Debbie Schlussel: Michael Moore Likely Guest in Obama White House: The Emanuel Connection
Barack Obama's choice for White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, likes to tout the fact that his father, an Israeli-American, fought for Israel's independence--helping Menachem Begin and the Irgun by passing secret code to them.
But what you may not know is that his more dominant parent--an American-born woman whose liberalism trumps her Judaism--founded and ran a rock'n'roll club in Chicago and was an anti-war protester, who frequently took the Emanuel kids to anti-war rallies. That's what shaped them, not their father. In fact, Rahm Emanuel is the one who forced Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin to shake terrorist Yasser Arafat's hand at the White House, a most disgusting moment.
What you may also not know about the Emanuels is that Rahm Emanuel's brother, Ari Emanuel, is a big-time Hollywood agent. He is founder of Endeavor, one of the big three agencies for actors and entertainers. And one of his biggest clients--literally and figuratively--is Flabulous Filmmaker Michael Moore. If you watch HBO's "Entourage", then you are familiar with Ari Emanuel, sort of. You see, Emanuel's real life is the life on which lead character, Ari Gold (played by Jeremy Piven), is based. Ari Gold's clients on the show--thug Mark Wahlberg, Sacha Baron Cohen, and other big names--are Ari Emanuel's real-life clients.
As one of the most powerful figures in the agent biz, Emanuel has a very interesting sense of selective outrage. Although Ari Emanuel spoke out against Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic tirade to a Jewish Los Angeles-area cop, he's been particularly reticent on client Michael Moore's anti-Israel statements and Palestinian leanings. He knows on which side his bread is buttered. And, again, the Emanuel boys were influenced more by their anti-war mother than their brave soldier father, a brilliant medical doctor.
That's why you shouldn't be surprised when the Emanuel Brothers invite Michael Moore to the Onaugural festivities and later as a White House guest. Don't be surprised if his corpulent self is at a State Dinner . . . if he can find a tux big enough. Yes, in addition to Oprah, Michael Moore will become an Obama insider.
The confluence of far-left Hollywood and Obama will be ever present in the White House Chief of Staff.
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One other thing about Rahm Emanuel: He lost half a finger when he accidentally chopped it off while working at a fast-food restaurant as a kid. But there are stories about how he's allowed admiring fans and women to believe he somehow got it serving in the Israeli Army. That's a myth. Although he spent time volunteering in the IDF during the Gulf War (when frankly he was likely of little use), that isn't how he cut off his finger. The guy is neither an Israeli, nor a hero. And many wonder if he even remembers he's a Jew . . . or an American. Include me among that querying category.
Posted by Debbie on November 6, 2008 09:03 AM to Debbie Schlussel