Al Gore, Arianna Huffington, and Michael Moore, in varying degrees and contexts, have long indicted capitalism for the inequality of its spoils. Yet recent news suggests that their critique of the capitalist status quo is a very good capitalist way of making lots of money. That Gore profited enormously from eco-companies that capitalized on his own global-warming hype, that Arianna Huffington sold her website for $315 million, and that Michael Moore is suing to receive receipts beyond his $20 million take for his anti-Iraq/Bush mythodrama remind us why Barack Obama was the largest recipient of BP and Goldman Sachs campaign money, and indeed of Wall Street cash in history, after being the first presidential candidate to reject the public financing in the general campaign. Does “spread the wealth” rhetoric serve as some sort of pass on overweening desire for lots of cash and nice things?
And the common thread uniting the examples above?
They all exhibit hypocrisy, on a grand scale.
And of course, because they also lack a conscience, cannot feel a sense of shame.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFor creatures of this ilk, there is no right or wrong, only ends and a means to them.
Funny that their hypocrisy isn't highlighted more often.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThese clowns are like most lefties, Hollywood in particular, they like to play at being "revolutionaries".
The communist movement in Hollywood of the late 40's and throughout the 50's was the same. A "what's good for you"
revolution, didn't of course mean it was "good for them".
Wealthy folks don't worry about the long-term consequences of the "solutions" they push on the rest of us because they don't have to live with those consequences. While capitalism, living large (sorry, Al) and the freedom to choose the healthcare they want are good for them, they're quite certain those things are no good for the rest of us.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Does 'spread the wealth' rhetoric serve as some sort of pass on overweening desire for lots of cash and nice things?"
Of course it does. Gore, Moore and Huffington are merely the new privilegentsia.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSour grapes. The producers in a society, people who create value and are justifiably well paid for their efforts, always have critics amongst those who live off their largesse. So sad to see this line of thought be raised and heartily seconded on National Review of all places.
Conservatives have indeed completed their transformation into the '60s Left, right down to the class hatred of the producers our society relies on.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse$315 million?! It is indeed DotCom bubble time all over again!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRemember when this guy was a historian?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJustice is their Rosetta stone.
Moore is seeking justice, literally, Gore avengingly, and Huffington peremptorily.
Conservatives take capitalism for what it is, making us unjust.
Their way of correcting capitalism is by criticizing it, which makes them just, hence worthy of it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTroy,
VDH (writing for NR) isn't saying its bad, they're saying liberals hypocrisy is what's on display.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Four legs good, two legs be-e-e-e-ter!!!"
Right out of Animal Farm...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow is getting what you are owed hypocrisy? Michael Moore isn't suing poor people, he's suing the distributors who (he claims) owe him money. Did Michael Moore ever claim he doesn't believe in contract law?
Every day this week Mr. Hanson finds another false example of "hypocrisy." Yesterday it was Michelle Obama serving unhealthy foods at the superbowl, even though she's for healthy eating. Doesn't everyone indulge occasionally? Mrs. Obama's message is don't treat every day like the Superbowl, not never indulge.
Shouldn't this guy have something better to do than come up with these incredibly weak indictments of liberals?
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"The producers in a society, people who create value and are justifiably well paid for their efforts, always have critics amongst those who live off their largesse(sic)."
Like doctors, bankers and oil company execs, yes?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLeave it to many liberal commenters here to not understand blatant hypocrisy on display.
Michael Moore suing to "get what's owed to him" is fine and dandy. The problem is this guy doesn't care for what is 'owed' anyone else. He rails against corporations, the private sector and capitalism. But when it comes to his amount of 'the pie' he can't get enough fast enough.
Al Gore demanding everyone live in a 'carbon neutral' fashion, whatever that means, while living in the huge mansion he does, jet-setting around the world and never having met a SUV he didn't like. If you want an SUV though, you get the 'Earth has a fever' lecture from Gore and his acolytes.
