In addition to looking at the softer side of Moore and asking about his faith, co-anchor Terry Moran offered a generally friendly interview. For the most part, the ABC host only challenged the filmmaker when he made truly outrageous comments, such as asserting that Cuba is a country of "artistic freedom":
Michael Moore: "They have an excellent health care system, probably the best in the Third World. There is not religious persecution. There's artistic freedom. I went–"
Terry Moran: "There's artistic freedom in Cuba?"
Moore: "Oh, yeah. I hung out with artists who are critical of Castro and, and, and very freely speak their minds."
At this point, Moran apparently felt the need to point out that "Human rights groups like Amnesty International say Cuba continues to repress nearly all forms of dissent." (A report on Cuba’s violations of human rights can be found here.)
Earlier in the segment, which aired at 11:35, Moran earnestly asserted how audiences would see a softer, "different" Michael Moore in his new film:
Moran: "But there's something different about this Michael Moore movie. For all the laughs, it's very serious and laced with qualities not usually associated with his films: Pity, compassion, generosity, sorrow."
Moore: "I think that perhaps in the past, I haven’t done a very good job of showing the entire me. And all those things are very much a part of me."
A few minutes later, Moran wondered if Moore saw his movie as a "statement of faith." The director, of course, said that he did:
Moore: "Yeah. It is, in a way. I'm not a proselytizer. I don't like putting my religious beliefs, or whatever, out there. But I do– I do believe that this film is coming from a very deep place and a very spiritual place, in the sense that I believe, as a Christian, as a Catholic, that it's my responsibility to make sure that, that not only that I'm covered, if something happens to me, but everyone else is covered."
As the MRC noted in January of 2005, Moore’s previous comments about religion seemed to include comparing himself to Jesus:
"[Michael] Moore...says that his film, too, resonates with Christ’s message. The Passion of the Christ emphasized Christ’s final hours and, for the most part, left out scenes of his ministry. ‘But my film dovetails with the rest of Jesus’ life,’ Moore told Time last week. ‘It connects to his message about questioning those in authority, of being a man of peace, of loving your neighbor.’"
— Time’s Richard Lacayo in the magazine’s December 27/January 3 year-end double issue, juxtaposing the left-wing Moore with actor/director Mel Gibson as runners-up for Time’s "Person of the Year" award.
After religion, Mr. Moran segued into politics and twice prompted the lefy director as to whether he'd consider running for President. He inquired, "Seriously. You got a pretty good name recognition out there, a lot of people who agree with you. It looks like you enjoy it out there. Would you do it?"
Towards the end of the two part segment, the "Nightline" anchor did slightly challenge Moore. Moran asked the director if he believed that Canadians and Britons would say they live in a "health care paradise." Additionally, the ABC host confirmed that France and Canada pay extremely high taxes and "many people in those countries are deeply dissatisfied with their systems."
However, does it really make sense for a network to devote 21 minutes and 27 seconds of air time (combining "Nightline" and "Good Morning America") to a man who, as noted earlier, would proclaim this of dictatorial Cuba:
Moore: "There is not religious persecution. There's artistic freedom."
To read about Moore’s appearance on Tuesday's "Good Morning America," click here. For Wednesday's program, go here.
A partial transcript of the June 13 segment follows:
Terry Moran: "Good evening. I'm Terry Moran. Michael Moore is back. And this time, the firebrand filmmaker has pointed his critical lens directly at the American health care system with a new movie called ‘Sicko.’ And as with his previous documentaries, including the blockbuster ‘Fahrenheit 9/11,’ Moore has a specific and very aggressive agenda. But this time, beyond the signature traits of sarcasm and surprise. Michael Moore shows a different side in this movie. It was a side he also revealed when I spent the day with him yesterday, in Sacramento, California. You know Michael Moore. Or maybe you think you do."
Michael Moore: "They don’t usually let me into places like this."
Moran: "Sure, he's the gadfly documentary filmmaker who attacks big corporations and the Republican Party with a rare populist glee in his movies and public appearances. And this time, he's after the health care industry."
Moore: "That's the only pre-existing condition, that should exist. I am an American. That's it."
Moran: "And, yes, Michael Moore is a kind of public brawler."
Moore: "They want to be able to go to the doctor!"
Moran: "Remember when he seized his moment at the Oscars in 2003, just days after the start of the Iraq War, to bash President Bush and outrage millions of Americans."
[Clip from Oscars]
Moran: "And in his new movie, ‘Sicko,’ Moore is, in many ways, true to form. Taking on America's deeply-flawed health care system, with brash humor and passionate advocacy."
Moore [Clip from ‘Sicko’]: "Four health care lobbyists for every member of Congress. And the United States slipped to 37 in health care around the world. Just slightly ahead of Slovenia."
Moran: "But there's something different about this Michael Moore movie. For all the laughs, it's very serious. And laced with qualities not usually associated with his films: Pity, compassion, generosity, sorrow."
