I finally saw Farenheit 9/11. I din’t find anything that earth-shattering in the movie. Just the basic greed and corruption within polotics. The best part was when Moore went up to senators and congressmen and asked them to fill out paper work to have their sons or daughters sent over to Iraq. Of course none of them obliged(no kidding). It was priceless. I laughed and laughed. Oh yeah, another good part was him driving around in an ice cream truck reading the Patriot Act. That was a classic.
Hahah…yes…of course none of them signed up because Michael Moore Edited it out, but of course you wouldnt know that from MM’s version of events.
Look up Congressman Mark Kennedy, you know the one who is very prominent in that scene, and see what his take on that whole scene was. I’ve got news for you…he already has relatives in Afghanistan and Iraq…but clearly you missed out on that thanks to fat boys editing.
Michael and Me: What ?Fahrenheit 9/11? Refuses to Tell You
By Rep. Mark Kennedy
Special to Roll Call
July 6, 2004
I wasn?t able to attend the press conference on censorship held last week by entertainment filmmaker Michael Moore. Although it?s a topic of great importance to me, there were two reasons why I couldn?t go. One, I wasn?t invited, and two, its hypocritical host was only interested in talking about ?censorship? perpetrated on him.
Moore failed to recognize the irony of this situation. This press conference took place the day before the release of his film ?Fahrenheit 9/11,? in which Moore censored me from movie screens across the country.
Allow me to recount what really happened the day Moore shoved a camera in my face. On the predictable path between the Capitol and my office after a vote, Moore and his camera crew were standing outside the Longworth House Office Building, waiting to talk to any Member of Congress who stopped.
Citing a since-disputed statistic that only one Member of Congress has a child in Iraq, he asked me whether I would help recruit children of Members to join the Army. My answer was yes, especially those who voted for the war. I added that I myself had a nephew on his way to Afghanistan. Upon hearing this, my moment in the spotlight was over, and Moore and his camera crew went on their way.
Shortly thereafter, the trailer for the movie hit the mainstream media. For those of you who have already seen the movie, or if you plan on doing so, you will recognize me as the guy in the suit who listens to Moore?s question, gives him an inquisitive look, but who doesn?t get to say anything in response. The fact that my answer wasn?t included came as no surprise. It would have disproved his theory that we in Congress lack conscience in how we vote.
The more I thought about it, and the more I was asked about it, the more his question offended me ? and the fact that he didn?t use my answer made it worse. It?s like asking someone an accusing question on talk radio and not offering them a microphone to respond. He was implying that we in Congress placed no value on the human lives involved in war, which is simply not the case. Further disproving his theory, I?ve talked with many friends in Congress whose family members have dedicated their lives to the military. Moore has seriously underestimated how many of them there are.
Sending our troops into harm?s way is the most serious vote we ever cast as Members of Congress. We voted to allow our military to free people from the fear of terror and to protect us here at home. That?s a message you don?t hear in ?Fahrenheit 9/11.?
Families all across the United States, including the families of Members of Congress, sacrifice for our freedom and our safety. Our dedication to our country goes deeper than a pithy question founded on a fabricated statistic. These men and women dedicate their young lives to keeping us safe, and they are the ones who should be offended by his implications.
My nephew was in his sophomore year at Iowa State University when he was called up to active duty. Though it disrupted his college career, he was honored to serve his country. This is the nephew I referred to when speaking with Moore, and he?s not the only member of my family involved.
In fact, this young man?s brother, another nephew of mine, recently completed his service in the Navy, and my wife has a cousin who just returned from Iraq. It?s an honor to have members of my family choose this path.
This brings me back to his press conference on censorship. When confronted by a reporter about why he censored me, Moore recounted a fictional conversation between the two of us. He continued to talk but did not give a coherent answer, and then moved on to someone else?s question. It?s not a healthy debate when the person you?re dealing with makes up the answers.
My limited dealings with Moore have been riddled with lies, double talk, misspeak and manipulation. First he said I was in the movie, then that I wasn?t. He still maintains that my remarks were not edited, when in fact they were edited out. On and on, over and over again, his story keeps changing. But this was his plan. The more controversy, the more free press, the more money in the bank for Michael Moore.
When is enough enough? He?s called Americans dumb and said that our stupidity is embarrassing. He?s now mocking the dedication of millions of American lives to the military, and we are paying for him to do it. I hope our men and women in uniform who are protecting us in Afghanistan and Iraq didn?t hear him trivialize their position. They instead deserve praise and our support for the work they do every day.
When do we, as Americans, say enough is enough? It?s your choice to see the film, but understand that it?s for entertainment purposes only, not to be mistaken for truth.
Rep. Mark Kennedy is a Republican from Minnesota.
If that movie were a term paper, it would receive a solid D+. It seemed compelling, told a good story, was cleverly edited, and humorous at times, but it is an utter failure at checking facts.
David Kopel does a great job explaining it:
http://www.davekopel.com/Terror/Fiftysix-Deceits-in-Fahrenheit-911.htm
Deceptively uses headline:
Why is it fatty wants congressmen to sign up there kids when ALL SOLDIERS make the decision to serve on their own, there is no draft these young men and women volunteered to be soldiers. I hope that fat fuck chokes to death on a ham sandwhich
[quote]biltritewave wrote:
Hahah…yes…of course none of them signed up because Michael Moore Edited it out, but of course you wouldnt know that from MM’s version of events.
