I interviewed Michael Moore for a few minutes in between his media stops about his new movie called Capitalism, A Love Story which I reviewed here. As we discussed his film, the topic of conservatism, hate speech and FOX News came up and I asked him if he would consider going back on FOX News again. His responses were interesting and I think FOX News will go scrambling to book him after they hear what Michael had to say. I also think Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck will not be happy campers.
Amato: Would you ever go back on FOX again?
Moore: Yes,I would go back on FOX again. I would not go on Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck because they use far too much hate speech and calls for violence and I cannot participate with anyone that goes down that road.
I stayed off because somebody at the studio told me that whenever I go on their ratings go up and I'm not interested in helping them sell products and make money for themselves and having said that I'm ready to tee up (garbled audio, but I think he said Hannity) Hannity I think pretty soon.
Amato: That would get huge ratings and it's also really enjoyable to see you kick them around because you know the type of Democrat that go on most of the time that are just so weak and that's the way they like them so that they can serve them up and kick them around.
Moore: Then I will make a point during this tour to try and go on one of their shows and give them something-something...
Amato: Do it for the blogosphere! (laughs)
Moore: Do it for the blogosphere. This one's for you!
The attacks on President Obama by FOX News programs have been profoundly upsetting and as much as I object at times to lefties that go on FOX, I have to say that it would be very enjoyable to see Michael smack down Roger Ailes crew. Do you think Michael will go on Hannity since he won't do they Beck or O'Reilly? Sheppard Smith might be a good choice. And you can be sure that O'Reilly will whine about this. The reason I asked the question is because I've seen Moore duke it out with Bill O'Reilly before and they were very good segments to watch.
John Amato: This is John Amato from Crooks and Liars and I am joined by the great movie maker Michael Moore and he has a new movie out "Capitalism: A Love Story." Hey Michael, thanks for joining me.
Michael Moore: Thanks for having me here.
John Amato: I just want to say one thing here before we get going. How about those Lions?
Michael Moore: [laughing] It's been two years, and if they had to beat somebody it might as well have been the Washington Redskins. But I feel sorry for the Redskins as it’s going to be a trivia answer for the next few decades.
John Amato: And you have Jim Zorn on the hot seat. You know if you saw this or had a chance to check this out but you know that whole game follows along the lines of what your movie has been talking about, because I don't know if you are aware but the NFL has imposed the old black-out laws and rules for home games. So in other words, if they're not sold out local TV areas are not allowed to broadcast games to the fans. So, in Detroit and Jacksonville with Detroit 30% unemployment the` fans cannot see any home games and the NFL when asked about it completely turned their backs on the fans of Detroit. It's truly stunning to me - have you heard about that so far?
Michael Moore: Yes I have. And it might be best that the people in Detroit aren't able to watch the Lions because I think there might be riots in the streets.
John Amato: I hear you but you know it goes back to what your movie is talking about because when you talk about "Capitalism: A Love Story" obviously greed is a big part of what fuels capitalism and I was listening to a sports talk show host questioning (sic) Goodell the NFL commissioner and just pleaded with him to show the games to Detroit. I mean, they're making billions of dollars now and when they first imposed those rules and regulations they were obviously afraid that TV would undermine the NFL and Roger Goodell just said "I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do."
Michael Moore: Yeah, well that's the way it is. I mean, we live in the two Americas - one America is the wealthiest 1% that have has much financial wealth as the bottom 95% combined. And that 95% is the other America that's struggling to get by.
John Amato: Did you have some idea in mind when it started? (Sic) Did it overall morph into what we have today? Because I know you started this movie a little while ago; how did it - did it stay on course from your original premise?
Michael Moore: Well after the crash, it took a slightly different turn. I started out by supporting capitalism and its immorality and its lack of democracy. But when the crash happened it revealed a third problem with it which was that it doesn't work. And Wall Street essentially handed a gift to the people by showing that all the emperors of Wall Street had no clothes on.
