I just dunno anymore, man. I don’t understand how anyone can be so blindly loyal to anything… a person, an ideal, a movement, anything… that they so willingly swallow and spew back up this sort of thing.

You’re a better person than they are. Period. There’s no discussion of it, they are less than you. I guess just be content in that, as much as you can.

P.S. to my fellow Moorewatchers - Yes, I know it’s taxable!  I’m not that slow...sheesh!

Actually, Jim, no it’s not.  Under Section 102 of the Internal Revenue Code, the value of any gifts received are specifically excluded from a taxpayer’s taxable income.  The only question in a case such as yours is whether it was truly a gift and not compensation for something.  In your case, the only argument I could see is that Moore gave the money to you in exchange for advertising value for his upcoming movie.  However, absent an express (or even an implied) agreement that you would provide such advertising, I think that the IRS would have a very difficult time showing that it was compensation for services. 

There is the issue of gift taxes that could be due, however, there is an annual exclusion of $12,000 per donee in 2006.  In other words, any person can give $12,000 to as many different people as they want in a given year without any of the gifts being considered taxable.  Even had the gift exceeded the $12,000 annual exclusion amount, the donor (the person giving the gift) could use (and in fact would have to use) any remaining Unified Credit they had left to cover the gift tax owed on the gift.  And even if there had been any gift tax owed, that gift tax liability would have fallen upon the donor (the giver of the gift) first, with the recipient of the gift only secondarily liable if the IRS was unable to collect the tax from the donor.

In other words, there is no income tax consequence to Jim for accepting the gift, there is no gift tax due on the gift (since the amount is less than the annual exclusion) and even if there were gift tax due on the gift, the donor (in this case Michael Moore) would bear the primary responsibility for paying the gift tax.

Oh, and by the way, even if someone were to make the case that the $12K was for services (advertising or whatever), then MM would have had a reporting obligation.  In other words, if the $12K was for services, MM would have been required to send you a form 1099 to report the amount that he paid to you.

Zinger - you rule.

Either way, it’s declared by me just so my ass is covered.

Jim,

I am just curious as to how you declared it.  Did you declare it as “Other Income” on your 2006 return?  (I am assuming you declared it for 2006 and that you already filed the return).  If so, did you provide a description of it as “Gift Income”?  If so, then hopefully the IRS will adjust your tax return for you and send you a refund of the taxes you paid on this amount.  If not, you can always go back and file an amended return and claim for a refund.  I would be willing to help you prepare and file the amended return, if you like.

I’m just saying, the tax hit on an additional $12,000 of income that should be excluded is a minimum of $1,200 (assuming the lowest marginal tax rate) and that is nothing to just forget about (IMHO).

Zinger,

1) Since JimK is self-employed, aren’t the health insurance premiums he pays deductible from his gross income?  If so, must he itemize his deductions to get the insurance premium deduction?

2) Before you answer, is this advice free or are you going to send me a bill?

Posted by Buzz on 05/18 at 05:53 PM (Link to this comment)
Zinger,
1) Since JimK is self-employed, aren’t the health insurance premiums he pays deductible from his gross income? 

Yes they are.  As a self employed person, his insurance premiums are 100% deductible from his gross income.  The deduction is limited to his net earned income from the trade or business for which the insurance plan was established, less his deduction for 50% of the self-employment taxes and any deductions for contributions to a self-employed SEP, SIMPLE, or Keogh plans.

If so, must he itemize his deductions to get the insurance premium deduction?

No.  He should be able to take the deduction on line 29 on page 1 of the form 1040 (again, subject to the limitations discussed above).  He does not need to fill out Schedule A (Itemized Deductions) in order to take this deduction.

2) Before you answer, is this advice free or are you going to send me a bill?

Awww, now see, you should have asked this question first.  now that I have already answered question 1, I am obligated to send you a bill.  What is your billing address again?  ;-)

And, of course, Buzz, I am assuming that Jim’s health insurance plan was established under his trade or business and that he and his wife were not eligible for any subsidized health plan under an employer of either Jim or his wife.

I’ll add this post to your bill.  :p

Thanks Zinger.  Please send the bill to Michael Moore.  His address is shown on the letter he got from the OFAC.