Moore: "I think that perhaps in the past, I haven’t done a very good job of showing the entire me. And all those things are very much a part of me."
Moran: "Yesterday, we spent a long day with Michael Moore, in Sacramento, California. He was there, in part, to lobby legislators on health care. And he kept making the same point. The point his movie ultimately makes. Fixing health care is a moral, even a religious obligation."
Moore: "What they taught us, if those of you remember, and you don't have to Catholic either to know this is that, is that when Jesus was asked, 'How do you get into Heaven?' He said, 'Well, when you come to the Pearly gates, you're going to be asked a few questions. I'm going to ask you, when I was hungry, did you feed me? When I was homeless, did you give me shelter?'"
Moran: "Is ‘Sicko’ a kind of a statement of faith for you?"
Moore: "Yeah. It is, in a way. I'm not a proselytizer. I don't like putting my religious beliefs, or whatever, out there. But I do– I do believe that this film is coming from a very deep place and a very spiritual place, in the sense that I believe, as a Christian, as a Catholic, that it's my responsibility to make sure that, that not only that I'm covered, if something happens to me, but everyone else is covered."
Moran: "And the source of that feeling is, in part, religious for you? It's part of your faith?"
Moore: "It is. I mean, yes. Absolutely."
Moran: "That would surprise people."
Moore: "Yeah. I wonder why. You know, I went to the seminary to be a priest."
Moran: "No."
Moore: "Yeah. Yes. I convinced my parents to let me leave home in high school because I wanted to spend my life, devote my life, to helping people."
Moran: "Father Michael Moore. Hard to imagine, maybe. Or maybe not. Well, try this one. Senator Michael Moore. Everywhere we went, there was an unmistakable political energy to our day in California with Moore. His first stop, a meeting with powerful California Democrats, who are pushing a bill to dramatically expand access to health care in the state. And they treated him less like a movie maker, than a powerful political activist, which he is. Why did you call this meeting? What difference do you think it will make? Do you think a movie can make a difference?"
Unidentified California Democrat: "It's very important. You know, his presence here is huge. And we couldn't be more grateful."
Moran: "Next stop, a press conference in the capital, where Moore sounded very much at home."
Moore: "My own personal feelings. And, you know, I'm not here. I’m not a legislator. I'm not writing bills. Not doing any of this. Well, I don't know about that."
Moran: "Then, it was off through throngs of supporters, just like a campaign, to testify at a hearing on health care. Did you expect this much intense attention?"
Moore: "No. You know, I haven't been on television until just, like, this week, for, like, two and a half years. I mean, I purposely have not done any interviews. Haven't done anything like that."
Moran: "Moore actually want once held political office, when he was 18. He served on the local school board. And he doesn't rule out the possibility he might try it again. Would you run for political office again?"
Moore: "No. I retired when I was 22. I served four years on that board of education and I can't imagine doing anything like that."
Moran: Seriously. You got pretty good name recognition out there, a lot of people who agree with you. It looks like you enjoy it out there. Would you do it?"
Moore: "Well, let's just see if continue to see if I eat the fruits and vegetables and walking around the block. Nobody like this should be running for public office. It's a bad, bad example to set for the children."
11: 40
Moran: "And now, some more of my day with filmmaker Michael Moore in Sacramento, California and his new movie about the American health care system, ‘Sicko.’ What Michael Moore does in ‘Sicko’ is what he always does in his movies: Take aim at what he considers injustice."
[Brief ‘Sicko’ clip]
Moran: "Moore's solution, free, universal health care. A system he describes in glowing, utopian terms by visiting Canada, Britain and France, never mentioning that many people in those countries are deeply dissatisfied with their systems. You think Canadians and Britons and the French would actually say, ‘Michael Moore has got it right. We live in a health care paradise.’"
Moore: "I don’t know if they’d say health care paradise. But here’s what I know what they’d say: ‘We would never trade our health insurance card for your Blue Cross card, or your Aetna card, or you Humana card.’"
Moran: "Moore's critics, and there are a lot of them, say he distorts the truth to make his points. They have also gotten personal, sniping about his weight, saying, a man so unhealthy should not complain about health care."
11:41
Moran: "Moore traveled to Cuba with three 9/11 rescue workers who are now sick and unable to pay for care. His first stop, Guantanamo Bay, where the Bush administration claims al Qaeda detainees are getting top-notch care."
Moore [Sicko clip]: "I have three 9/11 rescue workers. They just want some medical attention. The same kind that the evil doers are getting. Hello?"
Moran: "He ended up in Havana, where Cuban doctors treated the Americans."
Moore: "They have an excellent health care system, probably the best in the Third World. There is not religious persecution. There's artistic freedom. I went–"
Moran: "There's artistic freedom in Cuba?"
Moore: "Oh, yeah. I hung out with artists who are critical of Castro and, and, and very freely speak their minds."
Moran: "Human rights groups like Amnesty International say Cuba continues to repress nearly all forms of dissent."