John Amato: In the beginning of the movie you start the Romans, the old footage. Was that from a '50s movie?
Michael Moore: Yes, that was from an Encyclopedia Britannica 1950s movie they made to show in schools.
John Amato: you have such a great sense of humor in all your movies when you see that. People don't want to admit that an empire could fail and especially the Roman Empire which ruled most of the world at that time.
Michael Moore: That's correct. But you know the comparisons between their decline and our decline are quite evident. And there's a part of me that believes that it may just be too late to turn things around, though I don't know that I'd ever really want to turn it around to what it was. Because it never really was what it claimed to be, The American Dream. It was really intended for a few, it was a pyramid scheme. It still is where just a few get sit on top and everybody else is told if they just work hard enough they can be on top too. But of course it's all a lie.
Amato: You hear the conservatives "just work hard." Especially from Bill O'Reilly " right, if you just pull up your boot straps...if you get out there, you too can be like Bill O'Reilly and make 10 billion dollars and promote lies all day."
Michael Moore: Well, that’s the rap that they give people and sadly too many millions fall for it.
Amato: Would you ever go back on Fox again?
Michael Moore: Um, yes I would go back on Fox. I would not go back on Bill O'Reilly because there is far too much hate speech and calls for violence. I cannot participate in anybody who goes down that road.
I've sort of stayed off because I realized - somebody at the studio told me every time I'm on the ratings go up and I'm not that interested in helping them sell products and make money for themselves. Having said that, I'm ready to tee up Hannity I think [can't hear/can't understand] pretty soon.
John Amato: That would get huge ratings. It's also really enjoyable to see you kick them around a little because you know the type of Democrats that go on Fox most of the time are just so weak, and that's the way they like them, so the can serve them up and kick them around.
Michael Moore: Right. Well then I will make a point during this tour to go on one of their shows and give them a little something-something.
John Amato: Do it for the blogosphere.
Michael Moore: [laughing] For the blogosphere! This one's for you!
John Amato: You know what was really fascinating about the movie also was that FDR footage that you found. Was it actually called The Second Bill of Rights?
Michael Moore: Yes. Yes, and he wanted this filmed, wanted America to be able to see him suggesting that we have a second Bill of Rights - a right to a home, a right to a job, a right to health care. And he knew that he wasn't long for this world. Unfortunately the footage got lost; nobody saw it and [can’t hear/understand] found it. The Roosevelt historian told us it didn't exist. We found it in an archive in South Carolina.
John Amato: It was fascinating; it was brilliant. The things that he talks about are exactly what you talk about in your movie. Because you talk a lot about your own family and your history. Like you, my father didn't work for one company, he didn't have much education but he finally got a union job when he was 40 years old. And through that union job he was able to support my mother and myself and my sister. And when he retired he was able to retire with dignity. And that's exactly what happened with your father.
Michael Moore: That's correct, right. I know, it's - that's why I say we may have slid too far down the slope. I'm not sure. I try to be optimistic about this but I realize that a lot has gone now, a lot of time has passed and they've gotten away literally with murder. Only a huge concerted effort, a movement by millions of people - let's just say the millions who put Barack Obama into office - if everybody got active like they were last year. We might have a chance.
John Amato: That is true. And you would have figured that the anger of what happened on Wall Street would have carried over, but instead we had this right wing CNBC reporter Rick Santelli that was used by the rich and the health insurance (sic) to start these tea parties. They took this sort of anger and made a false populism out of it for the Republicans - has that surprised you as much as it has me?
Michael Moore: No, because I think that the historically the right wing in this country and other countries has always used times when working people are hurting. They seek to manipulate them with fear and scapegoating and the like. So, I'm not surprised that they tried to do it this time.
John Amato: Mike, I want to thank you for spending a few minutes.
Michael Moore: Thank you John. Thank you for all the good work that you guys do, it's so important.
John Amato: We're up 24/7 fighting the good fight. I appreciate it Michael. Go to your next location, kick it and we'll be in touch.
