Heavy Security Protects Michael Moore at Convention
Michael Moore is so threatened by those warlike Republicans that he is hanging out at the GOP convention with a bevy of security guards.
Editor & Publisher reported that "the biggest commotion at the Republican National Convention Monday night occurred just before 10 pm with the entrance of anti-Bush filmmaker Michael Moore, who was repeatedly halted by security attempting to reach his reserved press seat in section #340 near the side of the stage. Moore is writing a daily column this week for USA Today."
Moore's timing could not have been better.
Soon after arriving, Sen. John McCain mentioned Moore in his speech as the "disingenuous filmmaker who would have us believe that Saddam's Iraq was an oasis of peace."
After McCain's remarks, the audience booed – then began chanting, "Four more years!"
E&P reported that when Moore left soon after, he was "accompanied by heavy security. He told E&P on the way out that he was not fleeing: He had to speak to a Planned Parenthood gathering at a theater uptown." [No word yet if Moore has agreed to be the organization's poster child.]
GOP 2004: Michael Moore Draws McCain Barb, Taunts from Crowd
By Joe Strupp
Published: August 30, 2004
NEW YORK The biggest commotion at the Republican National Convention Monday night occurred just before 10 p.m. with the entrance of filmmaker Michael Moore, who was repeatedly halted by security attempting to reach his reserved press seat in section #340 facing the side of the stage. Moore is writing a daily column this week for USA Today.
Then, after taking his seat, he watched as Senator John McCain referred to a certain "disingenuous film-maker who would have us believe that Saddam's Iraq was an oasis of peace," and seemed to glance at Moore above him. Much of the audience erupted in boos and then, turning to Moore, many delegates chanted "Four more years!"
Moore exclaimed, "Two more months!" He also said, "I can't believe they'd mention the film and help the box office."
A short while later Moore exited, accompanied by heavy security. He told E & P on the way out that he was not fleeing: He had to speak to a Planned Parenthood gathering at a theater uptown.
About this time, his first USA Today column, for Tuesday's edition, appeared online, titled "The GOP Doesn't Reflect America."
Earlier, Moore had received more hassling than usual over press credentials on his way upstairs to his seat. Then it took 20 minutes for him to get from the hallway just outside to the seat, as he was stopped by security two more times.
Informed by a reporter that this was highly unusual, Moore quipped: "How well is YOUR movie doing?"
When he finally reached his seat, so many cameramen gathered that reporters already seated complained that the crush was disturbing their work.
Moore, dressed in his trademark red baseball cap and jeans, told E & P, "I don't why they are checking my credentials so much. I have the right credentials." He added, however, that so far this week "the police have been helpful." and "I have had not negative things said to me by any Republican."
Some Republicans nearby, however, were not shy about sharing their views of Moore with reporters. A GOP consultant from Pennsylvania, David Welch, said, "He's a troublemaker. I think he's here to cause trouble."
"I just want to do some work," Moore said. "This is an important historical event."
Finally seated, he wrote on a notepad, not a laptop, with security guards stationed at each end of his row. Then McCain made his reference and suddenly Republicans were not treating him so nicely.
In his USA Today column, Moore congratulated the Republicans for being able to seize power while only representing one-third of the populace. "Our side is full of wimps who'd rather compromise than fight," he explained. "Not you guys."
Noting that the convention would focus on moderates, Moore charged that Republicans know "that the only way to hold onto power is to pass themselves off as, well, as most Americans. It's a good show."