`Fahrenheit 9/11' Ends Up Preaching To The Choir

[cosmicone]

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBNKKN5XVD.html

`Fahrenheit 9/11' Ends Up Preaching To The Choir

By BRAD SMITH [e-mail]
Published: Jun 26, 2004

TAMPA - John Kerry's White House chances neither rose nor fell at the local premiere of ``Fahrenheit 9/11'' on Friday.
That's because virtually everyone lining up for a matinee at Sunrise Cinemas in Hyde Park Village identified themselves as Democrats who certainly won't vote for the antiwar film's star, President Bush.

If any pro-Bush Republicans lurked, they were more anonymous than ``Deep Throat.''

<snip>

This is a real danger. If the only people who see this documentary are the ones who are not going to vote for Bush anyway, it is likely to be a wasted effort. How can we make sure that some freepers will see it and change their minds? (using the term "mind" somewhat loosely)

[thebigidea]

1. yeah, this movie poses a "real danger" to someone alright...

and he kinda looks like a monkey!

And who cares what crazed extremist "freepers" think - surely swing voters are the ones capable of independent thought... Howard Stern's audience, apathetic kids bored by Kerry but enraged by Bush...

Better to goad the freepy types to keep generating publicity. The fools! They are being masterfully manipulated... oh please don't throw me in that media attention patch, B'rer Rightwing!

[Born Free]

30. local paper front page

The harrisburg Patriot News ran it on the front page, the theater is packed, gets standing ovations afterwards yet the big picture shows a GOP politician calling the film treason and against American troops. Throughout the article they quote more GOP right wing spin then they do antyhing else. Likewise they insist, it's only "preaching to the choir", another right wing spin . However, it as long as it keep dripping out, every day more and more people are waking up to find the bush team has been and continues to mislead Americans down the wrong track.

[Eloriel]

44. CALL them tomorrow and complain about the slant and bias

Ask for the Editor or even the Publisher. Seriously. Do that. Will ya?

(You can also write letters, but a firm and indignant but polite phone call can be VERY effective.)

[RaulGroom]

35. The main benefit of this movie

The main benefit of F911, by far Moore's best and most "accurate" film (it's almost funny that the WH is calling it "a bunch of lies" since it is largely just film of people talking about their own experiences) is to give people who oppose Bush a shared vocabulary for talking about Bush's failures.

If there is one thing that is consistently underestimated in political activism, it is the value of preaching to the choir. The choir is often woefully underinformed.

[Eloriel]

45. Underinformed AND demoralized

And that picker-upper is another great benefit of the film.

BUT, I've been reading all weekend about minds changed, so people shouldn't assume, as I just heard the crew on Meet the Press assume, that no one who isn't already converted will see or be affected by this film.

Too, even the choir is getting re-energized and newly motivated by it.

[Lorien]

79. We brought two fence sitters with us

and they left the film wanting to jettison Bush* into outer space. The movie freaked them out; they said November couldn't come soon enough!

[freeforall]

89. Right Eloriel!

And there is nothing like the passion of the newly converted for convincing fellow repugs to go and see it.

[Sparky McGruff]

51. I never heard anyone say that about Mel's "Passion of the Brutal Beatings"

Did ANYONE who wasn't already of a particular religious bent see Mel Gibson's parable of beatings and blood-lust? I saw newscaster after newscaster talk about that torture-fest, and how many people were seeing it.

But, did millions of heathens and non-believers flock to his movie, only to leave with Mel's peculiar brand of sadistic-christianity? Probably not. Most likely it was "preaching to the choir".

[LiberalFighter]

69. That is correct about the choir being under-informed.

It is one media that shows the same information so that the choir and many, many, many others HEAR and SEE the same thing. This movie also provides the facts they didn't have that the movie goer can now grab hold of and disseminate amongst their family, friends and others.

Movies are really the only thing that others can share at the water cooler. Each person will still have certain parts of the movie that stands out more than other and there will be others that will be in common to discuss.

The print media has a problem depending on the size of the paper. If they are small then the amount of campaign and political news included in the printing will be limited in space alloted for the articles. They don't have the space to include everything that should be included. Then you have the local editor/publisher that controls the content as well as push their agenda.

People from small towns will suffer from that effect unless they read papers from the major cities as well as educate themselves via the internet and other information resources. But who has the time?

I do disagree about the "preaching to the choir" statement. It is only true if the "choir" are the people that vote everytime and vote for Democratic candidates. This movie is reaching beyond those people. It is reaching people that are beginning to formulate their opinions for the first time in regards to politics. It is reaching people that have been inactive in campaigns and decide to become active in the presidential election or other important local elections. It is reaching people that are independents and wanting to know the facts. It is reaching people that lean Republican and decided that they have had enough of this idiot and other Republicans that were on the edge making the decision after the viewing.


