Posted on 07/28/2004 11:57:56 AM PDT by protest1
Michael Moore Backpedals on Key Premise of Documentary By Marc Morano CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer July 28, 2004
Boston (CNSNews.com) - Left-wing filmmaker Michael Moore on Tuesday appeared to back off his earlier allegation regarding President Bush's involvement in the flights of Saudi Arabian citizens out of the U.S. in the days following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
CNSNews.com asked Moore on Tuesday if he still believed that President Bush was directly involved in approving the flights of Saudi Arabian citizens out of the U.S., given Richard Clarke's admission that he alone authorized the flights. Clarke is a former White House counter-terrorism official and a Bush critic.
"What I said in the film (Fahrenheit 9/11) was that the White House authorized it. Richard Clarke worked for the president, he was part of the White House and he took the word of the FBI," Moore told CNSNews.com, following his fiery speech to a "Take Back America" event, organized by the Campaign for America's Future.
But Moore's response on Tuesday differed from his earlier allegations that Bush took time out of his day on Sept. 11, 2001 to contemplate what he could "do to help the bin Ladens."
Moore told Pacifica radio last October, "So here is Bush trying to deal with everything on Sept. 11, 12, 13th, you know. You remember, everybody remembers, the total state of chaos and people, just everyone, all of us, discombobulated by the whole thing, and he had the time to be thinking -- what can I do to help the bin Ladens right now?"
But in May, Clarke admitted that he alone approved the exit of bin Laden's relatives -- contradicting one of the central premises of Moore's film.
The decision to approve the flights, Clarke admitted, had been his own. The request "didn't get any higher than me," he told The Hill newspaper.
"On 9/11, 9/12 and 9/13, many things didn't get any higher than me. I decided it in consultation with the FBI," Clarke said of the flight carrying bin Laden's relatives.
"I take responsibility for it. I don't think it was a mistake, and I'd do it again," he added. The Saudis and bin Laden's relatives were flown out of the U.S. because of fears for their safety following the terror attacks.
On Tuesday, after CNSNews.com reminded Moore about what Clarke had said, Moore backed off his earlier allegations regarding Bush's involvement in the flights.
CNSNews.com pressed Moore on whether he still believed Bush was personally involved in authorizing the flights.
Moore responded, "What I do know is that two nights after September 11th, Mr. Bush had a private dinner with [Saudi ambassador to the United States] Prince Bandar in the White House. In those 48 hours after September 11, what other ambassadors or world leaders came to the White House and had a private dinner with Mr. Bush? Only the prince from Saudi Arabia."
"I think that is a legitimate question to ask. Let me put it this way. If 15 of 19 hijackers had been Libyans, do you think the president would be having a private dinner with the ambassador from Libya two nights later?" Moore asked rhetorically.
'A mistake'
Clarke, who appears in Moore's film, told the Associated Press in June that it was "a mistake" for Moore to include in his movie the assertion that the White House was the impetus for the flights. Clarke called Moore's allegations about the bin Laden family's flight out of the country "a tempest in a tea pot."
Clarke became a darling of the left earlier this year when he turned against the Bush administration and criticized its anti-terror policies. His book Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror detailed his frustration at working in the Bush administration.
CNSNews.com also asked Moore about the Kerry campaign spokesman who described Moore as an "extremist" on Westwood One radio last week.
"Oh, he didn't say that," Moore responded as he began walking away. Moore has urged his fellow liberals to unite behind Kerry to defeat Bush.
When CNSNews.com read a direct quote from Kerry spokesman Chad Clanton describing Moore as an "extremist," the filmmaker finally shouted back, "I am an extremist -- at the box office."
Moore's Bush-bashing film Fahrenheit 9/11 recently reached $100 million in earnings, making it the highest grossing documentary in history. The movie will play in Bush's home town of Crawford, Texas, on Wednesday.
If it were at all possible to arrange one would certainly hope so you brain-trust for an ant farm.
Simple. He's the smartest one of the bunch. Next to Alec Baldwin Moore looks like Einstein.
Being an ardent anti-capitalist, I wonder when Moore will be distributing this wealth to the dumb Americans.
Well, the $ is in the bank, so now it is time to "come clean" and add a veneer of legitimacy to his future skewerings of truth clad in the title "Documentary Film".
Say mister accountant, where are we at so far?
Oh about a hundred mil.
Heh. Those idiots. Time to make another hundred mil... Healthcare...
