After three months of silence on her web site, Streisand is back to posting messages!
Frankly, I don't understand why she is posting so little these days, especially when she clearly has lots of political points to make.
Doesn't she know her audiences, I mean, those who adore her work as an actress and chanteuse, and the people who admire her Democratic-leaning politics, want her to make statements like this more ofter?
I really must rent the "Meet the Fockers" DVD after the SF international film festival ends and enjoy Streisand's comedic talents on the little screen.
^^^
http://barbrastreisand.com/statements.html#acountrycontrolledbyfear
A Country Controlled by Fear By Barbra Streisand
Posted on April 28, 2005
America was profoundly changed after the September 11 attacks. We went from a country motivated by hope to a country controlled by fear. For the last several years, feeling neither safe nor secure, Americans have lived in extreme anxiety of another impending terrorist attack. I think that as a result, most Americans sought out their faith and reaffirmed their conviction in God.
[snip]
Reports, proud muckraking, photos, videos and musings from the veteran LGBT and AIDS human rights advocate Michael Petrelis. Based in San Francisco since 1995. Contact: MPetrelis_at_AOL_dot_com. Vote Petrelis for BART Board District 9 in November!
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Thursday, April 28, 2005
As gay groups and activists debate how best to punish Microsoft for its recent withdrawal of support for Washington State's gay rights bill that was defeated, I've been looking at the political money trail for the corporate giant's executives and the Microsoft PAC.
The Open Secrets web site has a superb detailed breakdown of Microsoft PAC donations to Presidential, Senatorial and House candidates in the 2004 election cycle. The watchdog site says their list is based on "data released by the FEC on Monday, March 28, 2005. Figures in parentheses denote negative numbers, and may indicate returned contributions or bounced checks."
Here's what most interested me.
In the race for the White House, the Microsoft PAC gave $5,000 to George W. Bush and nothing to John F. Kerry.
Some gay members of the House received money from the PAC, including David Drier, R-CA, $2,500; Mark Foley, R-FL, $2,000; Barney Frank, D-MA, $1,000; Jim Kolbe, R-AZ, $6,000; and Jim McCrery, R-LA, $2,000. Our one lesbian House member, Tammy Baldwin, R-WI, got nothing from the PAC, while beleaguered Tom DeLay, R-TX, accepted $10,000 from the committee.
For all of the races at all three levels, the Microsoft PAC gave more to Republican candidates than Democratic ones.
Total donations to GOP White House candidates equaled $5,000 and zero for Democrats. In the Senate, GOP contenders took in $111,500, versus $99,500 for Democrats, and in the House, the PAC gave Republicans $423,000 and just $363,700 to their opponents. (Source: http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.asp?strID=C00227546&Cycle=2004 )
If you're curious about following the Microsoft political money trail, you've must read Scott Bekker's long and fabulous article in the October 2004 issue of Redmondmag.com, which declares itself the independent voice of the Microsoft IT community at http://redmondmag.com/features/article.asp?EditorialsID=440#emp .
Please do want you can to make others aware of the Open Secrets information and the magazine article.
The Open Secrets web site has a superb detailed breakdown of Microsoft PAC donations to Presidential, Senatorial and House candidates in the 2004 election cycle. The watchdog site says their list is based on "data released by the FEC on Monday, March 28, 2005. Figures in parentheses denote negative numbers, and may indicate returned contributions or bounced checks."
Here's what most interested me.
In the race for the White House, the Microsoft PAC gave $5,000 to George W. Bush and nothing to John F. Kerry.
Some gay members of the House received money from the PAC, including David Drier, R-CA, $2,500; Mark Foley, R-FL, $2,000; Barney Frank, D-MA, $1,000; Jim Kolbe, R-AZ, $6,000; and Jim McCrery, R-LA, $2,000. Our one lesbian House member, Tammy Baldwin, R-WI, got nothing from the PAC, while beleaguered Tom DeLay, R-TX, accepted $10,000 from the committee.
For all of the races at all three levels, the Microsoft PAC gave more to Republican candidates than Democratic ones.
Total donations to GOP White House candidates equaled $5,000 and zero for Democrats. In the Senate, GOP contenders took in $111,500, versus $99,500 for Democrats, and in the House, the PAC gave Republicans $423,000 and just $363,700 to their opponents. (Source: http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.asp?strID=C00227546&Cycle=2004 )
If you're curious about following the Microsoft political money trail, you've must read Scott Bekker's long and fabulous article in the October 2004 issue of Redmondmag.com, which declares itself the independent voice of the Microsoft IT community at http://redmondmag.com/features/article.asp?EditorialsID=440#emp .
Please do want you can to make others aware of the Open Secrets information and the magazine article.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
April 26, 2005
Dear Friends:
In early July 2004 I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the agency's files on President George W. Bush and I expected two things to happen.
One, someone would step forward and tell me that another activist had already filed such a request for the FBI's file on Bush.
Or two, a friend would point out a mainstream news story about a reporter's request to obtain the file.
Neither thing happened, which surprised me because I thought surely during Bush's presidency up until that point, an effort would have been made to pressure the FBI into releasing whatever documents they could, without compromising Bush's privacy or national security.
It was easy enough to locate news accounts, blog entries and assorted other information on the web about the thousands of pages from Sen. John Kerry's FBI files, both as an individual against the Vietnam war and as a leader in the Vietnam Veterans Against the War protest group, but Googling for Bush's FBI dossier produced nothing of substance.
How it could it be that during the most important election of the past half century, the supposed liberal media could devote resources, ink and airtime to the FBI files of only one of the two major contenders for the White House, and totally ignore what the agency may have on the other candidate?