When the movie comes out on DVD in the fall... buy or rent it and have a house party.

[rocktivity]

55. If Bush supporters are too close-minded or delusional to see the movie

what is Michael Moore (or anyone else) supposed to do about it? Did this reporter complain the The Passion of The Christ "preached to the choir," too?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Syrinx]

2. Bah

[DeepModem Mom]

3. If the movie continues to do business and inspire talk...

I think others will eventually think they want, or even need, to see it -- probably not Bush's hard-core base, but many with open minds. It's natural for those of us most interested to be in lines for the first showings.

[Philostopher]

86. I think this is the key.

I think the right wing media and wingers would like to imagine that the only people who are going to see the movie are people whose mind already is made up about the elections in November. Typical right wing bullshit, they're convinced if they repeat it often enough, it'll become true by convincing those on the edge who might consider seeing the movie and whose minds might, indeed, be changed wont' go see it because it's 'only propaganda.' I think it's a bigger thing culturally than that, though. Of course the first wave of people going to the movie are the more ideological among the general population -- they (we) were told it wouldn't be distributed, or that it wouldn't be out in time to affect the elections. Who did they expect to be the 'first wave' of audience for the damned movie, anyway? Of course it's the more ideological -- we've been waiting for the damn movie for a year, now!

[Democat]

4. Total bullshit - do only right wingers listen to Fox?

Don't believe the right wing spin.

This documentary has way more power than the right wing will ever admit.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. You're right -- this view is a good RW talking point --

[dArKeR]

76. You took the typing right out of my little paws! But there still needs

to be an honest network to counter the GOPFOX LYING NETWORK.

[freeforall]

90. Exactly Democat!

If this film wasn't a threat, why did the government try to stop it from being shown?

Oh yeah - they're scared.

[Stocat]

5. How can it be???

How can it be preaching to the choir when they have all been telling us for the last four years there is no choir?

[scarletlib]

32. good point

you should a letter to the editor making that exact point.

[onehandle]

7. pro-Bush Republicans? Freepers? Who cares?

It's the independents and fence sitters we want. And they are going to see the film.

With as many tickets as there were sold this weekend, there's no way they we all rabid Democrats. I went with two Independents myself.

They'll be voting for Kerry this Fall.

[alittlelark]

20. I went to the 7:00 at the Century 23 in San Jose

because all the closer theatres were sold out. I wore my Army camoflage shirt w/ PEACE silkscreened on the front. The VAST majority of theatre-goers were over 60 or under 25. I, at 40 was outta place.
- there were people I heard saying 'no', but in low tones
- there was the woman who was actively sobbing when the mother of the soldier who had died broke down on the capital mall (I don't want to know why)
- there were the gasps when that soldier went on about 'burning the roofs'
- there was the awkward awed silence during the 'blackout of the plane hitting.....


These were not DU'ers
They were not at the marches with me.
They were not aware of much that was exposed in the film.


There was no standing ovation---but over 1/2 the theatre stayed until the last credits rolled.


These may not be the 'independant fence sitters' you are talking about....but I bet I'll see some of them at the next march.

[Robbien]

21. Yes, there are a lot of questions out there

There are people out there who know things are not right and just feel something is happening behind closed doors which may not be good for average Americans but they do not know what it is.

This film will give them a place to start.

Yes, the film will do some good.

[TroglodyteScholar]

34. Right on...

I already knew most of the info revealed in the movie, so the best part for me were they astonished gasps every time Moore reveals yet another interesting tidbit about *. There were definitely people in that theater who didn't know the full extent of what's going on. At least a few of them must've been fence-sitters.

It was really weird......there were a LOT of elderly people in the audience. That makes me feel good too -- they're not going to take it anymore....

[amazona]

38. a lot of seniors at my showing too

Most of the time when I see a packed theater like this, it's kids or parents with kids. And there was a lot of "divorced dads" and family groups but also an unusually large number of seniors. I think people are getting mad about how this is impacting their families.

[merci_me]

56. as an ''over 60''

I want to ask you to look at the people Michael interviewed.....the peace group who had a "youngster" spying on them for terrorist activities......the guy who was questioned for what he said at the gym ....the group of white haired women Michael interviewed. These people all knew exactly what's going on. Believe me, we have been keyed in on that whole Bush/binLaden connection for a VERY long time. We are the protesters of the 60's. We were the ones working to save for our children's college educations during the Reagan years and never failing to take note of the groundwork he was laying and wishing the college group of the 80's would raise a ruckus as we had in the 60's.