Michael Moore: Let's do this again.
The FDR footage that Moore found was fascinating. He actually realized that the America economic system was not being played to benefit all Americans and he wanted the entire country to be taken care of and not just the top 1% of the upper class. See the movie just for that segment alone.
(I had to edit the audio slightly because of a bad connection.)
(To the media: Please credit C&L if any part of this interview is used. Thank you)
I would prefer if he didn't go on Fox. Maybe it would be better if he just said he would not go on Fox for the obvious reasons. If he does go on fox I have a feeling that he will do well but I hate to give them legitimacy.
Why go on Hammity's show? Hammity is a liar and coward. Remember when he volunteered to be water-boarded for charity to prove that "it isn't torture?"
The only foxhead he should talk with is Shep what-his-face; but again, why boost their ratings.
He can't really use 'hate speech' as a defence either as it's not really recognised in the US anyway, he must be thinking that he's in the rest of the developed world that actually recognises it for the crime it is ....... opposed to hiding behind "free speech", i.e. the defence hate speech without respect.
Don't slum with racist trash.
What we had was cronyism, not true capitalism. I think much of the left has gotten confused on what is. Lobbyist and corrupt industry that sought unfair advantage fouled the waters. If I were Moore though, I wouldn't waste my time with Fox, they don't deserve the attention.
Goodnight, Frau Blücher
don't go on Faux - why legitimize the network that is "all hatred toward Obama, all of the time"?
You can get your points across on networks that are less overt in their spewing of propaganda for the rabid far right of the republican party.
We all want his viewers to see the movie - they'll finally have something real to think about.
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I actually discovered C&L through a link on Mooore's site over 4 years ago.
Great interview John!
Quick interviews are always tricky...:-)
Michael,
Why waste your time going on Fox?
You KNOW what their game is.
No amount of publicity is worth jacking up their ratings.
The drooling morons who watch Fox regularly aren't going to give a damn what you think.
To hell with 'em.
11 TRILLION AND COUNTING, Suckers !
Wall Street has shaken down the nation for upwards of $ 11 trillion dollars with FOX's help.
Last year the figure was already $ 8.5 trillion and counting with the final
exposure much, much higher.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/...
Fascist felons at Fox behind the latest Wall Street crime wave made hundreds of millions in profits on their latest scam bubble.
When are people going to wake up?
MM's judgement to appear on Fox is occluded.
They'll wake up when the Pepperoni Pizza delivery's cease and the NFL goes bankrupt and has to cease operations. (Oh wait that's really important stuff I smell a bailout.)
Hadn't thought about the NFL bailout.
Now that we are almost done with the bailout of the insurance industry (485 Billion in subsidies are in the reform bill!) I figured the utility/energy companies will be next.
the NFL has enforced revenue sharing, a salary cap, and the worst loser gets the first draft pick. The result is that we have 28 more or less viable teams. Nascar has restrictor plates.
n/t
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
It was just snark. The bailout of the insurance companies and the utilities isn't though.
Norway takes the number one spot in the annual United Nations human development index released Monday but China has made the biggest strides in improving the well-being of its citizens.
The United States ranks 13th, down one spot from last year.
So Mikey what we think about that? You think Fox will fix it?
KKKlannity or elsewhere on Fux. I won't be watching it, except clips I see here anyway.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
No going on FAUX.
It isn't worth the trouble.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Call me stooopid, but this is the first I've heard of such a thing. Anyone have a good link to more info?
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
You can find it on Wikipedia. The entire text of the clip is there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bill_of_R...
Good interview! I agree, the american dream was always a scam to get people to try to get rich. Of course only 1% ever do, so the system, the dream, is a failure. I agree with him here.
Is it the 21st century yet?
Good observation.
Quick poll: How many sunk an economic class lower than their parents enjoyed? I know I did. I think I peaked at $50K per year a few years ago and may never reach that figure again. It takes six figures to live like my middle class parents did 30 years ago.
