Michael Moore backtracks on Gustav and the GOP

Friday, we noted Michael Moore's comments on MSNBC describing the timing of Hurricane Gustav (during the Republican convention) as divine intervention.

Today, Moore -- who almost immediately came under fire for his remarks -- responded by releasing an "open letter to God."

In it, the filmmaker urged the Almighty: "So please God, let the storm die out at sea. It's done enough damage already. If you do this one favor for me, I promise not to invoke your name again."

The letter is below ...

... and the links are from his text.

Dear God,

The other night, James Dobson's ministry asked all believers to pray for a storm on Thursday night so that the Obama acceptance speech outdoors in Denver would have to be canceled.

I see that You have answered Dr. Dobson's prayers -- except the storm You have sent to earth is not over Denver, but on its way to New Orleans! In fact, You have scheduled it to hit Louisiana at exactly the moment that George W. Bush is to deliver his speech at the Republican National Convention.

Now, heavenly Father, we all know You have a great sense of humor and impeccable timing. To send a hurricane on the third anniversary of the Katrina disaster AND right at the beginning of the Republican Convention was, at first blush, a stroke of divine irony. I don't blame You, I know You're angry that the Republicans tried to blame YOU for Katrina by calling it an "Act of God" -- when the truth was that the hurricane itself caused few casualties in New Orleans. Over a thousand people died because of the mistakes and neglect caused by humans, not You.

Some of us tried to help after Katrina hit, while Bush ate cake with McCain and twiddled his thumbs. I closed my office in New York and sent my entire staff down to New Orleans to help. I asked people on my website to contribute to the relief effort I organized -- and I ended up sending over two million dollars in donations, food, water, and supplies (collected from thousands of fans) to New Orleans while Bush's FEMA ice trucks were still driving around Maine three weeks later.

But this past Thursday night, the Washington Post reported that the Republicans had begun making plans to possibly postpone the convention. The AP had reported that there were no shelters set up in New Orleans for this storm, and that the levee repairs have not been adequate. In other words, as the great Ronald Reagan would say, "There you go again!"

So the last thing John McCain and the Republicans needed was to have a split-screen on TVs across America: one side with Bush and McCain partying in St. Paul, and on the other side of the screen, live footage of their Republican administration screwing up once again while New Orleans drowns.

So, yes, You have scared the Jesus, Mary and Joseph out of them, and more than a few million of your followers tip their hats to You.

But now it appears that You haven't been having just a little fun with Bush & Co. It appears that Hurricane Gustav is truly heading to New Orleans and the Gulf coast. We hear You, O Lord, loud and clear, just as we did when Rev. Falwell said You made 9/11 happen because of all those gays and abortions. We beseech You, O Merciful One, not to punish us again as Pat Robertson said You did by giving us Katrina because of America's "wholesale slaughter of unborn children." His sentiments were echoed by other Republicans in 2005.

So this is my plea to you: Don't do this to Louisiana again. The Republicans got your message. They are scrambling and doing the best they can to get planes, trains and buses to New Orleans so that everyone can get out. They haven't sent the entire Louisiana National Guard to Iraq this time -- they are already patrolling the city streets. And, in a nod to I don't know what, Bush's head of FEMA has named a man to help manage the federal government's response. His name is W. Michael Moore. I kid you not, heavenly Father. They have sent a man with both my name AND W's to help save the Gulf Coast.

So please God, let the storm die out at sea. It's done enough damage already. If you do this one favor for me, I promise not to invoke your name again. I'll leave that to the followers of Dr. Dobson and to those gathering this week in St. Paul.

Your faithful servant and former seminarian,

Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com

P.S. To all of God's fellow children who are reading this, the city of New Orleans has not yet recovered from Katrina. Please click here for a list of things you can do to help our brothers and sisters on the Gulf Coast. And, if you do live along the Gulf Coast, please take all necessary safety precautions immediately.

