Michael Moore wrote a powerful response to Fox News and the dishonest right-wing attempts to smear him as an anti-American troop hater – just because he spoke out against American Sniper.
If you’ve turned on Fox News at all recently, you’ve undoubtedly seen Michael Moore smeared as an enemy of the troops. Fox has turned just about every discussion about American Sniper into a discussion about Michael Moore. So much so that, as I wrote in my previous post, you might think he had a starring role as the bad guy in it.
Today on Facebook, Moore answered back in a post called "My 12 Years of Support for the Troops":
Well, who would know better about hating our troops than those who supported sending them into a senseless war Iraq in the first place?
And, for 4,482 of them, a senseless, unnecessary and regrettable death.
If you supported that invasion, if you voted for George W. Bush and the Republicans and Democrats who backed this war, then you are the ones who have some ‘splainin’ to do. Not me. You.
Of course, Fox didn’t just back the Iraq war, the network still loves those who got us into it: Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, George W. Bush, et al.
Moore continued:
Here’s the truth they can’t or won’t report: I’M the one who has supported these troops - much more than the bloviators on Fox News. To prove it (and I know this is going to crush some of you out there), here’s just a partial list of all the things I do and have done for those men and women who serve—and I guarantee you, you’ve never heard any of this reported about what the real me does because, frankly, it messes up their little story of the fictional “Michael Moore” they’ve created for your hate and enjoyment (please feel free to cut, paste and send this to your conservative brother-in-law):
Moore listed some of his actions on behalf of veterans – including “an aggressive affirmative action policy specifically to hire Iraq and Afghanistan veterans” and free admission to his movie theaters to all active military and their families – and then needled Fox to match at least one of them:
** I also ask people to post a sign I designed and have made available: “I Shop Where Vets Work”. Here’s my policy and the poster: http://www.statetheatretc.org/veterans#opening (Can someone at Fox News send me your posted affirmative action program to hire Iraq and Afghanistan vets?)
Moore concluded:
So, Fox News and the other lazy media—quit making shit up about me! You look ridiculous. If you want to have a debate with me about the ISSUES and the POLICIES, then let’s have it. If you want to debate a movie that’s trying to rewrite history, then let’s have that. But when you hide behind falsehoods and then use them to try and manipulate the public, then all you are is afraid. Afraid of me, an unarmed American, and the truth I bring along as my sidekick. Only cowards have to lie. Be brave. Report the truth. It will feel good.
Moore said he’d post more on his “general thoughts later today or tomorrow about the ruckus.”
Looking forward to it.
(H/T Rolling Stone)