Michael Moore's appearrance on CBS'
"The Early Show", served up a tantalizing morsel that deserves to be chewed on some more.
The film is not just an attack on the president and his policy, it also points out how the networks failed at the beginning of the war, Moore says. Perhaps his next film should be on the networks, Storm suggests. "I know. I think I should do that," Moore responds.
Clearly, the media failed to do its job in the weeks and months that preceded the war. They didn't ask the tough questions; they didn't do their homework; they didn't require the administration to support its allegations or hold them accountable when they were wrong. But failing to do their job is nothing new for U.S. media. Michael Moore could blast this wide open.
After seeing Fahrenheit 9/11, I came away impressed with Moore's talent and skill as a filmaker. But I didn't actually learn much that was new to me. The problem is, the knowledge I had of the events portrayed in the film had not come from mainstream media sources. Which is why most Americans have little or no knowledge of these events and will be sadly surprised when they see the film. Why didn't CBS or CNN or the others report these stories when they happened? And why isn't the media being held accountable for their past, and current, failures?
Imagine the kind of revealing, insightful, and hilarious project Moore could produce on the media with the artful juxtaposition of condradictory statements from public officials; exposing stories that were blatantly ignored; the web of corporate/media inter-connectedness; the web of government/media inter-connectedness; the use of out-takes from news pool feeds. Jon Stewart has been very effective with these themes. Maybe they could collaborate.
So as to Michael's offhand comment that his next film should be on the media - I agree Michael. I, too, think you should do that.