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Michael Moore Rips Wolf Blitzer on CNN: "Why Don't You Tell the American People the Truth" [VIDEO]

Posted by Adam Howard at 3:51 PM on July 9, 2007.


Michael Moore slams Blitzer and CNN for their lies about universal health care and his film "Sicko."
CNN

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I have always noticed that Michael Moore only receives one kind of coverage from the mainstream media: the bad kind. Every time one of his films comes out, from Bowling for Columbine, to Fahrenheit 9/11 and now Sicko, they have been on a quest to "debunk" them. Why? Because one of the themes that has run consistently throughout Moore's films is a contempt for the mainstream media's laziness and complicit role they have many American atrocities and problems. He has, as he points out in this fantastic (and live) broadside delivered to the archetypal cable news tool, Wolf Blitzer, been ahead of the curve on Walter Reed, the War in Iraq, gun violence, and a host of other issues and all these networks and talking heads can do is try to pick apart his work to "expose" how he's somehow "fudged the facts", always ignoring how incredibly right he has been and continues to be about our American condition. We all love to see Wolf Blitzer (who tirelessly defends CNN medical "expert" Sanjay Gupta) taken down a peg, but the video to your right is really about the whole mainstream media getting called out on their bullshit, which makes it so much more satisfying. Naturally smug bigots like Lou Dobbs act amused by what they consider Moore's "act". Little do they know, they're the ones making asses out of themselves day in and day out.

UPDATE: As promised in the video, Michael Moore put up a detailed analysis on his site about how "Sicko" was right and how Dr. Sanjay Gupta and CNN were wrong. Check it out here.

UPDATE II: PART TWO OF THIS INTERVIEW NOW AVAILABLE HERE

UPDATE III: Michael Moore takes on Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Larry King Live. Check out the footage here

Digg!

Tagged as: health care, cnn, sicko, moore, blitzer

Adam Howard is the editor of PEEK.


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Nervous Laughter
Posted by: Louisa on Jul 9, 2007 4:03 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Looks like "Wolf" could only manage to laugh nervously about the fact that he was now fully exposed as bought and paid for "infotainment."

Most of the news media is propaganda - and while that fact not really news in and of itself, it's true that few people know it or acknowledge it as a fact.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Nervous Laughter Posted by: Nedtheredhead
» RE: Nervous Laughter Posted by: LeftCoastProgressive
» RE: Nervous Laughter Posted by: Nedtheredhead
» RE: Nervous Laughter Posted by: Roverton
» RE: Nervous Laughter Posted by: nater
Hee hee.
Posted by: justaguy on Jul 9, 2007 4:50 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Moore just went way up in my estimation. Blitzer is a nasty little propagandist that should NOT ever, have a public platform for his duplicitous agenda.

Hit him with Geneva Convention war crimes charge.

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What A Zinger
Posted by: InsertNameHere on Jul 9, 2007 4:52 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I just saw a re-run of the interview on 'The Situation Room', I didn't catch the whole thing the first time. Looks like Mr. Moore caught them somewhat off guard. Not that it makes much difference, but it's nice to see someone call them on their agenda once in a while. He even went as far as saying that only Kucinich has come out with a detailed position on healthcare. The rest of the milquetoast Democrats are too busy 'triangulating'.

I caught Lou Dobb's remark about Mr. Moore being as much as a left supporter as Hugo Chavez. He also said '...surely he must like profit...' I don't remember the exact wording. Dobbs is so full of it. He claims to be a champion of the middle class, but really he tries to co-opt working class sensibilities with his racist, anti-immigrant rant.

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» RE: What A Zinger Posted by: opeluboy
At least they let him talk...
Posted by: phyxius on Jul 9, 2007 4:54 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I'm kinda impressed they let him go on for so long. On Fox, they just cut you off if they dont like where you're going.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Halleleuiah
Posted by: BlueBerry PickN on Jul 9, 2007 5:00 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Moore is magnificent..

*smooch*


Spread Love...
... but wear the Glove!

BlueBerry Pick'n
can be found @
ThisCanadian
"Silent Freedom is Freedom Silenced"

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go mike go
Posted by: The Big Raven on Jul 9, 2007 5:01 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
When will cnn ever addmit anything? NEVER for it just a propaganda tool just like that phoney dr. guppy

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Who has credibility
Posted by: UnEasyOne on Jul 9, 2007 5:04 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
An admitted propagandist like Michael Moore or the "newshounds" of the MSM?