When we took a bit of time off to raise our children, it fell apart because the now 40ish college students lost interest in the 80s. Now they're coming back, but we never left. Personally, I did go to many rallies in NY and DC in the 80's, while raising four strong young Democrats.

I too noticed not so many of your age group, but many, many of mine and the people in their late teens/20's. Where are all of the people in their 30's and 40's? There should be so many more.

WHEN they show up, I'm glad, Michael Moore, laid it out in clear easy to understand language. Things I already knew, something all my friends of my generation know and I'm sure most everyone here knows, but many of the "choir" didn't know or only know bits and pieces. Now they can all go forward and preach, all knowing the song, word for word.

[Kukesa]

66. Damn right, Merci!

I'm over 60, too, and remember very well how we regaled at The Big Dog's inauguration -- remember "yesterday's gone, yeah yesterday's gone"?

I had to keep my mouth shut at the software company where I worked while everyone adored Reagan.

Remember Nixon and the Watergate hearings on TV? We knew it all along, didn't we?

I pushed VolcanoJen in a baby stroller and handed out information on saving the Great Lakes and recycling. I cried each evening when Viet Nam was brought into our living rooms; it was difficult to oppose that war, but we did.

How about Equal Rights? I marched for that, too.

Pro-choice? There's another one.

Merci, do you think the "kids" are finally catching on to what we've known for a long time.

And welcome to DU!

;-)

[merci_me]

71. Thanks for the welcome, Kukesa.

I was right there with you. I lived in Ohio most of my life until we were transferred to Texas in 1984 (by an oil company).

I attended many ERA hearings in Columbus, worked the Metzenbaum and Celeste campaigns,among others and worked in a poverty law office that represented the poor and migrants.

Now my son is back there teaching history and government. When people ask how he became a liberal, he says "I was pushed into it. Literally, in my stroller....during Viet Nam." All four of my kids, kindergarten to 5th) helped stuff envelopes and lick stamps for McGovern and during Watergate, the two older ones were so proud they worked for McGovern. Now, one's not so political, still a strong Dem, the other three are all active, as are the two eldest grandkids. some of them right here in Texas, riding buses to protest in Crawford, TX.

We started our work, so very many years ago, but it isn't done yet. "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow!!"

[Lydia Leftcoast]

73. I've noticed this at anti-war and other demonstrations

It's largely the over 50s, the much-despised baby boomers, and the teen and twentysomethings dominating the crowds. I'd say that 3/4 are in either one of those age groups. By comparison, with wonderful individual exceptions, the Reagan generation of people in their 30s and 40s, seems underrepresented.

I was thirty years old when Reagan was elected, and it was really the beginning of my political involvement.

[alittlelark]

93. "Where are the people in my age group"

I wish I could say something like 'They're working underground hatching a plot to take our country back' (maybe they are, but I'm not privy to that info).

Realistically........we were raised with NO PROBLEMS.....there was always TV and MTV came about as we were entering college, or exiting HS.

Many of us LOVE 'Survivor' and their ilk. I have good friends who are incapable of concerning themselves with the real world.

The world created for them by the consumer-industrial complex is just SO DAMN comfortable - and comes with 'rose-colored glasses';

:-( :-(

[Auntie Bush]

46. Who would ever admit that they were a Republican in

a crowd seeing F/911? Not I! I have a feeling there were a lot more than you think. Maybe many didn't rush out and see it...but they will eventually die of curiosity...and sneak a peek.

[Tight_rope]

58. I agree with you 1000%.....yes that's right 900% more than usual!

Who gives a fuck about the pro-Bush Republicans/Freepers! Those who have supported Bush have and will continue to support him because they have and will continue to have the same and share same the views that Bushco does. Views that only benefit their selfish ideologies.

As you said it's the independents and fence sitters we want.

However, unlike you I went to see the movie with 3 other individuals who were going to vote for Kerry and because of Fahrenheit 9/11 it has solidify that Kerry will definitely get all our votes. No fence sitters here.:kick:

[LiberalFighter]

70. I am active in the party...

and most of the people that attended the movie I had never seen before.

The "choir" are the party activists that do the GOTV, walking the precincts, phone banks, etc.

[Dover]

8. .

.

[Fenris]

9. That's beyond stupid.

How funny they require instant feedback.

[DustMolecule]

10. The 'choir' is a 'sleeping giant'

...and it has been awakened!

[The Magistrate]

27. Indeed, Ma'am

Those members of the choir who turn out to see this can be relied on to stand up and sing out loud on election day. It is a marvelous assistance to energizing the Party's base.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[librechik]

63. exactly--big choir, some of whom declined to vote last time but

sure won't his time!

