Posted on 11/20/2011 6:18:33 PM PST by Impala64ssa
Just days after being confronted by a conservative blogger over his supposed net worth, filmmaker Michael Moore took similar questions from a local CBS reporter at the Occupy Denver protest, with markedly different results. Rather than ignore CBS-4 reporter Evrod Cassimy, Moore engaged him. When Cassimy brought up Moore’s “rumored” $50 million net worth, though, Moore called him “punk media,” pulled him close, and growled, “You lie!”
The confrontation made for much better video than the previous one, and Moore initially handled the reporter’s questions well, admitting, ““I do very well,” and adding, “Because I do well, I want taxes raised on people who do well, including mine.”
When Cassimy pressed Moore about his specific net worth, however, Moore became visibly angry. He told the reporter, “I don’t have $50 million,” and Cassimy gave Moore an opening, saying, “That’s what it’s rumored you are worth.”
“Well, really” Moore said, “Is that what you do is sell rumors?”
“We’re asking you for the truth,” Cassimy replied.
Moore then put his hand on the reporter’s shoulder, shaking him as he said, “You’re just punk media is all you are.”
“You lie,” he continued, a slight growl in his voice. “You lie to people. Stop lying to people. Stop lying.”
Mr. Cassimy left himself open for Moore’s criticism by citing “rumors,” rather than “reports,” but Michael Moore really ought to do better at engaging this question. He’s got compelling answers, and even though the premise itself is silly, confronting it head on is a surer way to gain converts than scenes like this, which make it appear as though critics of Moore’s wealth have got his number.
There are lots of mega-bucks celebrities who have shown up to support the Occupy protests, and recent polls show that most millionaires support raising taxes on millionaires. You can, apparently, be rich and believe in fairness, simultaneously. Moore can, and does, also argue that he takes his earnings and puts them back into making more films. His wealth, then, is a tool to combat wealth inequality.
I remember the day that an American would be proud to say he had 50 million dollars.
And let his minions see that he not only takes every possible dedution, but probably also tries to weasel in a few extra ones as well, while shaving a little off the top?
Of course, he would say, "I HAVE to do it, and it is 'only fair', because it is just putting me on an equal footing with the other millionaires. And that is why taxes need to be raised on millionaires: it would be unfair for some, like me, to contribute extra, while others can choose to be greedy and keep their excess money...and by the way, don't forget to raise the deductions & subsidies for buying Cuban cameras and film stock, to help promote normalization of relations....".
Nice spread. He could show us what a true philanthropist he is instead of disputing his property assessment like most of these phonies tend to do, have his limo driver bring him to the Antrim Cty clerk’s office and plunk down some extra mega bucks toward his school taxes. Hey, it’s for the chiiiiildren.
It would 'make *my* lifetime', and quite possibly shorten his, considerably...
the infowarrior
Occupy Michael Moore’s house.
Missed that one. Thanks.
Translation: "Don't you DARE out me as one of the hated rich!"
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