Who had credibility in 1776, the henchmen of George III or the propagandist Thomas Paine?

Moore's rant about credibility was beautiful! Hard to imagine a more stinging indictment of the MSM - pointing out their track record as opposed to his.

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» RE: Who has credibility Posted by: opeluboy
Why cannot Moore listen to his critics?
Posted by: Swedish liberal on Jul 9, 2007 5:11 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Listening to Mr Moore’s diatribe I understand why he is not more successful in getting his opinions across. He only preaches to the already faithful.

Universal Healthcare is an issue that you need to get across to everybody, Moore only alienates his opponents, he dos not convert them. His films therefore are meaningless.

This is a sad statement indeed since his issues are so important.

Shut him up and let his films speak for themselves. Hoe can he be as biased and stupid as not to understand how he comes across.

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» RE: Why cannot Swedish liberals fuck off!? Posted by: LeftCoastProgressive
» RE: Why cannot the Swedes get some Cajones? Posted by: LeftCoastProgressive
Luv You Mike
Posted by: Pfaiola on Jul 9, 2007 5:12 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Thank God for Michael Moore and his expose on the medical industry. We live in a world of lies and deception all to tweak our life's earnings out of our hard earned sweat. Most of the corrupt legislation passed today in some form or another is to take a little more here and a little more there. I am tired of all the blue blooded politicians and their cronies telling me how to live why they rob the country blind.

Patrick Faiola
Saratoga, NY

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» RE: Luv You Mike Posted by: Trazom
Moore Hot Air
Posted by: EncinoM on Jul 9, 2007 5:41 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
So, instead of directly providing the informantion as to what was misleading in the CNN's report, he just attacks WOlf Blitzer.

Again, while there were no outright lie in Moore's last movie, he is again being ishonest in the context in which he provides the facts.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: Snarky Snobbery Posted by: ceti
» RE: Snarky Snobbery Posted by: Swedish liberal
» RE: Snarky Snobbery Posted by: CatDad
» RE: Snarky Snobbery Posted by: Swedish liberal
» RE: Snarky Snobbery Posted by: revjmike
» RE: Snarky Snobbery Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Snarky Snobbery Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Snarky Snobbery Posted by: aethr
» RE: Snarky Snobbery Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Snarky Valley Snobbery Posted by: LeftCoastProgressive
» Translation Posted by: Joshua Holland
» RE: Translation Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Translation Posted by: peacefullaim
» RE: Translation Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Translation Posted by: sea4th
» RE: Translation Posted by: EncinoM
» Still no facts to dispute, hunh? Posted by: Joshua Holland
» RE: Translation Posted by: TokyoTuds
» RE: Translation Posted by: ceti
» nonsense Posted by: Uberbah
» RE: Moore Hot Air Posted by: blitzmesser
» RE: Moore Hot Air Posted by: peacefullaim
Hail, hail to Mr. Moore!
Posted by: Teerexness on Jul 9, 2007 5:53 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
That was the most fantastic dressing down of the richly deserving mainstream, corporate, zionist media I have ever seen. These clowns have no credibility, they are not even remotely doing their job (unless the up to the minute Anna Nicole Smith coverage counts as news to you) and have become nothing but a dangerous propaganda institution for corporations and the government. Michael did an absolutely outstanding job of exposing them for what they are!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-8aTGnjHnI

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» RE: Hail, hail to Mr. Moore! Posted by: delaplata1
Misnaming the media
Posted by: Earthian on Jul 9, 2007 6:25 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
That's a fine post of a video. But the use of the phrase "mainstream media" is using *their* language. It leaps out as an adoption of a term--"mainstream"--that implies the majority are either behind or swayed by the media. But the polls show a majority of Americans are quite progressive in their policy preferences. A better adjective, a more progressive adjective is simply "corporate." Not "mainstream" media but corporate media. Not "privitatization" but "corporatization." Not "moderate" Democrats, but corporate Democrats.

If someone has a good argument for using such terms as "mainstream" instead of "corporate" I'd like to hear it. I haven't. Let's develop and use our own terms, favorable to our own agenda: a new progressive regime to replace the old corporate regime.

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» Blitzer is also Zionist shill Posted by: truthteller
» RE: Blitzer is also Zionist shill Posted by: blitzmesser
» RE: Misnaming the media Posted by: peacefullaim
Go Michael Go!
Posted by: jacobpark on Jul 9, 2007 7:07 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
GO GO GO!

It's time to rise up and get rid of the Bush administration and this complicit media.

