to worry about from Cuba. China is the real threat, not because it is trying to export communism, but because it’s leaders don’t give a rat’s a** what the rest of the world thinks about their policies and how they treat their own people. The Cuba embargo is such and outdated and inane concept that, as someone earlier mentioned, hardly ever gets presecuted for those that the government doesn’t care about (poor immigrants), but as soon as a vocal critic of the Administration goes (if they’re so strict aboiut it, why was he even allowed to get on a plane to go there?) they have a fit. Now, I’m sure Moore is milking this for all he can, but if the actions of the group you are criticizing plays right into your agenda, wouldn’t you exploit it?I may find his tactics somewhat self-serving and exploitative,but as long as he keeps bashing the current administration I’m down with it.
This Documentary ( ha ha) is from a man who has suggested that tax paying Americans should be taxed up to 70% of their income. And he is doing this at a time when Hilary Socialist Clinton is using healthcare as her basis for becoming president. I would like to know how much he has pledged to her campaign. He is ridicoulousand I hope the federal gov’t goes after him.