CNN's Gupta Attempts (And Fails) to "Reality Check" Moore

Crooks and Liars has been following this story very carefully.

Just before Michael Moore appeared on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Gupta ran a hit piece entitled "SiCKO Reality Check". During his appearance on the Situation Room, Moore responded angrily by demanding an apology from Blitzer and promised to respond to Gupta on his website. He did and it sent Gupta reeling. He then continued his response by holding Gupta accountable on Larry King. Then, again, on his website, Moore set some facts straight. Michael Moore scored a clear victory over CNN, Wolf Blitzer, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

MediaBloodhound put together an interesting theory behind Gupta's hit piece.

Apparently, in an effort to nurse its wounds, CNN may have attempted to mess with Moore's physical appearance.

Here are the transcripts from Moore's appearance on The Situation Room...

Key Quote:

Moore: Why don’t you tell the truth to the American people? I mean I wish that CNN and th eother mainstream media would just for once tell the truth….You fudged the facts about this issue—-about the war and I’m just curious. When are you going to aplogize to the American people for not bringing the truth to them that isn’t sponsored by some major corporation?

It was great to see Moore stick up for himself and his film. I saw SiCKO and it was very good. I'll post a review later...

-Mr. Joseph

UPDATE (7/12/07):
Although Mike Huckabee is my second favorite Republican candidate, it is getting harder and harder for me to like him.

UPDATE II (12/9/07):
Although Mike Huckabee is my *favorite* Republican candidate, it is still very hard for me to still like him.

SiCKO: The Return of Michael Moore

I credit Fahrenhype 9/11 with spurring my interest in politics, so I am anxious to see the new film. Unlike F9/11, it is supposed to be much more unifying and less polarizing.

Regardless, the Health Care lobby, the mindless media, the talking heads, and anti-Moore crowd are up in arms and preparing for battle.

A letter from Mr. Moore...

Friends,

Would you like to go to a sneak preview of my new film, "Sicko," before it opens on June 29th? Well, if you live anywhere near the 32 cities listed below, this Saturday night, June 23rd, our movie studio is going to hold sneak screenings of "Sicko" in 43 theaters across the country. I'd love for you to be one of the first to see it so, if you'd like, you can click here and order tickets now. We'd love to see you there.

Also, if you live in the New York City area we are opening the film tomorrow (Friday, June 22) exclusively at one theater, the AMC Lincoln Square for a first week run. The interest in the film is very high and theaters have been asking us to open it as soon as possible. Alright, already! It opens tomorrow in NYC, the sneak previews are Saturday around the country, and we open nationwide next Friday, the 29th.

Last night we screened "Sicko" for the members of Congress and the Senate in Washington, D.C. Earlier in the day we testified during a briefing in Congress called by the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Rep. John Conyers, Jr. I brought with me some of the people who appear in the film to tell their stories -- and it was a powerful moment.

I will write again next week, before "Sicko" opens nationwide on the 29th. I'm so excited, after spending the last couple of years working on this film, that you all will finally be able to see it.

Yours,
Michael Moore
MichaelMoore.com

P.S. Catch the sneak preview of "Sicko" in these cities this Saturday night, June 23rd:

Phoenix, AZ
Sacramento, CA
San Diego, CA
...
Milwaukee, WI

Order tickets online here: http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/about/sneak/

LINK: 'SiCKO' Sneaks Across America This Saturday!

RELATED READING...

I saw it on Thursday and it is most excellent. I met Mark there and he posted his review earlier.

Go and see it and then make a bargain with yourself to get a friend to see it as well. Then make them do the same. Many Republicans have faced the horrors of HMO’s and health care issues so this will resonate much more broadly than his previous films have if they are being honest…The Circus Clowns will recite the lies of the lobbyists and politicians that do not want to fix our health care system so it should be an interesting few months…

LINK: C&L: Michael Moore is back!

Michael Moore recently put out newspaper advertisements inviting 900 health care industry lobbyists to a free screening of his new film SiCKO. But at the showing last week, only about 11 showed up. Before the screening, Moore held a Q&A with the lobbyists, explaining why he made the film and defending his arguments.

