Thursday, July 08, 2004
THE TRIAL OF MICHAEL MOORE: DAY FOUR
Defense Testimony
JUDGE
Please be seated. Court is now in session. Today we will begin Defense testimony. A witness will be called and examined by the defender and then the prosecution will have an opportunity to cross. Let’s begin now. Will the Defense call their first witness?
KORNBUS
Yes, your Honor. The Defense calls Michael Moore to the stand.
(Michael Moore takes the witness chair)
KORNBUS (cont’d)
Hello, Michael. How are you today?
MOORE
I’m very well, thank you.
KORNBUS
I had not even planned on calling you as a witness, but you insisted, didn’t you?
MOORE
Yes. I wanted a chance to respond personally to the allegations against me.
KORNBUS
Well, let’s begin. The first charge that the prosecution argued in this trial was that your film, Fahrenheit 9/11, is full of lies. How do you respond to that?
MOORE
I would respond by saying that the people who say that type of stuff probably haven’t seen my film. Or, if they have, haven’t bothered to do any research themselves.
KORNBUS
What do you think about the people who judge your film without seeing it?
MOORE
I think they are acting in an immoral and dishonest way. I feel that way especially with people like Mr. Limbaugh and Mr. O’Reilly, who have a wide audience of people who trust them. The fact of the matter is, they are 2 of the most respected voices in radio and news, particularly O’Reilly. Millions and millions of folks tune into their shows wanting to hear the truth. And for them to just pander to a party line without doing any fact checking, well, that’s upsetting.
KORNBUS
Speaking of fact checking, how do you operate in that department?
MOORE
I hire fact checkers for all of my projects, Fahrenheit 9/11 included. For this movie I hired three teams of lawyers and the one-time fact checkers for the New Yorker to go through it with a fine-tooth comb to find any inaccuracies. What you see in the theaters is 100% accurate and true. I guarantee you of that. The opinions in the film are mine and anyone has a right to disagree with them. But the facts stated are irrefutable. I am actually thinking about offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who can find one stated fact in the movie that isn’t the truth.
KORNBUS
Wow, that would be very interesting.
MOORE
Yes, it would. It would shut up a lot of the people who spout off about how inaccurate it is but have nothing to back up their claims. I mean, look, I welcome a discussion of the issues. That’s why I made the movie. But a lot of these pundits and talking heads are just adhering to a party line when they make these kind of accusations. All I ask is that if you feel the movie is riddled with lies, prove it. Show me that I’m wrong before you judge me.
KORNBUS
That seems fair to me. And Michael, what about the people who testified that you are anti-American? How do you wish to respond to that?
MOORE
That was hurtful. Because I don’t understand the charge. What is more American than asking questions? It was Thomas Jefferson who said that “dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” And that’s all I’m trying to do. I don’t put much stock is just blindly following the leadership of this country. You can get into big trouble that way. The citizens of this country are always supposed to be checking over the shoulders of their elected officials. They are paid to serve the people. It’s not the other way around.
KORNBUS
Some people feel you are a propagandist. Is that true?
MOORE
I guess in some ways I am. But my work is a reactionary response to the propaganda that spews out of Washington D.C. each and every day. Isn’t it propaganda when George Bush goes on television and tells the American people that Al-Qaeda and Iraq were in cahoots? Isn’t it propaganda when we’re told that the “terrorists hate our freedom” or that Saddam Hussein was building weapons of mass destruction? I think so. But the only difference between my propaganda and theirs is that I can back mine up. What I say is the truth. Where’s the proof behind the charge that Saddam and Osama were working together? There isn’t any. Where’s the weapons of mass destruction? They can’t find them. Do the terrorists really hate our freedom or are they angry because we ally ourselves with the Saudi Royals while that country tops Amnesty International’s list of human rights violators? These are questions I feel I have every right to ask and be given the answers to. And I’m going to keep asking them until I do.
KORNBUS
No further questions.
JUDGE
Would the prosecution care to cross-examine the witness?
LIMBAUGH
Uh...no. I can’t think of anything to refute what he just said.
JUDGE
Very well. Would the defense like to call another witness?
KORNBUS
No, your Honor. The defense rests.
JUDGE
Excellent. We will recess until Wednesday, when closing arguments will begin. After closing arguments are given, I will give my decision. Court is adjourned until then.
