I saw Michael Moore at the Clark rally in NH today

[Kat45]

It was an excellent rally; the crowd (probably about 2000) filled the gym. The crowd, which included old and young, was very enthusiastic. People came to the rally from throughout the country.


Moore talked about why he's for Clark, and prefaced it by saying that we (the Democratic party) are very fortunate this year because we have a lot of excellent candidates. Then Clark made an excellent speech, talking about many things, emphasizing that bush brought us into an unnecessary war, that we should hold him accountable, that we must get him out. Others on stage with him were former Arkansas senator Dale Bumpers and Dr. Mary Frances Berry, chairperson of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. My friend took some pictures; I'll try to post some once I figure out how to do it.

There was a Kucinich bus there, and a group of his supporters were outside the rally playing bongos and dancing. Some Kerry supporters were also holding up signs outside.

[wyldwolf]

1. Kucinich supporters playing bongos and dancing...

... god that's funny.

[Tatiana]

2. I don't get it.

Why do they always crash Clark's events?

Why don't they just have events of their own?

[kayleybeth]

4. They go where the people are

:-)

[Bucky]

22. Playing bongos at other peoples' events is part of democracy

That's totally fair game. How can you persuade people to come to your side if you don't go to where they are? Democrats are always wanting to be fair minded and play nice and give all viewpoints a fair shot. I'm like that too, but that doesn't work in politics. Getting in someone's face a bit sometimes provides just the kind of heat you need to bake some cookies.

Kucinch people and Kerry people and Dean people will be welcome at any Clark rally I go to. Hell, I'll play bongos with 'im (but not Matthew McCaughneghy style!). And then I'll try to get them to vote for my boy.

[KittyWampus]

10. Bongos!!!

:D

And hanging Moore in effigy no doubt.

[wyldwolf]

15. Reminds me of the old Star Trek episode where 60s style hippies...

...take over the Enterprise.

Clark as Captain Kirk?

[KittyWampus]

21. HA! The Way To Eden Episode!

[Kira]

3. I like what he has to say and

I am reading his book "Dude Where's My Country" but I have to say that hearing him say he is for a Democrat this time and that this time we have good candidates (which we do)...It makes me kind of mad. Gore (in my opinion) would have been an excellent President and I can't forget him saying things against him and the Dems in 2000. I am trying to move on but it's tough!

[hlthe2b]

5. what's the point of holding a grudge?

There are lots of Nader voters on DU (NOT me), who are strongly supporting Dems this time around. I say welcome them back into the fold and work together to what has always been our common cause, no matter that it may have been late in realization.

[Kira]

11. I agree but

I guess that it would be nice to hear that he was wrong about the differences between Gore and Bush. I know it is an old arguement and I don't really hold a grudge (or I wouldn't have bought his book)We definitely need the Green vote. I've always felt there really aren't that many differences between us.

[Kat45]

16. There were even some Greens at the rally, inside,

who I believe were supporters of Clark.

[Kahuna]

26. Clark has Green supporters. Plenty of them post on the blog...

along with former republicans, republicans and independents. Clark's base is probably more broad than Dean's. That's the untold story that will rock the political establishment's world.

[Bucky]

20. Kira, Moore actually did try to throw things Gore's way in '00

If you read his book, Stupid White Men, you'll see he talks about trying to convince the Greens to cut a deal with Gore, pull out at the last minute and throw all his votes Gores way. Nader's people treated him like a moron for that. Then he ended up being quoted by a Florida radio station that weekend before the election in which he said he would "understand it" if some Nader voters hedged their bets and voted Democratic just in case it made a difference.

I remember that incident barely making the news that year, because that's when I found out that Moore was supporting Nader. What a crazy year 2000 turned out to be! Thank goodness everything settled down to normal in 2001.

[Kira]

25. wow I didn't know that

thanks for the info.

[Jack_Dawson]

6. Cool!

Did you say 2,000 people? Damn.

[maxanne]

24. Michael Moore

is a HUGE draw. People turn out in big numbers to hear him.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[maddezmom]

9. we are a big tent

or didn't you know? :)

[cally]

13. Moore gave a great speech

and shows that Clark appeals to all. He got a hugely positive response from the crowd and this wasn't necessarily a leftest crowd. I like Moore.

[Jerseycoa]

8. No Dean supporters outside?

Have we hurt their feelings or something? ;)

I'm curious, are Clark supporters going around to other candidate's events this way?

[Kat45]

14. I don't think Clark supporters are going to other candidate's events

but I can't say for sure. I've never heard it mentioned at Meet-Ups and such, but I haven't been able to do as much campaigning as I'd like, so I'm not up on everything they do.

[cally]

12. I was there too

It was a very enthusiastic crowd. Mary Frances Berry started it off by saying that many just talk the talk, but Clark walks the walk. She praised Clark for his efforts to promote women and minorities in the military and filing a brief supporting Affirmative Action in the University of Michigan (?) case. Then she said she has met many Presidents and she trusts Clark. Then Michael Moore spoke. He kept saying what is a peacenik like me doing supporting an ex-military man. Again, because he trusts him to not take us into unnecessary wars. He again (paraphrasing here) talked about Clark walking the walk and cited all his stances on very liberal issues. Raised the issue that Clark can get elected and get Bush out.

Then Clark spoke. A theme is leadership to get us out of this mess. Create jobs, get us out of Iraq, rebuild our international alliance, reform the tax code, help working folk, raise the minimum wage, and enforce environmental regulations. The environmental part got a hugely positive reaction. He then went on about family values and how the Republicans don't have them. Said that Democrats are the party that follow what most religions stress--to help those less fortunate.

I was a supporter, but now I have no doubts. Clark can bring us back from this mess we're in.

[JohnKleeb]

17. Hey you made it out to NH cool cally

Sounds great, I wish I could travel but school limits me.

[cally]

18. Thanks

When I get back I'll post more about NH. It's interesting and so different from California campaigns.

[Kat45]

19. Outside the rally was a car with bush AWOL stickers on it

If I recall, one of the guys in the car was wearing an army helmet with the same message on it. I can't remember all the details of it, but it was great. Cally, did you see it?

Also, someone in the crowd at the rally had a big sign that said "Bush Lied. Soldiers Died."

[cally]

23. I saw the guy dressed up

in green military style outfit with AWOL and Chickenhawk all over him. Lot's of pictures taken of him. I was at the door checking signs so I never got outside until way past when it ended. I didn't see any of the outside stuff.