-- Leslie Hoffecker

Photo credit: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images

Comments

[Jay]

It's only fitting that Gustav would hit during the GOP convention. No one wants to see lives ruined on the coast -- but it IS true that the religious right PRAYED for rain during the democratic convention. Perhaps Gustav will remind voters of the failures of our incredibly inept federal government. Glad they're getting things better the second time around. I'm the relatives of dead victims of Katrina will be happy to hear that.

[Otman]

This guy Moore wants to shove his politics down people's throat. Well he's not succeeding one bit. His sarcasm is not appreciated either but what can you expect from a communist liberal like him? And I'm not defending convervatives either, but as a cognizant voter in tune with real values and wishing the best for our country, this guy is total turnoff. Continue your stupidity Mr. Moore because what you're doing is convicing more middle of the road minded people like me to vote for Senator McCain.

[frieda]

Moore, Obama, Biden they look so passe and old story now.

We have fresh face that has invigorated many people, myself included to fight for her to win.

learn more about Gov. Saray Barracuda Palin

http://governorpalin.blogspot.com/

[TD]

i was thinking the same thing but am not dumb enough to say it. what was Moore thinking, i wonder?

[McBush66]

Tell em Michael. Of course people are going to say you are unAmerican, but you more patriotic than Bush or McSame. Everyone wants to say what you said, and its true.

[Jerry]

So, James Dobson can invoke "divine" intervention against the Democrats, but Michael Moore is criticized for his "Prayer." Whew, there's never any shortage of hyprocrisy.

[Deb]

What a stretch it is for Michael Moore to blame this 'Act of God' on the GOP convention. In case he hadn't noticed, the convention is NOT being held in New Orleans ... The huge 'Southern Decadence Weekend" flaunting the gay lifesyle, however, IS being held in New Orleans this weekend. Interestingly enough, it was also scheduled to be held 3 years ago when Katrina hit. An act of God? Perhaps so.. the Almighty has responded as such all throughout history.

Regarding the prayers encouraged by Dr. Dobson for rain on the Democratic convention... Did you not notice, Mr. Moore, that McCain's choice of a conservative pro-life woman less that 24 hours after Obama's speech surely served to 'rain' on the Liberal parade. I couldn't help but notice a 'drenched bunch' of liberal-biased newscasters there were on TV since the announcement. Yes, God does work in mysterious ways....

By the way, Mr. Moore... Gustav just tore though Cuba. Now, what message might you think God was trying to pass on to the leaders in that country?

[halhiker]

It looks like mr. Moore's prayers are being answered (unlike those of conservative hypocrite James Dobson). Gustav has lost strength and may continue to weaken before landfall.

I pray for those in the path of this hurricane and I pray that religious conervatives quit mocking God and taking his name in vain.

[Andrew Burt]

I saw that interview with Keith Olbermann.
Why the outrage?
The extreme Right who maquerade as Priests and Vicars look quite foolish when they use stuff like this to try and boost McCains cause.
These are the hate mongers who spew their bile against minorities in the comunity, they don't care about anyone really. Its all a fraud and they should be called out on it.
Michael Moore cares, let nobody try and say otherwise.

[Ron]

Thank you Michael for pointing out the two faced Republicans who pretend to own God as if they are the only people who pray.

[Appalled Democrat]

This is despicable. Michael Moore should shut his mouth as he is doing no favors showing such heinous disrespect for humanity and politicizing a tragic storm and thanking God for it. If Dobson wished for a Hurricane same treatment for him -- not sure if "rain" = "Gustav", though -- people can make their own judgment.

Moore cost Kerry the election and now he may cost Obama. Why can't we nominate a centrist Democrat with a moral value system that isn't about Hollywood types such as Moore?

Please Michael for the sake of Obama's campaign, just keep quiet and keep your vitriolic hatred to yourself -- you are despicable.

[Annette Mahoney / London England]

Best thing I've read in a while.. go tell em Michael.

[The democrats, you know, the ones how care for]

"Paris is well worth a Mass"

Henry IV of France, 1593.

"The White house is well worth a couple thousand deaths"

Average commenter of the LA Times, 2008.

[Jon K.]

