Interviewer Denies Tricking Gibson's Dad

Newsmax ^ | 2/23/04 | Carl Limbacher

[cripplecreek]

All i have to know is that someone sought Gibsons father out for an interview. There was a motive.

[montag813]

Mel is somewhat at fault here. He should have shielded his father from all media inquiries before the film's release. Hutton is clearly either a crackpot or you must excuse his age. either way, Mel Gibson should not be held responsible for his father's views any more than John Kennedy should have been considered a Nazi-lover because his father kissed Hitler's ass.

[montag813]

On Thursday, Gibson family sources told NewsMax.com that Feuerstein never told Mr. Gibson he was being taped for broadcast, identified himself only as "Steve" and said he was a fan of Mel Gibson

If this is true, than depending on applicable state law, Mr Feuerstein may have committed an illegal offense, and Gibson's family could seek (and probably win) a temporary court injunction to prevent this tape from being aired. They'd better hurry, though. The states which require "all party consent" to tape phone conversations are California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

[N. Theknow]

Aren't Mel Gibson and his Father estranged? Thought I read that somewhere.

[RetiredArmy]

How is Mel Gibson responsible? How does he "shield" his father from the media? He cannot be with his father 24,7, 365. Are you responsible for something your parents my say or do? Even your children, your brother, sister, uncles, aunts, third cousins? Mel is not responsible for what his father says. Only the "sayer" is responsible for what comes across his/her lips.

[Imal]

Whatever the background, it's pretty clear what the senior Gibson thinks about Jews.

No one seems to be disputing that element of the story.

[ravingnutter]

Are you responsible for something your parents my say or do?

According to extremists on both sides...yes. Look at how the radical left calls the President "Bush Jr." and says he is just like his "Daddy". The radical right points to Bush as part of the "one world order" conspiracy because of a reference his Dad once made. Both of these views have no basis in reality...they are just as looney as the senile rantings of Mel's Dad. If I was Mel, though, I would put a severe hurting on anyone that used my aging Dad in an effort to smear me.

[montag813]

How is Mel Gibson responsible? How does he "shield" his father from the media?

It is in his self-interest to limit access to his Dad before the film's release, especially when skunks like this radio guy tape him without prior consent. Mel should know better...his father is a huge target for the athiest Left.

[ravingnutter]

I believe they are exaggerating just a little...

Mel Gibson said, "I don't want to be dissing my father. He never denied the Holocaust; he just said there were fewer than 6 million (Jews killed). I don't want them having me dissing my father. I mean, he's my father."

Source

Mel Gibson has defended his father over claims he is a Holocaust denier.

Hutton Gibson has publicly doubted that six million Jews died during the Second World War.

In an interview with Reader's Digest, Braveheart star Mel said he would not hear any criticism of his father.

"My dad taught me my faith and I believe what he taught me. The man never lied to me in his life," he said, when asked about Hutton's controversial comments.

"He lost his mother at two years of age. He lost his father at 15. He went through the Depression. He signed up for World War Two, served his country fighting the forces of fascism. Came back, worked very hard physically, raised a family, put a roof over my head, clothed me, fed me, taught me my faith, loved me.

"I love him back. So I'll slug it out, until my heart is black and blue, if anyone ever tries to hurt him."

Asked directly if he believed the Holocaust happened, Gibson replied: "I have friends and parents of friends who have numbers on their arms. The guy who taught me Spanish was a Holocaust survivor.

"Yes, of course. Atrocities happen. War is horrible. World War Two killed tens of millions of people. Some of them were Jews in concentration camps. In the Ukraine, several million starved to death between 1932 and 1933."

Source

First of all, to hold Mel accountable for his father's senile rantings is pathetic. What the detractors have done in harassing and inciting an 85 year old man in order to slander Mel is disgusting.

My grandpa said he saw pink elephants once...doesn't mean I believe in pink elephants, but I'd certainly defend his right to say he saw pink elephants...because I would take into consideration his mental condition at the time, something that these detractors have failed to do with Mel's father.

