More Moore on Disney's boards

CBS Market Watch ^ | 10:05 PM ET May 12, 2003 | Shawn Langlois

[McGruff]

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - This time there was no mistaking it - the chorus of boos wasn't aimed at the boo-ers.

The same boisterous lot that made Michael Moore one of the most "searched for" names on the Internet after the Academy Awards was back at it Monday when the Drudge Report said Disney would fund Moore's new anti-George Bush documentary.

While virtual chants of "Eisner hates America" and "Boycott all Disney products" reached comical proportions, some people actually tried to maintain some sanity.

AnnAkronism was NOT one of those people:

"Why would a company who supposedly wants to attract families sponsor a divisive idiot like Michael Moore?" she wrote. "A civil war is coming to America, closer with every day and every Marxist assertion by Eisner-Moore. It's especially interesting when the very rich want socialism for the rest of us."

Neither was MMisAJerk, who cast aside that pesky constitution and waxed McCarthy: "I can't believe that the police have not arrested Michael Moore yet for subverting the Bush Administration and speaking out against it?"

And how about some more calm, cool, and collected-ness from Yahoo's AisleSeats: "The word is spreading fast. Emails, faxes, chat rooms, message boards, letters, talk shows, radio. It's starting to roll. The media has been informed. For Disney to fund Michael Moore's next film is the single most anti-American act ever done by a US corporation. It demands action and it will sink Disney!"

The "action" that many of the disgruntled surfers "demanded" was a boycott of all things Mickey.

Clures79 actually tried to push a rational approach - an uphill battle considering the tone on the board: "If Disney refused to hire minorities, I'd boycott them. If Disney skinned dogs to make Goofy's costume, I'd boycott them. And, yes, if Disney were going to give money to Mike Moore, I'd boycott them. It's your money -- spend it how you wish."

Incidentally, the online anti-Disney rally didn't quite steer investors away from the stock just yet. Shares (DIS: news, chart, profile) closed up 2 percent on Monday.

Of course, plenty of would-be Mouseketeers took to the defense. Like FeralPegX, for instance: "Disney and Michael Moore have the right to their opinions. That's called 'freedom of speech.' I don't have to agree with what Michael Moore says and I don't have to watch his films, but he has the right to make them. If you guys all want to boycott Disney, that's fine with me."

Here! Here! From a not-so-cordial G1522: "As for you cry babies canceling your vacations and selling your stock because of this, good riddance -- if you're that stupid Disney doesn't need you. Hopefully the powers that be have assessed the pros and cons and determined that this move will be a positive for the company overall.

"And if you own stock, that ought to be your primary concern"

Are you feeling like boycotting Disney? Share your thoughts in CBS MarketWatch.com's "DIS" Discussion Group.

Shawn Langlois is a reporter for CBS.MarketWatch.com, and the editor of its community message boards.

[Petronski]

First, we have no public denial of the Moore film deal (private conversations with a secretary nothwithstanding).

Secondly, they deserved boycott before any Moore film deal and they still merit it today.

BOYCOTT DISNEY: a vortex of seductive evil™

[cubreporter]

I understand that but you would think Disney who set out to be for families could find someone with a litle more character and dignity than the slovenly moore.