American Blackout (Documentary)

American Blackout (2006) is a documentary film directed by Ian Inaba. It premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. The film chronicles the 2002 defeat, and 2004 reelection, of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney to the U.S. House of Representatives; it also discusses issues surrounding alleged voter disenfranchisement and the use of voting machines in both the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.

The film focuses heavily on McKinney, and claims that her 2002 loss in a Democratic primary to Denise Majette (who, like McKinney, is African-American) was part of an effort to disenfranchise minority voters. McKinney claims that Republican voters in her district tipped the primary election to Majette. This itself is legal, as Georgia law opens primaries to all voters irrespective of party. After losing, McKinney filed a lawsuit claiming that open primaries are a violation of the 14th Amendment, but a court dismissed the case.Whatever you think you know about our election systems or Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, this film will make you question further why the news media fails to accurately inform the public. Directed by GNN’s Ian Inaba, creator of Eminem’s “Mosh” music video, American Blackout critically examines the contemporary tactics used to control our democratic process and silence voices of political dissent.

Many have heard of the alleged voting irregularities that occurred during the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004. Until now, these incidents have gone under- reported and are commonly written-off as insignificant rumors or unintentional mishaps resulting from an overburdened election system.

American Blackout chronicles the recurring patterns of voter disenfranchisement from Florida 2000 to Ohio 2004 while following the story of Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. Mckinney not only took an active role investigating these election debacles, but has found herself in the middle of her own after publicly questioning the Bush Administration about the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Featuring: Congressional members John Conyers, John Lewis, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Bernie Sanders and jounalists Greg Palast and Bob Fitrakis.

Title: American Blackout

Director: Ian Inaba
Company: Guerrilla News Network

Running time: 89 min
File: AVI XVID 608×336, 696 MB
Language: English
Year: 2006
IMDB: link

Watch here! > link

This was one of the best documentaries I’ve seen in a while. I missed it at Sundance and sat between two people on the plane who had seen it and were having a lively conversation about it, which only furthered my interest. When I saw that it would be showing at the San Francisco International Film Festival, I went into it thinking, OK, I’m finally going to see what this is all about, and I came out totally blown away.

Going into this, I knew about the Florida voter fraud in the 2000 election, I had a slight understanding of who Cynthia McKinney was, and I knew less about the Ohio voter fraud in the 2004 election. Wow, I was really missing out on some serious issues that were taking place in this country — issues that get to the absolute root of who and what we are as a quote-unquote democratic country. Our elections are being rigged as badly as any un-democratic country out there.

The film itself is very well done, as is the music. Nice job all around.
(comment from IMDB.com)

This is a strong statement about the problems encountered during the last four national elections. It effectively addresses these by focusing on House Representative Cynthia McKinney’s travails as she butts heads with the Powers That Be.

It’s a strong message about voting and voting rights, showing how politics are always played with the electorate; this time it’s the Republicans, but it’s so true of either of the major parties. A significant point in Inaba’s documentary is how NOT VOTING BENEFITS THE POWERS THAT BE. Irregularities in the last four elections are highlighted, with McKinney’s in-out-and-back in journeys providing a focal point.

Some of the facts will only be known to political cogniscenti; people who worked the elections and saw first-hand how minority voters were effectively disenfranchised (often abetted by “minority” politicos who both made rulings on the elections and acted as party leaders in their own states (e.g. Harris in Florida and Blackwell in Ohio).

And aside from a short but interesting foreshadowing of McKinney’s tendency to believe in her own self-importance and its subsequent (and recent) self-inflicted wounds from her own hubris, this movie still has relevance. It should show up again this fall before the 2006 elections, in primarily a grassroots mode. See it. Get upset. And then go out and help with the vote. And vote.
(comment from IMDB.com)

Sorry to say but this is what our so-called democratic state has come too. Do not believe anything you see or read. Research for yourself if you ever want to know the truth about anything. The media in this country will never give you the full stories. Go look at independent news organizations around the web and world for you news about America. Just like other countries do when they want to know about their country. Wake up America, we have become a fascist state. Not the country that we once were. Look up quotes of your for fathers to see that what they feared is exactly what is happening. Many presidents have for warned of what is happening. From Washington, Jefferson, to newer presidents like Eisenhower. Once again, please if you do anything, at least take notes on this film, then research those names and documents you see. That way you can form your own opinion and not those given too you. That is what America is truly about, forming your own opinion, not what the government wants you too think. I will leave you with some quotes from great leaders of our time:

“The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing.”

“There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.”

“Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God’s service, when it is violating all His laws.”

John Adams

“The power of the Executive to cast a man into prison without formulating any charge known to the law, and particularly to deny him the judgment of his peers, is in the highest degree odious and is the foundation of all totalitarian government whether Nazi or Communist.”

Winston Churchill, November 21, 1943

“I look upon an increase of the power of the State with the greatest fear, because although while apparently doing good by minimizing exploitation, it does the greatest harm to mankind by destroying individuality, which lies at the root of all progress. We know of so many cases where men have adopted trusteeship, but none where the State has really lived for the poor.”

Mahatma Gandi

America please wake up, and rise up to take your country back from those who wish to steal your rights. I should say stand up to get your rights back since the “MILITARY ACT” has stolen your rights to Habeas Corpus, and the Bill of Rights. I ask you, what type of Constitution do you have in the land of the free if you do not have Habeas Corpus and the Bill of Rights? My only logical answer is that we do not live in the land of the free anymore, maybe we never did. America is an “idea” not a country if you ask me. It is no different than “Camelot” of its time. An unbelievable “idea”, but just that, only an “idea” not reality.
(comment from IMDB.com)

Cyntha McKinney isn’t the only one in Congress who knows the truth about 9/11.

A Republican congressman (Curt Weldon, PA 7th) has publicly praised an anti-Bush video. And not just any anti-Bush video, but the one by BYU physics professor Steven E. Jones which accuses the Bush administration of deliberately allowing 9/11 to happen and placing explosives in the three tallest World Trade Center buildings to make sure that they would be totally destroyed on 9/11. Unbelievable? Just have a look here:

http://republican.meetup.com/92/boards/

A bombshell from the FBI: The Muckraker Report spoke with Rex Tomb, Chief of Investigative Publicity for the FBI. When asked why there is no mention of 9/11 on Bin Laden’s Most Wanted web page, Tomb said, “The reason why 9/11 is not mentioned on Usama Bin Laden’s Most Wanted page is because the FBI has no hard evidence connecting Bin Laden to 9/11.” For details, see http://www.teamliberty.net/id267.html
(comment from IMDB.com)