Posted on 06/22/2004 10:17:34 PM PDT by SeattleNeedsHelp
Moore film's local angle
By WYATT BUCHANAN SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON -- Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore's new movie, "Fahrenheit 9/11," features one of Washington state's best-known rabble-rousers: Rep. Jim McDermott.
McDermott was interviewed at his office for the film and discusses the Patriot Act, the war on terror and the treatment of Iraq war veterans. Moore selected McDermott because of his background as a psychiatrist who worked with Vietnam veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, said Sarah Greenberg, a spokeswoman for Lions Gate Films, the movie's distributor.
He is one of several members of Congress who appear in the documentary, which opens nationwide on Friday, and he is shown prominently in the film's trailer. The film takes a critical view of the Bush administration's response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, including enactment of the USA Patriot Act and waging war on Iraq.
Moore's pieces "raise some uncomfortable issues, and I think it's important that people like that be in our society," McDermott said. "I like to help people who give people a balanced view of what is going on."
McDermott, who has not seen the film, will be in Seattle Thursday to introduce a sold-out showing to benefit the ACLU of Washington state and Hate Free Zone Washington.
"Fahrenheit 9/11" has enraged many conservatives, who view it as political propaganda in an election year. McDermott's appearance confirms that belief, said Chris Vance, chairman of the Washington state Republican Party.
"Michael Moore is not interested in the truth; he has an agenda. The exact same thing is true about Jim McDermott," said Vance, who said he would not watch the film.
"Disagreeing is one thing, but both Jim McDermott and Michael Moore are irresponsible in the things they say. They don't just disagree with the president, they attack his motives, spreading crazy rumors and allegations," he said.
McDermott has been a frequent critic of the Bush administration and caused a stir when, on a trip to Baghdad before the war, he made comments that many viewed as saying Americans should trust Saddam Hussein more than George Bush.
He later denied that such an assertion was his intention and said he expects his appearance in Moore's film to cause additional controversy.
"I know this administration has a very skilled rapid-reaction team. ... I've been the recipient of their attention before," he said. "I think a documentary, by its very nature, some people will attack as not fair; others will say it's exactly the way things are. What it's going to do is stir debate."
Seattle is one of 10 cities nationwide to feature an advance showing. Moore asked McDermott to name charities that could benefit from the proceeds of such an event, and McDermott named the ACLU and Hate Free Zone. The two groups quickly agreed to take part.
"We correctly figured there would be a lot of interest among the general public, and he raises a lot of issues that are important for people to hear about," said Doug Honig, communications director for the ACLU of Washington.
Pramila Jayapal, executive director of Hate Free Zone, said, "I haven't seen the film, but a lot of what Michael Moore does is say we need better information about what's happening out there, and radio, television and newspapers need to be reporting not just what President Bush said."
Hate Free Zone was founded after 9/11 in response to violence against Arabs in the community.
No, Moore selected McDermott because he's a left wing wackjob just like Moore.
You have a 'Hate Free Zone'?! LOL.
Who would've thought that the REAL American Civil War would be waged against islamocommies in America?
ping
McDermott, as a psychiatrist --- seems to satisfy the image of psychiatrists I've had for decades....
They're NUTS!
McDermott, as a "liberal Democrat" --- seems to prove the point that liberalism is a mental illness.....
It ALL FITS, folks!
Semper Fi
Jim McDermott is a psychiatrist who has, unfortunately, caught his own diseases.
Also because like Moore, McDermott is a fat, lying commie.
Once, so far.
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