Australian government minister brands US moviemaker an ugly American (Michael Moore - who else)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1516&ncid=1516&e=7&u=/afp/20040721/od_afp/afplifestyle_film_us_040721202430 ^ | 7-21-04 | 7-21-04

[Dan from Michigan]

Australian government minister brands US moviemaker an ugly American

Wed Jul 21, 4:24 PM ET Add Offbeat - AFP to My Yahoo!

CANBERRA (AFP) - US filmmaker Michael Moore, whose anti-war documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, has been praised and savaged by critics around the world, was described by an Australian government minister Wednesday as "the quintessential ugly American."

Moore's film, which won the top prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival (news - web sites), has attracted sell-out audiences in Australia where it has been viewed by some critics as a justified critique of US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) but castigated by others as biased, unbalanced and subjective anti-Bush propaganda.

The film criticizes Bush over his response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and over the Iraq (news - web sites) war.

In an interview here at the weekend, Moore also attacked Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who has won three elections and hopes to win a fourth later this year, as "someone with half a brain."

Moore told the Nine Network: "Personally, though I have no say in any of this because I'm not an Australian, I hope the Australian people throw Mr Howard and his people out of office for participating in this."

He expressed bewilderment that Howard had chosen to back Bush's war plan, saying: "What is John Howard doing in bed with an idiot? What was he promised? He knew this wouldn't be popular with the Australian people."

Treasurer Peter Costello, number two in the Australian government, responded Wednesday, saying: "Mike Moore is entitled to his opinion but that's the quintessential ugly American, sitting down attacking the Australian prime minister.

"I don't think anybody in Australia would take that seriously."

[cyborg]

That's why the French love him.

[ValerieUSA]

Apparently Peter Costello has good eyesight. Americans just don't get any uglier than Moore.

[The Libertarian Dude]

I knew there was something else I liked about Australia, besides the new GTO and Foster's... that, and some of those Aussies are crazy bastards. Oh, and AC/DC. They still rock!

[Dan from Michigan]

I don't know....Ted Kennedy, Jerrod Nadler, Henry Waxman, Helen Thomas, Janet Reno, and Mad Albright can all give Mikey a run for his money.

It'd be a close race.

[PokeyJoe]

. . . or much fatter.


(sorry, had to say it .... couldn't resist)

[Dan from Michigan]

Oh, and AC/DC. They still rock!

Still one of my favorite bands. They even wrote a Klinton bashing song - "Burnin Alive".

[ValerieUSA]

... and Warren Christopher! The Dems could have an ugly pageant.

[Bush4304]

Micheal Moore cant just stop criticizing America to Americans can he? He has to go and make us look bad to other countries around the world. Ladies and gentlemen, our honorable troups are at war and i respect anyone even willing to join our armed forces, but their is a war also to fight right here on our own terf. Against liberals like Micheal Moore, and against those who make their money off of criticizing people of power. These are the types of liberals whose policies and ideas go against our national security, and seek to blame America, and expecially us right wingers. They seek to paint a picture of our great founding fathers, not as heroes, but as biggots in our history books. Im so glad we have finally decided to stand up for our great American values, its been a long time coming, and as long as people like Micheal Moore keep undermining America, we will not stop in bringing them down one by one for their efforts. Oh ya, and im sick of all these pictures of G.W claiming that he looks like a monkey. For the record, Micheal Moore is a Big Fat Stupid White Man (check out the book), and, John Kerry looks like a serial killer. :-).

[phxaz]

"what was he promised?" moore asks. moore exposes his values here. what does more promise ppl and what promises motivate moore?

[phxaz]

just cuz they trashed moore doesnt mean they dont hate you and me. they do. the aus ppl are our enemies.

[MilesVeritatis]

Sanity down under. Attaboy, mates!

[weegee]

US filmmaker Michael Moore, whose anti-war documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, has been praised and savaged by critics around the world, was described by an Australian government minister Wednesday as "the quintessential ugly American."

It's why much of the world likes Axis Mikey.

I've been saying that he is the "new" Ugly American. He is morbidly obese (a fat cat glutton); he's a rich anticapitalist (a hypocrite who sleeps comfortably at night in his million dollar mansion); he's a lying loudmouth - brash, "bold", and opinionated even when the facts don't support his mighty talk; and for what it's worth, his unkempt overgrown adolescent look hints at rumored bad hygiene. To top it off, he sells out his country for cash.

If anyone doubts that what Michael Moore sells is "AntiAmericanism", they need only look at his foreign video and book covers. They are often pictured with red-white-and-blue with stars and stripes.

FRANCE:

ENGLAND:

Even a Michael Moore fan/critic from Malaysia was observant enough to know that it was AntiAmericanism, pure and simple.

[lowbridge]

: "Mike Moore is entitled to his opinion but that's the quintessential ugly American, sitting down attacking the Australian prime minister.

You must forgive him, but a dingo ate his baby.

[weegee]

For the record, Micheal Moore is a Big Fat Stupid White Man (check out the book), and, John Kerry looks like a serial killer. horse :-).