To their shame, no mainstream news outlet, liberal or conservative, bothered to investigate what the FBI has in its archives on Bush or efforts to obtain his file.
Only a handful of alternative outlets wrote about my FOIA request for the Bush file. Two gay newspapers, the San Francisco Bay Times and the Dallas Voice, along with RawStory.com and Annoy.com, ran stories about his file. That's been it so far in terms of news coverage and I thought the FBI, if it ever saw fit to release any of its files on Bush to me, would do so only after he was out of the Oval Office.
I am pleased to write I was wrong.
The FBI in mid April sent me a letter explaining that it had reviewed twenty pages on Bush and they were being released to me.
In the twenty pages is information about an email threat against the president, threatening packages sent to him, letters from the U.S. Secret Service to the FBI forensic laboratory request DNA analyses and the lab's replies.
That's it, nothing more, claims the FBI. There's nothing in their correspondence to me indicating any additional pages or documents were withheld.
Does the FBI really expect me to believe that it has only twenty pages in its files on Bush? How could it be, I wonder, given his four years as president and six years as governor of Texas, not to mention the clearances he would have needed from the FBI to walk into the White House when his father was first vice president and then president, that the agency would have less than two dozen pages to release in response to a FOIA request?
There has to be more, much more, in the FBI archives on Bush, which is why I have filed an appeal to the FBI to again search its files for records on Bush, including the archives of all FBI offices in Texas.
While I wait for the FBI to process and respond to my appeal, I hope the liberal media will look into this matter and report on the incredibly slim number of pages the FBI has released from Bush's file.
In order to help reporters with this story, I've put the twenty pages from the FBI into a PDF, which is available at http://rawstory.rawprint.com/0405/bush_fbi_1 and also at http://annoy.com/editorials/doc.html?DocumentID=100707 .
I can't fathom how anyone, much less any serious reporter looking for a good story, could read those twenty pages and say the FBI has released all it has on Bush and the agency has fully complied with my FOIA request.
If I, as a single blogger activist, can force the FBI to release anything from its vaults on Bush through FOIA, imagine what an intrepid reporter, with lawyers and other resources at his or her disposal, could pry loose from the FBI.
It's time for the press to investigate and report on Bush's FBI file.
Regards,
Michael Petrelis
- -
[This letter was snail mailed to DC.]
April 25, 2005
Director
Office of Information and Privacy
U.S. Department of Justice
Flag Building, Suite 570
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Re: Freedom of Information Appeal, FOIPA No. 1001866-00
Dear Sir or Madam:
I have received the twenty pages of documents on President George W. Bush sent to me earlier this month from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
However, I am appealing your decision to release only twenty pages of the FBI's dossier on President Bush because I believe the Department of Justice has not been fully responsive to my Freedom of Information Act request for all of his FBI file.
Frankly, I can't accept that the FBI has only twenty pages of files on President Bush.
In my original FOIA request of July 3, 2004, I ask for the FBI's entire file on President Bush and it is my belief that the agency has more than twenty pages on him in the archives.
I don't think the FBI has adequately searched its voluminous records at headquarters in Washington, DC, and all of the field offices in Texas, especially for the years when George W. Bush was governor of the state.
Therefore, I formally request that the FBI again search all of its archives, including records held at all FBI offices in Texas, for more documents on George W. Bush and that all of the documents and files located be released to me under the provisions of FOIA.
I am requesting the President Bush FBI files for personal use and the documents will not be used for commercial purposes.
A prompt reply is requested.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
132 Clinton Park, #1
San Francisco, CA 94103
Dear Friends:
In early July 2004 I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the agency's files on President George W. Bush and I expected two things to happen.
One, someone would step forward and tell me that another activist had already filed such a request for the FBI's file on Bush.
Or two, a friend would point out a mainstream news story about a reporter's request to obtain the file.
Neither thing happened, which surprised me because I thought surely during Bush's presidency up until that point, an effort would have been made to pressure the FBI into releasing whatever documents they could, without compromising Bush's privacy or national security.
It was easy enough to locate news accounts, blog entries and assorted other information on the web about the thousands of pages from Sen. John Kerry's FBI files, both as an individual against the Vietnam war and as a leader in the Vietnam Veterans Against the War protest group, but Googling for Bush's FBI dossier produced nothing of substance.
How it could it be that during the most important election of the past half century, the supposed liberal media could devote resources, ink and airtime to the FBI files of only one of the two major contenders for the White House, and totally ignore what the agency may have on the other candidate?
To their shame, no mainstream news outlet, liberal or conservative, bothered to investigate what the FBI has in its archives on Bush or efforts to obtain his file.
Only a handful of alternative outlets wrote about my FOIA request for the Bush file. Two gay newspapers, the San Francisco Bay Times and the Dallas Voice, along with RawStory.com and Annoy.com, ran stories about his file. That's been it so far in terms of news coverage and I thought the FBI, if it ever saw fit to release any of its files on Bush to me, would do so only after he was out of the Oval Office.
I am pleased to write I was wrong.
The FBI in mid April sent me a letter explaining that it had reviewed twenty pages on Bush and they were being released to me.
In the twenty pages is information about an email threat against the president, threatening packages sent to him, letters from the U.S. Secret Service to the FBI forensic laboratory request DNA analyses and the lab's replies.
That's it, nothing more, claims the FBI. There's nothing in their correspondence to me indicating any additional pages or documents were withheld.
Does the FBI really expect me to believe that it has only twenty pages in its files on Bush? How could it be, I wonder, given his four years as president and six years as governor of Texas, not to mention the clearances he would have needed from the FBI to walk into the White House when his father was first vice president and then president, that the agency would have less than two dozen pages to release in response to a FOIA request?