I would re-examine the bullet-points for reporters. In bullet point 4, it can be interpreted that you knew all along that Moore gave you the money vs. getting an anonymous call and having a strong feeling it was Moore.

If the press are taking quotes from your responses here, that is the angle I believe they would play up...you knowing 100% it was Moore.

Of course you bow down and prostrate yourself in front of the all-mighty Moore and left. Since as a middle-class American you are obviously too stupid to take care of yourself and need Moore’s all-knowing wisdom to show you the way.

Its amazing how many idiots there are out there that really don’t know the difference between socialized healthcare and charity.

Jim,

Honestly - If I had known the Fat-Ass, Baseball Capped Crusader was the one that sent the check, I would have been tempted to give you the money myself. Then you could have sent the check back to him tell him to take his false charity and and stick it!!

I would compare Moore to a modern day Ellsworth Toohey. 

Except that Moore doesn’t have half the brain power Rand gave to her villains.

Sorry, but whether or not MM is as horrible person as you continuously try to portray him as, the only person who has so far stood to gain from all of this is…

you.

In two respects:

- How the donation has put less strain on you financially, as a result of your wife’s health

- The publicity to your website

Have a bit of humanity and at least say thank you or something

Wow, the guy gives you $12,000 for the care of your sick wife and you’re bitching because you didn’t get a phone call? The guy did something far better than calling you, he donated ANONYMOUSLY. He wasn’t trying to get any publicity at all, yet you gave him plenty by finding out who sent the check. So any publicity he gets from this, is your fault.

I’m sure you’ll get a lot of bad press, also your fault. You just couldn’t accept a kind donation for a worthy cause, you had to dig in to it and then complain about who sent the money.

You’re one of the biggest assholes I’ve ever seen, honestly.

Ah Moore’s fans have shown up.  And are as clueless as ever.

Jimk is bitching because he knows that the money wasn’t given out of altruism.  If Moore gave it anonymously then why did two reporters hear about it from a source other than jimk?

Also he hasn’t complained about who sent the money.  He’s talked about the reasons that person sent the money, and it wasn’t out of an actual desire to help.

Also how is that money dirty?  Moore earned it by legal capitalistic means.  Its not jimk’s fault that moore is a hypocrite socialist.

What if Moore called you right now and said something along the lines of, “Hey I didn’t want this to get out, I’m sorry about the extra attention, and I just wanted to help out.” Would you find that satisfactory?

I’m not a fan of Michael Moore, I think his one sided “documentaries” are appalling. But your display here is despicable. You seem to be so engulfed in hate for this man that you see everything he does is evil, even if it benefits yourself. You can’t let yourself hate so much. Hate his documentaries, hate his political opinions, but don’t simply hate. It’ll drive you mad. Come on man, have some dignity.

Evil?  No, not everything.  Selfish, hypocritical, manipulative.  Absolutely.

I came here with no pre-existing opinions on Moore or yourself.  My conclusion: you are a worthless piece of shit.

Moore and JimK are in the same piece of shit league. But when people give you $12.000, anonymously with no strings attatched, you just say OK. You don’t waste time tracking the guy down.

Just proves what a sad little man, JimK is. I’m even inclined to say that he is more pathetic than a shit-eating hippie.

Get a clue.

You’re one of the biggest assholes I’ve ever seen, honestly.

Why, because he doesn’t want to be a moore-on tool like you?  Why, because he can see moore’s true motivation behind his “gift”?

What if Moore called you right now and said something along the lines of, “Hey I didn’t want this to get out, I’m sorry about the extra attention, and I just wanted to help out.” Would you find that satisfactory?

Probably because if mikkel actually felt that way he would have contacted jimk personally and made the offer mano a mano, instead of operating a publicity stunt under the veil of benevolence.  Of course, that’s impossible because it assumes that moore would actually have to be a man…

I’m not a fan of Michael Moore, I think his one sided “documentaries” are appalling. But your display here is despicable.

I believe this is what’s known in the radio talk show biz as a “seminar caller”.  It’s like when people say “some of my best friends are black, but...” or “I voted for President Bush twice, but...” Moore-ons never cease to entertain me. 

