Michael Moore: The fact-check
Posted
10-16-2003, 14:07
by
James Gelfand and Robert VerBruggen
MOORE: Bush lied about Saddam helping to plan September 11, and he's admitted he lied.REALITY: Bush neither lied nor admitted to lying about Saddam and September 11. The president made statements linking Hussein to the Al-Queda network, but never explicitly to the World Trade Center attack. Therefore, his statement that there was no evidence linking Hussein to the events of September 11 was not an admission of a lie. - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3118262.stm MOORE: Most Americans are pro-choice. REALITY: This is a half truth; most Americans believe in abortion under some conditions, but most in fact oppose abortions solely to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Saying that most Americans are "pro-choice," then, is at least misleading. http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/abortion_poll030122.html MOORE: Bush asked Wesley Clark to link Saddam to the September 11 attacks. REALITY: Though Clark certainly did imply this on "Meet the Press," he soon thereafter recanted to Sean Hannity on "Hannity and Colmes." A recent Spinsanity article, including a transcription of the original statement, argues that Clark did not explicitly say it was Bush who asked him to lie. Either way, though, Moore's statement was false: the White House did not ask Wesley Clark to link Saddam to the attacks. http://www.spinsanity.org/columns/20030903.html MOORE: When asked by a student what he thought about a case on the new Supreme Court docket about forcing children to say the pledge, Moore responded "I think it's terrible." REALITY: It was the student's question, not Moore's speech, but such a case does not exist; the matter was settled in 1943 with West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. The issue now facing the Court is whether the words "Under God" violate the First Amendment. http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/constitution/amendment01/11.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23699-2003Oct14.html MOORE: Rush Limbaugh has been around for 20 years. REALITY: This year marked his show's 15th anniversary. www.rushlimbaugh.com MOORE: "The majority of Americans realize they were not told the truth about the war." REALITY: No one can read the minds of every American, but his approval ratings do not bear this out. According to an Oct. 10 Gallup poll, only 43 percent of Americans said the president "deliberately misled the American public about how big a threat Iraq was to the United States," and 54 did not. An October Newsweek poll showed similar results, with 45 percent – not a majority – saying Bush "Purposely misled the public about evidence that Iraq had banned weapons in order to build support for war." Also, as of September 10, 2003, 51 percent approved of the way Bush was handling Iraq. Fifty-two percent approved of the way he was handling his job as president. http://www.usatoday.com/news/polls/tables/live/2003-09-11-poll-results.htm MOORE: Moore was obviously sarcastic at this point, but he repeatedly suggested that artificially inflating wages and redistributing income is good for the economy. REALITY: It's not. Find a friend with an economics textbook, and look up the explanation of how minimum wage hurts the poor. A summary, designed specifically in response to Moore, can be found at www.revoketheoscar.com. Bowling for Columbine errors: Recently, Moore responded to some of the right-wing "Whacko Attackos" on his Web site. His own sourcing, however, often disproves him. He posted the entire text of a Heston speech, alongside the clips that ran in the film. With a multi-window browser, however, one can run both at once and follow along. It's obvious how Moore edited the speech to skip conciliatory remarks and make the remaining ones sound harsh. He admits to a flaw in his altering of an anti-Dukakis commercial—without admitting that he edited the commercial. In the film, his editing appears to be an original part of the advertisement. He stands by the assertion that the Lockheed-Martin plant near Columbine makes "weapons of mass destruction," and provides an interview with an employee to prove it. The clip, however, shows that they currently make rockets...that carry satellites...which in turn can guide missiles. They have not made a nuclear weapon since the mid-1960s and only partially assembled Peacekeeper MX missiles in the mid-1980s. http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/wackoattacko/
Authors
Reader Feedback
Micheal Moore
by Bob Grzesiak (bgfamily1@comcast.net) on 07-08-2007, 21:54He's far more truthful and accurate than Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Bush, Cheney, Rudy, Mitt and many others. I'd say that's a pretty good record!
Michael Moore
by JM (harvardguy@aol.com) on 10-16-2004, 21:00First of all, if President George W. Bush and V.P. Dick Cheney should "stand trial for their actions", shouldn't John Kerry, the United Nations, and the entire U.S. Congress stand trial also? Afterall, they did vote and give the President the authority to use force to remove Saddam and his regime. To accuse George W. Bush for intentionally lying and misleading Americans to go to war is completely absurd. President Bush based his decision for war on the numerous reports from the intelligence agencies around the world. The same intelligence that convinced the United Nations and the U.S. Congress that Saddam was an imminent threat to the world and should be removed. In case you dont know, the President does not have the authority to go to war without the consent of Congress. Furthermore, Saddam isn't exactly a pillar of honesty or integrity. The evil dictator killed his own people with chemical weapons, broke every U.N. resolution after the Gulf
War, kicked out the U.N weapons inspectors after 1998, and brutally slaughtered millions of Iraqis that were discovered in the mass graves after the war. But Bush is the real murderer,..wake up....
