'Fahrenheit 9/11' Ads Could Defy Election Law, Group Charges

'Fahrenheit 9/11' Ads Could Defy Election Law, Group Charges: "Citizens United, which calls 'Fahrenheit 9/11' and its television ads 'pure political propaganda,' argues that unless the film's ads are altered or pulled by July 31, Moore and the film's distributors will violate the section of election law that bans the use of corporate money to broadcast attack ads about a presidential candidate within 30 days of his party's national convention.

The citizens group says promotional TV ads for 'Fahrenheit 9/11' should be pulled a month before the Republican National Convention convenes in New York City on Aug. 30.

"My goal is to have Michael Moore's advertisements, as they are, taken off the air," said David N. Bossie, president of Citizens United. "If he changes his advertising … if he takes the president's likeness off the ads, then he can run the ads until he's blue in the face."

But Bossie faces an uphill battle. For one thing, the FEC normally takes months to process complaints. For another, it appears highly unlikely that the bipartisan six-member panel would rule against Moore, an Oscar-winning producer.

Moore issued a statement Thursday indicating he wasn't concerned about Bossie's complaint. "I am deeply concerned about whether or not the FEC will think I paid Citizens United to raise these issues regarding 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' " he said. "How else can you explain the millions of dollars of free publicity this right-wing group has given the movie? I plan on sending them a nice holiday card this year."


By Lisa Getter
Times Staff Writer