Chat Ed : After Fahrenheit 9/11 had its UK premiere on Channel 4 this evening, the director, writer and producer Michael Moore joined us for an exclusive webchat. The chat happened an hour later than publicised due to forces at work in the US trying to silence Michael's opinions. Here’s what happened…
Michael Moore : Channel 4 innocently thought "Wouldn't it be nice if we had a film-maker do a webchat?" but unfortunately you don't live here.Certain Americans, when they learned of this webchat, did not see it as a webchat with a film-maker but as an interview with the devil himself. And they discussed throughout the week how and what they could do to stop it. So my apologies to the British audience who logged on Thursday night to have this chat (the only one I have agreed to this past year) only to be prohibited from having this discussion with me thanks to the lunatic Right Wing in the United States.
Listen to an audio clip of Michael's response here.
Jeremy Dumkrieger : Michael At what point did you say to yourself, I have to make Fahrenheit 9-11, I have to tell the American people the truth.
Michael Moore : It was probably on a drive back across the country the week after September 11th whilst listening to Talk radio and hearing peoples’ responses to it across the country and realising that Americans didn't quite understand how the world felt about us.
Chris Marsh : If you had a short interview with George W. Bush, what would be the most important thing for you to ask him?
Michael Moore : “Would you kindly pee in this cup?”
David Haddrell : Do you think there is a chance Jeb Bush will stand for presidency in 2008 and if so will you join me in hibernating deep in the Swiss Alps?
Michael Moore laughs!
Michael Moore : Why go to Switzerland when freezing your ass off in Canada is so close?! I think he will, yes. The Democrats are going to have a very hard time winning the next election - the Republicans have a number of star players and the Democrats have a lot of wimps and losers.
ElectrO : What are your views on how Bush used Religion to get the vote of the people as well as using all the negative campaigns against Kerry?
Michael Moore : Bush and the Republicans have no shame and will resort to anything in order to win. The Democrats show up to a gun fight with a butter knife and thus they lose.
Marc : Before the showing of Farhenheit 911, you mentioned you had footage of the plane hitting the Pentagon and that you would show it on the film. To date, I have not seen the actual footage. Do you still have it and if so, why haven't you shown it to the world. Thank You.
Michael Moore : Just the opposite. I said that I don't have the footage and that no one has seen it and isn't it strange that no one saw it?... We saw the twin tower planes crashing a thousand times over and having filmed at the Pentagon I noticed that the roof and parking lot had around a hundred cameras surrounding it, at least, if not more. There IS footage from numerous angles and we have never seen that. Why is that? I'm not suggesting there wasn't a plane I'm saying there is a reason why the Government doesn't want the world to see the plane hitting the Pentagon and I'd like to know why that is.
George Ramirez : What do you feel to be the biggest concern we should have about the policies that will be put forth by the Bush administration over the next four years?
Michael Moore : First, they are going to try and shift as much wealth from the middle class to the upper class as they can in these next four years - turning the middle class into the working poor. Secondly they are going to attempt various acts of aggression against other countries around the world but they will not all take the form of a ground invasion like they did in Iraq - they have seen the folly in that so they will try other means to commit acts of violence and overthrow Governments. Maybe they'll go back to the old ways when Saddam was their friend and just write cheques instead – it’s a lot less bloody!
Andrew Burt : Hi Mike, Well done at the People's Choice Awards, but do you regret pulling out of best documentary to run for Best Picture at the Oscars?
Michael Moore : Not at all, I had to pull out of Best Documentary because the rules would not allow me to show Fahrenheit 9/11 on TV before the November election and that is what I wanted to do. I wanted as many Americans as possible to see this film before voting and so by putting it on TV the film was disqualified by the rules of the Academy. I just found out today that the Academy has now changed the rules and will no longer prohibit a documentary from being eligible by being aired on TV. It was more important to me to remove Bush than getting my second Oscar.
upyourego : A lot of British people took a major interest in the Presedential election in the US and as far as I can work out the next BIG chance to cause any change is in our general election in a few months. Which party are you backing, should Tony Blair and the Labour party be given 'one more chance' or is it really time for change?
Michael Moore : The Labour party should remove Tony Blair. As an American I don't really have a right to say any of this as it's your problem but it affects the rest of the world too. I wish there was an alternative so that you wouldn't have to put a stamp of approval on what Blair has done. Did the Liberal Democrats ever get their shit together?
Michael Moore laughs
Said : Mr. Moore, If you are so concerned about helping our troops in Iraq, why don't you donate 100% of the money from your movies to that cause?