Liberals can use the magic of the free market too, damn it!

[giant_robot]

72. It takes a hell of a big chior

to generate $22 millions dollars off of 1/3 of the screens showing "White Chicks".

[Grown2Hate]

11. Yeah, want PROOF that's wrong?

I went and saw it Friday. Deafening roars of approval from the crowd, mixed with heavy sniffling throughout. ANYHOW, after the movie, we went back to my girlfriend's work (it was a matinee). She works with a couple of VERY conservative Mormons. SO strict that they will NOT watch rated R movies. Well, we convinced one of them that the movie was basically given an R rating as a political ploy to get less people to see the movie. And she's COMING WITH US NEXT WEEKEND. Actually, before I even presented that argument, she said she wanted to go (thought it was too important to miss). And she's bringing her 17 year old son (who will be 18 before Nov.), who currently holds FAIRLY conservative views. And one of my girlfriend's frame reps (she's been a VERY busy girl promoting F911! And before this year she knew NOTHING of politics. I'm so proud :) who is also very conservative, very pro-military, wants to go with us as well. He's actually EAGER to see it (and NOT just to debunk it).

In short (too late!), MANY people, even some very conservative types, are INTRIGUED and want to see this movie. I'm still on such a HIGH from Friday! :)

[Claire Beth]

47. that's great news! n/t

[Democat]

12. Read this news article about a Bush supporter changing her mind!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x649144

[jobycom]

13. It enters the mainstream consciousness

And there it takes root. A lot of "independents" and undecideds just vote the way they think the majority is telling them, the way conventional wisdom tells them. The more this movie is seen, the more it becomes part of that consciousness.

And don't underestimate free enterprise (not the wrong way Repubs view it, which is really feudalism, but the way it exists in the real world). People now see they can make money off us. While most of the media is controlled by Bush supporters, some media is still driven by greed, and they will cater to us, now. Which spreads our message, and hurts Bush.

We wouldn't convert the neocons, even if they saw it. We don't have to. We just have to motivate the Dem base, and sway the moderates. That's an easy majority.

[truth2power]

43. This bears repeating ...

"We wouldn't convert the neocons, even if they saw it. We don't have to. We just have to motivate the Dem base, and sway the moderates. That's an easy majority." Thanks, Joby.

[jobycom]

49. You're welcome, and thanks for repeating it! nt.

[DeadHead67]

14. IF IT GET'S THE CHOIR OFF IT'S ASS !!! . . . .

. . .And registered to vote, and inspires them to get others registered, and finally WE ALL GO AND VOTE, AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS TO THE POLLS, I don't give a shit if it does 'preach to the choir'

[alarcojon]

61. Hear hear

exactly right

[Cha]

64. Yes! This is exactly right!

Thank you all for the points you are making!

[fearnobush]

15. Don't believe the whore media's attempt to marginalize f 911

I am personally good friends with a Bush 2000 voter who saw this film last night and made a vow not to vote for him, but in fact to vote for Kerry. The media whore's have no concept of the long term lasting effects this film will have on the millions who see it and how this film has essentially taken virtually all of us out of the political closet in a renewed effort getting the truth out. I know of countless Dem's who have no clue on the true evil of Bush who were shocked at the emperical facts this film provides. They will speak out when before they have not. This word of mouth is much more powerful then the repetative lies of the Bush Chaney Evil Empire. The choir will speak and the on the fence indys will vote against the maddness.

[Eloriel]

48. Great post, great line:

this film has essentially taken virtually all of us out of the political closet in a renewed effort getting the truth out

[tritsofme]

16. Next week Spiderman comes out...

Fahrenheit what?

There's a what in November?

George Who?
John Who?

I hope we inspire some kids to get out to the polls, but I don't think it will happen in any noticeable margin.

[coolAlaskakitty]

17. my lifelong republican brother

just sent a mass e-mail to all friends and family urging them to see it...says he's never voting repuke again...a new member for the choir!

[Swamp Rat]

29. Good, tell him thank you for me!

Welcome to DU :toast:

[Barrett808]

54. Good reviews, good box office

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Fahrenheit911-1133649/

Heard yesterday it took in $8 million on the first night.

[Cha]

65. "Farenheit 9/11"...recruitment for the

Choir!

[Robbien]

18. This thread seems to me to be another one of those GOP plants

It tells non-Bush supporters that the film does no good at all. It tries to commiserate with non-Bush supporters at how bad it must make one feel when one believes the film does not one iota of good.

