The Seattle Times: Filmmaker Michael Moore urges voter turnout

The Seattle Times: Arts & Entertainment: Filmmaker Michael Moore urges voter turnout: "Whether he's imploring Americans to vote on Election Day or defending his films 'Fahrenheit 9/11,' 'Bowling for Columbine' and 'Roger and Me,' Moore speaks as forcefully against apathy and ambivalence as against right-wing politics.

He's traveling the country to encourage Democratic voter turnout, especially in states where polls indicate the presidential race is too close to call.

'I only wish George W. Bush could see this,' he said, greeting the crowd of about 10,000 in Seattle. Then he chanted, 'Two more weeks. Two more weeks. It will be all over,' he said, as the crowd roared with approval.

For Seattle, the political showman invited friends Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam to perform for those gathered at the event, sponsored by the nonprofit arts group Foolproof.

His Bush-mocking political collage '9/11' has become the largest-grossing documentary in history, with about $119 million in ticket sales and a hit DVD.

Meanwhile, pundits, journalists and bloggers continue to debate the film's critiques of the Iraq war and its insinuations about the Bush family and wealthy Saudis.

Outside KeyArena, 10 protesters gathered to complain about what they saw as 'mistruths' in '9/11.'

When asked at a news conference before his speech whether his films were more propaganda than documentary, Moore responded: 'My movies are the anti-propaganda.'

He said the real propaganda happens every evening on the news when the media act like an arm of the Bush administration. "

By Tyrone Beason
Seattle Times staff reporter