Look up Congressman Mark Kennedy, you know the one who is very prominent in that scene, and see what his take on that whole scene was. I’ve got news for you…he already has relatives in Afghanistan and Iraq…but clearly you missed out on that thanks to fat boys editing. [/quote]
Wrong! Mark Kennedy doesn’t have any relatives in Iraq, at least he did not at the time the movie was being made. He’s got relatives in Afghanistan, but that wsn’t the question. Michael Moore asks Congressmen to sign up sons or daughters for IRAQ.
Maybe you are too dumb to realize that Iraq and Afghanistan are two completely diffrent situations?
[/quote]Look up Congressman Mark Kennedy, you know the one who is very prominent in that scene, and see what his take on that whole scene was.[/quote]
Ha Ha, “very prominent”? That just shows you didn’t actually see the movie, you’re just regurgitating somebody else’s opinion.
Hey Lumpy –
Nice to see you back and posting – it really was getting kind of dull – vroom and RSU were under the impression all the lefty types had been run off…
Anyway, while you may be correct in your contention about Kennedy’s relatives being in Afghanistan v. Iraq, I think that’s kind of immaterial, irrespective of what Mr. Moore asked.
The reason for this is: When you sign up for a military commitment, they send you where they want you to go. You don’t sign up and say, “I’m signing up for Iraq, but not Afghanistan.” Or vice versa. So, to the extent the question discriminated as you imply, the question was stupid.
Glad to have you back Lumpy.
Zeppelin: For specific opinions on Mr. Moore’s movie, please see the large, drawn out threads in the archives, which don’t need to be rehashed.
Lumpy…always so witty. Glad to have you back. Off course I didnt see the movie. Why would I give Michael Moore Money that he would then use to try and undermine my vote for president. You see I have a very close friend who was there while Michael Moore was interviewing Mark Kennedy. Working down the hall from the good congressman means that I heard about this bullshit months ago, way before the movie came out and Mark Kennedy was just the guy on Michael Moore Webpage as part of an ad for the movie that was never going to get put into theaters…and my friend said the same thing then…so guess whose word I am going to take on it…my friend who was there, or Michael Moore’s editing.
No congress men signed their kids up? Give me a break. If Moore went around asking a bunch of random parents on the street, how many of them would volunteer their own children to go to Iraq?? That is the most moronic point ever. Every soldier chose to go over themselves, why on earth would a parent sign their kids up for that? And im not sure of the numbers, but i would say a few congressmen have fought in wars themselves.
TFelx28 makes an excellent point that parents never want to see their sons and daughters in a war wheather your in Congress or not.
Thats, why you have to be over 18 to join any branch of the arm forces, and they do it on their own merit not thier parents.
Also, that scene where they have Marine Corp. guys trying to recruit lower income housing teens to join the Marines is also rediculous.
The Marines do that in upper/middle class areas also.
Not, only that they are in the high schools during lunch with a desk and TV monitor and all.
By the way I didn’t go to the movie theater (I refuse pay Moore $10.95) to see the movie someone had a burn copy so I borrowed it.
doubt MM could care about piracy. he even promoted the downloading of F:9/11 over the internet.
i think he’s pretty good. 
One of the stupidest things that Moore asked that senator in the movie…as well as O Reilly at the DNC; is whether either one would sign up and send their kids off to Iraq to fight.
WHAT!!!
All of us military types VOLUNTEER to serve in the military. Parents can’t and don’t sign up their children to the military!!!
If this question that Moore asks wasn’t so ridiculous…it would be funny!
Its a weak ass straw man question!
I support the right of you know who, to spout propaganda.
Do you Democrats support the right of Vietnam Veterans to tell their side of the story?
JeffR
Okay folks the point is well taken, they volunteer for service. And of course if you asked any parent they wouldn’t want their children to go to Iraq. But they don’t have the power to send troops in harms way and politicians do.
Let me ask this of anyone here, if the draft was to be reinstated how many politicians sons or daughters would be put in harms way?
Thats a ridicilious question because the draft is not and has no chance of getting reinstated. There are plenty of Congressman’s family over there or training to go over there, or on their way back.
thanks,
me
When are you going to sign up, Biltrite? You’ve got to be at least semi physically fit, since you read this website, so why don’t you put your money where your mouth is?
Sign up for a tour of Iraq! No excuses!
You like this goddamn war so much, shut the fuck up and get your uniform on!!!
I looked into signing up actually there tough guy. A few problems. One my eyesight sucks. 2. I agreed to work in my current position for a set amount of time (working for the government, not the same at the military but still public service no less). 3. Financial situations which I wont go into on here.
I also dont like the newer 5 year commitment. If it was shorter, I would, but I cant see coming out at age 28 and not having my started on my PhD/JD.
Thanks,
me
I’ll ask it again,
Do you Democrats support the right of Vietnam Veterans to tell their side of the story?
Thanks for your responses,
JeffR
biltrite: Just because you think it has no chance of passing doesn’t mean the question is ridiculous. Can you not suppose a hypothetical? What Congressmen has a son or daughter over fighting(combat) in Iraq?