Fred 1…Michael Moore 0
Apparently stung by the criticism of his recent trip to Castro’s Cuba to avail himself and his select victims of the glories of socialized healthcare, and tired of being out of the public spotlight, filmmaker (?) Michael Moore has publicly challenged Fred Thompson to a debate.
The text of Moore’s tediously long letter is here, and I listed some brief samples quotes below:
In light of your comments regarding Cuba and Castro, do you think the “box upon box of cigars—Montecristos from Havana” that you have in your office have contributed to Castro’s reported wealth?
While I will leave it up to the conservatives to debate your hypocrisy and the Treasury Department to determine whether the “box upon box of cigars” violates the trade embargo, I hereby challenge you to a health care debate…
Over the course of the debate, we could specifically address the following issues:
(1) Your work as a lobbyist in light of the fact that the health care and insurance industries have maintained the current health care system through their effective control of the political establishment.
(2) The fact that you raised hundred of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the health care and insurance industries.
(3) Discuss the fact, highlighted in yet another conservative outlet The New York Sun, that you inexplicably wanted to cut funding for AIDS research.
(4) Your relationship with the Frist family and by extension HCA, one of the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chains. It has been reported that former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (who was renowned for his over-the-television-screen Schiavo diagnosis) is serving as one of your confidantes on your potential presidential campaign. The Frist family has historically controlled HCA, which paid a record $1.7 billion in civil and criminal fines, including a $631 million penalty for Medicaid fraud—in other words, ripping off the taxpayers.
(5) Discussing whether Arthur Branch, as the District Attorney of Manhattan, supports a woman’s right to choose, gun safety reforms, gay marriage, the trans fat ban and anti-smoking laws (which would impact Cuban cigars, including your Montecristos).
Thompson’s response, a one minute film clip posted on Breitbart, has to be seen to be believed. It’s absolutely brilliant… Havana Montecristo and all.
For those thoughtful conservatives who have yet to seriously consider Thompson, here’s your reason.
