Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Speech and tax breaks
Disney has told its subsidiary Miramax to pass on Michael Moore's new film, which criticizes Bush. Moore's agent claims Disney chief executive Eisner told him the refusal was about tax breaks
Is Emanuel telling the truth? I can't imagine revealing these details is good for his career as an agent, so I'm inclined to believe that he is very ticked off and not making it up. If it is true, it's especially disturbing because Disney owns television network ABC. Should we assume that Disney let's it be know to ABCNews that they shoudl avoid offending the Bush administration to save on Disney's taxes?
Mr. Moore's agent, Ari Emanuel, said that Michael D. Eisner, Disney's chief executive, asked him last spring to pull out of the deal with Miramax. Mr. Emanuel said Mr. Eisner expressed concern that it would endanger tax breaks Disney receives for its theme park, hotels and other ventures in Florida, where Mr. Bush's brother, Jeb, is governor.
"Michael Eisner asked me not to sell this movie to Harvey Weinstein; that doesn't mean I listened to him," Mr. Emanuel said. "He definitely indicated there were tax incentives he was getting for the Disney corporation and that's why he didn't want me to sell it to Miramax. He didn't want a Disney company involved."
Disney executives deny that accusation, though they said their displeasure over the deal was made clear to Miramax and Mr. Emanuel.
Is Emanuel telling the truth? I can't imagine revealing these details is good for his career as an agent, so I'm inclined to believe that he is very ticked off and not making it up. If it is true, it's especially disturbing because Disney owns television network ABC. Should we assume that Disney let's it be know to ABCNews that they shoudl avoid offending the Bush administration to save on Disney's taxes?
