Arizona Daily Wildcat - Michael Moore speaks on campus

Arizona Daily Wildcat - Michael Moore speaks on campusFilmmaker Michael Moore urged a crowd of 14,500 to defeat Bush in the November election and sponsor Sen. John Kerry for his position on issues like education and minimum wage last night.

A sold-out McKale Center welcomed "Fahrenheit 9/11" director Moore with a standing ovation. The UA was the 22nd college on his 60-city "Slacker Uprising Tour" and had the largest turnout on Moore's tour to date, he said.

Moore urged the 50 percent of Americans who didn't vote in the last election to go to the polls on Nov. 2.

"I'm trying to get those non-voters and slackers to come out and vote," Moore said. "You may say that you're not interested in politics, but politics is interested in you and it wants to make your life miserable."

The $27,500 Moore received for his appearance was generated solely from ticket sales and went toward tour costs, including funding the filming of the tour, a rented airplane and 12-person crew, Moore said.


Photo: KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Michael Moore fields questions from reporters prior to his speech at McKale Center last night.

"None of us are making any money... 100 percent of the money is going to stop people like (Hardy and the NRA)," Moore said.

Small groups in the crowd constantly heckled Moore during his speech, and he took it lightheartedly at first, using it as an opportunity to sarcastically respond to their political views, until it became so disruptive he told them directly to stop.

"Four more years? They are off by four years, it's only three more weeks," Moore said.

Linda Ronstadt, singer (Photo) and Tucson native, made a special appearance to advocate Moore and Kerry.

Ronstadt, who dedicated a Las Vegas performance of her song "Desperado" to Moore, said she loves his movies and they have had a positive impact on her politically split family.

"My republican brother is not voting for George Bush, he's voting for John Kerry... and recommending "Fahrenheit 9/11" to all his republican friends," Ronstadt said.

By Jesse Lewis
Arizona Daily Wildcat