There has to be more, much more, in the FBI archives on Bush, which is why I have filed an appeal to the FBI to again search its files for records on Bush, including the archives of all FBI offices in Texas.
While I wait for the FBI to process and respond to my appeal, I hope the liberal media will look into this matter and report on the incredibly slim number of pages the FBI has released from Bush's file.
In order to help reporters with this story, I've put the twenty pages from the FBI into a PDF, which is available at http://rawstory.rawprint.com/0405/bush_fbi_1 and also at http://annoy.com/editorials/doc.html?DocumentID=100707 .
I can't fathom how anyone, much less any serious reporter looking for a good story, could read those twenty pages and say the FBI has released all it has on Bush and the agency has fully complied with my FOIA request.
If I, as a single blogger activist, can force the FBI to release anything from its vaults on Bush through FOIA, imagine what an intrepid reporter, with lawyers and other resources at his or her disposal, could pry loose from the FBI.
It's time for the press to investigate and report on Bush's FBI file.
Regards,
Michael Petrelis
- -
[This letter was snail mailed to DC.]
April 25, 2005
Director
Office of Information and Privacy
U.S. Department of Justice
Flag Building, Suite 570
Washington, DC 20530-0001
Re: Freedom of Information Appeal, FOIPA No. 1001866-00
Dear Sir or Madam:
I have received the twenty pages of documents on President George W. Bush sent to me earlier this month from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
However, I am appealing your decision to release only twenty pages of the FBI's dossier on President Bush because I believe the Department of Justice has not been fully responsive to my Freedom of Information Act request for all of his FBI file.
Frankly, I can't accept that the FBI has only twenty pages of files on President Bush.
In my original FOIA request of July 3, 2004, I ask for the FBI's entire file on President Bush and it is my belief that the agency has more than twenty pages on him in the archives.
I don't think the FBI has adequately searched its voluminous records at headquarters in Washington, DC, and all of the field offices in Texas, especially for the years when George W. Bush was governor of the state.
Therefore, I formally request that the FBI again search all of its archives, including records held at all FBI offices in Texas, for more documents on George W. Bush and that all of the documents and files located be released to me under the provisions of FOIA.
I am requesting the President Bush FBI files for personal use and the documents will not be used for commercial purposes.
A prompt reply is requested.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
132 Clinton Park, #1
San Francisco, CA 94103
Monday, April 25, 2005
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Dear Friends:
Here is the list of donations in the six-figures made by Bill Gates in Washington State. I have not included his other state donations simply because there were so many of them it would have made for an endless post.
The Washington State data on Gates' donations came from http://www.pdc.wa.gov/searchdatabase/.
After the state donations, I've listed Gates most recent contributions to federal candidates, as made available by www.tray.com.
So what are the gays going to do in response Microsoft's crappy (in)action against us and the defeat of the pro-gay measure in the Evergreen State?
^^^
Candidate/Committee Date Amount P Contributor City State Zip Employer Occupation
APPROVE REFERENDUM 55
10/08/2004
$400,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND WA 98052 MICROSOFT CORPORATION CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
APPROVE REFERENDUM 55
09/09/2004
$300,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND WA 98052 MICROSOFT CORPORATION CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
APPROVE REFERENDUM 55
09/29/2004
$300,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND WA 98052 MICROSOFT CORPORATION CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
CIT FOR THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND
06/04/2004
$150,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND WA 98052 MICROSOFT EXECUTIVE
TAXPAYERS FOR R 51
06/13/2002
$100,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND WA 98502 MICROSOFT CHAIRMAN
CIT FOR THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND
04/12/2004
$50,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H SEATTLE WA 98105 BILL & MELINDA GATES FDN. DIRECTOR
NO ON I 747 COMM
10/15/2001
$20,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND WA 98502 MICORSOFT CEO
YES FOR HOMES
08/20/2002
$10,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND
- -
The data below comes from www.tray.com.
GATES, WILLIAM
3/19/2004 $850.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
GATES, WILLIAM
7/19/2002 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUND -[Contribution]
TIM JOHNSON FOR SOUTH DAKOTA INC
Gates, William
7/11/2003 $1,000.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/Co-Chair -[Contribution]
FRIENDS FOR JIM MCDERMOTT
GATES, WILLIAM
11/14/2003 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
GATES, WILLIAM
11/24/2003 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
GATES, WILLIAM
7/7/2004 -$850.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
-[contribution refunded to individual]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Gates, William
3/20/2002 $500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/CEO -[Contribution]
FRIENDS FOR JIM MCDERMOTT
GATES, WILLIAM
3/16/2004 $850.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Gates, William
2/9/2001 $500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Preston Gates & Ellis -[Contribution]
FRIENDS FOR JIM MCDERMOTT
GATES, WILLIAM
3/19/2004 -$850.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
GATES, WILLIAM
6/17/2004 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Gates, William
6/23/2003 $500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/Founder -[Contribution]
INSLEE FOR CONGRESS
Gates, William
2/17/2004 $500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Bill/Mecinda Gates Foundation/CEO & -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF CAROLYN MCCARTHY
Gates, William
12/8/2003 $1,000.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Bill/Mecinda Gates Foundation/CEO & -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF CAROLYN MCCARTHY
GATES, WILLIAM
11/24/2003 -$1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Gates, William
1/31/2002 $750.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Bill/Mecinda Gates Foundation/CEO & -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF CAROLYN MCCARTHY
GATES, WILLIAM
6/28/2004 $1,000.00
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT -[Contribution]
LEAHY FOR U.S. SENATOR COMMITTEE
GATES, WILLIAM
2/22/2003 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Gates, William
4/7/2002 $500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/Founder -[Contribution]
INSLEE FOR CONGRESS
Gates, William
5/11/2001 $500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/Founder -[Contribution]
INSLEE FOR CONGRESS
Gates, William
3/20/2002 -$500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/CEO -[Contribution]
FRIENDS FOR JIM MCDERMOTT
Gates, William
1/31/2002 $250.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Bill/Mecinda Gates Foundation/CEO & -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF CAROLYN MCCARTHY
Gates, William
5/14/2001 $250.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Bill/Mecinda Gates Foundation/Manag -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF CAROLYN MCCARTHY
GATES, WILLIAM
9/22/2003 $2,000.00
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
GATES, WILLIAM
2/13/2002 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Gates, William
4/7/2002 -$500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/Founder -[Contribution]
INSLEE FOR CONGRESS
Gates, William
2/26/2002 $1,000.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/CEO -[Contribution]
FRIENDS FOR JIM MCDERMOTT
Here is the list of donations in the six-figures made by Bill Gates in Washington State. I have not included his other state donations simply because there were so many of them it would have made for an endless post.