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Hey 'Swedish Liberal', Do You Live Here?
Posted by: dbursch on Jul 9, 2007 7:13 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If you did you would know that being polite and extra erudite about the facts means no one pays attention to you, especially with the current 9 to 1 bias of conservative/fascist voices on the airwaves. We should all be rioting in the streets, let alone encouraging passionate voices like Moore's. He may not be the perfect politician but at least he speaks from the gut and tries to wake a few people up. I am so ashamed of the sheeple my people have become!

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WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE MICHAEL MOORE
Posted by: freshtuna on Jul 9, 2007 7:51 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Even he can be a bit extremist his points of view balance out the lies of our politicians and country rulers.

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Blitzer is a Republican lapdog.
Posted by: HughScott on Jul 9, 2007 8:27 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I'll never forget hearing Wolf defending Bush's National Guard record during the 2004 presidential campaign by saying there was no evidence that Shrub ever went AWOL during the Vietnam War, even though the Boston Globe had proved the allegation with ANG records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

I've also noticed that Blitzer never uses the word "neocon" or mentions PNAC. He would better serve America as a TV weather man.

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» RE: TV weather man Posted by: LeftCoastProgressive
Mark Cartwright
Posted by: mcartri on Jul 9, 2007 8:42 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Forget Wolf. Go see "Sicko". Health care for Americans means a lot to me, but the scene from "Sicko" that I remember most was a quote from a former member of British Parliament. He told Moore that the American government actually fears Democracy. Your government wants you poor and in fear so you will not rebel against it. BINGO! What I learned from the film, is that Hillary is a mere shill for the insurance-drug co. lobby. The two-party system is corrupt. As Bill Moyers said, "Money ruined Democracy. Washington is lost. All we have left is the grassroots." You, this reader, are the grassroots. Do not give-up! Bush/Rove/Cheney cannot win the battle against our "Founding Fathers". They are dead, we are not!

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» RE: Mark Cartwright Posted by: LeftCoastProgressive
The Facts from the UN Data
Posted by: freedem on Jul 9, 2007 9:07 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

This graph of the actual UN data might tell the REAL story


I have been playing with a new Google gadget that graphs the facts about what is happening from the actual UN data.

The most significant points that I could use were concentration of Doctors (Cuba has more per person than any other country), life expectancy, and child mortality, in all three cases the US is way back of the pack, including Western Europe, Canada, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Austrailia, and New Zealand.

Cuba is very marginally worse but is moving ahead rapidly while the US falls behind more countries every year.

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michael moore wolf blitzer
Posted by: cwilsondrum on Jul 9, 2007 9:35 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
good for michael moore. Woof Blitzer is a pussy. and now a lousy journalist Moore speaks the truth and blitzer is toungetied, because it is all true. how do you defend bullshit? you can't

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Psycho or Sicko?
Posted by: Cynic13 on Jul 9, 2007 9:50 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I fully support Michael Moore and his ideas. He asks the hard questions. HOWEVER - if he had just replied adamantly but calmly on each incorrect thing in Dr Gupta's report, it would have had much more impact. He totally went off topic, and lost an opportunity to confirm the truths in his SICKO film.

Wolf definately deserved the tirade, but this wasn't the time or the place. It just made Michael look like a PSYCHO! (his next film maybe about mental health care?!)

Please Michael, don't stoop to yelling conservatives' level. Be steadfast, and just continually dispute bull**** with fact upon fact upon fact - like you do in your films.

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» RE: Psycho or Sicko? Posted by: InsertNameHere
» RE: Psycho or Sicko? Posted by: aethr
» nonsense Posted by: Uberbah
» RE: Psycho or Sicko? Posted by: Nedtheredhead
» RE: Psycho or Sicko? Posted by: LeftCoastProgressive
» I totally agree with you on this Posted by: Swedish liberal
» RE: I totally agree with you on this Posted by: kelly.nickell
Disappointing interview
Posted by: chalmychalmers on Jul 9, 2007 11:10 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I thought the interview was rather disappointing and did little to further intelligent discourse on this subject. Michael Moore spent too much time throwing out red herrings, non sequiturs, and ad hominem arguments. Wolf, at least, while he may have shortsighted the exchange, attempted to address the issue (health care) and get some answers.

I don't see how Moore could call the video CNN ran before his interview as crap. I thought it did a good job of providing another view to the health care debate. It's very curious that SiCKO shows very little positives of American health care and few negatives of Canada's, Britain's, France's, and Cuba's health care.

