By Brian Carnell

Friday, February 22, 2002

Jay Zilber does a pretty nice job of nailing Michael Moore for prevaricating about his pro-Ralph Nader advocacy prior the 2000 election. In a recent radio interview, Moore was asked if he felt any responsibility for George W. Bush's election. Moore unbelievably replied,

It was easy for me to vote for Nader. I live in New York. Gore was going to win by 20 points. But I also told people in Florida and the swing states, 'You have a different job. Your job is to stop George W. Bush.'

Typical revisionist lies from Moore. In fact Moore reportedly said that he didn't give a damn if Nader voters ended up costing Al Gore the presidency (which, of course, they did -- with a little help from the Supreme Court).

Zilber quotes from a letter Moore sent to Gore on October 31, 2000 saying,

According to your people, all Ralph or I have to do is wave a magic wand and the Nader voters will "come back to Gore." Look, Al, you have screwed up -- big time. ... I will not feel one iota of guilt should you screw up and lose on Tuesday. The blame I do share is that I voted for you and Bill in 1992.

The closest Moore came to his newfound position back in 2000 was a few comments the day before the presidential election saying he would understand if voters in swing states voted for Gore, but he certainly never urged left/liberal voters in swing states to vote for Gore. The best he could muster was a bland statement the day before the election saying,

I completely understand that if you live in a swing state and you feel your conscience telling you that you have to vote for Gore to stop Bush, then do what you need to do. It's not how I would vote, but I understand and appreciate what you are going through.

Apparently it is Moore who lacks the courage of his convictions. After telling anyone who would listen that if Gore lost it would be his own damned fault, suddenly Moore is tacking the other way claiming it was those swing voters who failed to listen to a message that Moore never actually gave.

I assume it's this sort of habit that saw him exit his Mother Jones job so quickly back in the day.

Source:

REVISIONIST HISTORY: Michael Moore, you are sooooo busted!. Jay Zilber, February 21, 2002.

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