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A Mickey Mouse Response to Michael Moore

This just ain't right.
WASHINGTON, May 4 - The Walt Disney Company is blocking its Miramax division from distributing a new documentary by Michael Moore that harshly criticizes President Bush, executives at both Disney and Miramax said Tuesday.

The film, "Fahrenheit 911," links Mr. Bush and prominent Saudis - including the family of Osama bin Laden - and criticizes Mr. Bush's actions before and after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks...First off, I don't want Michael Eisner deciding for me what's good or bad. Second, it seems to me that Eisner has enough on his plate without kicking up a ruckus about distribution of Moore's film by a Disney subsidiary. Third, I feel pretty confident that this film is going to be a blockbuster.

I have no doubt that someone will pick up the distribution rights. The film is ready to release, and no way it sits on a shelf until some later date (presumably, after the election), particularly with Moore debuting the film at Cannes next month. And even if Disney continues the blockade, I wouldn't be surprised to see Moore himself "release" the movie over the web (through some offshore channel, no doubt).

Bottom line: a Mickey Mouse move by Disney, IMO.