Gibson's Family: Father Tricked Into Interview

newsmax.com ^ | Feb. 20, 2004 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[westerfield]

When Mel Gibson's 85-year-old father, Hutton, told a New York radio interviewer Wednesday that the Holocaust had been exaggerated and that Jews were trying to rule the world, he had no idea he was speaking on the record, let alone being recorded for broadcast, Gibson family sources tell NewsMax.

When WSNR's Steve Feuerstein called Gibson's father in Texas, the family believes he misrepresented himself as a fan of Gibson's, saying he wanted to "congratulate Mel's father" on his son's work. Hutton Gibson says the caller claimed his mother maintained a Web site devoted to "The Passion of the Christ."

Feuerstein allegedly said nothing to Mr. Gibson about a radio interview.

With no idea that his comments were being taped, Gibson's father made no attempt to disguise his views. He told Feuerstein that the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust had been fabricated.

"It's all - maybe not all fiction - but most of it is," he told the radio interviewer.

According to the account obtained by NewsMax, the elderly Gibson talked to Feuerstein for almost an hour before asking for further identification. The talk host promised to call back with more details, but never did.

Feuerstein did not return calls for comment.

So far, Hutton Gibson has not publicly apologized for the explosive remarks. But in previous interviews, first with the Wall Street Journal's Peggy Noonan, Mel Gibson noted he didn't share his father's revisionist views on the Holocaust. The actor-director said he had friends who had survived the death camps.

"Do I believe that there were concentration camps where defenseless and innocent Jews died cruelly under the Nazi regime? Of course I do, absolutely," Gibson told ABC's Diane sawyer. "It was an atrocity of monumental proportion."

Asked about an earlier interview where Gibson senior offered similarly offensive views, the Hollywood star complained: "Their whole agenda here, my detractors, is to drive a wedge between me and my father. And it's not going to happen. I love him. He's my father."

Gibson's father's comments were the topic Thursday night of Alan Colmes' national radio show.

James Hirsen, a NewsMax columnist, was interviewed and said that Hutton Gibson's "statement is indefensible, but it is also irrelevant. Mel's dad didn't make the movie; Mel Gibson did."

Rabbi James Rudin of American Jewish Committee, who also was on the show, agreed with Hirsen's point.

[Guillermo]

Well, the ends justify the means, right?

[cyborg]

Oh please... on or off record his father is a loon to be ignored.

[per loin]

In many states, recording someone without their knowledge is a crime. Any experts on those laws here?

[wimpycat]

A loon to be ignored. Exactly.

[Paul Atreides]

The fact is, he still said/thinks it. However, it is more than a little ironic that the people, who had a big problem with one particular line in the film, are trying to take the "sins" of the father and apply them to the son.

It is even more ironic that they are up in the air about Mel's father denying the Holocaust when they are trying to deny that some, not all, Jews played a part in the Crucifixion.

[westerfield]

I believe in Txas and New York only oneee party to the conversation needs to be aware that the call is being taped. It varies by state.

http://www.rcfp.org/taping/

[Tribune7]

Oh please... on or off record his father is a loon to be ignored.

Exactly. The problem is that people insist on not ignoring him.

He's a crazy old man who apparently has never harmed anybody except for some Japanese during WWII.

[Always Right]

But it still doesn't look good, baiting some 85-year old man into making some stupid comment so you can try to discredit his son.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I thought the story was that Hutton Gibson called INTO a radio station, not that someone called HIM and recorded their conversation. How hard could it be to get the story straight?

[RightWingMama]

A loon to be ignored. Exactly.

Maybe so, but remember he's an old man. My dad is the same age and doesn't agree with anything I say. If I was famous, I can see him doing the same thing.

[Paul Atreides]

Connie Chung knows all about that.

[westerfield]

Hutton Gibson might be a nut, but still it's pretty sleazy to deceive an 85 y/o man like that in order to do a hit piece against his son.

[Paul Atreides]

Oh, I agree. I'm just addressing the fact that saying "he didn't know he was being recorded," doesn't change the fact that he said this stuff, and thinks it, which he is free to do. If they have a problem with Mel, they should keep their focus on Mel.

[cyborg]

If the detractors ignore him, then they are left to deal with the content of the movie itself. The movie is about Christ and a lot of these detractors hate Christ, hate anything related to Christ which would also be biblical Judaism which has always preached the ten commandments. I don't think Christ would approve of this open sodom and gomorrah marriage free for all going on so I'm not surprised.

[CruisinAround]

Ignored yes, but a loon? that is a stretch. Would we consider Ronald Reagan a loon if he rambled on today about WWII? No, we would chalk it up to Alzheimer's.

Mel's father is rambling, but I'm giving him credit for raising a son so devout! We can only hope so many loons are present in Hollywood!

[GeronL]

I wonder if anyone has reserved the URL www.mediacreeps.com ?

[Paul Atreides]

Notice how the left loves to indict all of Christianity for the Crusades.

[Paul Atreides]

It's a shame that Mel's father didn't make a documentary against gun-ownership; Follywood would give him an Oscar, regardless of this offbeat theories.

[Cvengr]

IMHO, For those with faith in Christ, all the attacks upon Mel's dad merely reinforces the obvious. Mel Gibson has produced something of divine good while in fellowship with God. Since Mel is unassailable, the adversary will attack all and any domains surrounding Mel like a raging lion.

So if Mel ever reads this, merely remain steadfast in His will and any cursing brought upon Mel will merely be returned by a blessing in eternity.

God bless Mel.