Hear the audio version here (segments older than 3 weeks may be unavailable)
Weren't we just talking about Michael Moore and his hypocrisy? Here we go again. Appearing on Keith Olbermann's rumored show, Countdown (rumored because I don't know that anyone has actually seen it and that its anything more than speculation at this point), Moore said this about, "the rich":
"They're kleptomaniacs, is what they are. They're out of control. I think there is some sort of sociopathic illness and they know what us to life in a kleptocracy. Where the kleptomaniacs run the show. This is going to spread. I said this last week, I said it two weeks ago when I first spoke with you. And the mainstream media was trying to pooh-pooh this, 'oh it's just a feud down there, don't worry.' Well what happened Saturday, not just here, but as you said in Boston, LA, in Chicago and elsewhere."
In evaluating this kleptomaniac accusation, it's helpful to remember this little beauty from a few years ago:
Today, Moore filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraud arising out of his audit of his controversial war on terror documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. Moore is seeking at least $2.7 million from the Weinstein Brothers in what he claims are "rerouted" and unpaid profits... Now the Weinsteins will have their Hollywood pitbull litigator Bert Fields defend them against Moore. "He made $19.8 million in backend profit on a 9/11 movie. And now he wants to beat up the Weinsteins for another couple of million dollars," an insider complains to me tonight. "He redefines the term greedy for someone in this business who claims to be a Mr. Poverty indie documentary filmmaker."
A profile in hypocrisy to be sure. But no one honestly expects much more out of someone like Michael Moore. The extent to which his credibility is respected is depicted by the fact that he is accepting invitations to be Keith Olbermann's guest on Al Gore's TV channel. But clearly excited about President Obama's recent forays into the realm of class warfare, Moore tried to drag Obama into his "eat the rich" campaign:
Moore calls on President Obama to give another speech and to call upon his Justice Department to investigate the bankers and give them a perp walk.
That could prove to be a difficult cause for Mr. Obama to take up, however, given this bit of news that recently hit:
First lady Michelle Obama's family trip to South Africa and Botswana in June cost taxpayers well over $424,000, according to new accounting based on Air Force manifests obtained by Judicial Watch, a taxpayer watchdog group.
The use of Air Force aircraft alone for the June 21-27 trip cost $424,142, said the group, and that doesn't include the food, lodging, and ground transportation for the 21 family and staff members.
...
The passenger manifests confirm the presence of Obama's daughter's, Malia and Sasha on the trip. The two girls are listed as "Senior Staff." The manifests also list Mrs. Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, and niece and nephew, Leslie and Avery Robinson, as well Mrs. Obama's makeup and hairstylist (Carl Ray and Johnny Wright).
How do you rail against the exploits of the wealthy when you are spending half a million taxpayer dollars to send your wife and her entourage on an African safari? At least the rich folks are spending their own money! Not that this has ever presented a stumbling block for this president. And by the way, don't come down too hard on him for listing Sasha and Malia as senior staff. If the policies we've seen to this point are from his real senior staff, I don't think a teenager and preteen girl could do much worse. Maybe Carl Ray and Johnny Wright can be part of the next economic advisory committee?
Is it 2012 yet?
