Daschle denies hugging Moore
There was no hug between "Fahrenheit 9/11" director Michael Moore and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle at the film's June 23 premiere in Washington, D.C., Daschle said Thursday.
When asked about Moore's account of a hug after the premiere and the criticism Daschle has received for it, the South Dakota Democrat said he and Moore did not embrace. Daschle said his schedule forced him to arrive late and leave early.
"I know we senators all tend to look alike. But I arrived late, and I had to leave early for Senate votes. I didn't meet Mr. Moore," Daschle said.
In a lengthy Time magazine piece about the movie and its political effects, Richard Corliss reported Moore's criticism of Daschle's leadership and the filmmaker's account of a hug with Daschle.
"At the Washington premiere, Moore sat a few rows behind Daschle. Afterward, says Moore, ‘He gave me a hug and said he felt bad and that we were all gonna fight from now on. I thanked him for being a good sport,'" Corliss wrote.
Daschle, who was at the premiere at the invitation of producer/distributor Harvey Weinstein, said he and Moore have never met.
Several things can be taken from this single sentence, and their veracity are easily checked.
1) I know we senators all tend to look alike.
This means that other senators were in attendance.
2) But I arrived late, and I had to leave early for Senate votes.
Did the other senators in attendance also leave early for senate votes? If no, why was Dashcle the only one to leave early for votes.
Further, lets get the congressional record and see what votes where scheduled for, and conducted on the night the film was shown, and the roll call of the votes cast.