GOP 2004: Moore Won't Return to Madison Square Garden

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000621811

Following all the commotion last night, Michael Moore will not be returning to Madison Square Garden for the Republican National Convention, E&P has learned. According to editors at USA Today, which is publishing his daily column this week, Moore told them that he was choosing not to return again.

However, they said he would continue to write his daily column and they stressed that in no way did they second-guess their decision to have him write the commentary.

Last month, Ann Coulter, who had been hired by USA Today to write a column at the Democratic National Convention, quit after the editors requested many changes in her first submission.

After entering the Garden Monday night with USA Today credentials, Moore was criticized by Sen. John McCain in his speech, setting off prolonged boos and taunts in the arena.

"We had hoped we would be able to put Moore in place where he could actually listen to speeches and not disrupt anything," Ken Paulson, USA Today editor, told E&P today. "The idea was not to put him in the line of sight while giving him the opportunity to observe. Now Moore doesn't plan to return to the convention. I think he saw the down side of his attending. We will have the four days of his column and I hope people will take time to read what he wrote.

I think this sends the wrong message and lets the bastards and bitches think they won.

[WillyT]

1. Maybe Some rePuke Will Be Stupid Enough To Mention...

their chasing him out during a speech tonight. rePuke intolerance on display for all of America to see!

:shrug:

[forgethell]

17. Booing Michael Moore

is not really intolerance. We do it all the time to conservative speakers. If MM can't take it, then he should (as he seems to be going to) stay out of the kitchen.

[Strawman]

18. Yep. Watch Ahnold call him a "girlie man"

Plays right into their wrestling fan mentality. I would not be surprised. And people will eat it up. I wish Moore would stay and be right in their faces.

[Carolina]

25. what an ugly Dubya witch

in your signature line; she's literally about to lose her upper denture ... probably full of 'falsies'!

As for Michael Moore, my hats off to him for having the fortitude to sit among devils for one night and listen to their venomous bullshit. I couldn't take it on TV for one minute.

[Cha]

29. I'm with you Carolina...and arnie gropenator

can go fuck himself a la cheney.

[calico1]

2. I think it shows how "inclusive" and "tolerant"

they are.

[BootinUp]

3. It publicized his upcoming articles and the movie.

It made the delegates feel good, but it will only result in more people reading or watching Moore.

[Ducks In A Row]

4. he'll get what he needs to see over cspan

anyway, the goons weren't letting any of the media near him for interviews.

[Cha]

30. Thass right! Michael is smart he can do it from it home!

B-)

[Rose Siding]

5. Here's his first column

NEW YORK — Welcome, Republicans. You're proud Americans who love your country. In your own way, you want to make this country a better place. Whatever our differences, you should be commended for that.
But what's all this talk about New York being enemy territory? Nothing could be further from the truth. We New Yorkers love Republicans. We have a Republican mayor and governor, a death penalty and two nuclear plants within 30 miles of the city.

New York is home to Fox News Channel. The top right-wing talk shows emanate from here — Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly among them. The Wall Street Journal is based here, which means your favorite street is here. Not to mention more Fortune 500 executives than anywhere else.

You may think you're surrounded by a bunch of latte-drinking effete liberals, but the truth is, you're right where you belong, smack in the seat of corporate America and conservative media.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2004-08-30-moore-gopamerica_x.htm


Look what the paper felt it had to explain:

Political conventions have become predictable rituals, four-day cheerleading sessions for both parties. So USA TODAY is offering readers an alternative perspective. Liberal filmmaker Michael Moore, director of Fahrenheit 9/11, is writing daily from the Republican convention in New York. A month ago, conservative National Review columnist Jonah Goldberg weighed in from the Democratic convention.

Do you think they added a similar explanation at the end of Goldberg's column? Ummm...no, they didn't:

Jonah Goldberg is editor-at-large of National Review Online and syndicated columnist.

[Frodo]

6. What was he there for in the first place?

He was hardly there as a "journalist".


But it WAS entertaining.

[Bridget Burke]

9. A newspaper was paying for what he wrote.

He was being a journalist.

[Frodo]

15. With all due respect

I did like the parts of the movie I saw.

But if, as reported, the crowd is chanting "four more years!" and he replies with "two more months!" - then he's a partisan, not a journalist. It would be like Zell Miller getting credentials to the DNC convention.

