Michael Moore asks audiences to donate so we can "Save Our CEOs"
By David Neiwert Monday Jun 15, 2009 2:00pmLast night, before select audiences in places like Los Angeles and Chicago out to see other films, Michael Moore played a special trailer for his new movie about the financial meltdown. But this wasn't just any trailer:
Hi, I’m Michael Moore. Instead of using this time to tell you about my new movie I’d like to take a moment and ask you to join me in helping our fellow Americans. The downturn in the economy has hurt many people, people who have had no choice but to go on government assistance. Yet our welfare agencies can only do so much. That’s why I’m asking you to reach into your pockets right now and lend a hand. Ushers will be coming down the aisles to collect your donations for Citibank, Bank of America, AIG, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and a host of other needy banks and corporations. Won’t you please give generously? Now, I know what you’re thinking - I already gave at the bailout. And I know you did, but even if you’ve given in the past, give some more. It will make you feel… good.
Sure enough, ushers came down the aisles:
And started passing out the collection cans:
More to the point, audiences laughed and gave:
A writer for FirstShowing was taken aback, and called it "pretty damn crazy." Slashfilm's writer wondered what would happen to the money.
We're told that it actually will be donated to local food banks in the donor cities.
[H/t Jonathan for the pics.]
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I must be extra dense today because I don't get it. I mean I'm glad the money went to local food banks but he might have gotten more if he had asked them to donate to that rather than whatever joke he was trying to do or say or whatever.
Since I am damned serious about supporting our local food pantry, I am for anything that will get them more food and money.
There's not much to get. Remember on South Park when they had Whoopie Goldberg at the awards show? 'I hate Republicans. Republicans are so stupid. I hate Republicans.' Michael Moore is like that, but real life. Unfortunately, there are people who eat it up.
...Michael Moore is nowhere near that vociferous. He speaks plainly and often with a hint of humor, I suppose because he is laughing at the absurdity of it all. In fact, he often tags Democrats who deserve a good calling-out, but it's too bad for Republicans if they've been the ones getting up to the bulk of shenanigans for the last 8 years. If I am not mistaken, he isn't a member of either party, but i am too lazy check at the moment and isn't really relevant to my first assertion.
And you know what people eat up? Facts. The truth. And, unfortunately for the average Republican talking head, facts tend to have a liberal [shudder!] bias.
Let's not forget (slight tangent here) that it was Moore who stood up at the Academy Awards and called out what he called a fictitious president on his ficticious war, all on his own, with nobody to back him up. Then he took a lot of abuse from a lot of flatheaded people for the next several years up until people began to admit to themselves what they already knew and what he tried to get them to admit by holding a mirror in their faces and asking them to be accountable for that cretin squatting in the White House.
I am sure he isn't holding his breath waiting for the 30-odd tons of apology mail he deserves for that one.
the year he tossed Ralph Nader under the wheels.
a bad light!!!
The gall...
You know, like they need more money from working class Americans, so keep giving. Irony.
Not too hard to fathom. A couple of guys on Comedy Central named Stewart and Colbert do it regularly.
Can MM be classified a national treasure? He does make people think.
and, just for starters, replace every instance where you wrote "Republican" and insert Michael Moore. No matter what he does in terms of satire, there are haters.
The sad thing of it all is that corporate welfare isn't new, and certainly didn't start with the most recent economic downturn or the bailouts. Corporations have been on the government dole for decades.
We know that corporations will give back when we are in a crisis like health care, jobs, a living wage and foreclosures. Give until you can't give no more.
but I prefer the verb, "bleed".
...but he will pay his taxes this year. ...just like most sheeple...
Michael will talk the talk ...but will he really say no to the rolling waves of bailouts? how about a little nod to the teapartyers Michael?
why wont Moore REALLY take a stand and say "fuck you" to the bailouts?
looks like a teaparty to me ...(exept it's a teaparty for pussies)!
about some anonymous poster on a blog criticizing people who are actually doing things as being "pussies."
...and (I betcha) I been a commenter here longer than you.
Yes I am a teabagger. (former Democrat) ...but still liberal...
I lost my faith a long time ago when Obama voted to re-authorise the patriot act, and then voted for the telecom bill that gave immunity to AT&T.
and then...Obama voted for the bailout and I went "all to pieces" and became a "ball draggin tea bagger"
mention the word "pussie." But that's just me. Anyway, if he doesn't pay his taxes, then he would go to jail for tax evasion, and then what good would he be to everyone else? I'll bet he has said that to bailouts, but they just don't listen. Oh, yeah. Are you a "tea-partyer?"
...submit his "1040 form" (under duress/protest) ...that way he could "make a statement" but wouldnt go to jail.
I like Moore and he is very valuable and talented. wouldnt want to see him go to jail...
so us teapartyers will carry the torch instead...hope you all appreciate it!
p.s. I will still pay my federal and state gasoline taxes so you guys dont get mad at me for "drivin on your roads" and I will also pay my local sales and property taxes so our kids can go to school. Its "fuck you" to the IRS only... (if thats makes it any better)
"I like paying taxes. With them I buy civilization."
Great quote.
Now that you've reacted to this little bit comedic-fluff, I strongly urge you to find a copy of his "Sicko" to watch. Heck, if you don't like his take on foreign health care systems, just focus on what he presents about ours. Not a lot of comedy there, unless you like black humor, the kind the for profit insurance companies specialize in.