I peaked at about $56K three years ago, been in the mid-thirties last two years for the same place. Just not the same hours. May go back up, who knows, but I've learned to live on a lot less; not a bad lesson, I guess.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
According to this article, class mobility has stalled with children not doing much better or worse than their parents. Upward mobility is actually better in old europe than here.
Is it the 21st century yet?
I hit over $80K back in 2002, then got laid off at the end of the year, and it's been struggle on top of struggle ever since. Our family is saying goodbye to the house we've lived in since 1995, but we just can't afford it any longer and the bank is done being patient with us. We're out of here by the end of the week, and I'm not sure where we're even going to go at this point. No cash for a security deposit or first month's rent right now, tried putting some stuff up for sale on craigslist last week but no takers (except for one scammer who thought he might have a chance at ripping me off and making a bad situation even worse).
I have a good friend in a similar situation. He's still employed, but he's just waiting for the bank to send him out of his house. His elderly mother tried to help him, but he didn't want her putting money into a losing proposition because he was upside-down on his mortgage as well.
Hope things turn around for you.
Do you have family you can try to stay with for awhile? Not sure what city you're in, but some areas are better-equipped to maybe get you into a motel temporarily at least. Hopefully others here can offer suggestions?
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I hope you have somewhere to go. We're in Illinois - let me know if you don't and if we can help.
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As far as Fox, Moore should appear where ever he can get the message out. I haven't seen his film yet. But I doubt it lays the responsibility of the financial crisis squarely in the lap of the Republicans. If you follow the corporate money, the dems receive just as much if not more when they are in power (as repubs receive more when they are in power)
IMO this particular subject is less political than one might think and more about widespread corruption that favors the political party in power.
memory retention? How do you sink a message into peoples heads in the age of tweets?
Rushbo and the Beckster seem to be able to do it.?!
Tell the Big Lie, recycle, repeat.... classic propaganda - just that they use it for nefarious purposes.
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
I saw the film yesterday. Moore does not pull punches when placing blame. The guilty come from both sides.
to get Americans in a positive mood again. Is negativity, mental illness, and helplessness our new standard or something? Or has it always been that way?
A mushroom cloud?
neurons and rearrange the general mindset.
Just like they cheered the Olympics going to Rio.
especially if they could somehow make it Obama's fault and explain it away as his failure.
If we dropped them just right (about 7?) the mushroom clouds would form the olympic rings! Now if we could just think of a place to drop them...
I called Micheal Bolton and he said Chicago.
Excellent interview, John.
But, a request: I wonder if you could not spell Fox as if it is a media acronym. "Fox" as rendered "FOX" tends to embolden the network and all they stand for.
The Fox in question was William Fox (aka Fuchs), the brilliant but flawed mogul who attempted to monopolize Hollywood, but ended up serving time for illegal activities.
I'm sure Fox News is happy when others consider Fox an acronym, on the par with CNN, CBS, etc., but it isn't.
Thanks for considering this matter.
"Fucking-Over Xanadu".
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I would add that, if Fox is going to be written as FOX, then Michael Moore should appear as MICHAEL MOORE.
(And yes, F.O.X. can stand for all sorts of Cheneyan/Murderochrian schemes...)
"Only a huge concerted effort, a movement by millions of people - let's just say the millions who put Barack Obama into office - if everybody got active like they were last year. We might have a chance." - Michael Moore
Here's the problem I see with this idea: Obama appears to be part of the problem. A major part of the problem.
For example, a major part of his health care legislative drive is that about $500 billion over ten years will be GIVEN to the for-profit insurance corporations in the form of SUBSIDIES (our tax dollars!!) with NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
I just watched an interview with Sen. Jay Rockefeller and K.O. where Rockefeller was discussing the amendment he put forward on the Baucus bill (that was defeated BTW) demanding that 90% of all subsidies given to insurance corporations would have to go to direct health care related costs and NOT to administrative costs, etc. and that they would only be able to claim 10% of the money as PROFIT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BGVUWeM7SY#t=...
