Why I'm Not Now and Have Never Been the Democrats' "Rush Limbaugh"

I have watched with mild amusement this week the self-immolation of the Republican Party as it bows before the altar of Rush Limbaugh, begging for mercy, pleading for forgiveness, breathlessly seeking guidance and wisdom from The Oracle.

President Obama and the Democratic Party have wasted no time in pointing out to the American people this marriage from hell, tying Rush like a rock around the collective Republican neck and hoping for its quick descent to the netherworld of irrelevance.

But some commentators (Richard Wolffe of Newsweek, Chuck Todd of NBC News, etc.) have likened this to "what Republicans tried to do to the Democrats with Michael Moore." Perhaps. But there is one central difference: What I have believed in, and what I have stood for in these past eight years -- an end to the war, establishing universal health care, closing Guantanamo and banning torture, making the rich pay more taxes and aggressively going after the corporate chiefs on Wall Street -- these are all things which the majority of Americans believe in too. That's why in November the majority voted for the guy I voted for. The majority of Americans rejected the ideology of Rush and embraced the same issues I have raised consistently in my movies and books.

How did this happen? Considering how, for the past eight years, the Republican machine thought they could somehow smear and damage the Democrats if they said it was "the party of Michael Moore," it appears that the American public heard them loud and clear and decided that, 'hey, if you say Michael Moore is connected to the Democrats, then the Democrats must be OK!'

During this past election, a Democrat in Michigan, Mark Schauer, was running against the incumbent Republican congressman, Rep. Tim Walberg. Schauer asked me to endorse him and campaign for him, and I did. The Republicans were thrilled. They acted like they had been handed manna from heaven. They filled the airwaves with attack ads showing pictures of me and asking voters, 'is this the guy you want influencing your congressman?' The voters of western Michigan said "YES!" and threw the Republican out of office. The newly elected congressman told me his poll numbers had gone up once the Republicans started running ads likening him to me.

There have been over a half-dozen attack documentaries on me (Michael Moore Hates America, Fahrenhype 9/11, etc.), plus a feature film starring Kelsey Grammer and James Woods that had me being slapped silly for 83 minutes. Several books have been written by the Right in a concerted attempt to denounce me. One book, 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America, had me listed at #1. The author was so sure people would know why, he didn't even bother to write a chapter on me like he did for the other 99. You just get to the end of the book and all it says is "#1" with nothing but a big picture of me that takes up a full page.

What made the Republicans so sure that Americans would recoil upon the mere mention of my name, or by simply showing a photo of my face?

The result of this was one colossal backfire. The more they attacked me, the more the public decided to check out who this "devil" was and what he was saying. And -- oops! -- more than a few people liked what they saw. Overnight I went from having a small, loyal following to having millions go to movie theaters to watch... documentaries? Wow.

Yes, the more the Right went after me, the more people got to hear what I was saying -- and eventually the majority, for some strange reason, ended up agreeing with me -- not Rush Limbaugh -- and elected Barack Obama as president of the United States, a man who promised to end the war, bring about universal health care, close Guantanamo, stop torture, tax the rich, and rein in the abusive masters of Wall Street.

Think about this road I've traveled. At the beginning of the Bush years, I was pretty much an outsider, referred to as being on the "far left." I usually found myself holding viewpoints that differed from the majority of the people in this country. When I spoke out against the war -- before it even started -- I was marginalized by the mainstream media and then booed off the Oscar stage in "liberal Hollywood" for commenting about a "fictitious" president. Seventy percent of the public back then supported the war and approved of the job George W. Bush was doing.

But I stuck to what I believed in, kept churning out my movies, and never looked back. The Right and the White House spokespeople came after me time after time. President Bush 41 called me an "a**" on TV, and I became a favorite punching bag at both the 2004 and the 2008 Republican National Conventions in speeches by John McCain and Joe Lieberman. On the front page of this morning's Washington Post, Mark McKinnon, a top adviser to George W. Bush, revealed -- for the first time -- the Bush White House strategy of singling me out in the hopes of turning the country against me and the Democratic Party. Here's what the Post said:

Mark McKinnon, a top adviser in President George W. Bush's campaigns, acknowledged the value of picking a divisive opponent. "We used a similar strategy by making Michael Moore the face of the Democratic Party," he said of the documentary filmmaker.