Remember that title, "Sicko". And given what's going on politically right now, seems to me it's time for it to be re-released.
awaiting Michael Moore to do a documentary on the political corruption in Washington, covering both parties. THAT would be a movie worth going to see over and over. Show the fraud, bribes, and "political contributions" AKA corporate bribe money. Show why citizens have been tossed to the wolves on any and all major political laws. Come on Michael! Show the corruption! How much did Dick Durbin make on insider trading after meeting with the powers that be, even though it's supposed to be illegal.
Thus this "trailer."
Moore is one of the few voices of reason that can actually attract a large American audience. I'm happy to hear that he is turning his attention to the scandalous Wall Street bailout. Someone has to gently remind Americans that we were robbed by the oligarchs of Wall Street. This is one scandal where Republicans and Democrats share equal blame for looting the country.
of attending a Michael Moore event in the Kansas City area. He had been in Topeka earlier in the day doing a segment on Fred Phelps for his television show. It was during the Ken Starr investigation and Michael wanted some footage for a Ken Starr segment to show it for the witch hunt it was. He asked anyone who wanted to be in it to stay after and we would be given instructions. We were told to line up inside the auditorium doors with the film crew outside. On signal, hundreds of people burst through the doors, ran to the fountain and act like they were possessed. It was too much fun.
He makes some really important points that no one else has the courage to say, but he adds a lot of humor to his message.
Even though it's a joke, soliciting for donations under false pretenses is a crime.
Of course, many charities, like the the United Way, steer most of their donations to pay charity executives:
http://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/14/us/united-w...
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/03/us/united-w...
Are you being serious? Where's the fraud? Fraud? After we just watch X Billion dollars go to the banks without any transparentcy, the fraud is clearly the dimes in the cans being collected for the CEOs. I feel like I am on another planet reading these comments. We really have a hard time understanding the humor? It's not even subtle...its thoroughly ironic and clearly
Moore's movie will be flawed. It will be over-the-top and possible contain factual errors. But it will be funny as hell and it comes out on my birthday and I will call it my birthday present.
it is fraud, soliciting donations for a false reason. He solicited donations for the CEOs, by law the money has to go to them.
I remember several years ago in Lake Co IN some people were soliciting supposedly for toys for tots, they were actually pocketing the money, they were arrested and as part of their sentence they had to donate the money taken in to the charity since they couldn't identify all the donors and amounts.
Do you know that the ushers didn't tell the audience exactly where the money was going? Do you think that, like the Toys For Tots scam, this was going into the pockets of anyone employed by the theaters, the production company, or Moore himself?
And if you think any of this is fraud, show me the evidence. Because there's scant little in the post here or the links to prove any illegalities.
"That’s why I’m asking you to reach into your pockets right now and lend a hand. Ushers will be coming down the aisles to collect your donations for Citibank, Bank of America, AIG, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and a host of other needy banks and corporations."
"We're told that it actually will be donated to local food banks in the donor cities."
Does it say anywhere that the audience was told by the ushers? I'm going by what was posted.
He listed certain companies by name and unnamed banks, for it to not be fraud he would have to donate a certain percentage of it to the named companies.
Both of the links are written not as eyewitness reports, but as blog posts dependent on second hand knowledge.
And you don't understand that satire and parody are viewed as protected speech, do you? Check out The People Vs. Larry Flynt to get yourself up to speed on that.
the youtube link shows Moore asking for donations for the ceos. Which I assume is the one shown.
And yes I understand that satire and parody are protected speech. Fraud is not.
So if I were to go out and collect donations for the NAACP and the UCNP and other needy students, and then took the money and put it towards white supremacists education that would be okay? As long as I was a white boy doing it in "satire"
who do not get subtlety. Have you a list of factual errors from his other films that cause you to anticipate more in the new release?
where he solicited donations for the CEOs with no intent to give them the money. That is fraud. He solicited money under false premises.
The movie. And it's subject matter. Now, don't you think that should have been a dead give away?
The reason for the request was for charitable donations for the CEO's or their companies ?????
You can't fix stupid. That was the point.
But I'd like to go back to savannah43's question.
In all of his movies, what has he said that wasn't true?
was only mentioned by him saying he wasn't talking about it. Yes it should of been clear it was satire but it is still fraud.
And he asked for money for "Citibank, Bank of America, AIG, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and a host of other needy banks and corporations." He might be able to get off by donating some to the named companies and the rest to food banks, but if it was all donated to local food banks that is still fraud.
And I will admit I've never watched his movies, no interest so far, I have seen a couple of clips pre and post editing though, and he twists words worse than a tornado. Hence the no interest.
... that more of your tax dollars would go into prosecuting this 'crime' than was likely collected...
... that satire is protected speech...
... that "Canadian Bacon" was awesome...
You still have the fact that, even just from a technical standpoint the FTC (Federal Trade Commission[ooh, socialist, scary!]) rules, false solicitation/misrepresentation only occurs when the nonexistant/misrepresented entity is, in fact, billed as a liegitimate charity. From a legal standpoint, intent to defraud is required for any (responsible, non-tax wasting) prosecutor to levy charges.
Also, "donating" money to for-profit companies? Definitely illegal...
We need more people like him.
...needy banks or greedy banks?
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