Fahrenheit 911 director takes a stand on Clinton vs. Obama
(Updated April 22nd: Michael Moore issued a formal endorsement of Sen. Obama yesterday, citing negative campaign tactics used by Sen. Clinton in the Pennsylvania primary as his reason. Specifically, he referred to Clinton's remarks in a recent debate, in which she responded to a question about Rev. Wright, saying she would have walked out of the church and was disturbed about the pastor's close friendship with Louis Farrakan. Moore said, "This sleazy attempt to smear Obama was brilliantly explained the following night by Stephen Colbert. He pointed out that if Obama is supported by Ted Kennedy, who is Catholic, and the Catholic Church is led by a Pope who was in the Hitler Youth, that can mean only one thing: OBAMA LOVES HITLER!
"Yes, Senator Clinton, that's how you sounded. Like you were nuts. Like you were a bigot stoking the fires of stupidity. How sad that I would ever have to write those words about you. You have devoted your life to good causes and good deeds. And now to throw it all away for an office you can't win unless you smear the black man so much that the superdelegates cry 'Uncle (Tom)' and give it all to you.")
---------------------------------
February 7, 2008
Michael Moore, the director of the acclaimed documentaries Sicko and Fahrenheit 911, appeared on a recent edition of the Larry King show, saying he would not endorse either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama in the Democratic primaries. Although most analysts have touted Clinton's universal heath care proposal for as the best of anyone in the race, Moore said he couldn't get behind her because of her vote authorizing the use of military force in Iraq back in 2002. He added as a result of that one failure, he found the idea of endorsing her "morally reprehensible" .
His explanation seemed at odds with his stance in a previous election campaign. In 2004, Moore both endorsed and actively campaigned for Retired General Wesley Clark, who ran on the Democratic ticket against John Kerry. Clark is known among some left wing activists as "The Butcher of the Balkans", referring to his role in the bombing of Kosovo in the 1990s.
Clinton is well known for her lifelong advocacy of special needs kids and children's health care. She was pivotal in getting the S-CHIP program passed during a Republican-controlled Congress. SCHIP provides free health care to about six million children annually.
If Moore finds Clinton reprehensible, why is he holding back on an endorsement of Sen. Obama?
It appears the outspoken filmmaker may be posturing in a way calculated to exact damage on Clinton, while avoiding a run-in with the many nurses' associations and unions around the country who have endorsed Clinton and been instrumental in disseminating Sicko.
--Rosemary Regello
Copyright 2008 TheCityEdition.com