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Defiant
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Joined: 04 Jul 2001
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Location: Oregon City, OR
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 Sun Oct 10, 2004 11:04 pm Republicans, Out of Ideas, Ask Prosecutors to Arrest Michael |
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| Quote: | 10/6/04
Dear Friends,
You may have heard by now that the Michigan Republican Party has called for my arrest. That's right. They literally want me brought up on charges -- and hope that I'm locked up.
No, I'm not kidding. The Republican Party, yesterday, filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutors in each of the counties where I spoke last week in Michigan.
My crime? Clean underwear for anyone who will vote in the upcoming election.
Each night on our 60-city "Slacker Uprising Tour" through the 20 battleground states, I've been registering hundreds (and on some nights, thousands) of voters at my arena and stadium events. I then ask for everyone over 23 who has never voted (or didn't vote in the last election) to stand up. I tell these slackers that I understand and respect why they think politicians are not worth the bother. I tell them that I may have been the original slacker, and that I do not want them to change their slacker ways. Keep sleeping 'til noon! Keep drinking beer! Stay on the sofa and watch as much TV as possible! But, please, just for me, on 11/2, I want you to leave the house and give voting a try -- just this once. The stakes this time are just too high.
If they promise me that they'll do this, I give the guys a 3-pack of new Fruit of the Loom underwear, and the women get a day's supply of Ramen noodles, the sustenance of slackers everywhere.
I then close by having them repeat the 2004 Slacker Oath: "Pick nose! Pick butt! Pick Kerry."
It seems to have worked, as each night the volunteer tables are swamped afterwards with hundreds of new and young voters signing up to campaign for regime change for the next four weeks.
The satire of all this seems to have been lost on the Republicans. Or maybe it hasn't. The state of Michigan (where we spent most of last week) reported that over 100,000 young people recently registered to vote, a record that no one saw coming. The Slacker Tour has turned into a huge steamroller with a momentum all its own.
So, the Republican Party, to show their gratitude that so many young people will now be involved in our system, has demanded that I be sent to jail for trying to "bribe" students to vote.
Of course, this would be quite laughable if they weren't so serious about their charges. But they are. I may soon be a wanted man in Michigan -- simply because I convinced a few slackers to change their underwear and eat a healthy meal of artificially flavored noodles.
I thought I'd seen it all this year -- Disney refusing to distribute the film they paid for, right-wingers harassing theater owners who showed "Fahrenheit 9/11," conservative action groups trying to get the FEC to kick our film ads off the air, the unnecessary restrictive R-rating that forced teenagers to sneak in to see it, and all the stupid, crazy attacks on me and my movie that I've had to listen to as I watched the public ignore them and pack the movie houses anyway, where my film was being shown. And when all that failed, five different Republican groups made five different attack dog tapes (oops, "documentaries"!) against me in a period of about six weeks. But they were all so bad, so boring, so right-wing, no one wanted to watch them and they too went away, a sad waste of good videotape.
Now, after enduring all this, with no tricks left in their bag, they've just decided, "Let's toss his sorry ass behind bars -- him and his noodles and his gift of clean underwear!"
My friends, they will not catch me. Though I may be on the run, and I may never be able to return home to my beloved Michigan, I make this solemn vow to you and yours: The slackers of America shall not be denied their noodles, they will proudly wear their clean underwear as free Americans, and they will vote Bush out of office come November 2nd (though they will not show up to the polls until well after noon)!
Stay strong, stay slacker, and please remember to turn the underwear inside out every three days. As for the noodles, add boiling water, stir.
Yours,
Michael Moore
[email protected]
www.michaelmoore.com |
Holy *beep*...what a desperate and pointless move. No one forced them to vote democratically, only to vote. Its not bribing for votes, only increasing voter turnout.
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Sun Oct 10, 2004 11:08 pm |
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And to save RM some time and energy, here is the Republican spin on this:
| Quote: | "Mainstream Democrat" Moore uses illegal tactics to try to win votes for Kerry
Lansing, MI - Today the Michigan Republican Party filed a request for an Issuance of Criminal Complaint against Hollywood filmmaker Michael Moore for his illegal attempts to influence the November election in Michigan.
