>>>BUCHANAN: Welcome to SCARBOROUGH COUNTRY. I‘m Pat Buchanan, in for Joe.
Top story tonight, Hollywood vs. the heartland. In the wake of the election, we have a new red-blue battle shaping up. This time, it‘s for the Oscars. In the red corner, Mel Gibson and “The Passion of the Christ.” In the blue corner, Michael Moore and his “Fahrenheit 9/11.” Gibson and Icon Productions have vowed not to spend a dime on advertising hyping “The Passion” for an Oscar.
But Moore has gone full throttle with advertisements and speaking engagements all over Tinseltown. Will the academy pass over “The Passion” to embrace “Fahrenheit 9/11”? What message will Hollywood send America at the Academy Awards?
Joining me now, radio talk show host Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, the director of the Liberty Film Festival, Govindini Murty, the president of the Catholic League, Bill Donahue, and Jennifer Giroux from Women Influence Influencing the Nation.
Rabbi, let me start with you.
What does the smashing success of “The Passion” tell you about America, and do you think Hollywood will swallow, if you full, and nominate it for the Oscar it deserves as best picture?
RABBI SHMULEY BOTEACH, AUTHOR, “FACE YOUR FEAR”: Well, firstly, let me just say that I hope that Michael Moore actually wins so we can finally confirm what Hollywood is. Hollywood has become an America-hating bastion that always portrays people in uniform in some sinister role. It‘s always the CIA killing President Kennedy.
And so when I see Michael Moore‘s “Fahrenheit 9/11” and he portrays our soldiers as a bunch of cutthroats who play Metallica while killing Iraqi civilians, let‘s confirm what Hollywood is by giving him this Oscar.
But I‘ve got to tell you, Pat, the fact that Christians around the country be offended if Mel Gibson‘s “The Passion” doesn‘t win best Oscar is shocking to me. First of all, “The Passion of the Christ” was an domination for Christianity. It really should win the World Wrestling Federation Oscar for best movie. It‘s a guy for two hours being kicked, beaten, his blood gushing everywhere. It‘s just a diabolical, criminal, violent mess.
(CROSSTALK)
BOTEACH: It really is like Mohammed al-Zarqawi‘s movies on the Internet where a guy gets his head chopped off. It‘s gory. It‘s ugly and it‘s not inspiring.
BUCHANAN: Well, since about tens of millions of Americans saw it, loved it, appreciated it, and honored it, that tells us, Rabbi, I think, what you think of the intelligence and sensitivity of millions of Americans.
Bill Donahue, what do you think about “The Passion of the Christ”? And as a practical matter, even if Hollywood hated the film, it seems to me as an artistic work of art, a smashing triumph, a film of great controversy and interest, it ought to at least be nominated for best picture. It pulled in more money than any other picture all year.
WILLIAM DONAHUE, PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC LEAGUE: I spoke to Mel a couple of weeks ago about this. And I don‘t think it really matters a whole lot to him. It certainly doesn‘t matter to me. We‘ve already won.
Who really cares what Hollywood thinks? All these hacks come out there.
Hollywood is controlled by secular Jews who hate Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular. It‘s not a secret, OK? And I‘m not afraid to say it. That‘s why they hate this movie. It‘s about Jesus Christ, and it‘s about truth. It‘s about the messiah.
Hollywood likes anal sex. They like to see the public square without nativity scenes. I like families. I like children. They like abortions. I believe in traditional values and restraint. They believe in libertinism. We have nothing in common. But you know what? The culture war has been ongoing for a long time. Their side has lost.
You have got secular Jews. You have got embittered ex-Catholics, including a lot of ex-Catholic priests who hate the Catholic Church, wacko Protestants in the same group, and these people are in the margins. Frankly, Michael Moore represents a cult movie. Mel Gibson represents the mainstream of America.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6685898Donahue is saying this with A JEW ON THE PANEL, yet the Jew on the panel, Boteach, says NOTHING. Which is really interesting seeing as to how he is a Rabbi, and the fact that orthodox Jews claim that a Jewish state (Israel) is immoral. Boteach is a spin doctor for the state of Israel and it's alliance to the GOP. Sounds like he's in hog-heaven with a slice of pork.