The Washington State data on Gates' donations came from http://www.pdc.wa.gov/searchdatabase/.
After the state donations, I've listed Gates most recent contributions to federal candidates, as made available by www.tray.com.
So what are the gays going to do in response Microsoft's crappy (in)action against us and the defeat of the pro-gay measure in the Evergreen State?
^^^
Candidate/Committee Date Amount P Contributor City State Zip Employer Occupation
APPROVE REFERENDUM 55
10/08/2004
$400,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND WA 98052 MICROSOFT CORPORATION CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
APPROVE REFERENDUM 55
09/09/2004
$300,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND WA 98052 MICROSOFT CORPORATION CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
APPROVE REFERENDUM 55
09/29/2004
$300,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND WA 98052 MICROSOFT CORPORATION CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
CIT FOR THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND
06/04/2004
$150,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND WA 98052 MICROSOFT EXECUTIVE
TAXPAYERS FOR R 51
06/13/2002
$100,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND WA 98502 MICROSOFT CHAIRMAN
CIT FOR THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND
04/12/2004
$50,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H SEATTLE WA 98105 BILL & MELINDA GATES FDN. DIRECTOR
NO ON I 747 COMM
10/15/2001
$20,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND WA 98502 MICORSOFT CEO
YES FOR HOMES
08/20/2002
$10,000.00
GATES WILLIAM H III REDMOND
- -
The data below comes from www.tray.com.
GATES, WILLIAM
3/19/2004 $850.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
GATES, WILLIAM
7/19/2002 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUND -[Contribution]
TIM JOHNSON FOR SOUTH DAKOTA INC
Gates, William
7/11/2003 $1,000.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/Co-Chair -[Contribution]
FRIENDS FOR JIM MCDERMOTT
GATES, WILLIAM
11/14/2003 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
GATES, WILLIAM
11/24/2003 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
GATES, WILLIAM
7/7/2004 -$850.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
-[contribution refunded to individual]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Gates, William
3/20/2002 $500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/CEO -[Contribution]
FRIENDS FOR JIM MCDERMOTT
GATES, WILLIAM
3/16/2004 $850.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Gates, William
2/9/2001 $500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Preston Gates & Ellis -[Contribution]
FRIENDS FOR JIM MCDERMOTT
GATES, WILLIAM
3/19/2004 -$850.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
GATES, WILLIAM
6/17/2004 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Gates, William
6/23/2003 $500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/Founder -[Contribution]
INSLEE FOR CONGRESS
Gates, William
2/17/2004 $500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Bill/Mecinda Gates Foundation/CEO & -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF CAROLYN MCCARTHY
Gates, William
12/8/2003 $1,000.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Bill/Mecinda Gates Foundation/CEO & -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF CAROLYN MCCARTHY
GATES, WILLIAM
11/24/2003 -$1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Gates, William
1/31/2002 $750.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Bill/Mecinda Gates Foundation/CEO & -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF CAROLYN MCCARTHY
GATES, WILLIAM
6/28/2004 $1,000.00
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT -[Contribution]
LEAHY FOR U.S. SENATOR COMMITTEE
GATES, WILLIAM
2/22/2003 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Gates, William
4/7/2002 $500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/Founder -[Contribution]
INSLEE FOR CONGRESS
Gates, William
5/11/2001 $500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/Founder -[Contribution]
INSLEE FOR CONGRESS
Gates, William
3/20/2002 -$500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/CEO -[Contribution]
FRIENDS FOR JIM MCDERMOTT
Gates, William
1/31/2002 $250.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Bill/Mecinda Gates Foundation/CEO & -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF CAROLYN MCCARTHY
Gates, William
5/14/2001 $250.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Bill/Mecinda Gates Foundation/Manag -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF CAROLYN MCCARTHY
GATES, WILLIAM
9/22/2003 $2,000.00
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
GATES, WILLIAM
2/13/2002 $1,000.00
SEATTLE, WA 98105
GATES FOUNDATION -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Gates, William
4/7/2002 -$500.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/Founder -[Contribution]
INSLEE FOR CONGRESS
Gates, William
2/26/2002 $1,000.00
Seattle, WA 98105
Gates Foundation/CEO -[Contribution]
FRIENDS FOR JIM MCDERMOTT
These donations from the CEO of Microsoft and his wife come from the Washington State elections office web site at http://www.pdc.wa.gov/servlet/ContribServlet.