As for the actual blog entry accompanying this video, I don't see anything particularly wrong with the mainstream media trying to debunk Moore's claims. That's the most fitting and proper course of action to determine the crux and truth of the matters Moore presents. Now, whether or not the mainstream media debunks them properly is another matter altogether. But it's good that there's dissent following Moore's films - they are documentaries, posing supposedly factual information. It's a lot different than simply going to the theater and enjoying Die Hard 4.0.

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» RE: Disappointing interview Posted by: CatDad
» please stop lying Posted by: Uberbah
» I agree Posted by: sunflashx
The "facts" that Dr. Gupta couldn't quite get right
Posted by: aethr on Jul 9, 2007 11:21 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
For those who think Dr. Gupta's report made any sense, that it wasn't clearly biased and factually wrong, check out the response on Michael Moore's web site. It's detailed and referenced, something not well suited to a television discussion. If you still think after going through that that Dr. Gupta was not biased, well, you probably just can't think.

'SiCKO' Truth Squad Sets CNN Straight

The difference between Michael Moore and Sanjay Gupta is that Moore presents the facts that support his opinion while Gupta presents his opinion and deceptively calls it fact. It isn't just another opinion if it's wrong.

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Dude
Posted by: Fishbone Soldier on Jul 9, 2007 11:50 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
That was fuuuuuckin' sweet. Moore is hitting at the heart of the issue which is that no one holds the media accountable anymore. I'm glad he took the opportunity to do so when he could have just hyped his film.

Fight the Youth

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Moore a great Promoter
Posted by: johns333 on Jul 10, 2007 2:49 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
but a fraud and liar. You notice how he attacks Wolf and CNN about the facts of his last film. His predictions in the last film were not fact when the films were made and most "facts" in the film weren't. He uses the same tactics that the maker of Borac used. The guy has found a way to make a lot of money and his attitude towards Wolf shows he could care less about the health system,he is a promoter,and a good one. The guy is attacking a network that supports most everything he does again proving he really has no idea what he is talking about.
He is your typical leftist, who often loses his argument because of his rage and mendacity. He fails to win over those on the other side because of his ignorance. His style is great for making money from films but sucks for changing the healthcare system.

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» RE: Moore a great Promoter Posted by: Nedtheredhead
» RE: Moore a great Promoter Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Moore a great Promoter Posted by: Nedtheredhead
» RE: Moore a great Promoter Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Moore a great Promoter Posted by: The NUB
» Clarification Posted by: The NUB
» RE: Clarification Posted by: Nedtheredhead
» RE: Clarification Posted by: Nedtheredhead
» RE: Clarification Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Clarification Posted by: Nedtheredhead
» RE: Moore a great Promoter Posted by: peacefullaim
» RE: Moore a great Promoter Posted by: peacefullaim
MICHAEL KICKS SOME COPORATE LYING ASS
Posted by: fwhitelight on Jul 10, 2007 3:38 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
You have been a shameless corporate whore CNN. You deserved everything Michael Moore said to you and hundreds of hours more of it. You have aided and abetted your parent companies while they have purposely and traitorously lied this Country into war, to make huge profits. Wars and war profiteering go hand in evil hand.

"The sale of weapons shapes the plan (SPIN) the way the hammer shapes the hand" - Jackson Browne.

No amount of spin will be able to hide the truth of what has been going on behind the scenes of your ugly heinous complicity with crimes against humanity and torture - for - profit. You have sold your souls to the devil and Michael Moore has exposed you in broad daylight! As far as Wolf, Guppta, Dobbs and that other sycophant Cafferty, it is obvios to all, that they just got up off their knees, after all these years of kissing the war - for - profit - corporate - ass and sucking their **** for a living. Go Michael Moore long may you run!

Long after all you corporate shills have gone down in history as the rotten pimps - of - horror that you allowed yourselves to become, Michael Moore will be etched forever in the HALLS OF HEROES.

We’ll all be dead, one day and it comes along much more rapidly than most believe. The only thing that remains of us is OUR LEGACY- What we stood for. Most of you in the CORPORATE PROPAGANDA BUSINESS (msm) will only be remembered for the horror that you could have stopped. But instead for a few pieces of silver -which tomorrow will be nothing more than rust - chose to look the other way, when truth could have prevented the atrocities that now bear your name. NICE LEGACY. But Michael will be remembered and loved and respected for his bravery, honesty courage and goodness.