Michael Moore : I haven't seen a dime from this movie! My question then to you is what are you doing to try and stop this war? I will promise you that I will donate as much of my time as I can in the coming months to see that the anti-Bush movement transforms itself into a massive anti-war movement so we can bring these troops home.
Mia Goodall : Do you think there is any hope that the rest of the world will ever respect the United states again ?
Michael Moore : Yes, I think as soon as we get the White House back in the hands of the majority of this country we will start to get it back - it's a majority who does not believe in the Bush administration, but unfortunately too many of them don't vote. I think that the US owes an apology to the Iraqi people and we need to make a commitment to make reparations to the damage they have done and British Government would do well to join in.
J Alexander : do you feel a moral superiority over individuals who do not think like you, isn't that what you want people to do?
Michael Moore : No, I do not. I respect all people including and especially those who have an opposing viewpoint to mine. I believe debate is healthy and discussion is good. It would be a scary world if we all operated with one mind. I don't believe that I have a moral superiority and not only that but I am constantly questioning my own morality. My feet are never in cement - I'm always looking for ways to challenge how I see the world.
RM : WHY DON'T YOU GO TO CANADA AND LIVE!!!
Michael Moore : I already live in something that resembles Canada - it's called the State of Michigan. I always enjoy questions like this from people who somehow believe that they are more American than myself or others who question what's going on. But, you know, don't knock the Canadians, alright?! They're good people and they believe that if you get sick it's a human right that you see a good doctor and hey they still have the Queen on their money! The Canadians knew that you Brits would just get bored with them and leave! They've got their own country now without firing a gun! “The Brits are leaving but can we keep the Queen on the money?!”
Matt : What do you make of the recent events showing British troops abusing Iraqi prisoners?
Michael Moore : In the words of the great George Michael (!) “The poodle learns well from the master”. The war itself is an act of immorality so every act by British and American troops is an act of abuse and I feel very badly for those young men and women in the UK and American armed forces who are there. As I said in the film, the larger immoral act begets many of the smaller immoral acts. Once we correct the larger immoral act and bring these kids home, the better. They are in the middle of a despicable situation and I'm sure many of them have lost their moral compass and it makes me very sad. These kids who join up to serve in the British military - they volunteer to give up their lives, if necessary, to defend the United Kingdom and they should only be used in endeavours that have something to do with defending the lives of the British public. Iraq was not a threat to Great Britain.
Graeme B. : Michael you have been accused of manipulating/editing to show various facts/people in a negative light, whats your response to these aligations?
Michael Moore : I'm sorry you must have me confused with The Sun! What's that other horrible one...The Telegraph?! That's the one that tries to look like they're respectable right? All of the facts in my films are irrefutable and you are welcome to go to my website where I have back up for each one and you can log on and see for yourself. The opinions in my movies are my own. I happen to think they are right because they are mine. I may not be, Yours may be right. It's to stimulate conversation and debate and I hope I have done that.
Harry Whittingham : Michael, how did you respond to being made a suicide bomber in Trey Parker's recent film Team America? It seemed a tad unjust and targetless in whom it poked fun at. Cheers.
Michael Moore : I haven't seen the movie.
Greg (United States-IL) : Hey,Mike-Are you going to expose the truth of the corrupt American tobacco companies, and if so, are you interviewing a CEO, in your next movie, "Sicko"? (That I'm highly anticipating)!
Michael Moore : No I think everyone knows the truth already, ie. that they are corrupt and I need to make films about things that people aren't quite aware of yet.
Richard : I know you may not have asked for this, but due to your courage in fighting for the truth, you have become a leader in the fight for justice in this country. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by this responsibility??
Michael Moore : Not until you just said that - ohhh my back!!! Wait a minute… argh there! I'm ok now :)
Debra Egan: As a member of the military want to thank-you for all your hard work and devotion to helping the troops. Its too bad our government does not listen.
Michael Moore : Thank you for saying that and thank you for your service to your country . It has everything to do with lining the pockets of the benefactors of George W Bush and Tony Blair.
raymond danford : Do you think Bush will finish out his second term or do you think one or more of the many scandals will catch up with him?
Michael Moore : You've just recited my nightly prayer, thank you! Amen! We can only hope!
Cheryl Iantorno : How best can we help the process of bringing the troops home, besides thanking those brave representatives?