"Higher turnout in elections is beneficial for everyone and is a goal we share with `mainstream Democrats' like Michael Moore," said Executive Director Greg McNeilly. "But nobody is above the law. Mr. Moore's illegal actions, in an attempt to influence this election, cannot be ignored."
During his self-named "Slacker Uprising Tour" in Michigan, Mr. Moore offered incentives for those who registered to vote or who promised him that they would vote. Section 931(1)(b) of the Michigan Election Code (Michigan Compiled Laws ("MCL") 168.931(1)(b)) provides that a person who performs such an act is guilty of a misdemeanor:
"(b) A person shall not, either before, on, or after an election, for the person's own benefit or on behalf of any other person, receive, agree, or contract for valuable consideration for 1 or more of the following:
(i) Voting or agreeing to vote, or inducing or attempting to induce another to vote, at an election.
Mr. Moore's offers to clean a dorm room, provide a year's supply of Tostitos, provide a clean package of underwear or a package of Ramen noodles all are included in the definition of term `Valuable consideration' under Section 931.
"We want everyone to participate in this year's election, but not because they were bribed or coerced by the likes of Michael Moore," continued McNeilly. "We hope that Mr. Moore will be respectful of the laws of this state if he chooses to return."
A copy of the letter sent by McNeilly to Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings, III is attached. Similar letters were sent to the Prosecutors of Antrim, Isabella and Wayne counties.
###
October 5, 2004
Mr. Stuart J. Dunnings, III.
Ingham County Prosecutor
313 W. Kalamazoo Street
Lansing, MI 48933
RE: Request for Issuance of Criminal Complaint Against Michael Moore
Dear Prosecutor Dunnings:
Section 931(1)(b) of the Michigan Election Code (Michigan Compiled Laws ("MCL") 168.931(1)(b)) provides that a person who performs the following act is guilty of a misdemeanor:
"(b) A person shall not, either before, on, or after an election, for the person's own benefit or on behalf of any other person, receive, agree, or contract for valuable consideration for 1 or more of the following:
(i) Voting or agreeing to vote, or inducing or attempting to induce another to vote, at an election.
As used in Section 931 of Michigan Election Code (MCL 168.931), the term "Valuable consideration' includes, but is not limited to, money, property, a gift, a prize or chance for a prize, a fee, a loan, an office, a position, an appointment, or employment." Any person who shall found guilty of a misdemeanor under the provisions of Section 931 of Michigan Election Code shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $500.00, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. Section 934 of the Michigan Election Code (MCL 168.934).
Last week, Hollywood filmmaker Michael Moore openly violated the above-referenced criminal provision of the Michigan Election Code. According to Michael Moore on WILX-TV Channel 10 in Lansing reporting on the September 30, 2004 visit to Michigan State University:
REPORTER: "It's all part of Moore's 'Slacker Uprising Tour' 2004......to help register voters and to make sure they vote, with incentives, if necessary.
MICHAEL MOORE: "I will give you a free supply of the sustenance of all slackers everywhere: Ramen noodles. Will you vote?"
The complete WILX-TV report is attached.
According to the October 1, 2001 edition of the Lansing State Journal reporting on the September 30, 2004 visit to Michigan State University:
"Filmmaker Michael Moore roused a campus crowd of more than 3,500 on Thursday, bashing President Bush and begging college students to vote.
Moore, wearing a Spartan cap, tossed out packets of Ramen noodles and underpants to students who promised the crowd that they will vote Nov. 2."
The complete October 1, 2004 article is attached.
According to the October 1, 2004 edition of the State News reporting on the September 30, 2004 visit to Michigan State University:
"Moore tried almost every method to convince a MSU student to kick President Bush out of office. He showed several of his own unofficial, satirical commercials against Bush. He showed six minutes of film taken in Iraq weeks before U.S. bombing to 'put a human face' to the suffering Moore said Bush caused. He told students four more years with Bush in office would lead to a military draft.
But if that didn't work, Moore also threw out a few packages of Ramen noodles and underwear to students who just promised to vote for either candidate."
The complete October 1, 2004 article is attached.
Moore's blatant violation of the Michigan Election Code has occurred in numerous other Michigan communities.