Palin is a joke. She's not ready to be president. How someone in his seventies with a history of cancer could make this decision is beyond ridiculous. It's scary. It shows a fundamental lack of judgement that terrifies me and equally terrifying is the fact that millions of Americans think it was a great choice. I mourn our society's fundamental loss of common sense.

[Mark Dodge]

Major storms happen this time of year. The timing of this one is the fitting irony Moore speaks of, not the fact that the storm is happening at all. All the Moore critics will pounce on him no matter what he says. They have had their right-wing asses kicked too many times by Moore's films so I do not blame them for crying this time.

[Jon K.]

Republicans are becoming really scary, deluded peolple. They seethe of cynicism and self-righteousness. I'm in Ohio and I was at a local bar and I said I was leaving to go watch Obama's acceptance speech. I must of had five guys who upon over-hearing me began throwing obsenities at me and questioning my manhood because I support Obama. It's crazy. One guy starting shouting how Obama was just like Hitler. It's madness. There's just so much ugliness in the Republican spirit and it's difficult to discuss it with them because as a group they've become immune to self-criticism, so a rational dialogue on the subject is nigh-impossible. I truly fear for the future of our country if this keeps up.

[Anonymous]

If a man's character is his fate, then Moore's future doesn't look too bright.

Justifying the misery of millions to disrupt a silly convention is pathetic. Continuing to justify the misbehavior with such a letter is contemptable.

Why do you print his nonsense?

[Big Jim Slade]

The man is not right in the head.

[jesse]

bush for a third term...

james dobson for vice prez!

ha,ha,ha.

[jeff]

HAHA i was thinking the exact same thing, how amazing the timing was that it would come on the exact day of the Republican convention. Invoking those horrid memories of katrina, it speaks of divine intervention. He will be ripped for these comments i am sure, as he always is but what republicans hate to admit was that he was responding to comments made by republicans and so called religious men that are far more inflamitory than his. Calling Katrina an act of god done upon america for abortion like robertson did is far more ridiculous than praying for it to die out at sea.

[Tim]

Is Michael Moore even relevant anymore? His so-called documentaries are filled with lies. I'm surprised anyone cares what he thinks!

[callie]

As much as I loathe Republicans, I think MM's remarks are stupid and he comes across as overbearing and loutish. As for James Dobson, he's a jerk as well. And more to the point, a patronizing, boring, overbearing lout. I guess the two deserve each other --polar opposites in a duel of publicity.

[jojo]

Right ON M.M.!
Right spot on.
damn evangelicals....

[Sully]

Seems fair. He's the left Coultier. Important thing is that people do not die and damage is minimum. We can agree on that. However, right wing peeps like Dobson, and others, should take note of their actions, just like the extreme left. Tit for tat gets old folks. I'm actually glad that W has a chance to redeem himself here. Really. I can't stand him or his administration but I believe in his heart of hearts this moment is important to him.. The ironies as Moore points out, could go on for miles and miles like the traffic getting out of NO. But the fact remains, Repub or Dem we love our people and care about them deeply. We don't like to see people suffer in our country. Thnk about that when you vote. That's all any American could ask for.

[Frank]

Hey. Boneheads. It's humor. it's clever. and it's accurate. and it reminds everyone what failures these republicans were. Period.

Palin's investigation for abuse of power in Alaska is getting more serious. She might not be on the ticket in Nov. Sorry.

Meanwhile, think of this. If you needed a heart operation, which is as serious as being President, would you choose a small town mayor, former beauty queen, who we have on camera saying she doesn't know what her job would be, or an experienced young surgeon? Obama by the way in fact has much more governing experience than Palin, and smarts, and that is a FACT.
mccain's old. and tired. get with the program.

[sobelle]

IDIOT MOORE IS A COMPLETE IGNORANT DOLT !! TO EVEN POST HIS COMMENT'S ARE IGNORANT ALSO ! DUMBASS DOESN'T DESERVE ANY SPACE EXCEPT OUTER .
FATASS CREEP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sandy Hum]

I guess Americans don't have a sense of humour?