Let’s see, during the run up to the release of his much ballyhooed film condemning the American healthcare system, mikkel pays the insurance premiums for his most visible alt MEdia nemesis via a “back alley” electronic manuever.  There’s nuthin’ fishy sounding about that…

Moore and JimK are in the same piece of shit league. But when people give you $12.000, anonymously with no strings attatched, you just say OK. You don’t waste time tracking the guy down.

Just proves what a sad little man, JimK is. I’m even inclined to say that he is more pathetic than a shit-eating hippie.

Get a clue

Except he didn’t waste time tracking the guy down.  He spent time making sure that the money coming would be legally acquired, as well as not simply money from the government.  How about you go back to the first post on this.  Read through it, and then read any comments jimk made about it, before you look even more like a moron.

Hope your wife is doing better.

I don’t like Moore much either. Reading your post I’d suggest returning the money for it comprises everything you say from here on out.

Hope your wife is doing better.

I don’t like Moore much either. Reading your post I’d suggest returning the money for it comprises everything you say from here on out.

How?

Wow!  I’m amazed at how ungrateful a so-called compassionate conservative as yourself really is.  If the shoe were on the other foot, you would be rejoicing in Moore’s pain.  Let’s replay this issue; someone you don’t like anonymously donates to save your life, and you whine?  Man, that’s low...even for a republican.  May the flea that climbed up your ass find happiness, brother!

Michael Moore has his own agenda.  Everyone has their own agenda.  If Michael Moore was trying to use his gift to Jim K as a marketing tool, why would he go to such great lengths to do it anonymously?

Michael thinks the government is run by a bunch of corrupt politicos that take money from Corporations and pass legislation that hurts americans, and our way of life.

The two-party system no longer supports our democratic processes, and is harming our republic.  Both parties are hopelessly corrupt and are creating a police-state, where our rights are being stripped from us.

The fact that our government is corrupt is no longer a partisan issue.  It’s the people versus the Korporations and their purported “leaders”.  The 5% of the population that controls 80% of the wealth.  We are becomming a country of serfs, under the guise of “free trade” and a “global economy”.

People need to wake up, stop fighting each other, and start fighting the government and their “keepers”.

-Cmockery

R.Nixon wrote:

Moore and JimK are in the same piece of shit league. But when people give you $12.000, anonymously with no strings attatched, you just say OK. You don’t waste time tracking the guy down.

So are you saying if someone anonymously gave you $12,000 you would just cash it without any research whatsowever? You would cash without making sure that the money was legit? What if he would of cashed it and then found that the check was a fraud? He would have to pay the the money back plus whatever fees his bank would charge on top of that.

Reading what JimK has posted, I don’t think he was tracking down anybody. He was being cautious...to make sure the check was legit so he would not get burned later...there is a difference.

Posted by gwbushh8ter on 05/19 at 09:51 AM (Link to this comment)
Wow!  I’m amazed at how ungrateful a so-called compassionate conservative as yourself really is.  If the shoe were on the other foot, you would be rejoicing in Moore’s pain.  Let’s replay this issue; someone you don’t like anonymously donates to save your life, and you whine?  Man, that’s low...even for a republican.  May the flea that climbed up your ass find happiness, brother!

Speculation and also runs counter to things jimk has said on this site.  You’d know that if you actually took time to read.  He’s never wished any pain on moore or said he would celebrate anything like that.

If Michael Moore was trying to use his gift to Jim K as a marketing tool, why would he go to such great lengths to do it anonymously?

Timing.  The anonymous money came sometime ago.  Sicko is just now close to being released.  If you want to develop free PR you need to have it close enough to the time that it will benefit you the most.

You seem to be so engulfed in hate for this man that you see everything he does is evil, even if it benefits yourself. You can’t let yourself hate so much. Hate his documentaries, hate his political opinions, but don’t simply hate. It’ll drive you mad. Come on man, have some dignity.

Let’s replay this issue; someone you don’t like anonymously donates to save your life, and you whine?  Man, that’s low...even for a republican.

I guess I am reading the events that JimK has posted differently than some others. I do not see where JimK is whining or he just hates MM just to hate him.

From what I read, JimK got wind of a story that MM was going to do a gottca in his film. Moore anonomously gave him $12000 grand and then was, possibly, going to use this in his film. JimK, knowing MM games, decided to post before the information was leaked.

You do not find it odd that this information was leaked A FEW DAYS before Sicko premiered at Cannes?