As far as Ms. Huffington is concerned - just take a look at a lot of the comments over at HuffPo from longtime readers and contributors. When the hardcore lefties from HuffPo are railing about how this is a sell-out of so-called "liberal principles" why complain about VDH?
VDH is spot on with this comment.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm a huge fan of VDH but I don't completely agree with him here. While Moore is a lying propagandist, he is entirely justified in suing the studio if he has proof they are cheating him.
Huffington Post is an amazing accomplishment and Huffington deserves to be compensated. I disagree with her political philosophy but admire her ability to create Huffington Post out of thin air. The left mostly accepts that entrepreneurs will make money, the left just wants to tax that money at a high level. BTW, AOL is making a huge mistake.
I do have a problem with Gore. He is preaching that we have to cut way back on our consumption while he is living the high life. He is a complete hypocrite. He has used his political connections to profit which is corrupt. He does deserve credit for admitting that he was a political opportunist to endorse gas from corn and to admit ethanol makes no sense. The problem with Gore making money from trading carbon credits was that it was inherently corrupt governmental based rent seeking, he did not create anything of value.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse@ Jason
I'm sorry, I just have to feed the troll.
Al Gore pitches a ridiculous movie full of bad science. Schemes are created afterwards that would make rich countries poor and poor countries poorer still. He reaps in millions.
Ms. Huffington runs a blog that routinely castiagtes the rich, especially the Republican rich. Her blog generally calls for higher taxes on the rich and propagates class warfare on an epic scale. She reaps in millions.
Mr. Moore created a bunch of crummy movies trashing the very system he profits from. He reaps in millions.
Mr. Obama plays politics as usual. He reaps in millions.
All these people make their money by claiming to be 'for the little guy,' or trashing rich people, or whatever. Are you so blinded by your ideology that you can't see that?
And heaven forbid a conservative ever be rich. The Koch Brothers: BAD. Joe the Plumber: BAD. Rupert Murdoch: BAD.
Also, as an aside. Personal attacks on an author are the weapons of a weak mind.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI've said it before, and I'll say it again: There were a lot of rich Soviets.
Capitalism for me, but not for thee...
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"All these people make their money by claiming to be 'for the little guy,' or trashing rich people, or whatever. Are you so blinded by your ideology that you can't see that?"
So? Michael Moore is suing rich people. In this lawsuit, he is the little guy (so to speak). He's suing a company that he believes breached a contract with him and deprived him of what he is due. How is that in conflict with his stated beliefs? If I ripoff Michael Moore, he's a hypocrite for trying to get justice? Why? Explain that.
How is Michael Moore supposed to do business if it's "hypocritical" for him to sue anyone for breach of contract? He would get ripped off right and left.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"In this lawsuit, he is the little guy (so to speak)."
HA! Hilarious!
Jason, you're an obtuse man so try to be oblique.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIrritating as they are, hypocrisy is the least of a Progressive's sins. The more sincere they are, the more dangerous. Be thankful they have character flaws that help undermine their credibility. The first pure one that comes along will be the next Mussolini.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSome ironies here:
- I'm guessing none of these people will volunteer to pay taxes at the rates that they advocate. In fact, all will hire accountants to minimize taxes
- Much of these profits will go toward continuing to campaign for a system that makes it more difficult for entrepreneurs to flourish
- Gore has a conflict of interest in campaigning for policies to make himself richer. He could say that he's just putting his money where his mouth is, but contrast that to the relative integrity of a policy advocate such as Ralph Nader.
- Michael Moore actively trashes the evil of capitalism and sky-high salaries; as Obama said, “I do think at a certain point you’ve made enough money”
- Huffington's party wants to limit overtly political media so they can return to the days of the leftist dominance of covertly political media (ABC-NBC-CBS-MSNBC-CNN-NPR-NYTimes-WashPo-LATimes)
But for me, the greatest irony is that all three of these individuals were psychopathologically OBSESSED in their hatred of George W. Bush. Yet if you had to name the one person singularly responsible for their spectacular success and wealth, one could argue that it has been George W. Bush.
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