Left to Right: Derek Horne , Moderator, HSDFF Tony Orr, Head Organizer for SEIU Local 100 John Atlas, Author / Producer
(Image by Michael McCray) Details DMCA
Following the second screening, I asked John Atlas if he recognized the irony that he was acting like Andrew Breitbart? The difference is Andrew Breitbart had committed a "lie of commission" by manipulating and inserting footage that created a false impression that ACORN was corrupt. While John Atlas had committed a "lie of omission" be rearranging and deleting footage that created a false impression that ACORN was innocent. One thing we learned from the ACORN ordeal as whistleblowers was that the truth can become the victim of the political narrative, either from the right or the left.
o Hanna Giles and James O'Keefe were the filmmakers; Andrew Breitbart was the producer who selectively edited their videos to promote a conservative, right-wing conservative agenda. The truth be damned.
o Reuben Atlas and Samuel Pollard were the filmmakers; John Atlas is the author and producer; and they selectively edit the film to promote a left-wing, progressive agenda. The truth be damned.
John Atlas paused, and reiterated his earlier statement. He felt that the story about the ACORN whistleblowers was insignificant to this story. Like most journalists, who use whistleblowers as information sources to break news stories, but often find them expendable after the news cycle is over. But Atlas he went further this time and said what was important to him was the embezzlement that removed Wade Rathke ('The Pope') from ACORN, the racial tensions within the association and Bertha Lewis becoming a "Bishop" in the ACORN hierarchy, and Rathke's top down leadership and management style.
Overall recommendation: borrowing a term from HBO "ACORN and the Firestorm" is a Game Changer and must see political documentary. Most people will learn a lot about an important grassroots political organization. Things they would never know. Ironically, it is also a powerful critique of modern media manipulation; using manipulated media techniques.
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Photo Credits: Michael McCray
Screening One
Derek Horne , Moderator, HSDFF
Zach Polett, Former ACORN, Political Director
John Atlas, Author / Producer
Neil Sealy, Head Organizer for Arkansas Community Organizations
Screening Two
Derek Horne , Moderator, HSDFF
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