Posted on 01/06/2005 7:22:11 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
The Dem post-election soul searching continues. This morning, Katie Couric conducted an extended, two-part interview with noisome filmmaker and left-wing activist Michael Moore. And while Moore clearly intended to include Katie when he spoke of "our side," and while Katie never declined the reference, it was also obvious that Couric feels that Moore is part of the Dems' problem.
Moore's fundamental argument was that there is nothing wrong with the Dem party. When Katie suggested the Dems have perhaps lost touch with basic American values, Moore contended that to the contrary the American people agree with Dem policies, offering abortion, gun control and the environment as issues on which Americans tend to favor Dem positions over GOP ones.
The only problem, in this movie director's opinion, is the way the message is presented and in the personality of the candidate. According to Moore, the Republicans successfully used scare tactics, suggesting that terrorism is a real problem (it's not?) that could kill people at any moment. And whereas Moore spent months disparaging W, now he portrays him as a likeable "Gilligan-lite" character with whom people identify.
Moore suggested that the Dems need to find likeable candidates, and threw out a number of names, including Oprah, Tom Hanks, Obama and various members of the Kennedy clan.
Katie wasn't buying, and her personal antipathy toward Moore was obvious. Recall that back during the DNC, when Moore invited Katie to accompany him to that night's convention activities, Couric gave him the classic sorority girl brush-off: "sorry, I'm busy. I'm arranging my sock drawer."
Katie suggested that Moore was part of the Dem problem, not the solution. She alluded to his vitriolic nature, quoted some of the very nasty things he had had to say about W, and in the unkindest cut of all, suggesting that the beached-whale-like Moore "embodied" the problems of the Dem party.
Moore threw in a stock line about how he "loved" America. Right. This from the guy who traipsed around Europe deriding his compatriots as "the dumbest people in the world."
Turning to his next film, which will focus on (read: attack) the drug industry, Katie asked whether Moore was willing to give the drug industry any credit for curing various diseases, or whether to the contrary he saw them as "pure evil."
"Pure evil," was Moore's unequivocal response. Putting in a plug for socialism, he asserted that health care was a right, and that "the profit motive should be entirely removed" from the area. That's right, the profit motive, the driving force that has brought us virtually all of the world's innovations in every field including health care, should be abolished, to be replaced by government bureaucracy.
In any case, Katie and Moore's conversation epitomized the kind of frustrated thrashing in which Dems around the country continue to engage.
By all means, let the unshaved, elephantine Moore continue to be the face of the Democrat party!
"Moore suggested that the Dems need to find likeable candidates, and threw out a number of names, including Oprah, Tom Hanks, Obama and various members of the Kennedy clan."
It's very clear that the dems are interested in power at any cost and the country to d@mned.
after losing two family members, the Kennedy clam is shying away from running for public office, except for Teddy. He stays in the same office for over 40 years.
Today Show "Elephant Man" ping.
PS: I know that many FReepers rightly object to the "lookism" inherent in criticizing people for their weight. But in Moore's case, there is something about his excess avoirdupois that stands in contrast with his fundamental argument that we are a society of rich, indulgent, selfish people. That makes his girth fair game IMHO.
Michael Moore is the personification of the democratic party... Keep fighting for that secular socialist democracy Moore... longer you and the dems keep fighting for that goal, the more irrellevant you all will become.
Didnt he say something about Ohio and black congresscritters not being heard in Congress, implying that because they are black, they won't be heard. I just caught a nanosecond of this crap.
He may be end up being the best thing that's ever happened to the Republican party.
"Moore suggested that the Dems need to find likeable candidates, and threw out a number of names, including Oprah, Tom Hanks, Obama and various members of the Kennedy clan."
I think we have all been had. Moore is very likely a GOP plant. ;) Rove couldn't buy remarks like this. Strangely, I'm hoping Moore keeps public and continutes to spout such craziness.
Made me look that one up. At first I thought it might be a sub species of the hippo.
I was channel surfing and heard Katie mention Moore and wondered if you would post today! I just cannot watch so thanks for the report.
"That's right, the profit motive, the driving force that has brought us virtually all of the world's innovations in every field including health care, should be abolished, to be replaced by government bureaucracy."
They just do not get it..
When did Katie Couric start thinking, for a change?
She thinks Moore hurt her beloved dems more than he hurt Bush...That's the secret.
Yes. He mentioned that Fahrenheit 911 began with footage of black congressmen being denied the right to speak. He added that some of them want to challenge the Ohio results, but apparently they, despite being members of the House, want to address the Senate, and it would take the agreement of a Senator to permit this extremely unusual event. Sounds like even Barack won't ride to their rescue.
In Moore's case, it is ;-)
Good work. Hey, she sure has the $$ to finance a campaign!
I can't watch her. Thanks for a good report.
My pleasure. Katie's manifest loathing of Moore made the spectacle not only watchable but actually quite amusing!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.