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My 'Million Dollar' Answer: Why would a conservative criticize Clint Eastwood's latest work?
The Wall Street Journal Opinion Journal ^ | February 17, 2005 | Michael Medved

Posted on 02/16/2005 9:11:41 PM PST by quidnunc

I'll tell you.

As the Oscar campaign comes down to its climactic concluding days, I've been amazed to see much of the ferocious battle for Best Picture improbably and irrationally focused on … me.

In recent weeks, some of the nation's most influential cultural observers have chosen to concentrate their Academy Awards commentary on my harsh reaction on radio and TV about the deceptive packaging of Clint Eastwood's boxing-and-euthanasia epic, "Million Dollar Baby." Roger Ebert raised the issue in several columns, attacking my decision to mention the movie's crucial assisted-suicide theme as "unforgivable." Maureen Dowd portrayed me as a witless censor (and even coined a new word, "Medvedized") while suggesting that consistency demanded my objection to classic suicide scenes in Shakespeare. Frank Rich berated me as a leader of "the usual gang of ayatollahs" in a column titled "How Dirty Harry Turned Commie," comparing my criticism of Eastwood's film to the lunacy of the House Un-American Activities Committee investigating 10-year-old Shirley Temple in 1938. In more than a dozen other commentaries, from the Los Angeles Times to the Houston Chronicle, outraged observers expressed not only disagreement but denunciation of my unpopular position as a skeptic regarding one of the most absurdly over-praised movies in recent Hollywood history.

Initially, the condemnation centered on my alleged role as a "spoiler," suggesting that I had maliciously damaged the commercial prospects for "Million Dollar Baby" by "describing its plot in great detail" (according to Roger Ebert). As a matter of fact, I never disclosed specifics on the movie's dark surprise, nor indicated which of its endearing characters chose to exercise "the right to die."

-snip-

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News
KEYWORDS: besttalkshowhost; medved; michaelmedved; milliondollarbaby
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To: Hildy

Right. Keep telling yourself that. Keep pushing for others to treat their loved ones the way you treat yours, and then it will become normal and acceptable, and you won't have to feel bad. Keep trolling the Terri threads, harassing her supporters, and getting her threads pulled. That should help you heal.


201 posted on 02/25/2005 12:08:20 AM PST by BykrBayb (5 minutes of prayer for Terri, every day at 11 am EDT, until she's safe. http://www.terrisfight.org)
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To: BykrBayb

Now I hate Christians, disabled people and married people? Is there any ad hominem attack you are just too embarrassed to post? Or maybe you're just a Jew hater. Yea, that's it. You hate Jews. Yea, I guess that is what you are. And by the way, who's following who around here?


202 posted on 02/25/2005 12:10:55 AM PST by Hildy
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To: BigSkyFreeper; Lead Moderator; Hildy

Have you decided to follow the lead of your unnamed friend who trolls around harrassing Christians and demanding the murder of disabled people? Or do you have some other reason for harassing me?


203 posted on 02/25/2005 12:11:08 AM PST by BykrBayb (5 minutes of prayer for Terri, every day at 11 am EDT, until she's safe. http://www.terrisfight.org)
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To: BykrBayb
No wonder you hate Terri so much.

I will venture a precise guess that NO ONE here on FR hates Terri, including those who you disagree with, I certainly don't. We all have our definitions of love and caring compassion, yours is just not the same as those you disagree with.

204 posted on 02/25/2005 12:12:01 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper (Smoke free since January 16, 2005)
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To: BykrBayb

I didn't have the thread pulled. That's not my style. Unlike you I like GOOD debate and try not to resort to name calling when I have nothing left to say.


205 posted on 02/25/2005 12:13:30 AM PST by Hildy
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To: Hildy; Lead Moderator; Jim Robinson

You troll the Terri threads, harassing her supporters. When we stand up to you, you get your friends to join in the harassment. You have attacked me for being a Christian, and now you're bringing up Jews. I don't know what your problem is, but you need counselling. Stop harassing me, and call off the people you called in to join in the harassment.


206 posted on 02/25/2005 12:13:45 AM PST by BykrBayb (5 minutes of prayer for Terri, every day at 11 am EDT, until she's safe. http://www.terrisfight.org)
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To: BykrBayb
Have you decided to follow the lead of your unnamed friend who trolls around harrassing Christians and demanding the murder of disabled people?

I'm Christian and disabled. I haven't begun to harass anyone on FR since I registered in December of 2001. It's not in my nature to, and I am not about to start. I try to debate civilly, and you call that harassment. That's a new one on me. You call people scurrilous names, and think your being civil.

207 posted on 02/25/2005 12:14:36 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper (Smoke free since January 16, 2005)
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To: BykrBayb

I attacked you for being a Christian? I commented that your attacks were unChristian like. That is not attacking Christians. I think you need help for your persecution complex. Then maybe we can have a meaningful discussion.


208 posted on 02/25/2005 12:15:44 AM PST by Hildy
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