LINK: TP: Moore talks health care with industry lobbyists.

For the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, Michael Moore’s film exposing their history and their misdeeds is a serious threat, and they have no shortage of funds to try to distort it.

LINK: TP: Health Insurance Industry, Big Pharmaceuticals Launch Michael Moore Smear Campaign

Yesterday, CNN proudly announced that it has scored the first post-jail interview with Paris Hilton. To make room for Paris on Wednesday, CNN canceled its interview with Michael Moore about his new health care documentary SiCKO:

Hotel heiress and reality TV star Paris Hilton will give her first post-jail interview on CNN’s “Larry King Live” on Wednesday, the show’s spokeswoman said on Saturday.

“She will be on for the hour,” Bridget Leininger told Reuters. “We had (filmmaker) Michael Moore originally scheduled for that time.”

LINK: TP: CNN Dumps Michael Moore For Paris Hilton

I fully intend to see SiCKO, but I will be seeing Live Free or Die Hard tonight!
-Mr. Joseph

Beck to host CNN; Klein Dissappointed

Media Matters picked up this story about Glenn Beck...

On June 26, mediabistro.com's TVNewser weblog reported that CNN Headline News host Glenn Beck will fill in for Paula Zahn all next week on CNN's Paula Zahn Now beginning on July 2. TVNewser noted that Beck will also continue hosting his own show on CNN Headline News, which airs at 7 and 9 p.m. ET, meaning that for three consecutive hours, a CNN network will be broadcasting Beck. During the June 26 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio program, Beck said that CNN will "allow me to design [Paula Zahn Now] on what I wanted to talk about," adding, "I have decided to do a theme all next week on both television shows of 'We the people declare our independence.' " Beck also said, "I thought it was a good place and a good time to bring my theory to CNN that America is changing, that we are not Republicans and Democrats."

More...

LINK: Despite pattern of inflammatory comments, Beck to guest host for CNN's Zahn

To which, Joe Klein said this...

The world is a bit of a mess right now and CNN gives us Glenn Beck? Please, Mr. Parsons, sir, is this any way to show respect for your--our--viewers? Can't we, like, try a week of smart? See how that works? Just asking. Your Devoted Employee, Joe Klein

LINK: I come home to this?

Quite a delightful burn. I wonder why CNN is giving Beck the job -- isn't he having a bit of a ratings problem?

-Mr. Joseph

UPDATE (7/31/07):
LINK: MM: How low (in the ratings) can Glenn Beck go?

"Outspoken" Ingraham has a problem with CNN's description of her

From Crooks and Liars...

Conservative radio talkie, Laura Ingraham was discussing Bush's immigration plan and the attacks he's making on conservative vocal critics of it with John Roberts of CNN, when she weakly tried to play the CNN is liberal elite card on Roberts. John Roberts was like, "say, what?" Her proof? She was characterized as being "outspoken."

INGRAHAM: …But to insult his base, I mean, I hope he thinks he's going to be saved by the liberal elites at CNN, John, because if he is, then I'll be wrong about this. But I think it's kind of silly.

ROBERTS: Excuse me, what was that last comment?

INGRAHAM: By the way, John, how did you introduce me for this segment before the break. The outspoken Laura Ingraham. Do you guys introduce liberal commentators that way? I'm going to check.

ROBERTS: Yeah, we do actually.

That's a pretty tough depiction of her, wouldn't you agree. I guess I'd be bummed if I was called an outspoken blogger…The Nitpicker has more. "This post is dedicated to the memory of the Myth of the Liberal Media, born April 6, 1954, died October 24, 2006."

Then, this morning, Laura Ingraham made snide comments about the supposed liberal slant of CNN to American Morning host John Roberts. She even had proof from that very interview, in fact: John Roberts had called her outspoken. Never mind that Al Franken was called an "outspoken comedian and liberal" by CNN. Or that Hugo Chavez is an "outspoken leftist". Or that Cynthia McKinney, Michael Moore and Nancy Pelosi were all referred to as "outspoken liberal(s)." None of those things matter. In the minds of the Republican hothouse flowers, any word used to describe them–other than heroic or beloved–can be seen as an attack by the dastardly liberal media…read on

TRANSCRIPTS:

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you want to kill the bill, you don't want to do what's right for America, you can pick one little aspect out of it. You can use it to frighten people or you can show leadership and solve this problem once and for all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTS: What do you think about Laura, the fact that he says that opponents of this bill are opposed to what's right for America?