In the end it all proved to be a big strategic mistake on their part. Thanks to the Republican attacks on me, average Joes and Janes started to listen to what I had to say. Contrary to Richard Wolffe's assessment that "there were no Democrats as far as I can remember who were saying they stood with Michael Moore," Democrats, in fact, have stood side by side with me during all of this. Here's the Congressional Black Caucus supporting me on Capitol Hill in 2004. Here's Terry McAuliffe, the head of the Democratic National Committee, enthusiastically attending the premiere of "Fahrenheit 9/11" with two dozen senators and members of Congress. Here's a group of Democratic congresspeople endorsing my film Sicko in the chambers of the House Judiciary Committee in 2007. And here's President Jimmy Carter inviting me to sit with him in his box at the Democratic National Convention. Far from making me into a pariah, the Republicans helped the Democratic leadership realize that to identify themselves publicly with me meant reaching the millions who followed and supported my work.

Though John Kerry lost in 2004, my focus that year had been to get young voters registered and out to vote (I visited over 60 campuses). And so, just a few short months after the release of Fahrenheit 9/11, America's young voters became the only age group that John Kerry won. They set a new record for the largest 18 to 24-year-old turnout since 1972, when 18-year-olds were given the right to vote, thus sending a signal about what would happen four years later with the youth revolution that ignited Obama's campaign.

After Fahrenheit, I kept speaking out, the Republican machine kept attacking me, and two years later, in 2006, the American public sided with me -- not Rush Limbaugh -- and voted in the Democrats to take over both houses of Congress.

And then, finally, two years after that, we won the White House.

That's the difference -- The American people agree with me, not Rush.

The American public believes that health care is a right and not a commodity.

They want tougher environmental laws and believe that global warming is real, not a myth.

They believe that the rich should be taxed more.

They want to go after the crooks on Wall Street who got us into this mess and the politicians who enabled them.

They want more money invested in education, science, technology and infrastructure -- not in more tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

They believe that, whether Democrats or Republicans have been in power, wealthy corporations have been calling the shots for the past few decades and the American people's voices have not been heard as their country has slowly been driven into the ground. Our politicians and our media have been bought and paid for by the highest bidders and we don't trust them anymore.

Finally -- they want us to get the hell out of Iraq and to investigate the criminals who sent us there for fictitious reasons.

Obama and the Democrats going after Rush is a good thing and will not do for him what the Republican attack plan did for me -- namely, the majority of Americans will never be sympathetic to him because they simply don't agree with him.

The days of using my name as a pejorative are now over. The right wing turned me into an accidental spokesperson for the liberal, majority agenda. Thank you, Republican Party. You helped us elect one of the most liberal senators to the presidency of the United States. We couldn't have done it without you.

Comments

[Cheryl Morris]

I have loved you since day one Michael. This country has lost a lot not listening to you in the first place.

[zona9]

I agree, Michael Moore is not the Democrat's Limbaugh. Rush, even at his heaviest, was never as obese as Moore. And, Limbaugh isn't so repellant a human being that he remained a virgin into his 30's, like Moore. In fact, Limbaugh has managed to attract some extremely attractive and successful women. And, unlike Moore, Limbaugh's fact to lie ratio is substantially less disgraceful than Moore's. Every one of Moore's mockumentaries have been packed with distortions, half truths and outright lies.

[rachel88]

Thank you Mike.
Comparing Rush Limbaugh to Michael Moore by the way is the most ludicrous comparison I have ever heard.

[bradatude]

Mike I've been a fan since Roger and Me and TV nation days. I want to thank you for being the bold courageous, outspoken true american patriot ,that others have only pretended to be.
Thank you for being a leader. in a dark period for this country. As George Orwell said,
"In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act".

[Ergon]

No Michael, you weren't Limbaugh and bless you for obviously caring for the poor and unemployed.
But your interview with Charlton Heston wasn't your finest moment; you played gotcha journalism with an obviously sick person just to make a point about gun rights.