I didn't see Barack Obama out there asking the committee and the Blue Dogs to make sure the Rockefeller amendment got passed, did you? Why? Because obviously he doesn't CARE!!!
And I'm finally getting an idea of what The Public Option is that everyone is up in arms about. It appears to me that it is merely one option within The Exchange that is being proposed and this will only be available to people who are 300-400% above the poverty level. According to Chris Hayes, in this video, The Public Option may end up covering about 17 million Americans:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090831/publico...
Let's say the poverty level is $10,000/year for one person. 400% of that would be: $40,000/year.
I am assuming the cost of any of The Exchange plans, if you make $40,000/year or less, would be factored on your BEFORE TAXES income.
Here's an example of a hard question that needs to be asked and answered PRIOR TO A VOTE:
Would an individual who wanted insurance from "The Public Option" Plan (and the others in The Exchange), be asked to provide an "income and expense declaration" so the government would realize how much "discretionary income" they had so that the monthly premium could be fairly arrived at? Or would the government not really give a flying F what your current expenses are? What if paying for this premium, according to the "governments" figures would mean an individual would just have to get rid of that car and the gasoline it takes to do the current commute and the car insurance that is required and the repairs, oh, and the monthly payment...or maybe they should just stop eating? Or freeze to death?
I just threw together a ballpark monthly expense declaration for one individual living in a mortgaged home with taxes, a car, utilities, food, clothing. I came up with $4200/mo. That's $50,000/year AND it's AFTER taxes. This is with no vacations, no movies, no getting your hair cut, no manicures, etc.
Which means probably MOST individuals would fall into that bracket where the 50 million who are currently not insured are! They are living check to check, month to month and doing without any dinners out etc. THIS IS WHY THEY CANNOT AFFORD $600/MO. TO PAY TO UNITED HEALTH PLANS FOR A POLICY!!!
My point here is, that Michael Moore is suggesting we try to get together all the "foot soldiers" for Obama to make war with corporate America! Well, the General is on the side of the enemy here!! He is promoting this draconian, mandated legislation that is a GIVE AWAY to CORPORATIONS!!
If somehow we all got organized and came up with a plan on how to shove the corporations to the curb I think Obama would be AGAINST IT!!! He'd say, as he does with indicting war criminals and torturers that we need to "Look to the future and not to the past."
Tell us Michael. Will Barry and Michelle be seeing a screening of "Capitalism: A Love Story" at The White House any time soon??
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
... I took it as meaning that the same approach that put Obama in office could be used to achieve other goals if the status quo is not going to make it any easy otherwise.
The current (2008) poverty level for an individual under age 65 is $11,201. For some reason it drops if you are over 65.
Your minimum monthly expense figure is probably a bit high. As a recent involuntary retiree at age 63 I've been spending a lot of time playing with excel to generate a budget. My mortgage is fairly low and I have simple needs. I figure I can get by with about $38,000 a year - after taxes.
I wonder if perhaps Sicko has been shown on any television stations in the USA?
Liberal media and all that....
I wish they would, because I think it would put in even sharper focus how damaging the GOP obstructionism is for people who really need their info forcefed to them.
And what would blow their minds would be something that isn't in the film, but part of the special features on the DVD: visiting Norway and seeing their socialized health care up close. Moore said he didn't put it in because he didn't think people would believe it.
But as someone who lived in a Scandinavian country and experienced universal health care, it's such a glowing example of why it makes perfect sense, it frustrates me that it was left out.
Eugene Jarecki's film 'Why We Fight' should also be seen by everyone....
Here is the preview...
http://www.sonyclassics.com/whywefight/
They show it on premium cable channels, like Starz and Showtime. I doubt they would ever put it on a national network.
I noticed Starz listed in the opening credits for Capitalism.