INGRAHAM: If one little aspect of the bill is the border, then I guess the president is right. But I think one little aspect is how you actually certify that the border is enforced. John, to certify that the border is enforced in this bill, which I hope the president has read, all you require, all it requires is that the president certify that the border's enforced, that the money has been allocated to hiring these new people and it's been allocated toward the border. George Will said it best, if that actually holds, then we should say that Iraq is democratized because we spent the money there.

ROBERTS: He seems to suggest that critics of the bill such as yourself are unpatriotic.

INGRAHAM: It's absurd. I think it was a bad, tactical decision for him to say that. The way to get people on your side is not to insult them, especially people in the conservative movement, who worked tirelessly to get him re-elected. The president has been consistent on supporting this. You have to give him credit on that. I've never questioned his motives in pushing for this type of comprehensive reform. But to insult his base, I mean, I hope he thinks he's going to be saved by the liberal elites at CNN, John, because if he is, then I'll be wrong about this. But I think it's kind of silly.

ROBERTS: Excuse me, what was that last comment?

INGRAHAM: By the way, John, how did you introduce me for this segment before the break. The outspoken Laura Ingraham. Do you guys introduce liberal commentators that way? I'm going to check.

ROBERTS: Yeah, we do actually.

INGRAHAM: OK, I'm going to check that.

ROBERTS: Are you denying that you're outspoken Laura?

INGRAHAM: No, why would you say that?

ROBERTS: I just think that we're appropriately characterizing you.

INGRAHAM: OK, got it.

ROBERTS: You're definitely outspoken. You were outspoken about immigration on Wednesday's show.

INGRAHAM: How about radio talk show host and author. That's quite effective.

ROBERTS: This isn't about a disagreement between you and I. This is about you and your views here. Mitt Romney's coming up on your show today.

LINK: Ingraham outraged by being called “outspoken”

I hate her.
-Mr. Joseph

SURVEY: Daily Show/Colbert Viewers Most Knowledgable, Fox News Viewers Rank Lowest

Think Progress reports...

A new study by the Pew Research Study shows that viewers of the Daily Show and the Colbert Report have the highest knowledge of national and international affairs, while Fox News viewers rank nearly dead last:

Despite significant technology shifts, however, Pew found that “today’s citizens are about as able to name their leaders, and are about as aware of major news events, as was the public nearly 20 years ago.”

The results about Fox News echo findings of previous surveys. In 2003, University of Maryland researchers studied the public’s belief in three false claims — that Iraq possessed WMD, that Iraq was involved in 9/11, and that there was international support for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

The researchers stated, “The extent of Americans’ misperceptions vary significantly depending on their source of news. Those who receive most of their news from Fox News are more likely than average to have misperceptions.” Fox News viewers were “three times more likely than the next nearest network to hold all three misperceptions.”

LINK: SURVEY: Daily Show/Colbert Viewers Most Knowledgable, Fox News Viewers Rank Lowest

Figures...
-Mr. Joseph

After Imus, Franken calls upon CNN to fire Beck

Think Progress found this priceless clip...

Appearing last night on CNN’s Larry King Live, Al Franken said that firing Don Imus was the “right decision,” but pointed out that CNN has its own anchor who regularly spews hateful and bigoted remarks.

“CNN has Glenn Beck on,” Franken told King. “Glenn Beck asked my congressman, Keith Ellison, who is the first Muslim to be elected to Congress, you know, I just want to ask you, how do I know that you’re not working with the enemy? … I don’t know why that wasn’t grounds for CNN thinking, well, maybe Glenn Beck shouldn’t be on. I mean, how dare he say that to a congressman who has just been elected?”

King asked Franken, “With a lot of [controversial remarks] going on, are you calling for other dismissals?” Franken said, “No, I’m not. Just Glenn Beck on your network.”

