Who thinks that Michael Moore should speak at the convention?

[MikeG]

[Jack_Dawson]

1. He's an "Independent"

+ he's actually not a terrific speaker. Gets kind of excited. Should let his movie do the talking.

[MikeG]

5. On Al Franken's first day he apologized to Al Gore

For not voting for him.

Sounds like a Democrat to me.

[sangh0]

7. He's an independent

no matter how it sounds to you. He's stated that numerous times but I guess there's a chance you know his political affiliation better than he does.

[MikeG]

8. Could you be a little less snotty.

[Pastiche423]

19. You are asking the impossible

:evilgrin:

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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

[Columbia]

62. Actually he's a Democrat in NY

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0628041moore1.html

[Lakerstan]

63. ...and he WILL be in Boston!

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=99

[mzmolly]

46. I think he would take from the attention of the convention and the

issues we'll be putting fourth.

The press would be about Moore, vs. the Democratic Party and it's candidates. ;)

[Suzi Creamcheese]

53. I'll bet he would attract a lot of press attention

He's been all over the press, that would be good given that they said they are not going to cover much of the convention this year. I'll bet Moore would attract their attention.

[Cannikin]

2. I think Moore, Whoopi, etc..would push more undecided's away..

[AlCzervik]

10. agreed

[cprise]

3. <crickets chirping>

Really, Moore is great but him and DNC are two things that do not go together.

[matcom]

4. No

let the FILM do the talking with NO endorsement from Moore.

the silence is what is deafening.

plus, Moore isn't exactly a Dem Party Donor.

not that i disagree with him at all, and F9/11 is BRILLIANT but no. he shouldn't be a speaker at EITHER convention.

i doubt he would even accept

[MikeG]

29. I don't agree with you.

We are cowering like we got this thing wrapped up.

We don't. We need to be bolder.

I think he'd be flattered.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

32. Who's cowering?

I'm not!

Are you?

[sangh0]

6. And Idi Amin

Don't forget ole Idi. And who cares if he's dead

[CaTeacher]

12. why are people saying MM is a bad speaker?

I have heard him, and he can be a fantastic speaker.

I wouldn't mind hearing him, but I would rather him not repeat the F911 stuff (the movie is concise and well-done). I like it when he speaks about other topics, I actually think he could win people over.

Sadly, I don't think that he is a Democrat, and I don't think there is any possiblity of him speaking. And he is polarizing, but I don't really give a rat's ass about that.

[progressivebydesign]

9. No. I don't...

I think his film was wonderful. It opened a lot of eyes and hearts. BUT.. I think politicizing him anymore than he is right now would defeat the purpose of the film.. and close some minds that may be leaning toward voting Kerry. I think he should remain independent.

[onehandle]

11. Not me. nt

[rniel]

13. hell no

don't forget the democrats are still the lesser of the two evils and that's why we vote for them, but at the same time they take large sums of money from corporations too.

But GO Kerry, Edwards!!!!

[Cuban_Liberal]

14. No. n/t

15. It probably wouldn't be very Sensible to have him speak.

would it?
We need to have a nice decorous convention, right?
It might be somewhat misguided.
It would probably be better to have more weighty, ponderous speakers.
His tactics might be a little bad to highlight at the Democratic convention.





:evilgrin:

[Pastiche423]

20. I agree

What Sensible Liberal would?

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

34. Good post

wish I had said it as well!

[Pastiche423]

55. Sometimes subtlety is too...

subtle.

75. Sorry, I think you might have missed my point

look at the words I was using and then look at this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2036582

Check the congruences and you'll have a better idea what I was getting at.

I do think, that given the particular confluences of this election, having Moore speak at convention is very problematic & probably not a good idea, but I think that this is a crying shame and says something about politics in America right now.

[Demobrat]

39. You are right. It wouldn't be sensible at all.

It might make people think Democrats didn't support Bush.

[VolcanoJen]

16. Conventions are for political leaders - past, present and future.

Film screens, radios, prime-time television and computers are for entertainers.

I trust they know, and understand, the difference. I'm looking forward to hearing about the state of the Democratic platform, and its future, at the Dem National Convention. I don't want that obscured by the white hot heat of Michael Moore, love him as I do. :-)

[sampsonblk]

17. He changed the world, but no

Not the appropriate forum for his views. But he sure did us a lot of good, and his film will be seen for generations.

On edit: typo

[Bush was AWOL]

18. Terrible Idea

I like Mike and what he has done, but it would not be a good move to let him speak at the convention.

[MattNC]

21. No.

[MikeG]

23. This idea went over like a frigging lead balloon. OK Never mind.

[Kanary]

43. DU is tough, Mike -- Not a place to get warm fuzzies

Sorry, wish it was different, but that's the atmosphere...

I hadn't even thought of it as a possibility, so I'm glad you mentioned it.