Though now that I think about it, if his column is an "editorial" type piece it might be ok to be a partisan. I'll think on it.

[Luminous Animal]

16. Yes...

His column is an editorial piece. Similarly, Hannity, O'Reilly, Coulter and others received press credentials for the Democratic convention. They were able to move around unmolested; conversely, Mike gets booed and Franken is blockaded on the floor.

[bahrbearian]

26. Novak, Britt Hume on and on and on.

[krkaufman]

11. Actually, he *was*

He's writing a daily column for USA Today during the RNC.

[Leilani]

7. Michael Moore is laughing all the way to the bank!

He got millions worth of free publicity last night.

I saw him interviewed & he was loving it.

[yardwork]

8. They put MM in the middle of the RNC and expected him to behave?

This was a publicity stunt by USA Today from day one. It's playing out exactly the way they planned.

[Luminous Animal]

13. Mike did behave...

He was hardly noticed until John McCain mentioned him in his speech.

And, unlike Coulter's unusable screed that she wrote for USA Today about the Democratic convention, Mike's column was very thoughtful and reached out the the Republicans.

[Catfight]

10. Coutler Whore didn't quit...she was fired.

[trogdor]

12. They can think whatever the hell they want.

They have an amazing ability to spin the definition of "victory" to include just about anything. Just wait until his next column.

FWIW, I think it shows a great deal of class on MM's part. Let them peddle their bullshit without having MM to kick around on a daily basis. If they pull out a photo to boo instead, imagine what kind of message THAT would send.

[Cha]

32. Can't wait for Michael's Next Column!

B-)

[lovuian]

14. I think Michael Moore saw it was a Set up by Repubs & USA

to ridicule him and Boo Him but Moore was a success and it shows how the Republicans just couldn't stand that he beat them

Moore could feel the Hate....Hate is an Ugly emotion ...Moore was right he doesn't need that...

Republicans need to read about Karma

O

[Luminous Animal]

19. Check ot the video...

"August 31st, 2004 2:06 pm
Mike Takes Center Stage at the RNC (video)


Sen. John McCain drew the biggest response of the evening at the Republican National Convention last night, not for his comments about President Bush or the War in Iraq, but for referring to Michael Moore as a "disingenuous filmmaker."

Unbeknownst to McCain, Mike was right there in the room with him, sitting in the press box as a credentialed USA Today columnist.

When the excited audience turned to Mike and began a chant of "four more years," Mike smiled and flashed the big "L."
"

Follow this link for the video links:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=146

[El Supremo]

23. Pardon my ignorance, but what is the "big L?"

[Luminous Animal]

31. It signifies "Loser" (n/t)

[Cha]

33. Repukes are LOSERS!

Go Michael!

[VolcanoJen]

20. STORY UPDATE: Moore Tells E&P "I May Go Back Inside"

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000621975

NEW YORK Responding via e-mail Tuesday afternoon to Joe Strupp's story about Michael Moore not returning to the Republican National Convention, the filmmaker sought to clarify his position on the matter and defended his right to re-enter Madison Square Garden as he wishes.

"Your article is not quite true," Moore wrote. "I may go back inside. It is my right as a writer to be there. I followed all the rules, both of the convention and those put forth by USA Today. I was given official credentials. The New York City police assured me that they would guarantee me my right to be there with my credentials.

"I see no 'down side' in my attending the convention," he concluded, "only a down side for the Republicans come Nov. 2."

[jackson]

21. Good for Moore

I hope he does go back inside and stick it in their smug faces. If Coulter, O'Reilly etc can crash the DNC, Moore needs to stay.

[lovuian]

22. I love Michael Moore!!!

He isn't scared at all of these guys

[KittyWampus]

24. He Should Go Back For BUSH!

gonna write him a note and suggest that.

[Cha]

34. Thanks, Jen!

That does sound a little more like our Moore!

[xchrom]

27. michael moore rocks!

period.

[Cha]

28. Michael's not getting Fired like slander did!

:toast:

[kori]

35. According to Michael Moore just on the Today show....

He will be back probably tonight and Thursday night. Who knows however if they will let him in. He did point out that McCain admitted he never saw the movie. Come to think of it I have yet to hear someone trashing the movie who actually saw it.