Transcript:

FRANKEN: Well, the best thing to come out of this was the women from — from the Rutgers team. I thought they were eloquent. I thought they were dignified. I thought it was — I especially loved what one of them said about two — or three of her teammates.

She said, so and so is the big sister I never heard. So and so is the funniest person in the world. And so and so is going to make a great attorney. This guy doesn’t know anything about us.

And I think that just underlined it so well, that this was totally inappropriate, totally wrong. He didn’t know anything about them. And I hope gets the chance to talk to them, and I hope at least something good comes out of this.

You know, I — Ed Schultz was saying that everyone’s talking about this. I was up in Minnesota today with a group of seniors from seven counties. This wasn’t a senior home. This was seniors who were caring about policy. And they are debating global warming and health care, and they were — they weren’t talking about this at all.

It obviously is an important thing, it’s a big thing, but they were talking about things…

KING: Let’s stay — I’ll get to that. But let’s stay with I-Man for a couple of minutes.

FRANKEN: OK. Sure.

KING: Is it forgivable? Should CBS let him stay on?

FRANKEN: You know, it’s — it’s their choice. I think — I think NBC made the right decision. I think cable news is cable news. And he has that position.

I have heard a lot of talk radio — now, I will give you an example. CNN has Glenn Beck on. Glenn Beck asked my congressman, Keith Ellison, who is the first Muslim to be elected to Congress, you know, I just want to ask you, how do I know that you’re not working with the enemy?

And he said that — I think he said it on CNN. But he certainly is — he’s on CNN. I don’t know why that wasn’t grounds for CNN thinking, well, maybe Glenn Beck shouldn’t be on. I mean, how dare he say that to a congressman who has just been elected?

And I hear this kind of thing a lot of time. I monitored a lot of right-wing radio when I was doing my show and before it. And I’ve heard Rush Limbaugh say things that are worse than this.

And so, I don’t know.

KING: Does that make thing then forgivable since others are doing it? You know, if you go, 40, 50 miles an hour, it’s not an excuse if other people do it and they stop you. But should he be at least given some rope? FRANKEN: I don’t know if I buy the analogy, but I’m not glad I’m making this decision. This is up to CBS’ management. Let’s put it that way.

KING: You wouldn’t want to be in the position to have to make it?

FRANKEN: Well, if I were, I would make it, but that’s not my decision, thank you. That’s the answer.

KING: With a lot of it going on, are you calling for other dismissals?

FRANKEN: No, I’m not. Just Glenn Beck on your network.

KING: Just Glenn Beck.

(LAUGHTER)

KING: He’s on “HEADLINE NEWS,” right?

FRANKEN: Well, “HEADLINE NEWS” is part of CNN. And…

KING: Have you been on the Imus show?

FRANKEN: I have. I have been on a couple of times over the years. And, you know, after he did the White House — or no, it wasn’t White House correspondent — it was the Radio and TV Correspondents Dinner.

KING: Yes.

FRANKEN: I criticized him then, so we were on the outs. And, you know, one of the worst parts about this, I think, is that he used the defense it was a joke.

Now, Larry, I know that you loved Lenny Bruce. And Lenny Bruce offended people all the time. But there was always an actual point behind it, right?

KING: Correct. Correct.

FRANKEN: There was a joke. The joke meant something. It was about societal hypocrisy. Whatever it was about.

This was — I don’t get this joke. And I don’t get the idea of having — you k now, as someone who has had a radio show, of having a kind of racist sidekick. Which I guess is what it is.

I don’t listen to Imus enough. But isn’t it — was that the concept of a show, I’m going to have a vaguely racist sidekick?

KING: I don’t think that’s the concept of the show. It covers everything.

FRANKEN: OK. KING: It has major political figures, as you know.

FRANKEN: Yes, I know. I know, and that’s — he’s sort of trying to be a shock jock and be Tim Russert. And that’s a needle you have to thread, and I think it’s threadable. And I guess he just didn’t do it.

He hasn’t done it.

KING: Up next…

FRANKEN: It’s a terrible thing.

LINK: During CNN Appearance, Al Franken Calls On CNN To Fire Glenn Beck

Nice!
-Mr. Joseph