More Moore hypocrisy
All right, I realize that I'm in full jihad mode at this point, so please accept my apologies in advance.
When I wrote my last piece on liberal reaction to Fahrenheit 911, I was angry and mildly intoxicated, so I had every expectation that my position would soften over time, and I would probably come to regret what I had written.
Well, that hasn't happened. If anything, my position has hardened. I'm sorry to say it, but liberals in this country have gone freakin' nuts on this subject. The post generated more e-mail than any other in recent memory, and the vast majority of the mails reinforced my comments. Here is a fairly typical example from someone named "Diane S" here in New York:
You want me to say Michael Moore lies? Fine, he lies! But you know what? I don't care. This administration which you defend has lied a thousand times worse than Michael Moore. If it takes lies to get the truth noticed then so be it. If we have to fight fire with fire then so be it. God knows no one is interested in the truth these days. You don't understand what it's like. Anyone who tries to criticize this president in calm and even tones gets suppressed, so if it takes a bomb thrower like Michael Moore to wake this country up then more power to him.
Actually, Diane, I do understand. I understand that you're willing to accept lies and distortions so long as they're coming from someone who agrees with you. I also understand that you have plenty of company amongst American liberals these days, and that's regrettable. Demagogues like Moore, whatever their immediate impact, inevitably do damage to their own cause in the long run. I'm sorry you can't see that.
Less typical, but more to the point, was this anonymous fan letter:
WAR CRIMINEL BUSH SENDS OUR YOUNG BOYS TO DIE FOR OIL AND YOU KISS HIS NAZZI ASS! WELL YOU CAN KISS HIS ASS IN HELL WITH HITLER AND ALL YOUR OTHER FASHIST BUDDIES YOU NAZZI PIG FUCKER!!
Thank you for writing, Professor Krugman. Please feel free to sign your name next time.
All right, I'm really going to try to stop with the Michael Moore posts after this. I promised my wife. Besides, it appears as if its box office success is rapidly fading. For a bit of perspective, Fahrenheit 911 earned less than Dodgeball in its first three weeks.