July 9, 2004
WOULD MICHAEL MOORE LIE?:
Daschle denies hugging Moore (Rapid City Journal, 7/09/04)
There was no hug between "Fahrenheit 9/11" director Michael Moore and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle at the film's June 23 premiere in Washington, D.C., Daschle said Thursday.When asked about Moore's account of a hug after the premiere and the criticism Daschle has received for it, the South Dakota Democrat said he and Moore did not embrace. Daschle said his schedule forced him to arrive late and leave early.
"I know we senators all tend to look alike. But I arrived late, and I had to leave early for Senate votes. I didn't meet Mr. Moore," Daschle said.
In a lengthy Time magazine piece about the movie and its political effects, Richard Corliss reported Moore's criticism of Daschle's leadership and the filmmaker's account of a hug with Daschle.
"At the Washington premiere, Moore sat a few rows behind Daschle. Afterward, says Moore, ‘He gave me a hug and said he felt bad and that we were all gonna fight from now on. I thanked him for being a good sport,'" Corliss wrote.
Maybe Mr. Moore mistook Pee-Wee Herman for Senator Daschle. Posted by Orrin Judd at July 9, 2004 1:14 PM
If I were Daschle I'd just claim I was trying to get out during the movie, but Moore's so wide he was blocking the aisle and mistook Tom's attempt to squeeze past as a hug.
Posted by: John at July 9, 2004 1:57 PMAs one who hopes Daschle is not reelected it would be nice if this hurts Daschle in some way (if true GOP voters against him, if false anti-Bush/pro-Moore voters against Daschle). But Daschle has a way of surviving in SD somehow.
Posted by: AWW at July 9, 2004 2:34 PM