JimK has posted a message he got from MM that stated he was the one that sent the money. Did MM leak the info in the first place? Did MM call him because JimK beat him to the punch? Probably will never know. However, knowing MM past films I would have to say Yes to both questions.

In the 33 comments above so far, something hasn’t been said, so I’d thought I would say it.

Jim’s objections here are all about Michael Moore - he did what he did for selfish purposes basically (publicity, etc), so why should Jim not tell the truth about that?

Let’s take that as a given - there is still a point about the medical system that Jim is ignoring.

Namely, the trouble he is having with making his wife’s medical bils, simply would not be a problem in:

England
France
Japan
Costa Rica
Switzerland
South Korea
Denmark
Netherlands
Canada
Germany
Italy
Spain
Finland
Sweden
Cuba

etc.

And this would be because, all medical expenses are paid for, by those countries.  And some of these countries have had full medical for over 50 years.

The structural issue of medical care is SEPARATE from what type of person Michael Moore is.  And every country except the U.S., when it gets rich enough, one of the first things it does is, have universal health care.

It simply works best.  The numbers for U.S. healthcare (more spending, less health, less on all the metrics in comparison to other countries) show this. 

Jim, you can have problems with Michael Moore.  You can hate his stance on the war.  Hate him for how he presents things. But take each issue separately.  Your own issues with healthcare show that, health care is a “captured” market.  You will pay any price for your family to have health care.  This type of good - healthcare - isn’t a good like milk, or cars, or computers.  It’s a good that is best universalized, shared among the many.

Note - it is one of the VERY FEW goods that should be treated this way.  But this public good is best as being universalized.

i think i just read something very very funny...i just read the words “compassionate conservative”....lol wtf...that was really funny....i know this site is anti-MM, and I’m a huge MM fan..i love all his movies.  I was never a republican..always been extremely liberal/ pacifist...etc...whatever you want to call it, but...at least MM is trying to get the real truth out there....and JimK...quit crying ...it sucks to hear of a man crying about getting $12,000 from someone they don’t agree with.  now that is pretty pathetic if i do say so myself.  Why did you give yourself all the bad publicity if you didn’t want it to begin with??  Jezzz....

what a small, ungrateful person you must be...and sadly, so angry at people who want to actually get the truth out there.  Why is the government so fiercely afraid of his films....?  Are they hitting too close to the truth, for the bush admin. to handle???

Namely, the trouble he is having with making his wife’s medical bils, simply would not be a problem in:

Cuba

Best leave Cuba out of your argument lest you lose your credibility.

You might also note that no system is without problems.  Horror stories abound with both private and socialized medical care.  And no matter what system is in place,

YOU

jcjc,

Let me put my last post another way . . . there is no country on your list where citizens pay more dearly for healthcare than Cuba.  That partially why I said YOU pay for it one way or another.

The media are only making this an issue because of your reaction. If you had been gracious about the gift, there wouldn’t be a story, but - as Digg’s heading puts it - “Moore Helps His Biggest Nemesis. Nemesis responds by being a d*ck.” is a great story. Could Moore really have foreseen your ungrateful reaction? Most people would assume that getting your wife’s bills covered would take priority over petty political points. Not much chance of a follow-up gift I’d say.

Ah, Moore’s compassionate legion (though it seems to have shrunken to a smattering) of fans. Never afraid to berate someone else for their lack of compassion and gratitude while at the same time lobbing hatred and bile.

You have displayed an amazing lack of tact and tremendous amount of ungratefulness. I can’t tell whether you are a Christian man—I kind of doubt it—but this situation has a lot to teach you.

As a matter of fact, I believe if you want to hold fast to your venom and crusade to be so antagonistic—if you actually believe the things you have written—the only good and true course for you to pursue is to return the money.

You didn’t earn it. And you don’t appreciate it.

Let it go to someone else who is a better man—someone who would appreciate the simple act of generosity.

If you can’t bring yourself to give it back to Moore because of your hatred for another human being—donate it to the charity of your choice. Let people who will appreciate it receive the reward of it. You are categorically undeserving.

Anything less—any other action—will just be a testament to your lack of character, credibility and integrity.

Let us know what you decide. But, please—spare us the unexamined rationalizations and overt legitimizing of your ungrateful, immature, bitter behavior.

