Michael Moore's Moment of Shame

Chicago Suntimes ^ | March 25, 2003 | Editorial Staff

[Kernel Knowledge]

We got a look at the nature of our enemy over the last few days. Pretending to surrender, Iraqi forces opened fire on coalition forces advancing to accept their surrender. Other Iraqis discarded their uniforms to make war in civilian dress. Then came the humiliation of captured American troops on Iraqi TV. All are violations of the Geneva conventions of war. And worst of all was strong suspicion that Americans taken prisoner were executed. None of that bothers movie maker Michael Moore; he's still fighting the 2000 election.

Upon winning an Oscar Sunday night, Moore lumbered to the stage, the buttons on his tux threatening to blast away, evidence that what he stuffs in his mouth is a bigger threat to his health than the guns he rails against in his documentary "Bowling for Columbine."

Clapping was heard as his acceptance speech began with a bow to other documentary nominees. But when Moore launched into a particularly vicious, no-class attack on the president, according to the New York Times, "scattered applause was drowned by a chorus of boos that echoed through the auditorium." It must have unnerved Moore a bit because backstage he immediately began trying to spin reporters, alleging that only "five loud people booed."

We weren't there, but it sounded on TV like more than five people, though we don't doubt that the Academy Award audience was largely anti-Bush and anti-war. Still it was comforting to hear the boos, even if there was no evidence they were coming from the biggest stars made incredibly wealthy by the American people, more than 70 percent of whom support Bush.

Moore sneered that we have a "fictitious president," alluding to the controversial 2000 election which, from Moore's view, ended unhappily. More disappointing for him was the 2002 election, which Democrats made a referendum on Bush and which he won stunningly. Moore scoffed that the war was being fought "for fictitious reasons." Never mind 17 UN resolutions ignored by Saddam Hussein, two wars against neighbors, or the murder, torture, rape and oppression endured by millions of Iraqis.

But these, of course, are facts, and Moore wouldn't let pesky things like that get in his way. Nor would the thought of dead Americans on a battlefield far from home deny this egomaniac his chance to prance and strut on the stage, spewing rantings that amount to "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

[Kernel Knowledge]

Nobody said it better

[cincinnati65]

Nah. Moore's just a HUGE Dixie Chicks fan, and wanted to take some of the heat off poor Natalie....(barf)

[plusone]

I wonder what Moore would say if Gore were president now?

[Revolting cat!]

You're right, well stated!

[rocke031]

"Pass the gravy" would be my guess

[Paul Atreides]

The Blob is in denial.

[marktwain]

his documentary "Bowling for Columbine."

This should be "his fraudulent documentary".

[plusone]

Good one!!

[SolitaryMan]

Heard on local talk radio that it's common knowledge in Detriot that Moore is actually Palestinian.....should say a lot.

[Paul Atreides]

Discounting the inaccuracies and liberal bent, he shouldn't have gotten it for his crass whining to the press about the Academy passing him over.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

I think it speaks VOLUMES that Hollywierd would have MOORE as a spokesperson. He was resoundingly CHEERED at the "Spirits Awards" by the same crowd only two days before. He said the SAME THING THEN!!

A few stars have stated they found it appalling... but not enough. Not on a day that our troops were captured, tortured and executed. The silence (even despite the boo'ing) was deafening....

[breakem]

He would say. "I want to commend the president for working closely with the French and Russians to avoid war." Gore would be doing nothing.

[Senator Goldwater]

Jelly needs to get back in line before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade begins.

[Toespi]

Unfortunately, there were still too many hoorahs in the crowd during Michael Moore's acceptance speech. I am surprised that so many are willing to give those brave "BOOERS" at the Oscars a freebie on this. When they publicly denounce Moore's diatribe and condemn him for speaking for them by using the word "we" only then should they be praised. In Hollywood it is all about money and power and contracts. The fingers go up and they test the wind, the wind machine in Hollywood happens to be Spielberg and right now Spielberg is in support of the war, don't think they don't know it.

[Russell Scott]

Beware of the Blob!
It creeps and leaps and glides and slides across the floor
Right through the door and all around the wall ,
A splotch, a blotch,
Be careful of the Blob!

[weegee]

I wonder what Moore would say if Gore were president now?

That Ralph Nader or Noam Chomsky would be doing a better job.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Please take a moment to let the SunTimes know how much we appreciate their comments ........ thanks......

[Ichneumon]

I saw a replay, and when the camera switch to the audience during Moore's rant, out of several hundred people within the view of the camera, only *one* person was clapping (couldn't see the face, don't know if it was a "name" celebrity), at least 4 were visibly booing, and *everyone* else was sitting in very uncomfortable stony-faced silence with expressions of "how tacky" on their faces.

[weegee]

[sarasmom]

It didnt work.

In fact, I would guess that every single entertainer who has been gleefully bashing the President and the USA, makes the Ditsey Chits cringe right about now.It reinforces the point that celebrities think they have some kind of immunity from the consequences of their words and actions.

Lots of people dont understand that the Ditsey Chits have been skating on thin ice since they bashed Toby Keith for his wildly popular song,"The Angry American".Their stupid remarks bashing Bush, and bringing in the state of Texas to do so,pandering to an anti-American audience, was just the final straw.

In a way, its entertaining watching entertainers self destruct because they believe their own press releases.