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Mansion Begs The Question: Is Michael Moore A Hypocrite?

Media reports are accusing native Michigander Michael Moore of hypocrisy based on photos of his lavish estate on Torch Lake, a northern Michigan community in one of Michigan's tiniest enclaves.

The filmmaker's waterfront mansion is remarkable, with grand turrets, wings, elaborate stonework and neighbors like Madonna and Bruce Willis.

According to records, it has a taxable value of about $1 million, which would put the market value at $2 million. Moore's summer taxes are about $16,000 on the Michigan property, and he reportedly also owns a tony apartment on Park Avenue in Manhattan.

At the same time, Moore avidly supports the Occupy Wall Street movement, stopping in periodically at  sites across the country to throw attention to the cause. The Occupy movement has a bevy of complaints, but the basic premise is it's unfair for 1 percent of the population to own so much of the country's wealth.

While supporting the 99 percent, Moore has denied he's a member of the 1 percent.

In fact, he vehemently denied it during a recent appearance on Piers Morgan, when the talk show host tried to get him to admit the "bleeding obvious and say, 'I'm in the 1 percent.'"

"I'm not, I'm not...That even -- that even though -- that even though I do well, that I don't associate myself with those who do well, I am devoting my life to those who have less and who have been crapped upon by the system," Moore responded. "And that's how I spend my time, my energy, my money on trying to up-end this system that I think is a system of violence, it's a system that's unfair to the average working person of this country," Moore told Morgan.

Who's right? It's hard to say, but Internal Revenue Service data shows an adjusted gross income of $343,927 puts you in the top 1 percent of taxpayers.

With documentary blockbusters like "Roger & Me," "Bowling For Columbine," and "Fahrenheit 9/11" Moore is worth $50 million, according to celebritynetworth.com. His movies have earned more than $300 million. He also reportedly earned a $1 million advance for his book, "Dude Where's My Country."

So, is Moore a hypocrite?

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