Now showing at Supreme Court: 'Hillary: The Movie'

[Tab]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Months after its debut, "Hillary: The Movie" faces nine of the nation's toughest critics: the Supreme Court.

The justices' review of the slashing documentary financed by longtime critics of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton could bring more than just a thumbs up or thumbs down. It may settle the question of whether the government can regulate a politically charged film as a campaign ad.

David Bossie, a former Republican congressional aide who produced the Clinton movie and another describing then-Sen. Barack Obama as an overhyped media darling, said his films are about important moments in American politics.

"The outcome of this case will dictate how we're able to make films and educate people about them," he said.

At issue in the case being argued before justices Tuesday is the 90-minute anti-Clinton movie and television ads Bossie wanted to air during the 2008 primaries advertising the film.

Bossie's group, the conservative Citizens United, released the movie as Clinton, then a New York senator, was competing with Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The movie is unquestionably anti-Clinton, featuring commentary from conservative pundits, some of whom specifically say Clinton was not fit to be commander in chief.

One scene, which was used in an ad, has Dick Morris, a former adviser to President Bill Clinton who is now a critic of the Clintons, saying the senator is "the closest thing we have in America to a European socialist."
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Federal courts said the ads would violate the McCain-Feingold law, the popular name for 2002 revisions to the nation's campaign finance laws. Judges called "Hillary: The Movie" a 90-minute attack ad, rulings that would require Citizens United to identify the financial backers for the ads if they were to appear on television.
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Citizens United appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that "Hillary: The Movie" should not be considered a political ad. The group says there is nothing in the movie urging people to vote against Clinton. The group says the film is more of a documentary comparable to critical television news programs such as "Frontline," "Nova" and "60 Minutes."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090321/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_clinton_movie

[Arkana]

1. Hillary must just sit her office at the State Department with her feet up on the desk

and giggle herself sick at the fact that EIGHT FUCKING YEARS after the fact, folks are still attacking her as the First Lady.

[aquart]

13. Doubt it.

Bossie? Where have I heard that name before?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

23. Wasn't it the cow that started the Great Chicago Fire?

:shrug:

[DoBotherMe]

28. He's a Right-Wing Agitator

Bossie was chief investigator for the initial Whitewater hearings. He 'wrote' The Many Faces of John Kerry, a twisted screed that was produced into an infomercial, starring the vile swiftboat liars, which Sinclair networks wanted to air as a documentary but aired anyway as an infomercial during the last ten days of the 2004 campaign. He's a worm of the lowest order. Dana ; )

[Tab]

2. I don't know what it is about the Clintons

but the Republicans really get their panties in a wad over them, even a decade later.

Maybe because they're smart, charismatic, and beat them in every election?

I think this movie is more of a preventative movie, trying to lay the groundwork unless ("horrors") she run for office after Obama goes. Otherwise, they just have a severe case of Clenis envy.

[Number23]

4. Looks like they were hoping this would be the Repub version of "Farenheit 9/11"

Without the facts, cleverness or truth... :)

[SpiralHawk]

16. jealousy is what its all about

the republicon homelanders are the masters of FAIL, as they proved beyond a doubt over the last eight years, and they bitterly resent anyone who is accomplished. Pathetic.

[Number23]

3. Socialist!! Socialist!! Good Lord, I'm starting to feel like that man in "The Princess Bride"

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

[Merlot]

5. Awwww, The Princess Bride! The Spaniard.

Funny reppubs yelling Socialist, yet none of these talking head ever screams Fasicsm...becasue that would be to close to the truth.

[bjobotts]

6. Yeah, the documentary "America Right Feeling Wronged" shows what that word means

[bjobotts]

7. "Socialism is in the dictionary and is like communism and Hitler-like..."

[bjobotts]

8. Some of their definitions are so stupid and worse their idea of how it works

[bjobotts]

9. Until they are voted out of existence in election after election will the right's ignorance leave

[No Elephants]

18. Yep. They don't use it correctly. AND the higher ups know it. the not so higher ups

buy into it, though.

Kind of like when McCarthy kept yelling "Communist." Only even dumber.

[CBHagman]

21. Best use of a movie line in a LBN thread!

:rofl:

By the way, Mandy Patinkin is an Obama supporter. Don't know if he challenged anyone to a duel during the campaign, but he did do phone banking.

[Archae]

10. Bossie's sorry ass was canned by Dan Burton.

He was editing prison transcripts and tapes of Jim guy Tucker to make the Clintons look worse than they were.

Bossie is a hack.

[Jefferson23]

11. I would like to know why this group is so afraid to identify the financial backers.

Since they believe in the films credibility, why not take the credit for backing it..the freaking slime buckets they are..:puke:

[Ian David]

20. Would you want to be on record as supporting a group called Citizens United Not Timid?

Yes, the name of the group is the same as John McCain's nickname for his 2nd wife, Cindy.

[Jefferson23]

24. I would if I believed in the accuracy of the film, evidently this group

is fighting hard for secrecy, I hope they are not awarded the legal opportunity to slander with anonymity.

[Ian David]

27. What if it turns out Bill Clinton sponsored it?

That would actually be kinda funny.

[karynnj]

25. I didn't even notice that - that's worse than Committee to reelect the President

that became known as Creep.

[burning rain]

12. "European socialist"...

That's some fail right there.

[Historic NY]

14. Hey maybe Bill can get a supreme job. That would frost the right wing .

[Tab]

15. THAT would be cool

That's a position I'd like to see him in. And, yeah, that would frost them good.

[Dinger]

17. I'm Liking That A LOT!

:patriot: :)

[karynnj]

26. I doubt he would be nominated to that

I know you don't have to even be a lawyer, but the best candidates are people with long respected records as judges. (I would say this of almost every politician - making exception for any that might have a long legal career. His lying under oath might be a problem for many and could lead to Republicans filibustering it.)

[Ian David]

19. I hear Clarence Thomas has been privately screening it in his chambers. n/t

[dysfunctional press]

22. with plenty of ice-cold cans of coke, perhaps?

hold the pubes...