by Judi McLeod
June 19, 2004
Filmmaker Michael Moore expanded his mission to root George W. Bush from the political garden last night, by going after dandelion Canadian Conservative leader Steven Harper.
Moore, who never crossed paths with a Conservative he liked, was in Toronto last night for the Canadian premiere of his controversial film Fahrenheit 9/11, coming to a theatre near you on June 25.
Motor Mouth Moore is angling for far more than box office profits. By virtue of showing the film just three days before the June 28 Canadian federal election, he’s counting on stopping Harper from ever becoming Prime Minister. Bush will have to wait his turn ‘till November.
any idea of keeping his powder dry is not the style of this filmmaker.
Signaling a warning to all, Moore is predicting that if Canadians swing to the right by electing Harper as the polls and media are saying, then nothing but dire consequences will follow.
"I can’t believe that you guys would think about going in that direction, when we’re (emphasis added) trying to get out of that direction," Moore told Toronto Star entertainment scribe Peter Howell.
"We’re", in this case is not the population of the United States of america, but Michael Moore and Company.
While he doesn’t do teacups, the controversial filmmaker also knows the June 28 schedule of Hollywood victim George W. Bush. "I hope this doesn’t happen. Bush is going to throw a party (after the Canadian election). He’s going to be a happy man. (Harper) has a big pair of scissors in his hand. He wants to snip away at your social safety net. He’d like this to be the 51st State."
Nor do the Prime Minister Paul Martin-led Liberals escape the wrath of this ugly american. If it wasn’t for them, you see, there wouldn’t have been a chance for Canada to go Conservative.
"They moved to the right (under Martin), which then validated the right."
Liking the lay of the political landscape, Moore has always loved Canada and was already closely following Canadian politics before catapulting to film fame with Roger & Me at the 1989 Toronto International Film Festival.
In his good books is former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien for refusing to join Bush’s "Coalition of the Willing" in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Chretien is not high enough in Moore’s good books, though to score a mention in Fahrenheit 9/11. Making room for Chretien may have ruined the impetus of criticizing the americans in Iraq and the Bush family ties to Osama bin Laden, etc, etc., etc.
Blah-blah Moore is still bristling about Disney’s attempts to stop its subsidiary Miramax Films from releasing Fahreinheit 9/11, for fear of upsetting Bush supporters.
Ironically, Moore and his ilk, who have gone a long way to tar conservatives with the brush of conspiracy theories, have a few of their own. Stateside rumours have surfaced reporting right-wing attempts to block or limit distribution of the film with one death threat being reported against a would-be exhibitor.
Canadian distributors, says Moore, were originally inclined to hold back release of the film to avoid influencing the outcome of the federal election. Perhaps they’re into conspiracy theories too, as the word `Canada’ is never mentioned in Fahreinheit 9/11.
While the pulpit of the politician is the town hall and television debate, for Moore it’s the silver screen: "and I said, no, no, no. Even if it’s just four days before the election, you’ve got to get something out there to inspire people to do the right thing here.
"This movie should say to Canadians, you want to join the Coalition of the Willing? Get ready to send your kids over to die for nothing, so that Bush’s buddies can line their pockets."
But according to Moore, political attempts with his latest film do not make for a personal vendetta. Only those into conspiracy theories would ever believe that.
It was afterall Bush’s first cousin, Kevin Rafferty, a documentary filmmaker, who taught Moore how to make movies.
You see, in the celluloid world of Michael Moore, Bush is just a frat boy who really never wanted to be president. al Gore did.
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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