Marc Ambinder: Hill Raisers Down By One-Will She Return The $100,000?

[babylonsister]

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/03/hill_raisers_down_by_one.php

Hill Raisers Down By One

09 Mar 2008 01:11 pm

A Turkish-American Hill-Raiser who "who financed a film that depicted an American Jew trading in Iraqi body parts" has been cast out of the Clinton circle of trust, according to a report by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Clinton adviser Ann Lewis told the JTA that the campaign was "unaware" of Mehmet Celebi's involvement with the film.

But wait -- a Google search suggests that the campaign was contacted by the New York Post on 2/11 and declined comment...


http://page6.com/story/odd+film+hillary+backer

Odd film by Hillary backer
Posted Mon. Feb. 11, 2008 7:44am by Page Six


SEN. Hillary Clinton has gotten cozy with a Turkish-born businessman whom some have described as anti-Semitic. Clinton’s campaign Web site identifies Mehmet Celebi as one of her “HillRaisers” — someone who has raised at least $100,000 for her presidential bid. This despite Celebi’s controversial producing credit on “Valley of the Wolves: Iraq” — a 2006 movie that depicted a Jewish doctor removing the vital organs of civilian prisoners to sell to wealthy transplant patients overseas. “In accordance with the old anti-Semitic canard, the movie portrays Jewish- American doctors as forcibly harvesting organs from Muslims to give them to Jews,” noted Detroit lawyer and columnist Debbie Schlussel observes on her blog. Clinton spokesman Jay Carson didn’t get back to us for comment.

[krkaufman]

1. The telephone game, on the 'nets.

The 2/11 story says "Carson didn't get back to us for comment" but Ambinder's commentary frames it as "declined comment..."

Which is it?

[babylonsister]

2. Not a clue. If they didn't get back wouldn't that be considererd declining? nt

[krkaufman]

8. I would think "declined comment" would require a response from the Clinton campaign...

... along the lines of "no comment" or "I/we decline to comment."

Failing to respond to the request may just mean the Cheney virus got to Carson's email account. (or at least they could rationalize it as such) The original reporter should have pushed for a response of some sort, an answer or explicit no comment, to insure the question was received.

[cbayer]

3. I am going to have to refute some of this.

First a link to the film (series):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_of_the_Wolves_Iraq

The particular issue mentioned appears to be a very small part of the plot and stirred up what appears to be minor controversy.
"The film features a Jewish-American Army doctor (Gary Busey) who harvests fresh organs from injured Iraqi prisoners to sell to rich people in New York, London and Tel Aviv for transplantation. Critics such as Ezequiel Berdichevsky have suggested that this may be a reference to the Jewish vivisector to whom Jack Wilton is turned over in The Unfortunate Traveller."

Second, the New York Post article referenced is PAGE SIX, for god's sake.

Third, I can find nothing on JTA website referencing that Celebi has been removed from the campaign staff.

Fourth, Clinton's pro-Israel position is widely known.

Finally, this is a non-issue.

[babylonsister]

6. Here's two additional sources, though the first one

references Ambinder. And I think it's valid considering all the speculation about Rezko's donations to Obama. I hope the Clinton campaign would return the funds as did Obama.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/09/748078.aspx

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/03/celebi-unfit-cl.html

[cbayer]

7. Thanks

That does, at least, back up the assertion that he has been dismissed. And it appears he was dismissed right after the mentioned unreturned phone call.

I guess I would question the wisdom of looking at every contributor or fund raiser of either candidate in detail. Who among us has no skeletons?

Just my two cents, but this guy was involved in making a wildly popular Turkish film and I find the claim of if being blatantly anti-semitic pretty weak.

BTW, I also think the Rezko issue to be a non-issue.

[cali]

9. um, no. Although I haven't seen it

my kid did, and he said it was blatantly anti-semitic. And just what you posted is disgusting. You really want to defend this crap? Hill will take money from anyone and so will bill. Their connections to filthy money and corrupt donors is hardly a secret.

[cbayer]

10. Look, I respect you

especially the OP you did earlier today.

And I honestly want to know why you think what I posted is disgusting?

I haven't seen this movie and had never heard of it before today. But i have now done my research and what i read is that it was very anti-american. And the person in question had a connection to the company that made the film, but not a direct hand.

And do we honestly want to look at every donor and every fund raiser to make sure that they fall in line in every aspect of their business and personal lives with whatever we feel is correct?

I doubt that either candidate has closely scrutinized each and every donor or fund raiser, nor should they have to.

And if you read what I responded to before, you will know that I think the whole Rezko matter is bullshit as well.

[cali]

11. OK. I really dislike bigotry- including anti-semitism

I agree that both candidates have squirrely donors that are distasteful, but I really hate seeing bigotry justified- and I don't relegate that distaste to one candidate. And you looked to me like you were trying to justify that movie, I have heard about it, and the anti-American piece is not as disturbing to me as the anti-semitism piece. I dn't think this one is something that Clinton is neccessarily to blame for, but it looks as if she should have disassociated hereelf from this guy earlier.

[cbayer]

12. I despise bigotry as well.

And I would have to see the film and make my own determination. Definitely not trying to justify it, I just don't easily swallow what other people say about something I don't really know much about.

And I am tired of all the fighting over such things as what an endorser or fund raiser has done, etc., etc.

Keep up the good work for your candidate and don't mind me. I challenge a lot.

Peace.

[IndianaGreen]

4. So Hillary had an anti-Semite in her "circle of trust?"

What does that say about her judgment?

[Yossariant]

5. It was a "boneheaded" thing to do.

[Coexist]

13. knr