Why should a tax-funded public institution be allowed to disseminate one-sided partisan political propaganda?
Posted on 10/09/2004 7:25:28 PM PDT by Land_of_Lincoln_John
Fahrenheit 9/11" turned out to be a little too hot for the Wauconda Area Public Library District.
Originally scheduled to show liberal moviemaker Michael Moore's controversial flick Oct. 28, the library no longer will offer the free screening.
Library Director Thomas Kern said Friday the controversy that arose over the planned showing of "Fahrenheit 9/11" - because of its proximity to Election Day - wasn't worth fighting anymore.
Kern said there was no reason to waste tax dollars by having library employees devote additional time and energy to a one-night showing. The single showing of the movie was going to be just one night in an ongoing film series that customarily attracts 25 to 100 patrons.
Republicans, for the most part, have disapproved of "Fahrenheit 9/11," saying it trashes President Bush.
"Fahrenheit 9/11" also has encountered static at the Chicago Department on Aging. The Chicago Cultural Center's Renaissance Court film series for seniors had been slated to show Moore's film Oct. 29, but it's been postponed indefinitely.
"The library has decided not to show this film for a variety of reasons - all of which are unanticipated circumstances that are beyond our control, including the heated nature of the recent debates, the fact that the presidential race is so close, the sensational media coverage, and the emotional, acrimonious response from opponents of Michael Moore and his film," Kern said in his statement.
Kern didn't provide an exact number of complaints or support calls fielded by the library. In his statement, Kern described some of the partisan opposition as "vitriolic, even threatening."
"Almost without exception, the opponents of this film have not even seen it," Kern said. "This is particularly upsetting, since we originally thought that the film's detractors would be among the first to want to see the film without having to purchase a ticket at the box office."
Wauconda resident Connie Colson said the library's decision to cancel the Moore flick was appropriate. She recently e-mailed the library to raise the issue about scheduling "Fahrenheit 9/11" four days before what likely will be a close election.
"I think there are some people who aren't exposed to both sides and are easily led," Colson said.
Moore spokesmen Mark Benoit and Shawn Sachs couldn't be reached for comment.
Wauconda Township was clearly a Republican area in the last presidential election, according to data at the Lake County clerk's office.
Of the 6,124 Democratic and Republican ballots cast in the 2000 election in Wauconda Township, Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney tallied 3,656 votes, or 60 percent.
Meanwhile, a West suburban library still plans to show "Fahrenheit 9/11" on Oct. 22.
Thomas Ford Memorial Library in Western Springs will feature "Fahrenheit 9/11" as part of its film discussion group series. Library Director Ann Kozak was unavailable Friday, but a spokeswoman said only a couple of complaints have been registered so far.
Kern said free speech and access to information are a hallmark of public libraries.
Conservatives should go to these things and just "Science Fiction Theater" Moore's movie. That would take all the fun out of it for the Left.
LOL! Looks like another public library got called on its attempt to campaign for a democrat on the taxpayer's dime. I've got to notice that they weren't showing the new conservative film that repudiates Moore's F9/11 claims. That would be just a little bit too much "free speech" to suit them.
Why not start a liable and slander class action suit against Moore and his distribution company. Hey, he got deep pockets! LOL
Why should a tax-funded public institution be allowed to disseminate one-sided partisan political propaganda?
I heard about this on WLS-AM online the other day while listening to Rush Limbaugh. I had heard the library was going to make available FahrenHYPE 9/11 for public viewing.
Excuse me if I am mistaken, but aren't libraries publicly funded? Someone needs to squash this crap fast. It sounds pretty outrageoous to me.
"Mystery Science Theatre 3000," you mean. Though since it's in a library, won't there be a bunch of library workers saying "shhhhhhh!"? (so...show it somewhere else)
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