Michael Moore and the word "liberal"
I don't always agree with Michael Moore, but seeing him speak on C-Span 2, I find it amazing that he was ever successfully smeared as unAmerican or unpatriotic. You only have to listen to him for five minutes to hear his concern for the American people, especially the working class. I suppose his passionate commitment is what made him dangerous, was why he had to be painted as crazy.
He said several good things in a speech aired on C-Span 2 today, particularly about reaching out. He pointed out that many Republicans do have good hearts and consciences, and do now know the war in Iraq was wrong. He said he knows that because people stop him on the street now to apologize for voting for Bush. (Personally, I have more than a little residual frustration and resentment when I hear about people coming around. It's not just that the world would be better off if more people of all stripes had figured that out sooner. It's that those of us who objected from the beginning were painted as terrorism-loving, dictator-coddling, anti-American cowards.)
Anyway, Moore pointed out that we needed to reach out to reasonable and caring Republicans, and that we need to stand up for what we believe in. Democrats need to start running people who can win, who can earn people's respect by having strong positions and talking to people in ways that reach them. As he pointed out, "We should be able to get 85% of Americans health care" is not a position. "Every American should have health care, no exceptions, that's it," that's a position. And then he said (I'm going from memory, so this won't be exact):
Speak up for what you believe in. Don't back down at the word "Democrat" or the word "liberal". Remind people that it was the liberals who made sure that their grandparents would have Social Security and Medicare, and Medicaid for the poor. It was liberals who, when the air and water were getting dirty, took steps to clean them up. It was the liberals who thought women should have the right to vote... remind them that it has always, always been the liberals who've got your back.
... We may not get everything right, we may not go about it the right way or say the right things, but we will stand up for your right... to choose, your right to a decent wage and a middle class life here in America. And we will do it even at personal cost to us, because that's who we are.
And he had some words about religion, too, talking about how being a compassionate person was the most important thing. He quoted the Bible story about how those who get into heaven will be those who fed the hungry, gave water to the thirsty, and shelter to the homeless. Even an atheist like me could appreciate this: "The Bible is very clear about this, my Republican friends: You can't get into heaven without a permission slip from the poor."
No wonder the far right hates him. All their power is predicated on convincing people that gay sex, or teen sex, or sex-on-tv is a huge threat to them, because otherwise they might notice that it was the left that was trying to protect them from threats like unsafe workplaces, unliveable wages, and unaffordable health care. Just like they have to keep people distracted with the fear of terrorism so they don't realize that the Iraq War had nothing to do with 9-11. Truth-speakers are dangerous.
And the administration knows it: They've given the "criticism is treason" line up - mostly - now they're just calling names. This is quite a good editorial, and it closes with a kick: "Stifling criticism that might shorten the war is no favor to American soldiers. They can live without that kind of 'respect.'" Too true. And more importantly, they may not be able to live with it.
He said several good things in a speech aired on C-Span 2 today, particularly about reaching out. He pointed out that many Republicans do have good hearts and consciences, and do now know the war in Iraq was wrong. He said he knows that because people stop him on the street now to apologize for voting for Bush. (Personally, I have more than a little residual frustration and resentment when I hear about people coming around. It's not just that the world would be better off if more people of all stripes had figured that out sooner. It's that those of us who objected from the beginning were painted as terrorism-loving, dictator-coddling, anti-American cowards.)
Anyway, Moore pointed out that we needed to reach out to reasonable and caring Republicans, and that we need to stand up for what we believe in. Democrats need to start running people who can win, who can earn people's respect by having strong positions and talking to people in ways that reach them. As he pointed out, "We should be able to get 85% of Americans health care" is not a position. "Every American should have health care, no exceptions, that's it," that's a position. And then he said (I'm going from memory, so this won't be exact):
Speak up for what you believe in. Don't back down at the word "Democrat" or the word "liberal". Remind people that it was the liberals who made sure that their grandparents would have Social Security and Medicare, and Medicaid for the poor. It was liberals who, when the air and water were getting dirty, took steps to clean them up. It was the liberals who thought women should have the right to vote... remind them that it has always, always been the liberals who've got your back.
... We may not get everything right, we may not go about it the right way or say the right things, but we will stand up for your right... to choose, your right to a decent wage and a middle class life here in America. And we will do it even at personal cost to us, because that's who we are.
And he had some words about religion, too, talking about how being a compassionate person was the most important thing. He quoted the Bible story about how those who get into heaven will be those who fed the hungry, gave water to the thirsty, and shelter to the homeless. Even an atheist like me could appreciate this: "The Bible is very clear about this, my Republican friends: You can't get into heaven without a permission slip from the poor."
No wonder the far right hates him. All their power is predicated on convincing people that gay sex, or teen sex, or sex-on-tv is a huge threat to them, because otherwise they might notice that it was the left that was trying to protect them from threats like unsafe workplaces, unliveable wages, and unaffordable health care. Just like they have to keep people distracted with the fear of terrorism so they don't realize that the Iraq War had nothing to do with 9-11. Truth-speakers are dangerous.
And the administration knows it: They've given the "criticism is treason" line up - mostly - now they're just calling names. This is quite a good editorial, and it closes with a kick: "Stifling criticism that might shorten the war is no favor to American soldiers. They can live without that kind of 'respect.'" Too true. And more importantly, they may not be able to live with it.