From the Detroit Free Press reporting on a September 28, 2004 visit to the University of Michigan-Dearborn:
"If free underwear and Ramen noodles aren't enough to entice college students to vote on Nov. 2, filmmaker Michael Moore, is trying to scare them into voting for John Kerry by suggesting that President George W. Bush will reinstate the military draft if re-elected."
"Moore asked first-time voters to come forward, saying his tour was designed to push non-voters off the couch and into the voting booth. About a dozen people came forward. The women got Ramen noodles; new male voters got packs of free underwear."
The complete September 29, 2004 article is attached.
From the September 30, 2004 edition of Central Michigan Life reporting on a September 29, 2004 visit to Central Michigan University:
"He [Moore] plans to visit 60 colleges and 20 battleground states and urge people to vote. Moore called audience members on stage and gave away various prizes if they promised to vote in the upcoming election."
The complete September 30, 2004 article is attached.
From WOOD TV 8 reporting on a September 27, 2004 visit to Elk Rapids:
"During each program, habitual non-voters will be invited on stage to pledge to vote for Kerry, he [Moore] said. First-time student voters will be offered gag prizes such as clean underwear."
The complete September 27, 2004 article is attached.
According to an excerpt from a September 28, 2004 report from National Public Radio commenting on Michael Moore's escapades:
"Michael Moore says he'll do anything to get unlikely voters out to vote for John Kerry, even clean dorms. He'll visit a lot of college campuses in next five weeks. He says he'll clean apartments and do laundry for slackers who commit to vote. He also offered prizes, such as a year's supply Tostitos . . . .".
While the goal of increasing voter participation is in everyone's best interest and a goal that we share with Mr. Moore, no one is above the law, not even a Hollywood filmmakers. Michael Moore's blatant and repeated violations of the criminal provisions of the Michigan Election Code must be punished as if Michael Moore were just like any other ordinary citizen. Accordingly, we respectfully ask that you perform your duty to issue a complaint against Michael Moore.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Greg McNeilly
Executive Director |
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Sun Oct 10, 2004 11:14 pm |
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I heard something about it. Of all the things to bribe people wth. Underwear? 
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Arellia
The Quiet One
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 4425
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Sun Oct 10, 2004 11:14 pm |
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As much as I despise what Michael Moore has to say, and as much as I abhore the fact that people actually showed up to hear him speak, I'm sorry, but arresting him for that would be/is rather stupid. I don't call Ramen Noodles and underwear a grand bribing tactic. If it were large amounts of money or something; yeah, I'd say there would be something to it. But he is free to spread whatever lies he pleases, to spin as hard as he wants to spin, and to attempt to persuade as many people to vote for Kerry as he wants. As much as it pains me to say. >.< Although, if anyone has a better reason to arrest him, then by all means! 
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LightningBoy
Commodore
Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 1446
Location: Minnesota, U.S.A.
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| Sun Oct 10, 2004 11:18 pm |
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It's a bribe to win votes, and he should be persecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
He's mister know-it-all, he should've seen this coming.
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Lord Borg
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Sun Oct 10, 2004 11:20 pm |
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*shakes head* its only asking people to vote, isn't that what the government wants?
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When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Sun Oct 10, 2004 11:20 pm |
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I agree that the bribe was stupid. He still should be arrested though. If anyone bribes anyone with even a toenail its just a way to make them vote for your candidate. You shouldn't force people to vote for your candidate. You can express your views and let them make the ultimate choice.
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Arellia
The Quiet One
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 4425
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Sun Oct 10, 2004 11:23 pm |
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Well, there are some people who, if they're not interested in voting to begin with, maybe are not informed enough that they should vote, even though they do. I would guess these are the type of people Moore recruited. Unfortunately.
But it really didn't look like a "Bribe" to me. If he wanted to really bribe people, he could find something better to do it with. It might have been a questionable act, but really...I don't think it was bad enough to lock him up. Even though I would love to lock him in a box for a while. Really. I would cheer. He didn't seem to be forcing anyone, in my mind.
But hey, who am I to argue if they do go after him? I could really care less. Just sayin', and I could very well be wrong. Oh well.
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Sun Oct 10, 2004 11:27 pm |
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You see...the requirement is NOT to vote for Kerry. Its to register to vote! Its only to register to vote! It isnt something to be arrested over!