[paul hollywood]

"Backtracks"? I guess the writer of the article can't read, because Moore did not backtrack, he rammed his sword in all the way to the hilt. He skewered the lying swine like Dobson and Falwell, mercilessly beat the GOP over the head with their Katrina failures, and made it all FUNNY. That's knocking it out of the ballpark, not "backtracking."

[Hopskotch]

Wow, some readers really have a difficult time understanding irony...

[Reagan Democrat]

Michael Moore is immoral, amoral, and despicable for cheering on destruction and harm to innocent people for political reasons. A sadly tragic figure and NOT representative of the Democratic Party. I pray for his soul, he is going to need it and I hope he develops some compassion to balance his narcissism.

[sobelle]

ANOTHER NO POST BY ONE OF THE MOST LEFT WING LIBERAL NEWSPAPER'S ON EARTH.!!!!!
IS IT SURPRISING YOUR RAG SHEET IS GOING DOWN THE DRAIN ? NOT !!!!!

[plankbob]

Say what you will about him, I heart Michael Moore.
And lest we forget:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/images/20050829-5_p082905pm-0125-515h.html

Utterly amazing and so tone deaf that the White House still keeps the above on its Web site. It's one event, along with Katrina and Iraq, that Bush and McCain are still trying to live down. (It's not a parody site.)

[Frank]

Moore is a horse's Patoot. He is undeserving of any attention especially attention being brought about by his ignorant rantings. Between him, Carter, and Gore it is hard to picik out the biggest buffoon. Go away Moore just go away.

[scootmandubious]

otman wrote:
This guy Moore wants to shove his politics down people's throat. Well he's not succeeding one bit. His sarcasm is not appreciated either but what can you expect from a communist liberal like him? And I'm not defending convervatives either, but as a cognizant voter in tune with real values and wishing the best for our country, this guy is total turnoff. Continue your stupidity Mr. Moore because what you're doing is convicing more middle of the road minded people like me to vote for Senator McCain.
--------------------------------------------
You must think the readers of this blog are incredibly stupid.

You, sir, have the audacity to use the ignorant phrase "communist liberal" and then pretend you are "middle of the road?"

Yeah, and Santa Claus is coming down your chimney at Christmas.

You have shown yourself to be an extreme right-wing idealogue. Brush up on your propaganda pal, because nobody remotely moderate refers to liberals as communists.

You write that you're not defending conservatives. That is probably true. Your probably too far to the right for most of them.

Would I be wrong for suggesting that maybe the John Birch Society is more your style?

As for your "real values" comment, hatred is not something I would call a "real value." Cmon, are you sure this isn't Ann Coulter in drag?

[scootmandubious]

frieda wrote:
Moore, Obama, Biden they look so passe and old story now.

We have fresh face that has invigorated many people, myself included to fight for her to win.

learn more about Gov. Saray Barracuda Palin
---------------------------------------------
My frieda, what an opening.

Let's see if I get this....

you say...Saray Barracuda, fresh face...invigorate many people...Obama passe...

Is it me, or did you get your Republican talking points from a fortune cookie.

Wow, Rove must be desperate for blog commenters.

[Greg]

I understand that most Republicans don't understand the sarcasm or irony or even the self deprecation of the left, but I hope our citizenry is more intelligent than the comments seen here.

Liberals aren't communists and even if MMoore is way over the top sometimes (he shouldn't have harassed Heston in Bowling for Columbine), he does hit issues that the authoritarian, shallowly patriotic and self righteous always miss. He like Twain (he isn't on Twains level) were disliked by "proper Americans" and because he is annoying, he is dismissed by those he criticizes. But that becomes an excuse for conservatives to ignore the real problems, which have nothing to do with Moore himself.

Otman, you are not middle of the road, you are a conservative. Moore doesn't shove his politics down people's throats anymore than any other film maker or preacher or radio talk show host, but somehow Moore is so bad.

As for Gustav, the storyline is predictable. McCain halts the convention, Republicans show holier than thou empathy and patriotism (as they do for every disaster) and when it is found that the government actually does things better than for Katrina, McCain will glow in the amber light of relief and fake leadership as if he had anything to do with it and he'll get a bounce from those who are easily impressed.