Sicko needs to be seen by every American.
This morning, CSPAN, CNN and MSNBC were carrying the president's address to doctors, so I kept clicking past FOX NEWS to see when or if they'd carry it.
Several minutes into the address, the FOX NEWS teleprompter reader announced that the president had assembled a bunch of doctors who agreed with him to talk about health care and if the audience wanted to watch, they could go to FOXNEWS.com.
Funny, I don't remeber FOX NEWS ever telling us about the political leanings of an audience during Vice President Duhhbya's reign.
Surprise, surprise.
Who wants to legitimize Fox? However, the one benefit is that he would be reaching a whole cross section of folks that might not give him the time of day...
Just make sure if he goes on that you get the video posted... I removed FNC from my channels looooong ago and I ain't goin' back for nuttin'! :)
Fox is nothing more than a right wing corporate propaganda machine. Appearing on their network lends credibility to them, even if you are critical of them.
Choosing a host on Fox is like deciding whether you'd like to eat a steaming plate of dog shit, cat shit, weasel shit, badger shit, etc.
Me, I'd pass on all that shit. Go find a nice little breakfast nook and have me some bacon and eggs. Go talk to Ellen Goodman, Michael!
Moore is one progressive who is capable of going on Fox and holding his own. One reason why Fox is so extremist is because they rarely put on any opponents who can debate those reactionaries effectively. By the end of many segments the so called fair/balanced guests end up looking hapless or in outright agreement.
"Someday somebody related to some of these sufferers, these victims, these collaterally damaged souls, may try to kill you. And I have to tell you, I think you’ll have it coming." - Christopher Cooper
I think that Moore would do a better job not going on Fox and when he gets a chance he should explain himself whenever he can. Just say straight up why he won't go on Fox. There are thousands of examples of why. They all make perfect sense.
Michael Moore should stay off of Fox News altogether. If he recognizes that his presence draws new viewers to the network, and he doesn't want to help them earn more money to continue their hate-filled propaganda, then that reason is just as valid for the whole network and not just Beck and O'Reilly.
Whenever our side appears on Fox they are helping our opponents and hurting us. Their appearance will likely be edited to make them look bad. Edited versions will show up on other programs, including Beck and O'Reilly where he doesn't want to appear. He lends the network his credibility and allows them to persist in the myth that they are fair and balanced. And he raises the network's profile amongst its peers as a legitimate news enterprise.
Please Michael, and all liberals, progressives and Democrats, STAY THE HELL OFF OF FOX NEWS! Starve The Beast.
None of your friends and supporters would bother to watch, and even if they would happen to it would only be to see if Faux would be able to do to you what they try to do to every Dem/Liberal that decides that they should appear...which is to come up with something that would serve to criticize and to feed their base and give them something more to rave about. I mean you're not gonna change the minds of any of their regular viewers and as for adding 'legitimacy' to their network, the only people that will ever think they are legitimate are the ones that already watch it and you won't be able to convince...see? So again, why bother? You're not gonna get 'em to come see the movie - or at least not pay to see it.
I swear this is true. I saw MM interviewed on the local San Diego fox affiliate morning news, last week. The topic of fox even came up and MM said he didn't watch fox except that SD was cool. Hell the interviewer acted like a fan. Believe it or not, the morning news on fox San Diego is the least conservatively biased show in town. And NO, I am not on drugs.
Saw the movie - loved it - will be seeing it again and taking everyone I can.
I understand and support his decision to go on Fox even as I support President Obama's decision NOT to go on Fox.
But c'mon Michael -- HANNITY??? I can't watch that guy without vomiting.
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I hope MM reads this. Why have an interview with a faux journalist. Hannity outshouts people on his program. He has no clue what an interview is like...it's always a 'bring 'em on' attitude...and that's what gets ratings.
http://www.tvnewslies.org/html/sean_hannity.html
Nice Job!!!
Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
Really insightful , gets one thinking!!! What If??
LuLu
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