UPDATE:
Apparently The Observer buys old New Yorker interviews, as this Spike Lee first appeared in last September's issue, and is now re-appearing for Lee's "Miracle at St Anna" UK release with no disclaimer that it is not original.
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Spike Lee gave a long interview to Britain's Sunday Observer, and explained to the reporter that despite a Manhattan townhouse, Martha's Vineyard home and kids in private school, he is not wealthy:
He told me he had always intended his kids to go, as he did, to state schools. "But my wife put the kibosh on that," he said. Lee balks at being described as wealthy. "It's not rich rich," he told me. "Rich is Spielberg. Lucas. Gates. Steve Jobs. Jay-Z! Bruce Springsteen. I'm not complaining. But that's money. Will Smith. Oprah Winfrey - that's a ton of money. Compared to them, I'm on welfare!"
The interview, which took place at intervals in 2008 before Barack Obama's election, also relays Lee's distaste for the Clintons and Cindy McCain:
"Who's going to be the vice-presidential pick?" Robin Burgess, the session co-ordinator and Blanchard's wife, asked.
"As long as it's not Hillary," Lee said.
"You know," Blanchard said in a wondering tone, "we got friends uptown who say they can't stand Michelle. I mean, what about McCain's wife?"
"Stepford wife," Lee muttered.
"I used to like Bill Clinton," Blanchard said.
Lee shook his head. "They showed their hand," he said.
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Spike Lee
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