Right now, I'll just be content to hear Dennis speak.

(watch all the anti-Dennis crap come out of the woodwork now........)

Kanary

[sangh0]

77. Looks like your prediction didn't come true

I don't see any anti-Dennis crap in this thread. Maybe you've exagerrated the level of Dennis-bashing on DU

[Generic Other]

24. When are liberals going to come out of the closet? We shouldn't cower

He has always defended the rights of workers, has fought tirelessly for his community, and consistently raised his voice in support of liberal causes. He has inspired us all not to give up our vision of creating a better society than the one Bush would curse us with.

Why are we so afraid to embrace our beliefs, to shout them to the world? Yes, we are liberal. Yes, we think responsible government is a good thing. Yes, we believe in helping the disadvantaged. Yes, we believe our taxes should support social programs. Yes, we believe in public education. And yes, we support the public good. We do not have anything to be ashamed of!

We don't have to hide our beliefs. We aren't the pedophiles of the Pentagon, the torturers of Abu Ghraib. We aren't the ones who want to control the energy resources of the world. We aren't the ones who installed a profit driven corporate boardroom in the white house.

As far as I'm concerned, if timid "newbie" Democrats find Michael Moore too leftie for them, they can go Cheney themselves! If they would rather flee back to the arms of the monsters they helped spawn,
they are beyond yours, mine or Michael Moore's power to sway them. They have chosen to be evil. That's a whole different level than just being stupid.

[Bush was AWOL]

25. I agree, but he has made very questionable comments

and some people (people we need to vote for Kerry) do not care for him to much. He's fine with the role he has right now.

[Generic Other]

26. political muzak

Oh, African Americans will just have to be patient...
The country isn't ready for a woman president...
His views are too extreme...

I was only following orders...

[Bush was AWOL]

33. I think this country is ready for a Woman president and

an African American president. I support both happening soon. I respect Moore and defend him constantly, but at times, he says controversial things, and I think he and the DNC both realize it would not be a good idea for him to speak at the convention. We're trying to win an election, and that comes before all else right now, imo.

[Generic Other]

58. Wasn't the Democratic party I once belonged to inclusive?

As soon as some of you discover a neo-con flip flopper might be ready to drop you a bone, you start salivating like a pavlovian experiment.

These so-called right of center votes we're courting come with a huge price tag. They promise to join us if we become them. They want the country club exclusivity of their safe little GOP cocoons. Oh god, don't invite a real liberal like Michael Moore. The rank and file might remember what it was like when Democrats defended their beliefs rather than always looking for ways to water them down. Pablum-lite for newcomers. In the meantime, throw out your old friends, change how you look and act, make yourself over until you blur the distinctions between us and them. Yeah, that's worth fighting for.

I am a Democrat with a backbone. Not a lukewarm kowtowing toady so afraid that neo-cons won't like me that I will deny my allies to eat crumbs from my enemy's hands.

I stand by the people who have stood by me in the past 4 years. Michael Moore is #1 on that list ahead of John Kerry and every other politician in this country. None of them--Democrat or Republican have a whole lot to be proud of.

I'll vote for the one who isn't Bush. Michael Moore is the one who deserves my vote. There it is.

[Kanary]

65. Your words tonight are a balm to my soul

AFter taking a beating for advocating the DEMs stand up for poor folk, and watching the movie "The 60's" and seeing again what it WAS the Dems *USED* to be about, my hope in the party is pretty much shot. Just hearing there is one other person who remembers The Party That Was brings up my energy level.

May you be cloned........

Kanary

[StandUpGuy]

68. Hear Hear

We used to think people that spoke truth to power were heroes.
We used to think people brave enough to speak out against an immoral and illegal war were heroes.

Today we ask them not to embarrass us.

[Kanary]

70. *Very* well said!

[truthspeaker]

76. like what? What questionable comments?

[Mr_Spock]

27. 1) He's not a Democrat 2) He's not a politician 3) He doesn't give good

speeches 4) He's a lightning rod that has no positive side to him right now (preaching to the choir) 5) He's not even attractive to compensate for his mediocre speaking capabilities. So, no, no, no, no and no.

[MikeG]

28. Ron Reagan is not a Democrat, Why is that important?

The rest sound like superficial reasons.

I think we're being chickens.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

36. Is Ron Reagan speaking at the convention????

[Forkboy]

38. Yes

[Mr_Spock]

52. Nah, chickens are really dumb, this isn't such a dumb thing to avoid

can we win the White House BEFORE we annoint this guy? I really, really like his movies and especially F-911, but there are not many of the activist actors speaking at the DNC either (that I know of) - why is that?

[Generic Other]

60. We should be talking about Bush not Moore

We should be bashing our enemies not the one man who galvanized the left with his far-reaching film.

Where does any Democrat come off deciding who is and who isn't good enough to represent the party?