Candidate/Committee Date Amount P Contributor City State Zip Employer Occupation
TAXPAYERS FOR R 51
10/14/2002
$50,000.00
BALLMER STEVE & CONNIE BELLEVUE WA 98004 S-MICROSOFT C-COMM'Y VOLUNTEER S-CEO
CIT FOR THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND
10/04/2004
$25,000.00
BALLMER STEVE AND CONNIE BELLEVUE WA 98004 S-MICROSOFT C-HOMEMAKER S-CEO
HUNTER ROSS A
08/09/2004
$1,350.00 P
BALLMER STEVEN & CONNIE BELLEVUE WA 98004 MICROSOFT EXECUTIVE
HUNTER ROSS A
09/23/2002
$600.00 P
BALLMER CONNIE BELLEVUE WA 98004 SELF HOMEMAKER
HUNTER ROSS A
09/23/2002
$600.00 P BALLMER STEVE BELLEVUE WA 98004 MICROSOFT PRESIDENT
Total Named Cash Contributions for this report: $77,550.00
Candidate/Committee Date Amount P Contributor City State Zip Employer Occupation
TAXPAYERS FOR R 51
10/14/2002
$50,000.00
BALLMER STEVE & CONNIE BELLEVUE WA 98004 S-MICROSOFT C-COMM'Y VOLUNTEER S-CEO
CIT FOR THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND
10/04/2004
$25,000.00
BALLMER STEVE AND CONNIE BELLEVUE WA 98004 S-MICROSOFT C-HOMEMAKER S-CEO
HUNTER ROSS A
08/09/2004
$1,350.00 P
BALLMER STEVEN & CONNIE BELLEVUE WA 98004 MICROSOFT EXECUTIVE
HUNTER ROSS A
09/23/2002
$600.00 P
BALLMER CONNIE BELLEVUE WA 98004 SELF HOMEMAKER
HUNTER ROSS A
09/23/2002
$600.00 P BALLMER STEVE BELLEVUE WA 98004 MICROSOFT PRESIDENT
Total Named Cash Contributions for this report: $77,550.00
Dear Friends:
This past week we learned of Microsoft's abandonment of equality for gays in Washington State, where Microsoft didn't support an anti-discrimination measure, and actions against the company are in development at many gay organizations and web sites.
To help create as full a portrait of the corporate giant's executives and their politics as possible, I did a search of Federal Election Commission files on the CEO, Steven A. Ballmer, and his family.
As you can see from the attached list, he and his wife donated money to the reelection of Bush and Cheney.
These records come from www.tray.com.
Michael Petrelis
^^^
Ballmer, Connie E
9/21/2001 $5,000.00
Redmond, WA 98052
Homemaker -[Contribution]
MICROSOFT CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
Ballmer, Connie E
7/15/2004 $5,000.00
Redmond, WA 98052
Homemaker -[Contribution]
MICROSOFT CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
BALLMER, CONNIE E MRS.
9/3/2003 $2,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
HOMEMAKER -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
Ballmer, Deborah
9/25/2003 $1,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
None/None -[Contribution]
INSLEE FOR CONGRESS
BALLMER, STEVEN
9/16/2004 -$2,000.00
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT CORP -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
BALLMER, STEVEN
9/22/2003 $2,000.00
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT CORP -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
BALLMER, STEVEN
6/29/2004 $2,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT CORPORATION -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF SESSIONS SENATE COMMITTEE INC
Ballmer, Steven
10/6/2004 $1,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft/CEO -[Contribution]
NORM DICKS FOR CONGRESS
Ballmer, Steven
10/8/2001 $1,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft/CEO -[Contribution]
WISCONSIN LEADERSHIP PAC
BALLMER, STEVEN
9/16/2004 $2,000.00
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT CORP -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Ballmer, Steven
9/25/2003 $1,000.00
Hunts Point, WA 98004
Microsoft/Ceo -[Contribution]
ADAM SMITH FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
BALLMER, STEVEN
9/10/2004 $2,000.00
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT CORP -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
BALLMER, STEVEN
11/19/2001 $1,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT -[Contribution]
STEVENS FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
Ballmer, Steven
7/6/2004 $2,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft Corporation/CEO -[Contribution]
VOLUNTEER PAC
Ballmer, Steven
12/5/2003 $1,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft/CEO -[Contribution]
IMPACT AMERICA
Ballmer, Steven
6/29/2004 $2,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft Corporation/CEO -[Contribution]
PETE SESSIONS FOR CONGRESS 2004
Ballmer, Steven A
9/21/2001 $5,000.00
Redmond, WA 98052
Microsoft/Chief Executive Officer -[Contribution]
MICROSOFT CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
Ballmer, Steven A
12/31/2002 $5,000.00
Redmond, WA 98052
Microsoft/Chief Executive Officer -[Contribution]
MICROSOFT CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
BALLMER, STEVEN A
6/30/2004 $2,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT -[Contribution]
LEAHY FOR U.S. SENATOR COMMITTEE
BALLMER, STEVEN A
9/26/2003 $2,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF BYRON DORGAN
BALLMER, STEVEN A
9/30/2004 $2,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT CORP -[Contribution]
FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID
Ballmer, Steven A
7/15/2004 $5,000.00
Redmond, WA 98052
Microsoft/CEO -[Contribution]
MICROSOFT CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
BALLMER, STEVEN A
9/30/2003 $2,000.00
HUNTS POINT, WA 98004
MICROSOFT -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF JOHN MCCAIN
Ballmer, Steven A
10/1/2003 $5,000.00
Redmond, WA 98052
Microsoft/Chief Executive Officer -[Contribution]
MICROSOFT CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
BALLMER, STEVEN A MR.
8/6/2004 $25,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT/C.E.O. -[Contribution]
2004 JOINT STATE VICTORY COMMITTEE
Ballmer, Steven A Mr.