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

I agree with ya, Ergon. Moore is a good filmmaker. My personal favorite is Roger and Me.

But I really, really disliked the Heston segment in Columbine. It was obvious to me (and probably to Moore) that Heston was obviously suffering from Alzheimer's (which would eventually kill him) during that interview, and Moore didn't seem to care about it. He was too busy playing his gotcha journalism.

[redlinemetro]

The Moore/Heston interview took place in in 01/02 while Heston was still President of the NRA, accepting that organizations money and touring the country in support of gun laws and the Bush Administration. It should remain a part of his legacy as much as El Cid and Ben Hur. It's uncomfortable to watch because of Heston's racist remarks and true beliefs, something that had his publicist been there would not have been aired to the public.

[Serwis komputerowy]

These are just good ideas what will?
"The American public believes that health care is a right and not a commodity.
They want tougher environmental laws and believe that global warming is real, not a myth.
They believe that the rich should be taxed more.
They want to go after the crooks on Wall Street who got us into this mess and the politicians who enabled them."
Good luck!
Serwis komputerowy http://www.soscomputer.at

[billie36]

I am so grateful for you Michael Moore. I feel like the middle/working class finally have a voice!

[TrueBlueMajority]

Right on, MM! I don't recall that any Democratic politician or party leader ever apologized for disagreeing with you, or feared expressing an opinion with which you would not agree.

Limpublicans have tried to portray you as something you are not, and as a result more people have seen your films and been exposed to the truth.

btw, TV Nation was brilliant--I refuse to believe that there is no cable station willing to put it back on the air. That kind of political satire is still needed even in the age of Barack Obama, because the wingnuts who are trying to take him down deserve to be lampooned at every opportunity. Why won't Comedy Central give you a time slot, even for a four or six episode series of specials if not a regular weekly series? Or maybe you could have a recurring spot on TDS? Would love to see you back on TV.

Keep up the good work!!!

[nixau]

Having been a huge MM fan since "TV Nation" I think the difference between him and Rush is like the difference between the Dems and the Repugs; Rush will hurl any baseless insult and will shamelessly lie to protect the rich and powerful, but Michael stands for the people, the workers, the troops, and he brings their hardships to light with his films. Limbaugh calls the jobless and the uninsured whiners and class warriors. Moore is caring, Limbaugh is ridiculing. Moore doesn't make any pretence or boast but Rush constantly compares himself to God (his lesser.) Thanks, Mike, you can campaign for me any time.

[noxidereus]

Thanks Mike! I love your work and look forward to learning more about the corruption in wall street! Keep up your wicked awesome work!

[Saidso]

Micheal Moore you have always been my hero. Thank you for all the work you are doing and for speaking out for Americans.
Rush and Joe the Plumber are the representatives of the Republican Party? Enough said.

[Wendy Hanawalt]

One of the many problems with the Republicans is that they believe their own hype. They tell their listeners that THEY are the people, the majority, when that is demonstrably untrue. At BEST, Limbaugh has about 15,000,000 listeners total, which is 5% of the population -- hardly anything even approaching a large minority, never mind a majority. But they keep lathering their listeners with words about how they are the "true" Americans, the silent majority, whatever you want to call it. What they forget is that THEY MADE THAT UP to get listeners--because, after all, people love to have their egos massaged.

And so, by extension, they believe their own propaganda about you, Mike. The problem is that all of it, all, is all a function of the wishful thinking of a few powerful, rich people, some of whom have access to the media.

Another way of saying it? Just because Rush is talking doesn't mean that anyone is listening.

