Moore keeps stirring
2004-10-21 12:03
Utah - Filmmaker Michael Moore brought his Bush-bashing to conservative Utah on Wednesday, saying he felt perfectly safe and was proud of student organisers who held firm against attempts to bar him from the Republican bastion.
"I feel bad for students who had to suffer through this simply because they believe in freedom of expression," Moore said on Wednesday before his sold-out speech to more than 7 000 at Utah Valley State College.
The stop was part of Moore's Slacker Uprising tour aimed at mobilising young voters. Asked if he feared for his safety in an area so opposed to his point of view, Moore scoffed.
"The whole country loves the Mormons. Why would I feel unsafe here? I haven't seen a lot of Utah gangs, Mormons with chains and knives and Uzis."
Moore's appearance stirred fierce debate. Critics said the student government misused public money by spending much of its $50 000 budget to book the Fahrenheit 9/11 director, whose documentary paints President George W Bush as an inept leader who rushed into war in Iraq.
Student government leaders organising the speech, who face a recall petition, said the money was spent properly and that Moore's appearance reflected freedom of expression.
Because it received so many complaints, the school brought in conservative talk show host Sean Hannity to speak last week to balance Moore's perspective.
School spokesperson Derek Hall said proceeds from the Hannity and Moore events would mean the school spent only $35 000 combined for both speakers.
"The way we look at it, we spent $17 500 each on two national speakers," Hall said.
Wednesday's crowd was overwhelmingly pro-Moore, but protesters occasionally broke through the din. Some jeered Moore by calling him a liar and criticising his weight.
"I love that sound," Moore said of the interruptions. "It's the sound of a dying dinosaur. ... It's embarrassing for them."
At least three people were thrown out, including one seated near the front whom Moore singled out because he said the man was pointing an unidentified object at him.
- AP