7/30/2004 $5,000.00
Hunts Point, WA 98004
Microsoft/C E O -[Contribution]
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
BALLMER, STEVEN A MR.
9/3/2003 $2,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT/CEO -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
Ballmer, Steven A.
10/6/2003 $2,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft/CEO -[Contribution]
KEEP OUR MAJORITY PAC
Ballmer, Steven A.
8/25/2004 $892.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft -[Contribution]
ARKANSAS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE 2004 FCRC
Ballmer, Steven A.
9/16/2003 $2,000.00
Hunts Point, WA 98004
Microsoft Inc./CEO -[Contribution]
AMERICANS FOR A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
This past week we learned of Microsoft's abandonment of equality for gays in Washington State, where Microsoft didn't support an anti-discrimination measure, and actions against the company are in development at many gay organizations and web sites.
To help create as full a portrait of the corporate giant's executives and their politics as possible, I did a search of Federal Election Commission files on the CEO, Steven A. Ballmer, and his family.
As you can see from the attached list, he and his wife donated money to the reelection of Bush and Cheney.
These records come from www.tray.com.
Michael Petrelis
^^^
Ballmer, Connie E
9/21/2001 $5,000.00
Redmond, WA 98052
Homemaker -[Contribution]
MICROSOFT CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
Ballmer, Connie E
7/15/2004 $5,000.00
Redmond, WA 98052
Homemaker -[Contribution]
MICROSOFT CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
BALLMER, CONNIE E MRS.
9/3/2003 $2,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
HOMEMAKER -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
Ballmer, Deborah
9/25/2003 $1,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
None/None -[Contribution]
INSLEE FOR CONGRESS
BALLMER, STEVEN
9/16/2004 -$2,000.00
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT CORP -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
BALLMER, STEVEN
9/22/2003 $2,000.00
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT CORP -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
BALLMER, STEVEN
6/29/2004 $2,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT CORPORATION -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF SESSIONS SENATE COMMITTEE INC
Ballmer, Steven
10/6/2004 $1,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft/CEO -[Contribution]
NORM DICKS FOR CONGRESS
Ballmer, Steven
10/8/2001 $1,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft/CEO -[Contribution]
WISCONSIN LEADERSHIP PAC
BALLMER, STEVEN
9/16/2004 $2,000.00
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT CORP -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
Ballmer, Steven
9/25/2003 $1,000.00
Hunts Point, WA 98004
Microsoft/Ceo -[Contribution]
ADAM SMITH FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE
BALLMER, STEVEN
9/10/2004 $2,000.00
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT CORP -[Contribution]
PEOPLE FOR PATTY MURRAY U S SENATE CAMPAIGN
BALLMER, STEVEN
11/19/2001 $1,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT -[Contribution]
STEVENS FOR SENATE COMMITTEE
Ballmer, Steven
7/6/2004 $2,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft Corporation/CEO -[Contribution]
VOLUNTEER PAC
Ballmer, Steven
12/5/2003 $1,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft/CEO -[Contribution]
IMPACT AMERICA
Ballmer, Steven
6/29/2004 $2,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft Corporation/CEO -[Contribution]
PETE SESSIONS FOR CONGRESS 2004
Ballmer, Steven A
9/21/2001 $5,000.00
Redmond, WA 98052
Microsoft/Chief Executive Officer -[Contribution]
MICROSOFT CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
Ballmer, Steven A
12/31/2002 $5,000.00
Redmond, WA 98052
Microsoft/Chief Executive Officer -[Contribution]
MICROSOFT CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
BALLMER, STEVEN A
6/30/2004 $2,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT -[Contribution]
LEAHY FOR U.S. SENATOR COMMITTEE
BALLMER, STEVEN A
9/26/2003 $2,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF BYRON DORGAN
BALLMER, STEVEN A
9/30/2004 $2,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT CORP -[Contribution]
FRIENDS FOR HARRY REID
Ballmer, Steven A
7/15/2004 $5,000.00
Redmond, WA 98052
Microsoft/CEO -[Contribution]
MICROSOFT CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
BALLMER, STEVEN A
9/30/2003 $2,000.00
HUNTS POINT, WA 98004
MICROSOFT -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF JOHN MCCAIN
Ballmer, Steven A
10/1/2003 $5,000.00
Redmond, WA 98052
Microsoft/Chief Executive Officer -[Contribution]
MICROSOFT CORPORATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
BALLMER, STEVEN A MR.
8/6/2004 $25,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT/C.E.O. -[Contribution]
2004 JOINT STATE VICTORY COMMITTEE
Ballmer, Steven A Mr.
7/30/2004 $5,000.00
Hunts Point, WA 98004
Microsoft/C E O -[Contribution]
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
BALLMER, STEVEN A MR.
9/3/2003 $2,000.00
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
MICROSOFT/CEO -[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC
Ballmer, Steven A.
10/6/2003 $2,000.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft/CEO -[Contribution]
KEEP OUR MAJORITY PAC
Ballmer, Steven A.
8/25/2004 $892.00
Bellevue, WA 98004
Microsoft -[Contribution]
ARKANSAS LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE 2004 FCRC
Ballmer, Steven A.
9/16/2003 $2,000.00
Hunts Point, WA 98004
Microsoft Inc./CEO -[Contribution]
AMERICANS FOR A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
Saturday, April 23, 2005
April 23, 2005
John Cloud
Time
New York, NY
Dear Mr. Cloud:
In my earlier letter to you I erred when I said there was no evidence the documentary on Ann Coulter, which you alleged has " won some favorable notices," had not been screened publicly this year.
