Michael Moore Pays Medical Bills of Conservative Critic’s Wife

[oberliner]

Jim Kenefick has had an obsession with Michael Moore for years, even setting up Moorewatch.com, which boasts it's “Watching Michael Moore’s every move”. On his blog he recently wrote about the difficulty he was having paying his wife’s medical bills.

Kenefick then received an email from an anonymous donor asking to pay his premiums of $12,000. He accepted. Now the NY Daily News has revealed from a third source that the generous donation came from Michael Moore himself who couldn't be reached.

A friend of Moore's seemingly confirmed by saying, “We sure are happy Jim’s wife received the care she needed.” Kenefick admits the money turned his life around, but is still outraged at the filmmaker whom he believes is using him to promote "Sicko".

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=62549

More details in The NY Daily News story:

Having suspected Moore might be his secret patron, he contends that his bete noir made the gift just to publicize "Sicko," which takes aim at America's health-care system and, we've heard, touches upon Moore's covert generosity.

"I knew he was using me," said Kenefick. "Moore is going to try to make me into one of his little puppets."

Kenefick wants it known that "I'm not an idiot. I know when to say yes to something, even if the string attached is obvious. What kind of moron turns down a free 12 grand?"

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/r_m/2007/05/18/2007-05-18_much_moore_for_a_foe_in_need.html

[acmavm]

1. That is so funny. On so many levels. And Kenefick is a douche bag.

[MasonJar]

2. A simple thank you might have been in order. It seems that he might

be one to benefit from improved health care.

[bluerum]

3. Really. What ever happened to the social convention of thanking someone

who helps you?

Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

[Fridays Child]

11. Now that the premiums are up to date, Mr. Kenefick would do well to seek mental health treatment.

[Cha]

24. If he's so "USED"..then kenefick can

give back the $12,000 and continue his Moorewatch.com. What a freakshow..

Michael Moore is a very generous person!

[Nite Owl]

4. Moore is using him?

I think he should be seeing how the GOP/conservative movement is using him. Just where was all that 'faith based' charity when he needed it?

[depakid]

23. Republicans are irony impaired

These sorts of thoughts rarely if ever occur to them.

[Cha]

25. But, first and foremost they are

REALITY IMPAIRED!

[Jelybe903]

5. Don't look a sick horse in the mouth

Amazing....simply amazing!

Its alright to spend the money even if in denial!

I think I would like to hear from the wife!

[Madspirit]

6. Great Point

I would like to hear from his wife.
Lee

[newyawker99]

20. Hi Jelybe903!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Jelybe903]

21. thanks for the greeting

I am a newcomer but don't let that fool you...I have several soap boxes in my closet that are brought out when approriate... Hope to see more of you too!

[Fridays Child]

7. Oh, my. How graceless.

[Kurovski]

8. Interesting story.

I wonder what Mrs. Kenefick feels?

[AlCzervik]

9. a simple "Thank you" would been been sufficient you ungrateful sob.

sometimes people will just help you without strings attached and it saddens me that your hatred for Michael Moore and most likely the rest of us damn dirty liberals doesn't allow you to think that---he helped, say thank you and try and work on your anger and bitterness.

[bluestateguy]

10. And then the guy goes right back to bashing him

nt

[uppityperson]

12. If Kenefick didn't publicize it, who would know. "using me", ha!

[Cha]

26. Hehe! No one ever accused

mr kennifick of being smart.

[Warpy]

13. Uh, hey genius! If it was ANONYMOUS

nobody would ever have known it until YOU publicised it!

I'm sure Moore is thankful for all the publicity YOU are providing.

[rurallib]

18. Exactly - the gift would not have been anonymous

had Moore wanted the publicity. Good Lord what a maroon.

[oberliner]

34. Apparently this is in the movie

According to an interview in Salon.com, this gift is included in the film.

http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2007/05/20/cannes_4/index1.html

"I want him to know that it was done with all the best intentions," said Moore, adding that he planned to phone Kenefick personally after the press conference. (According to Kenefick's blog, Moore left him a voice-mail message later on Saturday.) "I went back and forth about whether to use that material," Moore went on. "I asked myself, would you be doing this if it weren't in the film? I decided that I would, and I should, and that that's the way I think we should live."

[Miss Chybil]

14. What kind of moron flaunts his lack of integrity around the globe?

He could have just said, "Thank you."

[Vinca]

15. What an absolute jerk this guy is. Is "thank you" so damn hard? nt

[Az]

16. If the money was given anonymously then how is Moore exploiting it?

Good grief. Maybe he should have given some extra money so Kenefick could see a psychologist about that Paranoia.

[Cha]

27. More Publicity Michael

never intended to get..it just keeps getting better.

[City Lights]

17. "I'm not an idiot."

Famous last words. I bet you're not a moran either, Mr. Kenefick. :rofl:

[Rocknrule]

19. Proof that liberals really are more Christ-like

[Critters2]

36. My thought exactly

What would Jesus do? Give 12k to help the wife of his nemesis.

Then there's the story about the ten lepers, only one of whom said "thanks" for being healed.

[Cha]

22. kenefick better get a grip on his

Warped sense of what is right and wrong! He's not so much an idiot as to NOT accept the "anonymous donor's money" for his sick0 wife but he'll be damned if he accept the reality of what Michael Moore is showing the world about the richest country, in that world's, health care.

[Solly Mack]

28. Oooh..so he was really using Moore

Cause he knew Moore was trying to use him so he took Moore's money, because he knew it was coming from Moore and because he's not a fool

Whatever helps you sleep at night...you just go right ahead and tell yourself that lie if it makes you feel better

sheesh

[Jackpine Radical]

29. To anyone with half a brain (which would presumably include

the top 5% or so of wingnuts), Kenefick has just shown himself as an angry, antisocial twit whose opinion is only relevant insofar as it exemplifies the moral poverty of himself and his kind.

[Liberal In Texas]

30. Well, according to Kenefick's blog...

He never asked for donations. He was just low on funds and was carping that his health insurance was costing him $1000/mo. He states that his wife's illness is not life threatening and they were never denied care even when they didn't have insurance.

Also at the end of the latest post on the matter:

Lastly, I have in fact thanked Michael time and time again, and would take this opportunity to do so once more:

Michael Moore: Thank you. Regardless of all the publicity, the emails, the nonsense that others are adding to this situation, you did in fact help me at a time when I needed it, and I am grateful for that. Emotionally, I feel like you did something nice. It doesn’t change how I feel about your work intellectually, but you did do something that truly helped me and my family and for that, I thank you.

So, he doesn't appear to be totally ungrateful. The blog also discusses the Moore "using this as publicity" angle; but more looking into his assertions would be warranted IMHO to decide whether or not it was just a stunt on Moore's part.

There seems to be more to this story than what was in the OP.

His blog: http://www.moorewatch.com/

[ooglymoogly]

31. This man truly is an idot....a scorpian of an idiot at that.. nt

[kiteinthewind]

32. "What kind of moron turns down a free 12 grand?" How about "What kind of moron can't

say a simple thank you?". I have had it with these mean bastards. It was very kind of MM, even if it was strategic. How about just being grateful for the help? :spank:

[murdoch]

33. Who we are and who they are

What more can sum up what our belief system is and what their belief system is. This demonstrates that in every way.

[RevCheesehead]

35. Guess who's Keith's next WPITW?

Too bad he misspelled "moran."