Wednesday, September 29, 2004
FEAR FACTOR: Filmmaker urges Kerry vote ... or else
BY PATRICIA MONTEMURRI FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
September 29, 2004
MANDI WRIGHT/DFPAuthor and filmmaker Michael Moore speaks at the University of Michigan-Dearborn on Tuesday.
If free underwear and Ramen noodles aren't enough to entice college students to vote on Nov. 2, filmmaker Michael Moore is trying to scare them into voting for John Kerry by suggesting that President George W. Bush will reinstate the military draft if re-elected.
Moore, a Flint native and Oscar-winning documentary maker, spoke to about 2,000 people Tuesday at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in an appearance designed to pump up voter turnout among young people and tear down the Bush presidency. He gave away free underwear and noodle packages to first-time voters after he criticized Bush's motives and conduct of the war in Iraq, as he does in his recent film, "Fahrenheit 9/11."
"They have run out of troops. And that means only one thing. If George Bush is elected in November, there is going to be a draft. ... And if you're 18 to 26 years old, you are going to face the draft," he said. "This is what he's got in mind."
The Bush administration, the Pentagon and other federal officials deny any such plan exists. But Moore and some leading Democrats are fueling the rumor, which is being stoked on Internet chat rooms and on the campaign trail. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, stumping for Kerry, recently suggested Bush would reinstate the draft.
Heather Layman, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said Moore's statements are "the same unfounded and irresponsible suggestion that John Kerry himself and several of his surrogates have made recently, and continue to make despite the fact that President Bush has said specifically we do not need the draft."
Moore, an unabashed liberal rabble-rouser who took on General Motors in the movie "Roger and Me" and won an Oscar for "Bowling for Columbine," is on what he's dubbed the "Slacker Uprising Tour" of college campuses in 20 battleground states. It was his third day of speeches in Michigan.
Moore chastised Democrats for worrying so much about Kerry's chances -- pouting and speaking in a whiny voice -- and contrasted that with a portrayal of Bush backers as relentless and focused. He even held out his arm in a Nazi-like salute, as he mocked Bush backers at the GOP national convention who chanted "four more years" for the president.
He offered some debate advice for Kerry as the Massachusetts senator prepared to meet Bush on Thursday night in the first of three debates.
Kerry needs to "look at Bush and use two words: Where's Osama?" Moore said, referring to Al Qaeda terror mastermind Osama bin Laden.
Moore asked first-time voters to come forward, saying his tour was designed to push nonvoters off the couch and into the voting booth.
About a dozen people came forward. The women got Ramen noodles; new male voters got packs of free underwear.
Signs at the doors told spectators that by entering, they were giving consent to be filmed and to possibly appear in a later Moore production.
About a dozen Bush supporters waved signs outside, including Chris Taylor, 23, of New York City, who said he's traveling to Moore's engagements to offer up the GOP perspective.
"You people are going to be so sad on Nov. 3," he said.
Tickets were free for University of Michigan-Dearborn students, who got them early, and were $5 for anyone else. Moore was invited to U-M Dearborn by Zahra Huber, 20, the president of the campus' Society of Journalists. Moore's visit was paid for with funds from ticket fees and $7,000 in money allocated for student activities, Huber said.
Ed Bagale, the U-M Dearborn vice chancellor of government relations, said the college Republicans also will have similar funds to bring in a pro-Bush speaker later.
Moore is scheduled to speak at Wayne State University at noon today and at the University of Michigan's Hill Auditorium at 7:30 tonight. Both appearances are sold out.
Amy Parsons, 20, of Wyandotte asked Moore whether he feels people treat him as a celebrity or as a political leader.
"I just feel like I'm overweight," quipped Moore.
Contact PATRICIA MONTEMURRI at 313-223-4538 or montemurri@freepress.com.
Copyright © 2004 Detroit Free Press Inc.
BY PATRICIA MONTEMURRI FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
September 29, 2004
MANDI WRIGHT/DFPAuthor and filmmaker Michael Moore speaks at the University of Michigan-Dearborn on Tuesday.
If free underwear and Ramen noodles aren't enough to entice college students to vote on Nov. 2, filmmaker Michael Moore is trying to scare them into voting for John Kerry by suggesting that President George W. Bush will reinstate the military draft if re-elected.
Moore, a Flint native and Oscar-winning documentary maker, spoke to about 2,000 people Tuesday at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in an appearance designed to pump up voter turnout among young people and tear down the Bush presidency. He gave away free underwear and noodle packages to first-time voters after he criticized Bush's motives and conduct of the war in Iraq, as he does in his recent film, "Fahrenheit 9/11."
"They have run out of troops. And that means only one thing. If George Bush is elected in November, there is going to be a draft. ... And if you're 18 to 26 years old, you are going to face the draft," he said. "This is what he's got in mind."
The Bush administration, the Pentagon and other federal officials deny any such plan exists. But Moore and some leading Democrats are fueling the rumor, which is being stoked on Internet chat rooms and on the campaign trail. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, stumping for Kerry, recently suggested Bush would reinstate the draft.
Heather Layman, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said Moore's statements are "the same unfounded and irresponsible suggestion that John Kerry himself and several of his surrogates have made recently, and continue to make despite the fact that President Bush has said specifically we do not need the draft."
Moore, an unabashed liberal rabble-rouser who took on General Motors in the movie "Roger and Me" and won an Oscar for "Bowling for Columbine," is on what he's dubbed the "Slacker Uprising Tour" of college campuses in 20 battleground states. It was his third day of speeches in Michigan.
Moore chastised Democrats for worrying so much about Kerry's chances -- pouting and speaking in a whiny voice -- and contrasted that with a portrayal of Bush backers as relentless and focused. He even held out his arm in a Nazi-like salute, as he mocked Bush backers at the GOP national convention who chanted "four more years" for the president.
He offered some debate advice for Kerry as the Massachusetts senator prepared to meet Bush on Thursday night in the first of three debates.
Kerry needs to "look at Bush and use two words: Where's Osama?" Moore said, referring to Al Qaeda terror mastermind Osama bin Laden.
Moore asked first-time voters to come forward, saying his tour was designed to push nonvoters off the couch and into the voting booth.
About a dozen people came forward. The women got Ramen noodles; new male voters got packs of free underwear.
Signs at the doors told spectators that by entering, they were giving consent to be filmed and to possibly appear in a later Moore production.
About a dozen Bush supporters waved signs outside, including Chris Taylor, 23, of New York City, who said he's traveling to Moore's engagements to offer up the GOP perspective.
"You people are going to be so sad on Nov. 3," he said.
Tickets were free for University of Michigan-Dearborn students, who got them early, and were $5 for anyone else. Moore was invited to U-M Dearborn by Zahra Huber, 20, the president of the campus' Society of Journalists. Moore's visit was paid for with funds from ticket fees and $7,000 in money allocated for student activities, Huber said.
Ed Bagale, the U-M Dearborn vice chancellor of government relations, said the college Republicans also will have similar funds to bring in a pro-Bush speaker later.
Moore is scheduled to speak at Wayne State University at noon today and at the University of Michigan's Hill Auditorium at 7:30 tonight. Both appearances are sold out.
Amy Parsons, 20, of Wyandotte asked Moore whether he feels people treat him as a celebrity or as a political leader.
"I just feel like I'm overweight," quipped Moore.
Contact PATRICIA MONTEMURRI at 313-223-4538 or montemurri@freepress.com.
Copyright © 2004 Detroit Free Press Inc.
