Michael Moore In Trouble For Cuba Trip

[joeunderdog]

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore is under investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department for taking ailing Sept. 11 rescue workers to Cuba for a segment in his upcoming health-care documentary "Sicko," The Associated Press has learned.

snip
"Sicko" promises to take the health-care industry to task the way Moore confronted America's passion for guns in "Bowling for Columbine" and skewered Bush over his handling of Sept. 11 in "Fahrenheit 9/11."

snip
In February, Moore took about 10 ailing workers from the Ground Zero rescue effort in Manhattan for treatment in Cuba, said a person working with the filmmaker on the release of "Sicko." The person requested anonymity because Moore's attorneys had not yet determined how to respond.

snip
At last September's Toronto International Film Festival, Moore previewed footage shot for "Sicko," presenting stories of personal health-care nightmares. One scene showed a woman who was denied payment for an ambulance ride after a head-on collision because it was not pre-approved.

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The timing of the investigation is reminiscent of the firestorm that preceded the Cannes debut of "Fahrenheit 9/11," which won the festival's top prize in 2004. The Walt Disney Co. refused to let subsidiary Miramax release the film because of its political content, prompting Miramax bosses Harvey and Bob Weinstein to release "Fahrenheit 9/11" on their own.



http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/10/entertainment/main2784703.shtml

[Purveyor]

1. I just heard this reported on our local newscast. You can't buy better PR for an

upcoming movie than this!!!

[Canuckistanian]

4. MM couldn't buy better PR than this

Being persecuted by an extremely unpopular government AT THE EXACT TIME of a new film release?

I can hear the champagne bottles being popped right now.

[joeunderdog]

7. Being jailed would make him an instant martyr and would land him

endless free promotions. The negative attention this brings to Moore works against their own goals. Everyone will be curious and he is a very convincing movie-maker.

[Matsubara]

2. He's not in trouble as long as he spent no money in Cuba.

You can bet your sweet patootie that Moore thought of all this beforehand. He will not get in trouble. This is good advance PR for the movie, though.

[Canuckistanian]

5. He has TEAMS of lawyers

He learned that lesson early.

[silverweb]

3. He knew this was coming.

You can bet on it. And he's ready.

[Lint Head]

6. He is working the media and the administration.

:dem:

[Cha]

8. Ya have to ..

doncha?

[bobbolink]

9. Gotta love the free advertising!

Real schmardt move on the part of our government!

:rofl: