[wordup] Disney's Craven Behavior

[Adam Shand]

Via: Brett Shand <brett at earthlight.co.nz>
From:  
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/06/opinion/06THU4.html? 
ex=1084420800&en=dd695e1433b69ff3&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

Published: May 6, 2004

Give the Walt Disney Company a gold medal for cowardice for blocking  
its Miramax division from distributing a film that criticizes President  
Bush and his family. A company that ought to be championing free  
expression has instead chosen to censor a documentary that clearly  
falls within the bounds of acceptable political commentary.

The documentary was prepared by Michael Moore, a controversial  
filmmaker who likes to skewer the rich and powerful. As described by  
Jim Rutenberg yesterday in The Times, the film, "Fahrenheit 9/11,"  
links the Bush family with prominent Saudis, including the family of  
Osama bin Laden. It describes financial ties that go back three decades  
and explores the role of the government in evacuating relatives of Mr.  
bin Laden from the United States shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist  
attacks. The film was financed by Miramax and was expected to be  
released this summer.

Mr. Moore's agent said that Michael Eisner, Disney's chief executive,  
had expressed concern that the film might jeopardize tax breaks granted  
to Disney for its theme park, hotels and other ventures in Florida,  
where Jeb Bush is governor. If that is the reason for Disney's move, it  
would underscore the dangers of allowing huge conglomerates to gobble  
up diverse media companies.

On the other hand, a senior Disney executive says the real reason is  
that Disney caters to families of all political stripes and that many  
of them might be alienated by the film. Those families, of course,  
would not have to watch the documentary.

It is hard to say which rationale for blocking distribution is more  
depressing. But it is clear that Disney loves its bottom line more than  
the freedom of political discourse.