Michael Moore : We need a massive anti-war movement that has to come from the US and UK, unlike the 60s it's impetus will not be from our campuses but rather it will come from our returning soldiers and the mothers and fathers of those who have lost their children in this war - they will become the core of the anti-war movement.
stuart c.: why did so many democrats vote to confirm condoleeza rice? why was this such a slam dunk for her?
Michael Moore : It was a disgusting sight and indicative of who the Democrats are - they are lazy and they're cowards and I'm just hoping that the more they continue to act like that the more it will encourage Americans to run against them and put the US back in the hands of the working class, where it belongs.
Sabrina : Did you get any good election fraud footage that you intend on using for a new documentary? We love you Michael Moore!!!!
Michael Moore : I don't usually talk too much about what I'm doing when I'm doing it. I'll just leave it at that :)
James Watterson : Do you think Bush really intends to attack Iran given the chaos and death toll in Iraq ?
Michael Moore : Yes I do, but I don't think they will do it in the same way; I think they have learned their lesson but there are other ways for them to create havoc in Iran and in other countries.
Phil G : Do you think that the success of Mel Gibson's The Passion Of The Christ, a film based around Christian beliefs told us more about how the American public would vote rather than your own Farenheit 911?
Michael Moore : Yes.
Ross Murray: do you think that GWB could be held accountable in the future for his actions in Iraq?
Michael Moore : In a just world he would be but I don't see that happening. Unfortunately I think it's the American people who will pay the price for his deeds.
FrenchStudent : When did you begin making Fahrenheit ?
Michael Moore : Like I said I started thinking about it a week after Sept 11th - the actual work on it took about a year and a half.
Jeremy : Hey Mike, I heard that you are going to make a Fahrenheit 9/11 2 is that true?? Take care and keep up the good work! Jeremy, Hopedale MA
Michael Moore : We’ll have to see.
anthony : Had 9/11 not happened...would Bush of won a 2nd Term?
Michael Moore : No, I don’t.
Oskar P. Einarsson : Can you name at least one good thing (as agreed upon by all sides) that George W. Bush has done for U.S.A. since Jan. 2001?
Michael Moore : He's kind to his pets and he has raised two beautiful daughters.
James Watterson: Do you think the UK government tried to bully the BBC news coverage over the "sexed up" dossier for war and after the Hutton report?
Michael Moore : Oh absolutely and the BBC should not be backing down - whatever minor mistakes were made they pale in comparison to the tragic mistakes made by the Blair Government. No Brit has died as a result of what the BBC has done.
Sue Jolliffe: Michael, in your opinion, why do you think the US public voted George Bush in again for a second term.
Michael Moore : As the film says - fear works. Bush and his people did a masterful job of scaring the US people into believing that if they didn't vote for him they would die. Crazy as that sounds - that's the magic that they worked. Fear will transcend everything.
matt : hey micheal. Have you ever thought of running for President?
Michael Moore : No - there's a weight limit at the White House ;)
Ruben P.: Right now, most networks in the USA seem rather.. biased. Insufficient or incorrect information is given a lot of times, How can that ever be changed?
Michael Moore : It can be changed by people constantly exposing their lies and half truths - their biases. It can also be changed by people creating their own media by using the net to share information with each other.
politics student : I know I feel scared when I think about where this world could be heading. Whats your biggest fear or hope for the future?
Michael Moore : That people will educate themselves because information is the fear killer. Information, knowledge and enlightenment reduces fear level and helps you make rational decisions and that's my biggest hope.
Chat Ed : Our hour with Michael is now up. Michael… thank you so much for taking part in our webchat…
Michael Moore : I know that watching the film tonight it must have been especially hard and painful knowing what we didn't know before we made the film - even the audience knew the outcome of the election in November and to think that this administration is going to put the world through another four years of this... is enough to make anyone sick. I feel on some level that the film did a lot of good in educating millions of Americans as to what was going on - we got 7 million more people to vote for Kerry than voted for Gore four years ago, but it's not the movie's name on the ballot it's the candidate’s and he wasn't everything we had hoped for. I have to be honest and say that I, and others who worked around the clock to remove George W Bush, that our sense of having failed weighs upon us greatly because we didn't just fail ourselves and our country we failed you and the rest of the world. You were counting on us to get the job done and we didn't get the job done. I don't know what to say other than I'm not giving up and neither are millions of Americans. I'm counting on you to not give up too so that we can stop Blair and Bush - we owe it to the world and people of Iraq. I remain cautiously optimistic that the people of each of our countries will rise to the occasion and do the right thing.