I hope that your short expensive ride on a cheap hooker was worth it.

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Francis
Posted by: Francis on Jul 10, 2007 5:48 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Michael Moore assumes that Wolf Blitzer is CAPABLE of telling the truth, and, if so, is free to tell the truth. I wouldn't bet a nickel on either proposition. More likely, considering Blitzer's background, he was chosen for the job based upon his ability to seamlessly eschew the truth. How else could he or any American "journalist" spend so much time reporting on the Middle East and expect to remain employed?

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Go, Mike!
Posted by: Tom Degan on Jul 10, 2007 6:21 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Left is starting to fight back - with the big guns a'blazing! We're not going to passively sit by and let these hideous bastards define who we are any longer!

Good for you, Mike! The sleeping giant of American Progressivism has awoken after a long and bitter sleep. We're going to take our country back.

Look out, baby!

Tom Degan
Goshen, NT
"The Rant" by Tom Degan

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» RE: Go, Mike! Posted by: schokoprinz
» RE: Go, Mike! Posted by: ChrisSmith0077
mikel
Posted by: mikel on Jul 10, 2007 6:31 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Moore's comments opened my eyes. CNN has no clothes.

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He's got it right: STOP WATCHING
Posted by: supercrisp on Jul 10, 2007 6:45 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If you hear something enough, you'll believe. That's medical and psychological research as well as history talking, not me. So turn off the TV. Don't pick up crap like USA Today. If you listen, it just takes time to start working your mouth to form their words. My most liberal friends now repeat the right wing talking point about Bowling for Columbine: "Moore stretches things. That bank didn't have guns in it." As if that was the point at all.

The mainstream media says: "Forget everything that matters; just believe what we tell you. Buy the things and ideas we sell. Stay seated. Relax." The same goes for many left sources, like all the ones drooling over the same Chavez that has my left-wing Venezuelan friends scared for the future of their country.

Why not just browse through Anglophone papers from around the world? Why not listen to streams of the BBC, Radio Netherlands, the Voice of China? Get a wide ranging sample of the opinions/BS out there; then you might have enough data points to plot at least a ghostly outline of the issues, might have some shot at an informed opinion instead of the illusion of information we dream during our consumer narcosis.

If it's easy to get--news or whatever--someone wants you to have it. Why? Ask yourself why.

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Here's an idea for a new Moore Documentary...
Posted by: kewpie on Jul 10, 2007 7:25 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Moore should expose the truth of corrupt journalism. It isn't "All the President's Men" any more! Watching that CNN clip with Wolf Blitzer showed that Moore had a bone to pick with the media! Since Moore is excellent at portraying the truth he should use his gift to reveal how seedy the media has become with corporate and government sponsors!

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Canada
Posted by: neila on Jul 10, 2007 9:00 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am a Canadian. I was born and raised there. I was educated there and went on to do post doctoral work at Stanford. Michael Moore's presentation of Canadian society in Bowling for Columbine was completely inaccurate. Again, he has presented only half the story on the Canadian health care system. I happen to live with a person suffering from a chronic disease who was diagnosed almost fifteen years ago in Canada. I have been living in the US for seven years and by God I can tell you without any hesitation that THE US HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS FAR BETTER THAN THAT IN CANADA. In fact, the healthcare system in Canada is one thing that makes me not want to ever return to "my home and native land". I guess what I am trying to say is that until you have actually lived on both sides of the border you probably don't have an opinion worth listening to. I haven't done the research to say Moore has never lived in Canada but based on his words I seriously doubt he has.

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» RE: Canada Posted by: EncinoM
» RE: Canada Posted by: SatanicJamboree
» RE: Canada Posted by: neila
» Does Stanford play CNN? Posted by: Canaduh
» RE: Canada Posted by: kelly.nickell
» RE: Canada Posted by: ChrisSmith0077
» RE: Canada Posted by: ChrisSmith0077
OF COURSE...
Posted by: Roverton on Jul 10, 2007 9:38 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
... there will be reprisals to Moore. He had a very successful dealing with the MSM. They are scrambling to recover, trolls and pundits - paid whores to patch the hole bitten into a crooked media.

CNN will suffer well and long for this proper blow.

Other "News Anchors" take note. Your popularity in general is on notice with America.

