Independents and Moderate Republicans Who Won't See F9/11

After seeing Fahrenheit 9/11, I am convinced that the more moderates and swing voters see this movie, the less likely Bush will be around next January. I happen to have some Independent and Moderate Republican friends who could probably be swayed if they saw F9/11.

I told one of my moderate Republican friends that she should go see the movie.

Her response (via email):

"Well...I'm definitely hesitant towards a republican and George W Bush bashing film that will probably have a lot of things I don't understand in it. I may be misunderstanding a bit about the movie, but knowing how strongly against republicans you are and not knowing enough about politics and the situation in Iraq, etc. I don't know if I want to see a movie with a very big political agenda to tell me how to think."

Of course, the paradox of her response is that she doesn't want to watch the movie because of ignorance, but by refusing to see the movie, that state of ignorance is reinforced.

My response back to her:

"You're right... I don't like Bush. But I'm not against all Republicans. There are some Republicans I like, like you.

I wouldn't try to get you to see a movie you didn't want to see, or that was completely against what you stand for, and I know basically the things that you believe in. I have heard and seen the same things you have about how this movie "bashes" Bush but I have to say that a lot of the people who are making these complaints have not watched the movie. There were a lot of people who were against this movie from the beginning, without knowing ANYTHING at all about it. Just like the people who were against "The Passion" from the beginning and were criticizing it without even seeing it, saying it would make people hate Jews and stuff. Those people were wrong, and these people are wrong. (Sidenote: I didn't see "The Passion", but she did, and she often complained that people weren't giving it a fair shot and were shooting it down based on what other people were saying. I don't know if the movie was anti-Semitic or not. I don't really care in this context -- it's not the point. I was making this statement for her benefit to draw the parallel for her.)

It doesn't force you to believe one way or another, or even tell you what to believe. It doesn't tell you who to vote for. It shows a little of what happened before September 11, and during September 11, and after September 11 and with the war in Iraq. And there are parts where Bush doesn't look very good, but those are parts where Bush does or says something to make himself look bad. The film isn't just against Bush, though. In fact, there are tons of parts in the movie that aren't even ABOUT him, really. And the movie criticizes other politicians, both Democratic and Republican too.

It's not made for political geeks like me, but more for regular "normal" people like you and most of the rest of the world. It is a good way to learn a lot of things that you might not have known before, and a lot of the movie is made of TV news footage and stuff so it's not just stuff that was made up to lie about someone. I took Kati, and she's a Republican. She really liked the movie, also, and is saying that a lot of the stuff people were saying about it on the news was wrong. She wants other people to see it also. I imagine it is like seeing The Passion, and thinking everyone should at least see it with an open mind, but nobody will because of bad things people have been saying about it when they didn't even see it.

But I get what you're saying about not having a lot of time to see movies right now. Maybe, if you're interested, you can see it when it comes out on DVD or something. I don't want to seem like I'm pressuring you to see it if you really don't want to, but it is a good movie and I think you'll really be surprised when you see it."

Feel free to steal from this to persuade others to see this movie despite the biased reporting about it. I believe it is very important that everyone know the facts that this movie very aptly lays out.

afterwards so you can discuss if possible.

I'm offering to buy a ticket for any of my friends (liberal, conservative, or otherwise), as well as one so they can take a friend.

I'm actually getting a group together to go see it, people who haven't seen it already. My Republican sister and her Republican boyfriend. Two of my Independent/Undecided friends. Possibly others as I can get them. I'm telling them to watch the movie, and if they aren't completely blown away, I will refund the price of their ticket.

Cute idea.

I doubt I'll have to reach for my wallet, though.

... but it's not just the Republicans - they don't surprise me that much - but the Independents who're bashing the movie for stupid things, just like they bash Moore because he's "in your face," as if that's a crime. On top of which I've had someone say they thought it was boring (?!)

Oh well, people in the theater I was in practically standing ovationed it so whatever.

I don't know what you can do about your friend. I know several people (I'm related to most of them) who're pretty right wing and the only thing that seems to influence them is hard experience... But keep trying and good luck!

out in September, lots of folks will take a pass now and then rent it when the rhetoric has cooled off, out of curiosity if nothing else

To be able to see it in the privacy of their own homes... some of them wouldn't want to be seen standing in the movie line with all those hippies and commies.

My only fear is that some will not even watch five minutes into the thing before they turn it off. In the theater, they're more likely to stay put and watch.

I've never seen The Simple Life or The Bachelor or any number of TV shows. But I can tell you who the stars are and the premise of the show. Fahrenheit 9-11 is now in our culture. It's on TV. It's on the radio. People are talking about the movie at work and in social situations. Scenes will be recounted. References will be made. Even diehard, calicified wingnuts will know Bush sat and stared into space for 7 minutes after being told our nation was under attack. And the corporate whore media will be nervously eyeing the ticket sales and beginning to feel that cold, sickly sensation that maybe, just maybe they've been shamelessly playing the coquette for the wrong sugar daddy. And now the audience, and their money, has gone elsewhere.

That with so many people talking about this movie, that more people will want to see it so that they can join in the water cooler discussions.

about the movie. :) And then, listen to them after they've seen it. The
goal is getting them there. The movie can do the convincing.