And the conservatives will go on and whether they win or lose in November, they will learn nothing, because they can't see beyond their own self image of being the only true Americans. Same myth as always.

[Greg]

Hey Repubs, he really isn't happy about the hurricane and he really isn't linking Gustav and the RNC to an act of God. It is a joke. Like the Daily Show, it is meant to be inciting and funny. He at least isn't pretending to be a journalist like Hannity or O'Reilly or Dobbs and company.

[schaidez]

Michael Moore, Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie Odonnel ,please continue to blab away and help elect Republicans. The more you all say, the lower the prospects of the Democrats electing one of their own.

[Justin]

Sad how the neo-cons have hijacked the GOP and are using the evangelicals like puppets on a string with their promises and anti-abortion/anti-gay rhetoric, when in reality, they are orchestrating the relentless march toward one world government. I laugh at the Republicans (and Democrats). It seems to me that Dr. Dobson and Michael Moore need to pull their heads out of the ground and take a real hard look, before the neo-cons hammer us all with One World Religion and No Freedom of Speech. Wake up America (or the soon to be North American Union) and smell the New World Order coffee.

[Charles Murray]

Mr. Moore is absolutely right. The Republicans are having to eat crow because of their past misdeeds and it looks good on them. Bush was going to be an embarrassment at the convention anyway.
Katrina's problems were caused by years of neglect and patronage under Bush.
You'll be sad to note Deb that Cuba survived Gustav without loss of life. This is because they are prepared for hurricanes.

[LilyC]

How convenient that Michael Moore already put himself in a category with crackpots James Dobson & Jerry Falwell so I don't have to. ANYBODY regardless of political affiliation who has the gall to say that catastrophic events are sent by God to punish the people of this nation diminishes the suffering of those genuinely affected by the event. So to Michael, James, and Jerry - shut up all of you. Throwing fuel on the flames of these trying times is not helping any of us.

[Radical Raul]

For all you right wing Christian extremist, who accuse Moore of mocking God, catch a clue; this is satire directed to the bible touting, greedy, right wing, hypocrite extremist, who live their lives in constant fear and emptiness, thinking their beliefs and ideologies are the supreme way of life while totally ignoring reality.

Let's us pray for love, peace, and well being for all.

[walleyed]

You could tell he realized the mistake he made on the clip and tried to cover. He did garner himself some press with though, unfortunately.

Moore has become irrelevant. He's a classless clown that I no longer find funny and the left should find a new mascot.

[omonubi]

Losers. All of you.

An atmospheric disturbance.

God doesn't waste her time on such pathetic distractions.

Get a life.

[rossini]

Learn more about Sarah Barracuda Palin

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/off-to-the-land-of-palin/

[Joe]

I love Michael Moore and I thank him for his thoughts and words. I hope we can all pray for those afflicted by natural disasters and pitch in to help, instead of hating on one another. God bless you all.

[Alessandro Machi]

All liberal pundits have lost credibility with me this year for pretending lack of fair reflection from the caucus contests was no big deal.

To speak about any other topic without first addressing the lack of fair reflection in the caucus states means I don't care what they have to say now, and I'm a life long democrat.

http://www.FAIR-REFLECTION.com
http://www.CAUCUSCHEATING.com
http://www.HILLARY-WINS.com

[cheo]

In response to Otman's statement, "...middle of the road minded people like me." What gives you the right to determine if you are middle of the road? Is that what your friends tell you? Perhaps you and your friends are right wing extremists and Michael Moore is the "middle of the road minded" person. And by the way, Michael Moore's sarcasm is much more thought provoking than your name calling.

[Almost Angeleno]

Michael Moore is a true patriot and an American hero. The vitriolic hatred from the right is only because they (1). fear Moore, and (2). don't like hearing the truth.

[David Chen]

What is wrong with this guy? Was he rejected by his father, never picked during grade school PE teams? He is one bitter soul. He must live a depressing life. He is so fat.