Micael Moore
by JM (harvardguy@aol.com) on 10-16-2004, 20:57First of all, if President George W. Bush and V.P. Dick Cheney should "stand trial for their actions", shouldn't John Kerry, the United Nations, and the entire U.S. Congress stand trial also? Afterall, they did vote and give the President the authority to use force to remove Saddam and his regime. To accuse George W. Bush for intentionally lying and misleading Americans to go to war is completely absurd. President Bush based his decision for war on the numerous reports from the intelligence agencies around the world. The same intelligence that convinced the United Nations and the U.S. Congress that Saddam was an imminent threat to the world and should be removed. In case you dont know, the President does not have the authority to go to war without the consent of Congress. Furthermore, Saddam isn't exactly a pillar of honesty or integrity. The evil dictator killed his own people with chemical weapons, broke every U.N. resolution after the Gulf
War, kicked out the U.N weapons inspectors after 1998, and brutally slaughtered millions of Iraqis that were discovered in the mass graves after the war. But Bush is the real murderer,..wake up....
Documentary?
by chris (cvlac2@aol.com) on 08-03-2004, 08:49This isn't even the best analysis. The left and the right can't look at this fairly. I hope the rest of us can.
http://www.davekopel.com/Terror/Fiftysix-Deceits-in-Fahrenheit-911.htm
Nice Try
by Meagan (meagan.downey@yahoo.com) on 06-26-2004, 10:23You're suggesting that Lockheed Martin doesn't make weapons of mass destruction? Lockheed Martin!?! Concilitory remarks from Heston overlooked? Heston said plenty and I don't think that even the left-est among us demonized Moses over this - its the fact that the NRA does not operate in a vaccuum and neither do our children.
It's pretty sad that you guys had to resort to scrutinizing something Moore said sarcastically. If this is the best you've got, I'm not worried.
It's amazing to me how Rush Limbaugh can talk about the femi-nazis and take snippets from left figures and not just take them "out of context" but acutally put them in an entirely different context than they were intended and people eat it up while Moore is attacked with idiotic crap like this. In reviewing the anti-Moore rhetoric this morning, I've read attacks on his weight (hello, Rush?) his income (he filed $8,800 in taxable income the year before Roger and Me came out and I'll bet even with F911 Rush is richer) and even the way he dresses. At least Al Franken took time to be clever in R.L. is a Big Fat Idiot. Your attacks are, at best, a nice try.
Good luck
by Maximus Prime (maximusprime@saic.com) on 06-22-2004, 18:01You two brainiacs are basing all of this anti-Moore rhetoric on a few facts. I would like to see you look into each fact that Michael moore has covered in the two movies. I would like you to say that there is a ton of truth to his movies because there is. It is becoming increasingly appearant that our fake president is nothing more than a scumbag. Everytime I mention this here in Utah, I get well Clinton this or Clinton that. I know that Clinton lied, under oath no less. Lets count how many people died as a result of Clintons lies. Now lets take a look at W. How many thousands have died as a direct cause of his lies and the lies of cheney and his other cohorts. Bush is a murderer. Cheney is a murderer, these people should stand trial for their actions. They deserve to pay. Why are they some of the only government officials in the world with immunity from war crimes? Does this seem alarming to anybody? Does this spark a thought in anybody? Come on people, wake up. This is the biggest joke to be played on the human race for many years, ignorance is no excuse for murder. Bush will pay someday, but his cash will keep him safe for now. Im out.
Michael Moore
by sue grimes (dodyounicenow@yahoo.com) on 06-21-2004, 17:47james and robert, You are both idiots. I am so glad and thrilled that Michael Moore made this documentary of our so called President Bush. The emperors naked. It's time that big liar gets what is in store for him. Bush is a liar from the start. He is not our president, he was not elected by the people, he was elected by big business and the sumpreme court. I am so glad that Michael Moore has the guts to show the world what a lying, controlling bastard Bush and his administration are.
Stupid
by Ken Rihanek (k_rihanek@sw_bell.net) on 05-25-2004, 16:43Michael Moore is purposely bending the truth to sell a product. He is either stupid or a hypocrite.
I'm Sorry
by Ryan (jedi87kid@aol.com) on 03-21-2004, 22:22I was wrong to write "You Douchbag" late last year. I've had an amazing revelation and see the light. Michael Moore is the true douchbag. Thanks for forgiving my foolishness and piss poor attitude.