[rjacks12]

You're so right Wendy! I occasionally TRY to listen to Conservative radio shows just to hear what latest nonsense they're whining about. Yesterday I was forced to listen to a conservative substitute for my favorite independent host Mitch Albom, here in Detroit. It really infuriates me because Albom a very open-minded guy and when Mitch is absent, they have this guy named John McCullough. It's like Michael filling in for Rush/Sean. This guy was wailing away about Obama turning us into a socialist society with all his "liberal" agendas. I know these shows screen their calls, cause you can't tell me not one Mitch fan wouldn't call in protest. Every caller said right-on John, the guys an idiot!
I for one, believe there's an audience for liberal radio, however, democratic ideas aren't easy to express in catch phrases like the Right's tax cuts, trickle down economics, right to life, terrorism etc. Democrat's also have more blue collar supporters and don't have time to listen to radio while working.

[sunshinerain]

Or...we could be reading books, or going online...from my experience in factories (the smaller shops) you DID get to listen to radio while working, because the work was so monotonous!) I also recall there being INTENSE feelings about WHAT the radio was tuned to, if everyone had to listen to the same thing.

These were smaller factories (maybe 30-40 employees tops?) - also, I wonder if they've all been offshored by now. It is pretty depressing. Not everyone is cut out to be, or has the training for, or is even remotely interested in, high tech / biotech / stem cell research, in a lab...as their job...heck, what's so wrong with working in a factory and bringing home a good paycheck? Detroit needs to diversify its manufactur­ing...seri­ously...ra­mp it Detroit! There's so much artistic and design creativity in Detroit going on - why can't the Big 3 tap into some of that? It's like all the cool stuff comes from the coasts...not true...there's a ton of great work being produced in the Detroit area.
**end of rant**

[elklake2]

The other day I tuned into Rush when I am in the car. My wife said "Why are you listening to this guy"? I told her that it was like watching professional wrestling. You can't believe how cheezy the performance is, but more importantly, you can't believe how many of the idiots that are going crazy over it believe it is TRUE!
Last story. I was with my wife and friends at a local hang out in Elk Rapids Mich for diner last spring. It was crowded and we were told we had a 10 minute wait. A few minutes later Micheal and his wife walk in. Our friends( who lean a little to the right a bit), said "Let's see how long Michael Moore has to wait". Well, Michael talked to several people he did not know, had a few pictures taken with them, and said hello to me as he walked by our table to be seated 5 minutes AFTER us. I told my friend that Michael was just an average guy like the rest of us.

[Robo57]

I still have to marvel at the incredible self-righteousness of the far right. People like Rush, Ann, Laura, etc. were labeling John McCain as a liberal, and even Bill O'Reilly receives email from some extremists who think HE is a liberal! They also believe that Fox cable news is a "moderate" network, "fair and balanced!" If Fox is moderate, I shudder to think of what they would consider a conservative network! I can't sit through 10 minutes worth of Sean Hannity's patriotic propaganda without changing the channel. He considers Obama's stimulus package (forgetting that Bush preceeded this with one that refunded all working americans $600), as socialistic failure, before it had even cleared both houses of congress! Give the man a chance, like we were supposed to give the troop surge in Iraq a chance. It never occurs to these just as media biased people, that maybe some of THEIR logic is flawed, as well! I'm also sick and tired of them lamenting about media biased when a recent on-line poll indicated that Fox was indeed more biased then MSNBC. How are liberals supposedly getting a "free pass" as O'Reily calls it, when these narrow minded lemings at Fox are incessantly bashing the left, when I detect hardly a comment coming from anyone at NBC about THEM? Experience is clearly the best teacher. Struggling financially is something that Rush and Sean (with their $50 million and $20 million annual salaries, respectively), will never understand!

[grivera]

Thank you, Michael - You have the true meaning of being an American in your words and actions. Enough is enough. Individuals like, Rush need to be put out. Freedom of speech is one thing - but denying your country by speaking against it as he does is un-thinkable. Why cannot we send him somewhere where his words can mean something?

[MarkSB]

GREAT post Michael. Congratulations on the effect you've had; I've been with you from the start. We HAve a big fight ahead of us, but you are right about what most now want. We STILL need to undue the Right-Wing ownership of most media though. You and Ms H are a wonderful antidote, but we all need to work on that. MAybe a documentary?!!!

[WendyInCA]

Thanks, Michael...for your dedication to speaking the truth, your insistence that the American public take a look at some things that really needed looking at, and your chutzpah!
You rock.