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Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Sun Oct 10, 2004 11:37 pm |
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Lol, it's interesting to see the differences between the articles.
I think that yes, Moore was doing this to cause attention, but I don't think he was necessarily doing it to get them to vote for Kerry. Obviously he'd rather they vote for Kerry than Bush, yet I doubt underwear will do that for people.
Do the Republicans really think that Moore can buy votes for Kerry with underwear? So maybe he was just doing it for attention . . . he did get them potential Bush-voters, he didn't make them sign a contract to vote for Kerry.
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Link, the Hero of Time
Vice Admiral
Joined: 15 Sep 2001
Posts: 5581
Location: Kokori Forest, Hyrule
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| Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:51 am |
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..... What??
I hate Michael Moore as much as the next person, but this is going a bit to far.
He gave people underwear and Ramen to people who said they would vote, not for a certain candidate just vote, and they're calling that bribing?
| just grabbing 2 from the large amount of comments wrote: | "Filmmaker Michael Moore roused a campus crowd of more than 3,500 on Thursday, bashing President Bush and begging college students to vote.
Moore, wearing a Spartan cap, tossed out packets of Ramen noodles and underpants to students who promised the crowd that they will vote Nov. 2."
"He [Moore] plans to visit 60 colleges and 20 battleground states and urge people to vote. Moore called audience members on stage and gave away various prizes if they promised to vote in the upcoming election." |
I'm not seeing bribing... is anyone else?
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:35 am |
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Negative. Theres no way the judge in michigan will have him arrested.
I hope he comes to my college. That would rule.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:58 pm |
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| LightningBoy wrote: | It's a bribe to win votes, and he should be persecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
He's mister know-it-all, he should've seen this coming. |
I agree. He is bribing for Kerry--no matter what the bribe and the spin he says on it.
| Founder wrote: | | I agree that the bribe was stupid. He still should be arrested though. If anyone bribes anyone with even a toenail its just a way to make them vote for your candidate. You shouldn't force people to vote for your candidate. You can express your views and let them make the ultimate choice. |
Agreed.
| Defiant wrote: | | You see...the requirement is NOT to vote for Kerry. Its to register to vote! Its only to register to vote! It isnt something to be arrested over! |
I highly doubt that that's all he wants to do.
| Hitchhiker wrote: | Lol, it's interesting to see the differences between the articles.
I think that yes, Moore was doing this to cause attention, but I don't think he was necessarily doing it to get them to vote for Kerry. Obviously he'd rather they vote for Kerry than Bush, yet I doubt underwear will do that for people.
Do the Republicans really think that Moore can buy votes for Kerry with underwear? So maybe he was just doing it for attention . . . he did get them potential Bush-voters, he didn't make them sign a contract to vote for Kerry. |
I don't think it's a good bribe--but it's a bribe, nontheless.
I could be wrong about the For Kerry motives, but I think that that is a VERY likely possibility. It can't just be to get out A vote.
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Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Mon Oct 11, 2004 5:10 pm |
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Obviously not, but the point is that he knows that he's not going to get any votes for Kerry, or for Bush, by bribing people with underwear. It is a ridiculous stunt designed to get attention--and hey, if it registers some kids to vote, then why not? Some will vote for Kerry, some will vote for Bush, and some will sit and home and not vote at all.
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Kyre
Commodore
Joined: 15 Mar 2002
Posts: 1263
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| Mon Oct 11, 2004 6:08 pm |
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I hate Republican_Man.
I do believe however, that in this case Michael Moore has gone a touch too far. If he'd given these people the laughable items (and indeed, Moore knows they are pathetic) for merely registering to vote, then fine. People should exercise their right to vote whenever possible.
But Moore tells them to vote Kerry. He even makes them repeat his "chant". This is a form of subliminal messaging. By getting a crowd worked up, you can make them do alot, clearly seen here. Although I will admit that anyone who attended this would probably have been leaning toward a Kerry vote anyway.
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:23 pm |
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No, it is for voter turnout. Voter turnout is a very good cause, one that all sides can agree on. Imagine if we could actually get 100% of the nation voting! How cool would that be?
Dude, you dont hate RM. You might not agree with him, but come on now.
