Michael Moore: ¡Viva WikiLeaks! SiCKO Was Not Banned in Cuba

[deminks]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-moore/viva-wikileaks-sicko-was_b_798586.html

Yesterday WikiLeaks did an amazing thing and released a classified State Department cable that dealt, in part, with me and my film, 'Sicko.'

(snip)

Former health insurance executive Wendell Potter recently revealed that the insurance industry -- which had decided to spend millions to go after me and, if necessary, "push Michael Moore off a cliff" -- had begun working with anti-Castro Cubans in Miami in order to have them speak out and smear my film.

So, on January 31, 2008, a State Department official stationed in Havana took a made up story and sent it back to his HQ in Washington. Here's what they came up with:

XXXXXXXXXXXX stated that Cuban authorities have banned Michael Moore's documentary, "Sicko," as being subversive. Although the film's intent is to discredit the U.S. healthcare system by highlighting the excellence of the Cuban system, he said the regime knows the film is a myth and does not want to risk a popular backlash by showing to Cubans facilities that are clearly not available to the vast majority of them.

Sounds convincing, eh?! There's only one problem -- the entire nation of Cuba was shown the film on national television on April 25, 2008! The Cubans embraced the film so much so it became one of those rare American movies that received a theatrical distribution in Cuba. I personally ensured that a 35mm print got to the Film Institute in Havana. Screenings of Sicko were set up in towns all across the country. In Havana, 'Sicko' screened at the famed Yara Theater.

(end snip)

How Rovian - to make up lies and release them as truth. Kkkarl, is that you?

[malaise]

1. Bwaaaaaaah hahahahaha

Disinformation is a business.

Michael Moore is a treasure.

Go WikiLeaks

[Ichingcarpenter]

13. I'm sick and tired of hearing things

From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics. All I want is the truth. Just gimme some truth ...

Geez this nation is an embarrassment, be it Rethuglican
or Dumbocratic.

[Democracyinkind]

2. That's why these cables needed the sunlight. No need for secrecy when the official US diplomacy

consists of only lies and half-truths.

They should have kicked out all cables that merely offer diplomatic "trash talk" - that's all the msm is focusing on. This story says more about US diplomacy than any official press conference ever could.

Then again I'm not the one to tell Wikileaks how to run their show - I just wish people would focus on the real stuff in the cables - like this one showing what kind of people we actually have down there in Havana.

Makes me sick(o).

[DrDan]

3. this is damaging to our nat'l security - how dare they leak these cables

and put our troops in danger.

Full prosecution and penalties are the appropriate response.

[ChumbawambaFan]

7. Funny. nt

[xchrom]

4. american diplomacy with their corporate counter parts have become both

baroque and bizarre.

[alphafemale]

5. Why would they ban it? Cuba came off looking fantastic.

That part where the Cuban Fireman were standing at attention in honor of the Sept. 11th responder was a powerful moment of human to human contact breaking through a cultural barrier.

It was a glimpse at a world few Americans have ever seen. Most of us have been conditioned all our lives to fear and hate Cuba. The American health care victims who traveled there included. You can see their initial misgivings and apprehension melt away under the open armed welcome and kindness they receive.

[ChumbawambaFan]

6. People are people. Good post. nt

[molly77]

14. Why would they ban it?

Why would the Cuban ex pats in Fl. do all kinds of mischief...like blow up planes. They want their country and money back.

[mainer]

8. Fascinating twist. Cables are fables!

So it turns out that some diplomats are liars.

[blindpig]

9. Just a tiny example of how we are manipulated.

Truth is damn near any information received from the dominant culture will be tainted by ruling class interest, can't hardly be otherwise.

How many other bits of 'accepted wisdom' that we have accumulated in our lives is similarly jaundiced?

Lots.

[mainer]

10. THIS is the big secret Wikileaks reveals: US diplomats lie to their own bosses

This cable reveals that US diplomats don't just lie to foreign governments -- they lie to their State Department.

Whoever wrote this cable told a deliberate falsehood to his bosses at the State Department. It reveals this diplomat as, at the least, incompetent or -- at the worst -- an anti-Castro operative.

How can we conduct diplomacy when we can't trust our own diplomats' reports? This cable's author should be fired immediately.

[ChazII]

11. Who to believe?

http://liberalvaluesblog.com/2010/12/18/sicko-banned-in-cuba-to-prevent-popular-backlash-from-moores-inaccuracies/

Is this site reliable? Sorry to be so naive but I am trying to learn and I am leaning in Michel's direction.

[mainer]

12. that site's story is based on the same lying cable

apparently, it's quoting the same US cable that claimed (a lie) that "Sicko" was banned in Cuba. When, in fact, the movie was shown in Cuba with great reviews in Cuban newspapers.

[ChazII]

15. Thank you.

I was trying to find different sources. I searched for "Sicko banned in Cuba'. Perhaps it was the way I phrased my inquiry. Again, thanks for your help. I was also wondering how valid this site is.

[mainer]

16. Guardian has updated its story; quotes Michael Moore

Now that the Guardian is aware of Moore's charge that US diplomat lied, it will be interesting to see if they follow up on the story. Hope it gets more exposure.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/18/wikileaks-us-diplomats-story-cuba-banned-sicko-film?INTCMP=SRCH

[mainer]

17. Funny how all conservative sites that first posted this lie....

have suddenly gone silent, and all the rightwing commenters have stopped commenting.

[Ichingcarpenter]

18. I'm sure the US NEWTS will report this

Newts..... I think its a ancient amphibian that almost died out
in the evolutionary development.