Lots of people lie for money... what else is new?
btt
Mentally ill people, it's called Sociopath
*****************************
Profile of a Sociopath
A number of mind-manipulating cult leaders may exhibit many of the behavioral characteristics of a sociopath--an outstanding ability to charm and seduce followers. Since they appear apparently normal, they are not easily recognizable as deviant or disturbed. Although only a trained professional can make a diagnosis, it is important to be able to recognize the personality type in order to avoid further abuse. These traits also apply to a one-on-one cultic relationship.
Glibness/Superficial Charm Language can be used without effort by them to confuse and convince their audience. Captivating storytellers that exude self-confidence, they can spin a web that intrigues others. Since they are persuasive, they have the capacity to destroy their critics verbally or emotionally.
Manipulative and Conning They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They dominate and humiliate their victims.
Grandiose Sense of Self Feels entitled to certain things as "their right." Craves adulation and attendance. Must be the center of attention with their own fantasies as the "spokesman for God," "enlightened," "leader of humankind," etc. Creates an us-versus-them mentality
Pathological Lying Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and able to pass lie detector tests.
Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
Shallow Emotions When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion, it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.
Incapacity for Love While they talk about "God's love" they are unable to give or receive it. Since they do not believe in the genuineness of their followers' love, they are very harsh in testing it from their devotees and expect them to feel guilt for their failings. Expects unconditional surrender.
Need for Stimulation Living on the edge, yet testing the beliefs of their followers with bizarre rules, punishments and behaviors. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal.
Callousness/Lack of Empathy Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them. Their skills are used to exploit, abuse and exert power. Since the follower cannot believe their leader would callously hurt them, they rationalize the behavior as necessary for their (or the group's) own "good" and deny the abuse. When devotees become aware of the exploitation it feels like a "spiritual rape" to them.
Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others. The followers only see them as near perfect.
Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.
Irresponsibility/Unreliability Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blame their followers or others outside their group. Blame reinforces passivity and obedience and produces guilt, shame, terror and conformity in the followers.
Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity Totalist leaders frequently practice promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts. This is usually kept hidden from all but the inner circle. Stringent sexual control of their followers, such as forced breakups and divorces, removal of children from parents, rules for dating, etc.
Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future. Many groups claim as their goal world-domination or other utopian promises. Great contrast between the leader's opulent lifestyle and the followers' impoverishment. Support by gifts and donations from the followers who are pressured to give through fear and guilt. Highly sensitive to their own pain and health.
Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility Changes their image and that of the group as needed to avoid prosecution and to increase income and to recruit a range of members. Is able to adapt or relocate as needed to preserve the group. Can resurface later with a new name, a new front group and a new twist on the scam.
Other Related Qualities:
1. Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
2. Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
3. Authoritarian
4. Secretive
5. Paranoid
6. Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
7. Conventional appearance
8. Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
9. Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life
10. Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
11. Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
12. Incapable of real human attachment to another
13. Unable to feel remorse or guilt
14. Extreme narcissism and grandiose
15. May state readily that their goal is to rule the world
The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare.
NOTE: In the 1830's this disorder was called "moral insanity." By 1900 it was changed to "psychopathic personality." More recently it has been termed "antisocial personality disorder."
It since unlikely - since we don't have diplomatic relations with Libya. There is no ambassador from Libya to have dinner with.
And as far as the private dinner with the ambassador from Saudi Arabia, two nights after 9/11, how does Moore know WHAT WAS SAID THEN...how does moore know anything about what was said at that dinner? What if President Bush was reading the ambassador the riot act, since the majority of the terrorist cowards who flew the planes were Saudi nationals? How does moore know ANYTHING about what our President was thinking? He DOESN'T yet he presents he guesses as FACTS!
Moore is a sorry case of the cover MATCHING the content. You could say moore can be judged by his cover-sloppy, un-professional, lazy, full to the max with hatred for all things conservative, ugly, stupid and willing to lie to make a point.
The "six steps to Kevin Bacon" defense.
(the first one looked okay in the preview...LOL)
In the same breath that Michael Moore says what a gross threat to our national security it was to allow certian Saudi's to leave the country after 9/11, without being questioned by the FBI (a lie), he also says what a gross threat to our civil liberties it was to detain certian Saudi's for invesigating after 9/11.
from "Michael Moore is a Big Fat Stupid White Man":, quoting from "dude, where's my country": "THERE...IS...NO....TERRORIST...THREAT!"
And no doubt at the snack bar, too.
Michael Moore having to eat his words.
He must be on a low-truth diet.
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