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Arellia
The Quiet One
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 4425
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:58 pm |
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Yes. Hating is taking it rather far.
*ahem* I don't know if we truly want 100% voter turnout. What would be better? 100% voter education. Do we really want uninformed people voting? No. I'm not saying being uninformed would make you vote one way of the other; if you know enough, of course you can then make a decision however you please. But when you're dealing with people who aren't even interested in politics, or don't even know what's going on...? No. There are people who can vote, choose not to vote, and are better off that way. Not that people shouldn't vote. They just shouldn't if they're only doing it to say they have.
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Mon Oct 11, 2004 9:20 pm |
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Just because people are uninformed DOES NOT mean they should be excluded. Uninformed people will vote no matter what, but taking away their right to vote is very very wrong.
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Founder
Dominion Leader
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 12755
Location: Gamma Quadrant
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| Mon Oct 11, 2004 9:54 pm |
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| Kyre wrote: | | I hate Republican_Man. |
Thanks for proving you're a complete dumbass. Im glad you're not on my side. 
| Defiant wrote: | | No, it is for voter turnout. Voter turnout is a very good cause, one that all sides can agree on. Imagine if we could actually get 100% of the nation voting! How cool would that be? |
Maybe but I think he wants them to vote Kerry. Even if he says nothing about it. Its a clever way to stay clean. Not that wanting to vote for Kerry is bad. 
| Defiant wrote: | | Just because people are uninformed DOES NOT mean they should be excluded. Uninformed people will vote no matter what, but taking away their right to vote is very very wrong. |
We don't think taking their right to vote away is good but if they are uninformed than God knows who they will choose. It isn't good to go to the polls not knowing anything about either side. Don't you agree?
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Link, the Hero of Time
Vice Admiral
Joined: 15 Sep 2001
Posts: 5581
Location: Kokori Forest, Hyrule
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| Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:10 pm |
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Ok, time out.
We all need to sit back and do a little deep breathing or some stress release stuff. because this is starting to get out of hand.
Just Chiiiiill....Chiiiiiill.... Chiiiiiiiill.... that's it. Breath in... and out.
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Arellia
The Quiet One
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 4425
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:38 pm |
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I didn't say to take away anyone's rights. I'm just saying. Making someone vote, having them vote just to be voting, is not the right idea. As Founder pointed out. They should vote because they know what they're doing. Operative word being should. Unfortunately, it's hard to keep idiots away from the polls. I would never move to remove anyone's rights. Just making a point.
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Tue Oct 12, 2004 2:31 am |
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Its the idea that everyone has a voice. No matter if their informed or not. This chick from my work is voting for Bush because "hes cute." completely uninformed on the issues. Ive been trying to educate her, but she wont listen...
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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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| Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:00 am |
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| Kyre wrote: | | I hate Republican_Man. |
One warning.
As the rules say no personal attacks on people and unless you can give a very good reason then that is a personal attack.
| Quote: | | I then close by having them repeat the 2004 Slacker Oath: "Pick nose! Pick butt! Pick Kerry." |
People seem to be making the point that he wasn't getting them to vote for Kerry but vote generally, but what about that^? I'm not saying what the republicans are doing is right (or wrong as I don't know enough about this) but that seems to imply it was biased.
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Arellia
The Quiet One
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Posts: 4425
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:07 pm |
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| Defiant wrote: | | Its the idea that everyone has a voice. No matter if their informed or not. This chick from my work is voting for Bush because "hes cute." completely uninformed on the issues. Ive been trying to educate her, but she wont listen... |
Again. Not the point I'm trying to make. It's better to educate people, then let them decide if they want to vote, rather than force them. The girl you know is entirely free to do that, even if it's not a good reason for voting for your candidate. I also have a friend who simply does not want to get involved. He doesn't like politics, isn't interested in arguing about them, is just as content to leave it alone. That is also his choice. 100% voter turnout nothin'. The real victory would be getting people passionate about the issues, not just telling them, "VOTE! IT'S YOUR RIGHT!" That's not educating people. It's blind excitement.
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Defiant
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 04 Jul 2001
Posts: 15946
Location: Oregon City, OR
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| Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:40 pm |
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Not everyone CAN get involved in the issues. But that isnt any reason at all to say they cant vote, or shouldnt vote.
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