Michael Moore's War Room Will Fight Back Against GOP Attacks

[buff2]

Michael Moore's War Room Will Fight Back Against GOP Attacks

Michael Finnegan, The Los Angeles Times, June 11, 2004

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/la-et-moore11jun11,1,1854646.s
tory?coll=la-home-headlines

There are movie campaigns and there are presidential campaigns, and
usually you can tell the difference. One features a red carpet, the
other a war room.

But "Fahrenheit 9/11," Michael Moore's scathing new documentary about
President Bush, has both.

Its release later this month appears to mark the first time that a film
slamming a major presidential candidate has opened on screens across the
nation in the final months of a campaign. At the same time, the movie is
producing a global publicity extravaganza for Moore and Miramax Film
founders Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who bought the film after Walt Disney
Co. refused to let Miramax release it.

The scramble to bring the dark, often satirical film to U.S. movie
screens is blending Hollywood and presidential politics in ways never
seen in a race for the White House. While the filmmakers deny any overt
effort to promote the candidacy of the presumed Democratic presidential
nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, their efforts fall clearly
in sync with the campaign to unseat Bush.

To anticipate and fend off the criticism that already is brewing, Moore
has set up a "war room" populated by former Clinton White House
operatives plotting swift counterattacks on Bush supporters who question
the film's credibility.

To lead the effort, Moore has hired Chris Lehane and Mark Fabiani,
former political advisors to Bill Clinton and Al Gore. "Employing the
Clinton strategy of '92, we will allow no attack on this film to go
without a response immediately," Moore said Thursday. "And we will go
after anyone who slanders me or my work, and we will do it without
mercy. And when you think 'without mercy,' you think Chris Lehane."

Moore also said he planned to use the film to register thousands of
voters, and will stage screenings to benefit antiwar groups set up by
families of U.S. troops in Iraq and victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

1. Chris Lehane, Vomit

Oh well. At least he won't be associated with Kerry's actual campaign.

DTH

[MoonRiver]

5. God, I love to hear this kind of tough talk from powerful Democrats!!

:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

on edit: I meant to respond to the original post! Don't know anything about Lehane, Dove.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

10. Lehane Is a Dirty, Dirty Player

He is the oppo research king and scorched earth strategist who has gone after Dems (in the primaries) as much as Republicans.

DTH

[MoonRiver]

13. Is he a Green then?

[DoveTurnedHawk]

14. No, He's a Dem

But he's a wretched one, IMO.

He worked for Kerry at the start of the primaries, then moved over to Clark. It's rumored that Lehane was responsible for both the Dean tapes where he was capping on the Iowa primaries, and the Kerry intern rumor, although neither has been confirmed.

DTH

[MoonRiver]

16. He sounds like a hired gun.

I guess the question is whether he can be trusted.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

18. I Think So, But

He's really a reflection of the worst of politics, IMO.

I believe he stays bought, however.

DTH

[MoonRiver]

19. Well, at least there's that.

Also, with such a reputation he must be really good.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

20. He's Good at Dredging Dirt

He's a terrible speaker, however, and he comes across as this sleazy, short, slimy dude.

His rapid response is OK, but nothing like Carville's, IMO.

DTH

[MoonRiver]

21. Goodness. I wish Moore hadn't tapped him.

I bet there were much better, and less controversial, choices. :(

[DoveTurnedHawk]

24. I Think for Moore's Purposes, He Might Do OK

I mean, Moore's not running for anything, and I doubt the backlash against him for "going negative" with Lehane will be very relevant.

I just can't stand the little prick. :D

DTH

[MoonRiver]

26. Guess as long as he gets the jobs done, which are electing Kerry,

and putting * in the Hague, we can't complain!

[Zinfandel]

32. And what would you do to defend against Rove, with the media at the

republicans disposal 24/7, the republican corporations have all the money in the world, they lie, smear & distort democrats positiona on real issues...and we are the nice democrats, and we should sit back and take it and play fair, you know Karma and all!

What bullshit, those tactics have given us a stolen republican presidency, a republican senate, a republican Congress, over two thirds republican governors, a republican majority in the Supreme Court and on and on.

Clinton knew you had to fight these lying and get right back in their mug if you want to win...that's what he did and that's why he won, twice!

[Jade Fox]

29. Yeah, fight! Kick back hard! Don't offer one iota of apology for..

your film, Michael.

If they don't like your movie, tuff. After this past week of Reagan revisionism
I'm sick of people getting away with sugar-coating the truth. I'm tired
of other people getting fired and threatened for what used to be known
as free speech.

[wyldwolf]

2. Heard about this a few weeks back...

...can't wait to get more info and damn! I wish I could be involved.

[Tatiana]

3. Can we put Lehane out to pasture already?

Though I think Fabiani is a great choice. I love the whole idea of a "War Room." After all, it was enormously successful in '92.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mnemosyne]

6. It is documentary, contains facts.

something that has never influenced the Bush administration.

[kaitykaity]

8. It IS a documentary.

Just because it has a slant doesn't mean it isn't
factual.

Love Bush's golf swing after he spounts off about
the war on terra. "Watch this drive." What a moran.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

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[MoonRiver]

27. You tell US, dot dot dot....

Or should we just consider you "dotty"?

[kaitykaity]

28. Oh, please.

Get that Bush imitating denial crap out of here.
You revealed yourself to be what you are long ago.
Denying it now only makes you look foolish.

Remember how much you hated Bill Clinton? Remember
all of the names you called him and his beautiful
wife and daughter?

Well, payback is hell. And payback is coming. In
spades.

[Stephanie]

9. BS you saw it

I call bullshit on you. WHERE did you see it, pray tell? Were you in Cannes?

[MoonRiver]

17. Notice the lack of reply.

ALERT!

[datasuspect]

30. um . . .

you can get screener copies on p2p networks like shareaza.

[K-W]

11. It is a documentary.

Documentaries very often take stances.

[OpSomBlood]

12. You write like a telegraph.

Just wanted...to let...you know.

[Journeyman]

31. One of the great writers of the 20th century. . .

Louis Ferdinand Celine wrote long, incredible novels peppered with ellipses (the three dots). The technique was electrifying, imparting to his tales an urgency, a sense of immediacy and excitement that captivated his audience. He was a pioneering voice in black humor, and influenced writers both throughout Europe and in the States. Among those who've given public testament to his influence were Joseph Heller and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. No one ever accused him of writing like a telegraph (though that assessment was given to his contemporary, Ernest Hemingway).

Just a little literary trivia to lighten and enlighten. It has nothing to do with Swivel Gun, who appears to have been an ass before he was tombstoned.

[Cleita]

7. I think Michael should go out of the country for awhile until we

take our government back. Ireland welcomes, poets, writers and artists. Go to Ireland, Michael, and watch the fireworks from there.

[dbt]

15. Church Lady on original post:

"Blending Hollywood and politics, now isn't that special. Who could possibly have come up with such an idea? Could it be...REAGAN?"

:evilgrin:
dbt