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 In this scene from "Fahrenheit 9/11," Michael Moore chats with a Secret Service man, who wants to know what Moore's doing outside the Saudi Arabian embassy. In part of the chat that didn't make the finished film, Moore admits he was trying to borrow a blonde from the Saudis to help him win Murry Frymer's support for his anti-Bush campaign. Moore failed and is still trying to make it up to Frymer. |
Frymer goes to a party
for Michael Moore
By MURRY FRYMER
The Columnists.com
We went to a Michael Moore party the other night. I
don’t usually go to political rallies, but I must say I
am caught up in this enormous buoyancy brought on by Moore’s
new documentary, “Fahrenheit 9/11.”
I haven’t seen the film yet, though Barb, my wife has and
she was quite enthusiastic.
As I have heard, film audiences
are more akin to home-team sports fans at a stadium than the
usual sober throng that turns out for documentaries.
I thought I would wait until the crowds ebb to see the film.
But parties are something else. Barb said there would be lots
to eat. And maybe something to stare at, which outside of my
TV screen, I am lacking these days.
I guess I was also hoping to see some lovely Moore groupies and
maybe a folk-song trio. It would all take me back to my ‘60s
youth, whereas now my 60s refers to another age and not my youth.
Anyway, the first thing I remembered from that long-ago decade,
after getting to the party, was that when it comes to politics,
the Republicans get the lookers and the Democrats get the brains.
I assume this party was a brainy congregation, or so I assume,
lacking the long-haired blondes who, apparently, only go to grand
old parties.
I found a bottle of wine, a couple of bowls of potato chips and
a chair and perused the assemblage. Various local politicos spoke
to the group, pausing at all the Bush attack lines for the predictable
cheers. I don’t know why I feel uncomfortable at such amusement.
I happen to attack Bush as much as anyone, but I feel better
doing it at home in front of the TV set. In a large group, my
journalistic neutrality comes into play. I stand aside.
Also, all the local San Jose candidates who were in attendance,
pushing their own agendas, were not particularly appealing. Oratory,
I have long noted, is not in its heyday.
But the big moment of the night was when Michael Moore made his
internet call to supporters across the land. Moore, I was told,
was actually in Cupertino, not far from this party. And, whether
true or not, this news got everyone excited. It is amazing how
this scruffy fat fellow has become a hero to the masses. Even
I was eager to hear his message. I have been looking for a Messiah
for some years now and it has become evident that John Kerry
is not He.
The crowd gathered around a computer in the home’s family
room. There was an overflow assemblage in the dining room. And
a loudspeaker was planted in the back yard, where I chose to
remain, next to the bowl of potato chips.
Moore was a happy man. He recounted the terrific opening weekend
grosses that his film had garnered. He spoke of Republicans who
had seen the film and immediately renounced their lifelong biases.
Everybody at the party was thrilled, including me.
But then he asked his listeners to find three non-committed voters for each of us and convine them to vote for Kerry. He also asked us to go to the closest “swing state” and talk to people there. I think the closest swing state to California is Oregon. I began thinking of going to the university campus in Eugene and standing on a soap box, rousing the crowd as I am sure I could do. At least I felt that way at this moment.
Considering that this was a political rally, there really wasn’t that much of an appeal for money. Actually, I was disappointed. I put a few bucks in a pot next to some buttons of Kerry and one that had a “W” crossed out. I gave that one to Barb and she put it on upside down, so that the “M” was crossed out. That was her private political humor.
There was lots of wine to consume and some fried chicken and somebody had brought Chinese food. The folk-song trio did not show up, but the food was good. And Moore was good. And the enthusiasm was good, even if I usually don’t go for that sort of thing.
Some people were saying that Moore’s film could defeat Bush all by itself. In which case, I wondered if Moore himself might be a future candidate. Lots of people seemed happy with the thought.
On the way home we listened to the PBS news on the radio and heard about three more Marines killed in Iraq, a terrorist attack in Israel, and suspicion that Iran might be developing nuclear weapons.
I guess we need Michael Moore right about now. He’s the liberal way of saying “Go Fuck Yourself” to the likes of Cheney. But I had to wonder if somewhere the Republicans were frolicking, too, with the great support of middle America and the good religious people. I wonder if good-looking young blondes ever go to see documentaries.
©2004 by Murry Frymer. The Murry Frymer caricature is ©2000 by Jim Hummel. The photo of Michael Moore from "Fahrenheit 9/11" is courtesy of the official Michael Moore website. The caption is a big lie.
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