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» RE: OF COURSE... Posted by: NumberSix
» RE: OF COURSE... Posted by: Roverton
The Usual Litany
Posted by: SatanicJamboree on Jul 10, 2007 9:59 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It's funny that there are about 3 or 4 typical attacks on Moore that are repeated endlessly almost verbatim--never an original critique. Are you anti-Moore folks that lacking in self awareness that you don't realize you're simply aping the same tired old platitudes propagated by right-wing shills? How does it feel to be so predictable? :)

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» Give me a break Posted by: saml
» RE: Give me a break Posted by: NumberSix
» RE: Give me a break Posted by: kelly.nickell
» RE: Give me a break Posted by: saml
» RE: Give me a break Posted by: kelly.nickell
» RE: Give me a break Posted by: kelly.nickell
» RE: Give me a break - Next Posted by: kelly.nickell
someone beat Lou Dobbs ...
Posted by: Ghoulman on Jul 10, 2007 12:49 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
... enough to put him into the HMO.

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but... but... Michael Moore isn't a DOCTOR!
Posted by: gretavo on Jul 10, 2007 1:56 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I love it. How many people here (correctly) support Michael Moore in this but would cry "But you're not a structural engineer!" when people point out how the twin towers and wtc building 7 could not have been destroyed the way they were without explosives?

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» nice try Mr. Holland Posted by: gretavo
SIMPLY COUNT THE NUMBER OF PHRMA ADS IN MSM
Posted by: drricklippin on Jul 10, 2007 2:15 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Simply count the number of PhRMA ads in MSM mainstream media) including CNN and you have the sad reality.

The sociologists call it "affilation bias"

Wolfe Blitzer of CNN stated last night that news reporting is " business".Shameful statement! Herein lies the core of the problem! Like Medicine and Law, News Reporting is a profession-NOT a business.

Truth, justice and human flesh should not be for sale. Period!


Dr. Rick Lippin
Southampton, Pa
http://medicalcrises.blogspot.com

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You've nailed it!
Posted by: dakota513 on Jul 10, 2007 3:08 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I watched your very powerful documentary and feel you nailed it on the head! The sad part is I work for Kaiser and I was incredibly ashamed and embarrassed that I do. We do the same with our employees. An employee of Kaiser was diagnosed with cancer. She's a wife and mother of 3 children. After she was diagnosed, initially was being treated under employee status, within a year she was declined anymore care, not because she was incurable, but because the "board of decisions" chose to stop treating her. The employee's had started raising money to try to get her the treatments, etc. Needless to say she could only afford to check herself back into the hospital in the last 36 hours of her life. There's so much to this story, not to mention a heartbreak it was to lose her. Where I'm going with this is it's not only the outside members being declined for medical treatment, but our own employees. A friend of mine and I have decided that should we get a serious illness, we'll leave the state where we work to be treated at another facility where Kaiser is more up to date with the technology. I've seen for my self the shoddy care the members get and have decided to start looking for work elsewhere. It may be tough, I'm 50 and have only a couple years experience in this field. My previous job was outsourced to Malaysia in '01. What's the chance of you doing a documentary on aging citizens and the discrimination against them. Thank you for the invaluable information as embarrassing and shameful our medical system is. Can't wait to see you on Larry King with Sanjay Grupta. Are you sure he's a doctor... maybe correspondance courses!!

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» Educate Yourself Posted by: gellero
TO DR. LIPKIN, ABOVE
Posted by: gellero on Jul 10, 2007 5:34 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Journalism is NOT a profession........a profession is defined as a field of knowledge with a CODE OF ETHICS.

Journalists do not have a CODE of ETHICS.

And That's the Way It Is......

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jerseydan
Posted by: JERSEYDAN on Jul 10, 2007 5:35 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Raoul Wallenberg was a Swede. Remember that.

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Gotta Love It
Posted by: opeluboy on Jul 10, 2007 6:59 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I see the usual negative comments here about Moore, but they're in the minority. Blitzer deserves a hit, as does CNN for employing this former AIPAC operative and Jerusalem Post hack (and likely Mossad agent) to provide us with unbiased news of the world, especially when most of that news has to do with the Middle East.

Gupta's piece on Sicko was pathetic, and Moore today on Sicko's website rebuts several of his points in detail.

Regardless of what one thinks of Michael Moore, this is an issue that affects all of us, even those red state knucklewalkers too stupid to realize it is costing them.

Moore deserves praise if only for being willing to take on The Big Boys on a regular basis. He could certainly take an easier road, and probably make even more money. This is something none of his disparagers would understand. It's called courage.