Defense Testimony
JUDGE
Please be seated. Court is now in session. Today we will begin Defense testimony. A witness will be called and examined by the defender and then the prosecution will have an opportunity to cross. Let’s begin now. Will the Defense call their first witness?
KORNBUS
Yes, your Honor. The Defense calls Michael Moore to the stand.
(Michael Moore takes the witness chair)
KORNBUS (cont’d)
Hello, Michael. How are you today?
MOORE
I’m very well, thank you.
KORNBUS
I had not even planned on calling you as a witness, but you insisted, didn’t you?
MOORE
Yes. I wanted a chance to respond personally to the allegations against me.
KORNBUS
Well, let’s begin. The first charge that the prosecution argued in this trial was that your film, Fahrenheit 9/11, is full of lies. How do you respond to that?
MOORE
I would respond by saying that the people who say that type of stuff probably haven’t seen my film. Or, if they have, haven’t bothered to do any research themselves.
KORNBUS
What do you think about the people who judge your film without seeing it?
MOORE
I think they are acting in an immoral and dishonest way. I feel that way especially with people like Mr. Limbaugh and Mr. O’Reilly, who have a wide audience of people who trust them. The fact of the matter is, they are 2 of the most respected voices in radio and news, particularly O’Reilly. Millions and millions of folks tune into their shows wanting to hear the truth. And for them to just pander to a party line without doing any fact checking, well, that’s upsetting.
KORNBUS
Speaking of fact checking, how do you operate in that department?
MOORE
I hire fact checkers for all of my projects, Fahrenheit 9/11 included. For this movie I hired three teams of lawyers and the one-time fact checkers for the New Yorker to go through it with a fine-tooth comb to find any inaccuracies. What you see in the theaters is 100% accurate and true. I guarantee you of that. The opinions in the film are mine and anyone has a right to disagree with them. But the facts stated are irrefutable. I am actually thinking about offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who can find one stated fact in the movie that isn’t the truth.
KORNBUS
Wow, that would be very interesting.
MOORE
Yes, it would. It would shut up a lot of the people who spout off about how inaccurate it is but have nothing to back up their claims. I mean, look, I welcome a discussion of the issues. That’s why I made the movie. But a lot of these pundits and talking heads are just adhering to a party line when they make these kind of accusations. All I ask is that if you feel the movie is riddled with lies, prove it. Show me that I’m wrong before you judge me.
KORNBUS
That seems fair to me. And Michael, what about the people who testified that you are anti-American? How do you wish to respond to that?
MOORE
That was hurtful. Because I don’t understand the charge. What is more American than asking questions? It was Thomas Jefferson who said that “dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” And that’s all I’m trying to do. I don’t put much stock is just blindly following the leadership of this country. You can get into big trouble that way. The citizens of this country are always supposed to be checking over the shoulders of their elected officials. They are paid to serve the people. It’s not the other way around.
KORNBUS
Some people feel you are a propagandist. Is that true?
MOORE
I guess in some ways I am. But my work is a reactionary response to the propaganda that spews out of Washington D.C. each and every day. Isn’t it propaganda when George Bush goes on television and tells the American people that Al-Qaeda and Iraq were in cahoots? Isn’t it propaganda when we’re told that the “terrorists hate our freedom” or that Saddam Hussein was building weapons of mass destruction? I think so. But the only difference between my propaganda and theirs is that I can back mine up. What I say is the truth. Where’s the proof behind the charge that Saddam and Osama were working together? There isn’t any. Where’s the weapons of mass destruction? They can’t find them. Do the terrorists really hate our freedom or are they angry because we ally ourselves with the Saudi Royals while that country tops Amnesty International’s list of human rights violators? These are questions I feel I have every right to ask and be given the answers to. And I’m going to keep asking them until I do.
KORNBUS
No further questions.
JUDGE
Would the prosecution care to cross-examine the witness?
LIMBAUGH
Uh...no. I can’t think of anything to refute what he just said.
JUDGE
Very well. Would the defense like to call another witness?
KORNBUS
No, your Honor. The defense rests.
JUDGE
Excellent. We will recess until Wednesday, when closing arguments will begin. After closing arguments are given, I will give my decision. Court is adjourned until then.
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