The direct-to-video film was shown earlier this month in Massachusetts by the College Republicans at Brandies University as part of a political conference, according the release that follows.
The conference was not a film festival.
Regards,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
^^^
http://namct.com/news/index.php?blog=12&title=brandeis_republicans_to_challenge_libera&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
Brandeis Republicans to Challenge Liberal Campus Establishment
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, (NAMC) – Brandeis University’s College Republicans will host a week of events aimed at helping “closeted” conservatives openly admit their political beliefs. Many Brandeis conservatives hide their politics for fear of the university’s overwhelming liberal establishment. The student organizers say Brandeis embraces diversity of people, but often shuns diversity of thought.
·Monday-Friday: Brandeis Republicans will be tabling in the Usdan Student Center from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.·Monday (Apr 4): Kickoff speech by Cathy Young of the Boston Globe and Reason magazine. 6:30 PM in the Shapiro Campus Center Art Gallery.
·Tuesday (Apr 5): Brainwashing 101 documentary on academic bias followed by open discussion on liberal bias at Brandeis. 7:00 PM in Olin-Sang 116.
·Wednesday (Apr 6): Campaign Management Seminar led by a Brandeis Republican who managed a 2004 state house campaign. 7:00 PM in Lown Auditorium.
·Thursday (Apr 7): “Is it True What They Say about Ann?” documentary about popular conservative pundit Ann Coulter. 8:30 PM in Lown Auditorium.
Brandeis Republicans is the Republican student organization at Brandeis University and is affiliated with the College Republican National Committee. For more information, contact Jacob Baime at (813) 240-8588.
John Cloud
Time
New York, NY
Dear Mr. Cloud:
In my earlier letter to you I erred when I said there was no evidence the documentary on Ann Coulter, which you alleged has " won some favorable notices," had not been screened publicly this year.
The direct-to-video film was shown earlier this month in Massachusetts by the College Republicans at Brandies University as part of a political conference, according the release that follows.
The conference was not a film festival.
Regards,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
^^^
http://namct.com/news/index.php?blog=12&title=brandeis_republicans_to_challenge_libera&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
Brandeis Republicans to Challenge Liberal Campus Establishment
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, (NAMC) – Brandeis University’s College Republicans will host a week of events aimed at helping “closeted” conservatives openly admit their political beliefs. Many Brandeis conservatives hide their politics for fear of the university’s overwhelming liberal establishment. The student organizers say Brandeis embraces diversity of people, but often shuns diversity of thought.
·Monday-Friday: Brandeis Republicans will be tabling in the Usdan Student Center from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.·Monday (Apr 4): Kickoff speech by Cathy Young of the Boston Globe and Reason magazine. 6:30 PM in the Shapiro Campus Center Art Gallery.
·Tuesday (Apr 5): Brainwashing 101 documentary on academic bias followed by open discussion on liberal bias at Brandeis. 7:00 PM in Olin-Sang 116.
·Wednesday (Apr 6): Campaign Management Seminar led by a Brandeis Republican who managed a 2004 state house campaign. 7:00 PM in Lown Auditorium.
·Thursday (Apr 7): “Is it True What They Say about Ann?” documentary about popular conservative pundit Ann Coulter. 8:30 PM in Lown Auditorium.
Brandeis Republicans is the Republican student organization at Brandeis University and is affiliated with the College Republican National Committee. For more information, contact Jacob Baime at (813) 240-8588.
John Cloud
Time
New York, NY
Dear Mr. Cloud:
In your recent cover story on the fact-challenged and truth-bending contrastive writer Ann Coulter, you called attention to a film about her.
"A recent documentary, Is It True What They Say About Ann?—co-directed by a friend of Coulter’s, journalist Elinor Burkett—has played at film festivals and won some favorable notices," you wrote. (Source: http://www.timecanada.com/story.adp?storyid=001 .)
Since I never heard of the film and fancy myself a movie-lover, I used Google to fact-check your claims about this documentary on Coulter.
First of all, the makers of the film have a web site to promote and sell it, http://www.anncoulterdoc.com/ . The site links to what appears to be all of the film festivals, three total, that screened the work in 2004. I couldn't find any evidence that the film has been shown this year.
Regarding two of the three festivals, the Liberty and the Renaissance film festivals, they are put on by conservative organizations, proud of their right-wing political bent. The third one was the Maryland Film Festival. Not exactly Cannes or Telluride, or mainstream film venues for the latest documentaries focusing on American politics and pundits. (Sources: http://www.libertyfilmfestival.com/ , http://www.afrfilmfestival.com/ , http://www.mdfilmfest.com/ .)
Second, where are the supposed favorable notices you claim exist for the documentary? The links to news clippings about the film aren't reviews, but articles about the filmmakers, their controversial subject or the conservative film festivals showing the film. (Sources: http://www.westernstandard.ca/website/index.cfm?page=article&article_id=287 .)
Does this excerpt from an essay by Bryan Curtis for Slate qualify as a rave in your opinion?
"Stranger still was Is It True What They Say About Ann?, a short film about the conservative provocateur Ann Coulter, who said of Muslim terrorists after 9/11 that we should 'invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity.' The director, Patrick Wright, never attempts to answer the title question, preferring to let the camera gaze lovingly at Ann as she hawks her books and invades university campuses.
"After a protester disrupts one of her speeches, she quips, 'You really develop your analytical skills here at Johns Hopkins. At Harvard, they had questions.' When an olive-skinned girl asks her to sign a book later, Coulter asks, 'Are you a Sikh?' No, I'm Hindu, the woman replies. 'Oh, I've got a lot of Sikh friends for some reason,' Coulter says. 'You're my first Hindu.'
