Michael Moore Statement on Canadian Election

[Stockholm]

Michael Moore is currently in production on his next movie. As an avid lover of all things Canadian, he has issued the following statement regarding Canada's upcoming election on Monday:

Oh, Canada -- you're not really going to elect a Conservative majority on Monday, are you? That's a joke, right? I know you have a great sense of humor, and certainly a well-developed sense of irony, but this is no longer funny. Maybe it's a new form of Canadian irony -- reverse irony! OK, now I get it. First, you have the courage to stand against the war in Iraq -- and then you elect a prime minister who's for it. You declare gay people have equal rights -- and then you elect a man who says they don't. You give your native peoples their own autonomy and their own territory -- and then you vote for a man who wants to cut aid to these poorest of your citizens. Wow, that is intense! Only Canadians could pull off a hat trick of humor like that. My hat's off to you.

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?id=192

[iverglas]

1. sadly

While those of us who would never consider voting for the Conservatives will appreciate the humour and the motives, the effect of Michael's contribution is likely to be negative on balance.

The effect of pointing out the US govt's obvious preference for (and the apparent Republican snuggling with) the Conservative Party is to give its opponents an upper hand in the who's-on-your-side ledger, among people who don't like Republicans in particular and USAmerican interference in general.

But there are also people who don't like Michael Moore (or "liberals", or whatever) in particular and who can now righteously claim not to like USAmerican interference in general, and do the double-entry accounting. It just cancels out the Conservatives' Republicans-on-our-side entry. Not in reality, of course -- the outrage wouldn't really be righteous in this case at all; just in the discourse of demagoguery. But we all know that counts for a lot.

We just have to hope it doesn't get wide circulation. Moore should really have known that anything he said wasn't likely to dissuade anyone who was planning to vote Conservative from doing so, but might just offer the Conservatives some self-righteous indignation to subtly prod their soft vote with. Discretion can really be the better part of neighbourly concern at times.

[MrPrax]

2. From the Man...

who endorsed a General for President during a war?

Shut up...we don't need a sleazy gun supporting faux American liberal telling us about OUR politics anymore than we need lectures from American ambassadors.

[Mother Jones]

3. gun supporting?

What are you talking about?


Hey, we all chimed in during their elections, wars, etc...so I do think they can comment on ours.

[iverglas]

4. aw, c'mon

Hey, we all chimed in during their elections, wars, etc...so I do think they can comment on ours.

Are we actually comparable? I kinda feel like I get voice in their elections, if not vote, because it's entirely foreseeable that I'm going to be affected more negatively in some ways (and if not me, a lot of much more vulnerable people elsewhere in the world I kinda feel some responsibility toward) than a whole lot of USAmericans themselves ever will be.

Not much we do up here is going to have that kind of effect on either them down there or anybody else.

And really -- Moore's contribution isn't likely to help the side of right up here anyhow, and might just hurt it.

gun supporting?
What are you talking about?

Never mistake a critic of USAmerican gun culture for an advocate of the kind of firearms control that vastly most Canadians want. It would be kinda like mistaking John Kerry for Jack Layton ... or John Kennedy for Tommy Douglas ... or George W. Bush for Dief ... ;)

[Mother Jones]

7. Moore is a supporter of the gun registry

He went on at length in Bowling for Columbine about it.

I agree we're talking apples and oranges if we start comparing U.S to Canadian politicians, and, like you, I agree we're less likely to have an effect. But that doesn't mean we can't have people comment on what's happening....seems like a double standard to me.

[MrPrax]

8. Really?

So what other American celebrities would you like to see influence Canadian elections? You think about that for awhile and then see if this camel's nose in the tent is really worth it. Besides, he might be all for gun control here, but he has made it very clear in the US that he is a 'right to bear arms' creep as well.

Let's see--Moore is a gun nut, fastfood freak, arch-protectionist, makes juvenile racist comments (rem 'scaredy cat' comment), doesn't support withdrawal, backed a general for President that nearly started ww3, and oh fuck it ... you tell me which part here meshes up with progressives you know in Canada?

But maybe I missed something in Bowling for Columbine, but DO people in Toronto really keep their doors unlocked? I saw it in the theatre and there was huge groans over that one. If he got something THAT wrong, then I really do question his--um--knowledge of Canada.

Some aspects of his movies/shows are fine, but they are made for entertainment purposes. There are lots of inaccuracies going back to Roger and Me and Yeah yeah--I know--that's what repukes say. But so what, am I or you suppose to go along with the BS, simply cause Moore says he is a liberal and hates Bush.


Yeah yeah I know...he says flattering things about Canada that makes some Canucks feel good that an American like Canada.

(Gawd...the guy should be barred entry for 'Canadian Bacon' alone)

But I am mean--I think Rick Mercer is a phony too ;-)

[Mother Jones]

9. Nothing to do with 'celebrity' status whatsoever

And for the record, I don't believe this has any bearing on our election outcome either.

Go right ahead and rip a strip off of every person who isn't as progressive as you are. You are obviously the standard bearer for 'progressives'.


Personally, I'll pick my battles, thanks.....I have more in common with progressives, regardless of where they sit on the "left", or whether they agree with me on this issue, or that issue and I'll save my arguments for the lunatic fringe.


p.s In the film, it was Windsor, not Toronto, he was finding unlocked doors....Just sayin.

[iverglas]

5. not that I endorse everything you say

but I sure do get a kick out of seeing you called a stealth Harper-likker. ;)

[daleo]

6. I don't mind his chiming in

He will alienate people who were already planning to vote for Harper and energize people who were planning to vote against him. I don't think it will affect many undecideds.