Michael Moore's new documentary is finally going to be seen in movie theaters in early July! If you haven't already heard, it's all about the USA health care and just how bad it really is. Now of course, the US gov't is trying to minimize the damage - just like they did in his 9/11 movie - which is laughable now because so very much of what he showed in that movie has come to be realized by millions of people now ....anyway, in response to the charges against him for taking US citizens to Cuba for medical treatment - here's his letter......
Open Letter from Michael Moore to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry PaulsonSecretary Henry Paulson
Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20220May 11, 2007
Secretary Paulson,
I am contacting you in light of the document sent to me dated May 2, 2007, which was received May 7, 2007 indicating that an investigation has been opened up with regards to a trip I took to Cuba with a group of 9/11 heroes in February 2007 related to the movie SiCKO.
SiCKO, which is premiering in Cannes on May 19th and opening in the U.S. on the July 4th weekend, will expose the health care industry’s greed and control over America’s political processes and how it has produced a health care system that is broken and in some cases killing people. The efforts of the Bush Administration to investigate me will not stop us from making sure the American people see SiCKO.
I believe that the decision to conduct this investigation represents the latest example of the Bush Administration abusing the federal government for raw, crass, political purposes. Over the last seven years of the Bush Presidency, we have seen the abuse of government to promote a political agenda designed to benefit the conservative base of the Republican Party, special interests and major financial contributors. From holding secret meetings for the energy industry to re-writing science findings to cooking the books on intelligence to the firing of U.S. Attorneys, this Administration has shown time and time again that it will abuse its power and authority.
There are a number of specific facts that have led me to conclude that politics could very well be driving this Bush Administration investigation of me and my film.
First, the Bush Administration has been aware of this matter for months (since October 2006) and never took any action until less than two weeks before SiCKO is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and a little more than a month before it is scheduled to open in the United States.
Second, the health care and insurance industry, which is exposed in the movie and has expressed concerns about the impact of the movie on their industries, is a major corporate underwriter of President George W. Bush and the Republican Party, having contributed over $13 million to the Bush presidential campaign in 2004 and more than $180 million to Republican candidates over the last two campaign cycles. It is well documented that the industry is very concerned about the impact of SiCKO. They have threatened their employees if they talk to me. They have set up special internal crises lines should I show up at their headquarters. Employees have been warned about the consequences of participating in SiCKO. Despite this, some employees, at great risk to themselves, have gone on camera to tell the American people the truth about the health care industry. I can understand why that industry's main recipient of its contributions -- President Bush -- would want to harass, intimidate and potentially prevent this film from having its widest possible audience.
And, third, this investigation is being opened in the wake of misleading attacks on the purpose of the Cuba trip from a possible leading Republican candidate for president, Fred Thompson, a major conservative newspaper, The New York Post, and various right wing blogs.
On September 11, 2001 America was attacked by Al Qaeda. America responded with the kind of heroism and courage that makes this country as great as it is. Amongst the first people to Ground Zero were the 9/11 first responders and clean-up workers who heroically risked their lives to try to help survivors. Many of these 9/11 first responders and clean-up workers face serious health issues as the result of their heroic work -- and far too many of these heroes have not received health care treatment. The Bush Administration should be spending its time trying to help these heroes get health care treatment and not looking to abuse the legal process to advance a political agenda against me.
I demand that the Bush Administration immediately end this investigation and spend its time and resources trying to support some of the real heroes of 9/11.
Sincerely,
Michael Moore