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steve7
Posted by: steve7 on Jul 11, 2007 12:35 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Such a waste to argue about facts that are substantially correct. If Moore wants progress then he needs to stay above it and not nit-pick some of the things his critics go after. We have a problem with the healthcare delivery system and need to find some solutions. We can't continually harp on politically infeasible solutions. There are some solutions that can work. See www.healthcaresoundoff.com and read HR 676. The solutions are within our grasp if we direct our attention rather than prosecuting and defending.

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Michael Moore could care less about healthcare in america
Posted by: OhioPatriot on Jul 11, 2007 6:49 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
He is just out to sell his patched up diatribes and line his own fat ass pockets.

When the alternet readers can distinguish between a liberal carpetbagger and a conservative carpetbagger and admit both exist then someone might take the you serious on this issue.

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Cuba is the Best
Posted by: Irap14 on Jul 12, 2007 6:28 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Don't believe the Lies of the Right Wing CNN. Micheal Moore is dead on the money. I recommend to all of you fellow progressives to go to Cuba or the Former Soviet Union for the best health care, or to China. Especially if you have a terminal disease and need the best care available. Whatever you do, do not ever see an American Zionist doctor. I am sure Micheal also goes to Cuba or China for his medical needs. You might even see Guru Micheal there and have a chance to shake hands, if you're really lucky. Please hurry and go, or you might miss your chance to see him. If you can't go there then go the the V.A. They're almost as good as Cuba. Hurry now. Bush is a LIAR. Enjoy your future.

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Socialized medicine
Posted by: sra4722 on Jul 12, 2007 7:26 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Michael Moore is an outstanding entertainer, self-promoter, propagandist, and entrepreneurial capitalist.

He is correct when he implies our health care system is largely socialized already via Medicare and Medicaid. He is incorrect in implying that HMO's are free-market systems. He ignores health savings accounts and doesn't comprehend the difference between insurance and pre-payment plans. [There is virtually no health "insurance" per se in this country.]

He is wrong when he says physicians like Medicare. They do not.

He is wrong when he states socialized medicine is cheaper per capita, since he doesn't include the increased prices for all goods and services from pizza to organic foods generated by payroll tax increases and passed on to the consumer. The worker pays twice - via the payroll tax and then via prices reflecting the higher cost of labor, since the employers must match the workers' contributions.

He dismisses the concept of "shortage" endemic to all socialized enterprises.

He is naive enough to think Castro, the dictator, would allow him to see a cross-sectional view of his dysfunctional nation.
The best way to judge Cuba: people there are punished for trying to leave. Our problem in the US is keeping people out.

I see no mention of the high unemployment rates in Germany and France [10% in France.] I see no comment on France's recent presidential election - clearly a move away from socialism.

It would take 30 8.5 x 11 pages to explain how health savings accounts reduce health care prices and how our current largely socialized or employer-driven system increases the cost of care.
______________________________________
By the way. This sentence in the ground rules regarding participation at this site really scares me:

"We also ask our readers to refrain from responding to posts by people who only want to derail the conversation with conservative talking points. Please report these comments; do not respond."

It's not a debate, if there aren't opposing viewpoints.

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» RE: Socialized medicine Posted by: saml
» RE: Socialized medicine Posted by: ChrisSmith0077
What's Going On Here?
Posted by: dlf on Jul 12, 2007 7:32 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Check the dateline on this story

Why are the comments closed on this story and was this really posted in 1969?

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Cafferty's comment
Posted by: wwittman on Jul 12, 2007 7:42 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"After watching this Michael Moore interview I've decided that whatever CNN's paying you..." it's too much

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"And the Wolf Blew and Blew
Posted by: mcartri on Jul 12, 2007 10:51 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
and couldn't blow Michael's house in."-Nursery rhymes for little George from his mother, Barbara. OK, Moore wasn't alive yet, but remember that's stuff to be considered in a reality based world only.

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impeachment
Posted by: gsaephanh on Jul 13, 2007 1:00 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Call in your vote TODAY for impeaching Bush and Cheney at this number: 202-225-0100

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office is taking calls voting for Impeachment of Bush/Cheney at 202-225-0100. PLEASE CALL TODAY. At the toll free capitol switchboard #s below, you can also call your particular district’s congressional representative to insist that they support impeachment for Cheney. E.g., for Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s H Res 333 for Cheney; please say:

“In addition to supporting Kucinich’s bill H Res 333, I would also support a similar Impeachment Resolution against Bush, especially after the disgraceful Scooter Libby sentence “commuting” and the following issues: wiretapping, torture, numerous 9/11 intelligence misrepresentations, the continued occupation of Iraq, gross negligence during Hurrican Katrina, the Valerie Plame CIA leak, […list your other grounds…] ..”[see resolutions on tab #2 for other grounds for impeachment]).