I am sick of the GOP sending colonies of parasitical followers to feed on the left like termites from a syphllitic whorehouse.

If agreeing with Michael Moore makes one too extreme for the Democratic party, then I will certainly keep that in mind the next time I get hit up for money.

[Columbia]

64. But he IS a Democrat

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0628041moore1.html

[SoCalDem]

30. Nope.. He is a valuable ally, because he is NOT a democrat

The Kerry folks are liking what he's doing, but they cannot openly condone it.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

31. I agree with the others

Moore's film has already done TONS of talking for him and for the rest of us (thank you Michael by the way!!).

Plus then the right can just say "See? They had that crazy nutjob at their convention" and freak out the fence sitters (they are easily freaked, I have found, either way).

[Kanary]

35. Is there any previous example of a non-politician speaking at the convent?

Couldn't fit in all of "convention", and decided "convent" looked fine. ~~chortle~~

Ok, but I'm cereal now....... has there ever been a member of the media as a speaker?

I don't ever remember that happening, but everything I don't remember would fill a huge library..... :hi:

Kanary

[MikeG]

37. Paul Glaser's wife on AIDS in 1992.

[Kanary]

41. Thanks, I didn't know that

[FredScuttle]

44. Ron Kovic at the 1976 Democratic Convention

dramatized, of course, in "Born on the Fourth of July"

[Kanary]

45. I *really* hate advertising my ignorance...... who...?

:hi:

Kanary

[MikeG]

47. It's OK. Tom Cruise played him.

He was a wheelchair-bound Vietnam Vet who protested the Republican convention.

[Kanary]

49. Since I don't go to movies, I guess I'm excused for not knowing this one..

But, it sounds like a good one to see...

Thanks....

Kanary

[Amaya]

40. Not a good idea

[newsguyatl]

42. too polarizing of a figure

don't get me wrong, i love him, but it wouldn't be a smart move -- and would no doubt turn mainstream off.

[DaveClearwater99]

48. Moore is to divisive a figure

But don't ya wish they could slip some clips from F-911 in. Just carefully selected little bits that a wider audience should see.

I know, I know. That'd give the droolers a target too but I can dream.

[0rganism]

50. No. He's ideologically incompatible with much of the Democratic party

and famously controversial to boot.

Kucinich could give a comparable speech, because although he's equally incompatible, he's been totally marginalized and ignored by the mass media.

[Suzi Creamcheese]

51. Has he endorsed a candidate yet?

I know he can't stand Bush, but I don't remember him formally endorsing Kerry. I think he would be a really good speaker at the convention but not unless we are certain he will endorse the candidate.

Someone correct me if I am wrong please. If he has, then I'm all for it.

[dumpster_baby]

54. please create a DU poll asking us this -eom

[voice of reason]

56. I think he should speak at RNC ; } n/t

[Anwen]

57. No...

I love Michael Moore, but his mere presence there would become the media's dream-come-true distraction from the entire convention.

[Rowdyboy]

59. You would DESTROY Michael Moore's credibility by tying him to one

party. Now he is an independent voice who is free to criticize as he sees fit. He is an "honest broker". If he spoke at the convention, he'd be just another partisan shill.

God I hope Michael Moore would have enough common sense to turn down such a offer, should it be made.

[Swamp Rat]

66. "You are correct SIR!" This is the best reason NOT to have him speak

I was willing to disagree with most of the "no" posts until I read yours about Moore as the "honest broker". Otherwise, I say invite Woopie, Janet, Moore, Cho, etc... a big "fuck you" to the "immoral majority." In fact, they should invite Varla (famous drag queen) who is funny as hell and does a GREAT Streisand imitation.

[Laughing Mirror]

72. Varla as Streisand would be a convention moment to cherish

You should contact the organizers and see if they could work her in, at the last moment. Washington just loves drag queens, always has. Varla would be a great addition to the party.

[EndElectoral]

61. Without question he should!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tight_rope]

67. No...but I thank him for an excellent movie that open our eyes to the

truth!

[doctorbombeigh]

69. Nope. He's fab, but he's got that "we can't afford you" thing...

hanging on him, a bit like Ralph. Neither of them is wrong, both are tremendously valuable and useful to the nation - but pragmatism must take the day if we want to take the day on Nov. 2.

For the purposes of the convention, we'll just have to worship him from afar.

[neverborn]

71. No.

[DaveSZ]

73. Bad idea

He's the Pat Buchanan/Pat Robertson of the left.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed his movie, but still...

[truthspeaker]

74. Better yet, Lila Lipscomb

[dmkinsey]

78. No

it's good for him to be the "attack dog" but the official campaign has to keep him at a distance

[mississippi]

79. No way.

It would be like the Republicans inviting Dr. Michael Savage.

[Selwynn]

80. No way.