May you receive no more miracles.

Buzz,

You can take Cuba out, it doesn’t change the argument.  And clearly I was only producing a list of countries, off the top of my head, that accept handle healthcare through universal means. 

I actually wonder why Moore chose Cuba as the country to bring vets to, to get care.  the “even Cuba” argument would have worked just as well for the country Costa Rica (being a poor country), without all the political overtones.  I can only conclude he wanted the controversy.

First of all, to the folks who think JimK should give the money back—why? It was a gift. He isn’t obligated to be grateful for it, and given the acrimony between him and Moore, it certainly seems logical that he’d suspect ulterior motives.

Secondly, to JimK—why cheapen your own stance by making snarky comments about Moore’s “Ding Dong budget” and expensive suits? Do you really think that Moore’s being overweight and rich are valid reasons for criticizing him? I don’t know about you, but where I come from, that’s being bigoted.

I don’t know about you, but where I come from, that’s being bigoted.

Where you come from must be pretty lame, then.

Posted by FnG7uh on 05/19 at 12:43 PM
...
Secondly, to JimK—why cheapen your own stance by making snarky comments about Moore’s “Ding Dong budget” and expensive suits? Do you really think that Moore’s being overweight and rich are valid reasons for criticizing him? I don’t know about you, but where I come from, that’s being bigoted.

I’ll agree that I never cared for the fat jokes, but I mentioned in another post that a lot of personal health is about the lifestyle and habitual choices that a person makes, and I think that poor choices are appropriately reflected in higher cost.  Moore’s choices regarding his own heath are certainly something I don’t think others should be paying for with their taxes.  In speaking out about health issues, Moore is, perhaps unknowingly, a good counter-example.

A lot of the criticism in this post can be answered in a previous post.  JimK posted a bit ago, when he only suspected the money was from Moore.  In that post, he is a lot political in his response to the possibility.  He basically said.  IF it was given to him by moore, he appreciates it, but it won’t change his stance on fact checking Moore’s movies and books.  THIS post, was a bit harder edged and person.

Anyhow, we won’t know the true price of this “gift” until the movie comes out.  It might be really a gift, but Moore is already getting his money’s worth from the media exposure. 

My guess is this is part of his “advertising budget”

I love it.  That’s what Moore believes in:  truth, freedom of speech & dialogue

Where are the open forums on moore’s websites?  Where is he accepting debates and discussions with people who think differently than him?

You’re a troll and a complete idiot.

Actually, I think this one’s ascended beyond complete idiocy and into something more. I think people around him are quite possibly getting smarter as he sucks the stupid out of them and into himself, rapidly approaching the critical mass of dumb.

Posted by jcjc on 05/19 at 07:47 AM (Link to this comment)

“Note - it is one of the VERY FEW goods that should be treated this way.  But this public good is best as being universalized.”

You can’t just wish away that things have costs. So, what is the quality of this ‘free’ universalized care… for the average Cuban? Or even someone in UK?

Fact is, its closer to the care that HMO members (well, in the UK, Cuba just sucks) get in the US… which is poor… and we don’t want it. They manage costs by providing poor treatment. Sick people rarely leave the US for care and they often come here from other places for it.

Posted by FnG7uh on 05/19 at 10:43 AM (Link to this comment)

“Secondly, to JimK—why cheapen your own stance by making snarky comments about Moore’s “Ding Dong budget” and expensive suits? Do you really think that Moore’s being overweight and rich are valid reasons for criticizing him? I don’t know about you, but where I come from, that’s being bigoted.”

Maybe he just pointing out that Moore is rich.

I totally agree with you. You can’t let Mr Moore try too fool you with that cheap tip.

Now, the only acceptable move, the one I’m sure you will take to clear your integrity, is to refill. Give back that dirty money. We will all applaude.

We will all applaude.

No, you’ll ignore it like it never happened and move on to the next thing you can find to attack him over.

We’ve learned this from long experience with your kind. They’ll promise all sorts of apologies, sweetness, and light for meeting some condition they lay out. Meet it, and suddenly “Huh? What? No clue what you’re talking about. By the way, what is up with you on _____? You’re so completely wrong on it. Why don’t you _____ to prove _____, and then we’ll talk.”