Clarification
by Robert VerBruggen (r-verbruggen@northwestern.edu) on 02-28-2004, 00:39It's a bit late, but I just wanted to clear up what this article is meant to do. It checks Mooore's NU speech and his most recent defenses of Bowling. A more complete dissection of the "documentary" can be found here: http://www.hardylaw.net/Truth_About_Bowling.html
You Douchebag
by Ryan (jedi87kid@aol.com) on 11-13-2003, 14:41These rebuttals to Mr. Moore's points are not only sidestepping the real issue- they make me believe whoever wrote them either is or would be a good lawyer. "He did not technically..." Who cares about your stupid technicalities that completely justify your fearful suburb existance. If you don't want listen to Michael Moore, don't. If you don't want to believe him, don't. I'm in no way attempting to wield your weapon of mass usurpation and control the way the working mass thinks. But to completely discredit what Moore says because it means responsibility, is just ignorant.
Not convinced
by Anonymous (anon@yahoo.com) on 11-04-2003, 15:10I went to this web site because a left-wing friend of mine told me he refused to see Bowling for Columbine because of poor fact-checking by Michael Moore. If these are the "facts" that he didn't check, I'm seriously bothered. This brilliant movie says what no one else has the courage to say and looks poignently at the issues of fear and violence within our society. If people scrounging for defense against this movie can only come up with a few lame technicalities - which do not constitute lies - I'm completely unconvinced that there's any reason not to believe what Michael Moore says.
You cannot expect a filmmaker to include every minute of tape recorded, editing is an integral part of making a movie that gets across a point. If you've seen the movie or you know anything about his style, you know that part of Moore's talent is to inject humor into otherwise dark and difficult topics. The jokes are not meant to be taken literally, if you did, you missed the point.
Finally, even if Mr. Bush did not himself say that Saddam was directly linked to the events of 9/11, the White House and the media certainly mentioned the two together enough! Bush did say that Saddam was an imminent threat and I quote that we went to war to "protect the national security of the United State against the continuing threat posed by Iraq" (from the same link http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030319-1.html).
Give me a Break
by Bart Melton (bmelton@utk.edu) on 10-23-2003, 13:31Rush has been on for 15 years who cares 15? 20? Why attack Michael Moore? God forbid anyone onthe left spin facts. I am not defending this action, but let us assume Moore put a spin on the facts. why don't you go after Fox news who spin facts every other minute. Why not go after the President who did indeed just so happen to mention um....Sadam....um 9/11...um ...Al Quida. Give me a break. How can anyone defend those statements? I dont care if Michael Moore is full of... McDonalds Cheese Burgers or not, to not recognize the basic arguments he makes as obviously correct is rediculous! George Bush isn't the popular elected candidate. George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Colon Powell all extended the truth way worse than Michael Moore(100's of people havent died since Michael moore told his fibs...assuming he did). Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot...and so are you for arguing such silly point about a satirical movie when people die every day for the lies Moore points out to all of you oblivious folks who can not see through political smoke and mirrors to the real truth.
RE: I think you have some myth's yourself
by Jettison (nospam@nospam.com) on 10-22-2003, 18:28"If you go to this link http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030319-1.html you will clearly see that in a letter written by Bush, one of the reasons we went to war in Iraq was do to involvment in Sept 11th"
Duh. We went to war in Iraq to prevent further terrorist attacks, like 9/11. Saddam had WMD, he's used them before. He's a tyrant and a dictator who can't be trusted. He's paid Palestinian suicide bombers before. Any gambling man would put his money on Saddam giving out WMD to anti-American terrorists. We stopped that.
Bush never said Saddam was an immenent threat, nor did he ever say Saddam was directly responsible for 9/11. Get your facts straight, newbie.
I think you have some myth's yourself
by Zach (askzach@hotmail.com) on 10-22-2003, 12:50"MOORE: Bush lied about Saddam helping to plan September 11, and he's admitted he lied.
REALITY: Bush neither lied nor admitted to lying about Saddam and September 11. The president made statements linking Hussein to the Al-Queda network, but never explicitly to the World Trade Center attack. Therefore, his statement that there was no evidence linking Hussein to the events of September 11 was not an admission of a lie.
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3118262.stm"
If you go to this link http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030319-1.html you will clearly see that in a letter written by Bush, one of the reasons we went to war in Iraq was do to involvment in Sept 11th
what a joke!
by Grant (gsutton50@hotmail.com) on 10-21-2003, 16:34I wish more people would realize what a joke this guy is.
Back to top
Hosting generously provided by Steadfast Networks.
|