LANIC requests that Americans call today…Not tomorrow or next week. Every call adds to the extraordinary grasswoots and nationwide movement’s pressures on House Speaker Pelosi to act now .before further innocent lives are lost in Iraq and elsewhere. Last week 28 Americans lost their lives. Over the July 4, 2007 weekend over 400 Iraqis lost their lives…

SEND MAIL TO HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI: Attn: Nancy Pelosi, House Representative/Speaker of the House, 235 Cannon H.O.B., Washington, DC 20515 ; Pelosi’s Fax # 202 225-8259

Pelosi’s e-mail address :

Americanvoices@mail.house.gov

CC her at: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov

Please send her a pro-impeachment email and a specific call to endorse H Res 333. Note: On Saturdays/Sundays, Pelosi’s office has a comment line at which you can leave a voicemail. Your message will be transcribed and relayed to her. Please do encourage your family/friends to contact the same number. Refer them to www.bcimpeach.com for the actual telephone #s & contact info.

Find out who your Congressional representative is and call that person. For toll free numbers to your Congress rep: (800) 828 – 0498; (800) 459 – 1887; or (866) 340 – 9281. You will be connected once you name your congress person. The staff aid should take detailed notes and provided to the Congressional representative.

Final Note: Please say “I support Impeachment based on ____. I’d like to know where “[representative name]” stands on this issue.” Let’s strike while the Libby fury keeps the iron hot! Please call and Act Now!

PLEASE ALSO CONTACT THESE KEY CONGRESSIONAL REPS RE IMPEACHMENT:
Representative Capitol Phone Capitol Fax
Howard Berman 202-225-4695 202-225-3196
& 818-944-7200 818-994-1050

MAILING ADDRESS FOR BERMAN
Congressman Howard L. Berman
14546 Hamlin Street, Suite 202
Van Nuys, CA 91411

Henry Waxman 202-225-3976 202-225-4099
Loreta Sanchez 202 225-2965 202-225-5859
D. Watson 202 225-7084 202-225-2422
LindaSanchez 202 225-6676 202-226-1012
L. Solis 202 225-5464 202-225-5467
A. G. Eshoo 202 225-8104 202-225-8890
L. Roybal/Allard 202 225-1766 202-225-0350

http://www.bcimpeach.com/

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Sickos
Posted by: fleurette on Jul 23, 2007 3:40 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
After reading the sentiments on here, I must say it really is scary. Never have I seen masses of people who want to violently refuse something that would be to their benefit. You people are psychologically self-loathing and sick in the head. Millionares Sanjay, Lou, Wolf, and Cafferty will not lose their multi-million dollar homes when they get cancer - but YOU WILL. If you have time to actually get on Alternet and pretend you are rich (yes, I'm talking to you the one on the computer at the PUBLIC LIBRARY!!) and role-play vicariously that you have money, YOU WILL SOON BE DEAD from lack of care or YOU SOON WILL BE BROKE from lack of coverage!! You are POOR! You don't have any money! and thus, you will DIE!!! RICH millionaires who can afford to cover their BUTTS when they get cancer do not hang on Alternet, unless they are paid come on here by various Scaife-funded organizations and TROLL. Anyway, the point of the movie is THIS, you, dear reader, have LOUSY COVERAGE; the two second blink about rankings in Cuba is a RED HERRING. What I remember are the REAL facts in the movie - all those people lost their homes and savings due to insurance companies NOT PAYING. Why doesn't Sanjay check out the veracity of their stories? Also, the reason the waits are so long for doctor's care in Canada is the same reason waits are so long anytime someone gives away something for free. If they announced they were giving away free IPhones, the lines would go across three states b/c it's FREE; while yes, it would probably be cheaper to just go into Best Buy and pay $600 or whatever price it is for that thingee (I don't know b/c I'm learing about ISSUES and not playing with BS toys!!!) In the US, there are short waits for doctor's care b/c many of the people have no insurance and thus, do not show up at a doctor's office to request anything until they're growing a third LIMB!!! Just like right now you can you could be first in line at Best Buy for your $600 thingee b/c who has money for a BS toy???! And for many people, health care, just like that $600 toy is a TOTAL LUXURY!!! Duhhhh!!!

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