"And that's the way the festival unfolded. The films were pleasantly amateurish and the sermons were, too." (Source: http://www.slate.com/id/2106624 .)
If that's a favorable notice, what were the unfavorable ones like?
The closest thumbs-up review I could find, none too surprisingly, appeared in Human Events in December 2004. As you know, Coulter is the legal correspondent for this publication, but nevertheless, you can read her colleague's review of the movie at http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=5972 .
The only other review of the film, again using Google, to come up was an outright slam, written by a film buff living in Maryland.
This is about the kindest thing he had to say. "Unfortunately, the film has no real ambition other than to rehash old clips, interview segments, and dull-as-dishwater book tours in order to present a side of Ann that actually harms her image, despite the fact that this is alleged to be a puff piece. Having been screened during at least one conservative film festival this past year, Is It True What They Say About Ann? is the Right's answer to Al Franken and Michael Moore, only without the entertainment value, humor, or insight. And my loathing of Coulter is beside the point: this is simply poor filmmaking, as it randomly cuts and pans without direction or purpose." ( Source: http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/movies/i/isittruewhattheysayaboutann.html .)
Since you omitted any adjectives when describing the film festivals, readers may have been left with the false impression the venues were politically neutral or of high cinematic caliber.
Then again, there are much larger issues overall in your profile on Coulter for Time, and you've been taken to task for what many media critics see as sloppy reporting. To your credit, you answered some of the criticism leveled against you in an interview with the Columbia Journalism Review's daily blog.
As you admitted to the review, your "job in this story was not to be a fact-checker." (Source: http://www.cjrdaily.org/archives/001458.asp .)
Truer words could not have been spoken by you.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
Time
New York, NY
Dear Mr. Cloud:
In your recent cover story on the fact-challenged and truth-bending contrastive writer Ann Coulter, you called attention to a film about her.
"A recent documentary, Is It True What They Say About Ann?—co-directed by a friend of Coulter’s, journalist Elinor Burkett—has played at film festivals and won some favorable notices," you wrote. (Source: http://www.timecanada.com/story.adp?storyid=001 .)
Since I never heard of the film and fancy myself a movie-lover, I used Google to fact-check your claims about this documentary on Coulter.
First of all, the makers of the film have a web site to promote and sell it, http://www.anncoulterdoc.com/ . The site links to what appears to be all of the film festivals, three total, that screened the work in 2004. I couldn't find any evidence that the film has been shown this year.
Regarding two of the three festivals, the Liberty and the Renaissance film festivals, they are put on by conservative organizations, proud of their right-wing political bent. The third one was the Maryland Film Festival. Not exactly Cannes or Telluride, or mainstream film venues for the latest documentaries focusing on American politics and pundits. (Sources: http://www.libertyfilmfestival.com/ , http://www.afrfilmfestival.com/ , http://www.mdfilmfest.com/ .)
Second, where are the supposed favorable notices you claim exist for the documentary? The links to news clippings about the film aren't reviews, but articles about the filmmakers, their controversial subject or the conservative film festivals showing the film. (Sources: http://www.westernstandard.ca/website/index.cfm?page=article&article_id=287 .)
Does this excerpt from an essay by Bryan Curtis for Slate qualify as a rave in your opinion?
"Stranger still was Is It True What They Say About Ann?, a short film about the conservative provocateur Ann Coulter, who said of Muslim terrorists after 9/11 that we should 'invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity.' The director, Patrick Wright, never attempts to answer the title question, preferring to let the camera gaze lovingly at Ann as she hawks her books and invades university campuses.
"After a protester disrupts one of her speeches, she quips, 'You really develop your analytical skills here at Johns Hopkins. At Harvard, they had questions.' When an olive-skinned girl asks her to sign a book later, Coulter asks, 'Are you a Sikh?' No, I'm Hindu, the woman replies. 'Oh, I've got a lot of Sikh friends for some reason,' Coulter says. 'You're my first Hindu.'
"And that's the way the festival unfolded. The films were pleasantly amateurish and the sermons were, too." (Source: http://www.slate.com/id/2106624 .)
If that's a favorable notice, what were the unfavorable ones like?
The closest thumbs-up review I could find, none too surprisingly, appeared in Human Events in December 2004. As you know, Coulter is the legal correspondent for this publication, but nevertheless, you can read her colleague's review of the movie at http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=5972 .
The only other review of the film, again using Google, to come up was an outright slam, written by a film buff living in Maryland.
This is about the kindest thing he had to say. "Unfortunately, the film has no real ambition other than to rehash old clips, interview segments, and dull-as-dishwater book tours in order to present a side of Ann that actually harms her image, despite the fact that this is alleged to be a puff piece. Having been screened during at least one conservative film festival this past year, Is It True What They Say About Ann? is the Right's answer to Al Franken and Michael Moore, only without the entertainment value, humor, or insight. And my loathing of Coulter is beside the point: this is simply poor filmmaking, as it randomly cuts and pans without direction or purpose." ( Source: http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/movies/i/isittruewhattheysayaboutann.html .)
Since you omitted any adjectives when describing the film festivals, readers may have been left with the false impression the venues were politically neutral or of high cinematic caliber.
Then again, there are much larger issues overall in your profile on Coulter for Time, and you've been taken to task for what many media critics see as sloppy reporting. To your credit, you answered some of the criticism leveled against you in an interview with the Columbia Journalism Review's daily blog.
As you admitted to the review, your "job in this story was not to be a fact-checker." (Source: http://www.cjrdaily.org/archives/001458.asp .)
Truer words could not have been spoken by you.
Sincerely,
Michael Petrelis
San Francisco, CA
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