[RetiredArmy]

It is in his self-interest to limit access to his Dad before the film's release, especially when skunks like this radio guy tape him without prior consent. Mel should know better...his father is a huge target for the athiest Left.

Ok. So you are saying that Gibson should what, maybe hire some private dick to lock his 85 year old dad in his room and prohibit him from communicating with anyone outside the house? Somehow, I don't think that is possible. I certainly would not allow one of my kids to come to my home and dictate to me where I would go, whom I could speak too, etc. That is my right to do as I please. Same with his father.

[Imal]

Shame on anyone who may have misquoted Hutton Gibson, if they have, but I see no evidence that anyone is exaggerating. He said what he said, and it seems plain enough to me.

As to how it applies to "Passion", I think it is best to assess the movie on its own merits, rather than what the producer/director's dad has to say.

[StolarStorm]

I'm not sure you can determine that from his comments. To a Jew denying the holocaust may seem anti-semetic, but Mr. Gibson doesn't have their persepctive and it may not indicate anti-semetism... but rather a whacked out view of history. He never once said he hated Jews or anything negative about Jews at all... he just doesn't believe in the number murdered.

[Imal]

I can see the Holocaust part as being potentially neutral, if misinformed, but these passages from a source article lend more insight into Mr. Gibson's views:

Hutton Gibson follows a tiny wing of traditionalist Catholicism that views the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council as a conspiracy between Jews and Masons to take over the church.

The elder Gibson has stirred controversy in previous interviews with remarks on the Holocaust and Judaism, but had kept quiet in the months leading up to the release of "The Passion."

In this latest interview, Gibson said Jews want to take over the world. He did not know why Jews would want to achieve that, but said "it's all about control. They're after one world religion and one world government."

We're not talking about a single comment from a single interview, either. Hutton Gibson's views got airplay last year as well. There is more out there for those willing to dig it up. The themes are familiar enough.

I don't think I'm reading any more into Hutton Gibson's attitude about Jews than the written word reveals.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I was stopped by a policer officer once with my 85-year-old grandfather. I had to prevent him from talking to the officer and I couldn't take him to court with me in my defense. My grandfather kept shouting and swearing at the officer. It's funny now (25 years later).

[ravingnutter]

but I see no evidence that anyone is exaggerating

Read it one more time...

Mel Gibson said, "I don't want to be dissing my father. He never denied the Holocaust; he just said there were fewer than 6 million (Jews killed).

For the media to leap from that statement to claiming he totally denied the holocaust is an exaggeration. Any newspaper that would use these tactics is only worthy of being a bird-cage liner.

[george wythe]

Unless its changed in the very recent past, North Dakota doesnt require party registration nor do you have to vote party line.

On Thursday, Gibson family sources told NewsMax.com that Feuerstein never told Mr. Gibson he was being taped for broadcast, identified himself only as "Steve" and said he was a fan of Mel Gibson who wanted to congratulate the Hollywood star's father on the movie "The Passion of Christ," due for release this Wednesday.

Who's lying?

Was Newsmax doing its trademark shoddy journalism again?

[Imal]

The media accounts I've read don't say he denied the Holocaust, nor does this one.

I'm not sure how your comment applies to this article, or challenges anything about the facts of the story.

[StolarStorm]

"Hutton Gibson follows a tiny wing of traditionalist Catholicism that views the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council as a conspiracy between Jews and Masons to take over the church. "

That would indeed be classified as anti-semetic. However, (and I'm being the devil's advocate here) perhaps he doesn't believe every aspect of his sect's beliefs. One can only hope so...

[Imal]

Unfortunately, Hutton Gibson's statements leave little doubt as to his beliefs.

He is far from unique, as attested by the vast preponderance of such opinions throughout history, and on the Internet.

Being known as the "Chosen People" does not necessarily mean "chosen for favorable treatment".

For good or ill, Jews have been and probably always will be a focal point for beliefs such as those expressed by Hutton Gibson.