UF will defend Moore decision as complaint filed

[DoYouEverWonder]

Dec 17, 2004

The University of Florida will defend itself against a federal elections complaint that alleges the university was wrong to pay filmmaker Michael Moore for his October visit.

David T. Hardy, an Arizona lawyer who co-authored "Michael Moore Is a Big Fat Stupid White Man," filed two complaints with the Federal Elections Commission about Moore's pre-election college tour, specifically naming UF among other colleges, according to a Chronicle of Higher Education report.

The university received a copy of the complaint to the FEC last month and will formally reply in January, said Pamela Bernard, vice president and general counsel at UF.

Hardy charged that universities like UF that paid the "Fahrenheit 9/11" director a fee essentially were making "corporate contributions" to Democratic Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign.

Federal law bans corporate donations to political campaigns.

UF paid Moore a $50,000 fee to speak at the O'Connell Center on Oct. 4.


http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041217/LOCAL/41216037/1078/news&template=printart


What a load of crap.

[gorbal]

1. Okay now

The thing to do know is find right wing authors or speakers who were paid to speak at a University of Florida and show them what a bunch of hypocrits they are.

[wtmusic]

2. That case will leak like a sieve

for the exact reason you mention. Not to worry.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. But if it doesn't

can we charge the swift boat liars with the same 'crime'?

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. I have prima facia evidence

of the Swift Boat Vets and the Bush Campaign collaborating, that you can have copies of.

[lovuian]

4. I didn't know Moore was a candidate???

can we say frivolous!!!

[TexasChick]

10. Exactly. Or, at least I thought he received that money as an independent

speaker, not some part of a campaign! Independent people can do this sort of thing legally, I would think. What a load of BS!

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. This turkey is so busted

See my post below about Gov. Pataki's visit.

Same group, same place, and just a few weeks apart.

The big difference is that Moore packed the place and hardly anyone came out for Pataki.

[blurp]

5. Change the law to apply just to businesses instead of all corporations

Since technically UF, and organizations like the AFL/CIO, AARP, NEA, and the city of Tampa, are all corporations, the law should be changed to apply only to businesses.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Well then, let them go after Gov Pataki too

October 27. 2004


New York Gov. George Pataki hammered home his view Wednesday night that President Bush's record fighting terrorism at home and abroad after Sept. 11, 2001, is the reason why he should be re-elected.

"We cannot afford a president who doesn't understand that we must win this war because it's our security, it's our future, it's our freedom," Pataki said at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. "This is the defining moment of our lifetime."

In his speech, sponsored by Accent, UF's speakers bureau, Pataki praised Bush's resolve to attack countries that harbor terrorists.

"He is a man who keeps his word and leads from strength," Pataki said of the president.


http://www.alligator.org/edit/news/issues/stories/041028pataki.html


Seems like all Pataki did was praise Bush in this speech. So if we want to talk about illegal campaign contributions, shouldn't we worry more about a sitting Republican Governor getting paid to campaign for Bush?

[Sgent]

8. Umm....

Isn't UF technically a state entity (State of Flordia)?

My guess is that UF did not actually pay it, but rather their foundation, which may make things a little more interesting.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Accent is a student run campus group

They spend lots of money every year bringing in famous people. My guess is most of their funding comes directly from the University.

[tableturner]

12. Accent's funds come from student fees

I used to be involved in student government at UF. As I wrote above, the money comes from student fees. But so what? Even if the money came from state appropriated funds, Moore's NOT the Kerry campaign. Did any universities pay speaking fees to supporters of Bush? The answer is a very definite yes, in the same way that Moore was a supporter of Kerry and received speaking fees from universities. All kinds of GOP hacks, including former cabinet officers, Generals, present and past Senators, you name it, supported Bush and received speaking fees.

[NVMojo]

13. this is such fecking bullcrap!!

[Just Me]

14. Oh. No vengeful-seeking, grudge-getting bullshit on this venture.

Apparently, Hardy HAS NO LIFE!!!

I'll bet all women capable of affection find this guy totally repulsive.

I do. :bounce:

[proudbluestater]

15. Gee, do we really have a Federal Elections Commission?

What exactly is their task? How much are they paid and who are they, inquiring minds want to know.

Wonder if the Dems have bothered to bring any charges to their attention? I'm certain we could think of a few problems this past election...

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. The Kerry Campaign filed a detailed FEC complaint back in Aug

At the time the FEC decided they weren't going to hear any complaints until after the election. Hello, what good would it do to bother after the election? As far as I know they haven't bothered yet to do anything about Kerry's original complaint. I doubt if we can expect them to do anything about anything else.

[colonel odis]

17. mr. hardy needs to find a new obsession. he's just about ridden

michael moore's coattails as far as they'll reach.