[cosmicone]

23. Not a plant ...

I wanted to emphasize the importance of the fact that we MUST recruit independents and true republicans to go see the movie. The brainwashed chimpathizers are beyond help anyway but it would be dangerous for us to just sit here giving each other hi-fives if we don't make an effort to propagate the movie to the apathetic.

[Robbien]

24. Well good. And you are right

On Monday afternoon I am doing my part and taking a non-believer to see the movie.

Fence sitters need to see this in order to make an informed opinion come November.

[cosmicone]

57. Good for you!

I am emailing everyone I know and recommending that they see the movie regardless of their political persuasion.

To the chimapthizers I say, "Fairness dictates that before you knock it, you must see it, and perhaps, you'll be able to point out the 'lies' to me!"

It has worked on two people so far.

[truthisfreedom]

19. it's not going to hurt, that's for sure.

i just got back from seeing a midnight showing here, and there was strong applause at the end of the movie. because i've been part of this forum for so long, i've been well-aware of many of the issues brought up by the movie, but it was good to see it organized in a relatively easy-to-understand set of details. it will convince some people who are not sure why it is they hate this administration, and it will help get some people off their butts and go vote.

[stickdog]

22. The fear is palpable.

Waaaaah, waahhhh, Mommy, make the bad fat man stop!!!

[the Kelly Gang]

25. even if it only inspires the converted..it's a good film..anything else

is a plus.

[tedoll78]

26. If there's one thing I've learned from the past 10 years..

it's that Democrats win when the base is rallied to show-up to the polls. We didn't show-up in 2002. We did in 1992, 1996, and 2000. If this film ensures that we get our base motivated, it will have made a positive difference. And if the film changes the vote in favor of us by even one single percentage point, that might be the margin of victory.

[Chovexani]

40. Exactly!

*Even* if one buys into this "preaching to the choir" RW talking point (which I know is B.S.), the choir is the majority. People seem to forget registered Dems outnumber registered Repukes in this country. Even if we just get every registered Dem to see F9/11 we will win.

Indies and swing voters *are* going to see this movie, in droves, especially young people. A lot of my online role-playing friends who are politically apathetic and college-aged (prime draft material) plan on seeing it just to see what the fuss is about. Trust me people my age hate being told we shouldn't see something "for our own good". :)

BTW, is your avatar supposed to be the Triforce? (Says the chick in the "Don't make me go Zelda on you" t-shirt). :)

[The Animator]

28. I agree that this movie will have an impact.

I beleive that many who would not normally go and see this movie will simply because many say they shouldn't.

I beleive that some of those will be strongly influenced by the film.

And I beleive that the "Choir" who were going to see the movie anyway, will believe with even stronger conviction that this administration needs to go. In the past many who could vote simply didn't. They didn't care about either candidate and felt that they were all fundimentally the same. But now, so many have seen precisely what piss-poor leadership can do to this country, and understand the dire urgency of removing this regime from the White House.

Many of the talking points in this movie never made it into the main stream media, for example, the incident with the Florida election rosters was only covered by the BBC (ironic we need to seek out the British to find out what's happening in our own country), The FOX link, and the massive protests on *'s coronation day, went largely unreported. Only those of us connected to this vast and wonderful source of independent information (Thanks Al Gore!) and readers of Micheal Moore's Books were aware of these things. Now that this movie is out, and it is being seen by independants and casual democrats this information is finally coming out of the darkness of theatres and into the light of day.

Our base is "energized" as you might say, and the rest are extremely pissed off, and pissed off people have a tendancy to get off their asses and vote.

[xchrom]

31. like i'm gonna believe the major media?

they helped swing the coup in the first place.
there is nothing the major media can say now that will redeem them in my book.
articles like this simply confirm my suspicions.

[Eurobabe]

36. yes, and what are the associations of MEDIA GENERAL

who owns the Tampa Tribune? Ha, just searched on Hoover's they own alot of right-leaning papers in Virginia, ie my local rag: Charlottesville Daily Regress (Progress) and Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Take this story as the propaganda piece that it is...

[TahitiNut]

33. "Ends Up"??? There are more fallacies in this screed than can be counted.

What's going to be telling isn't the direct impact of a record-breaking opening weekend but the secondary impact of fad-followers going to the theater to "keep up with the Jones'" and participate in the "me too" social trading of scuttlebutt. Yes, the overwhelming majority of opening weekend attendees will be people (and their close friends) who've been aware of the travesties of the Busholini administration. Those 'friends' won't be the ones interviewed or counted. But the ongoing impact of this film has yet to be appreciated - particularly the DVD release in October.

We have a three-tier electorate. The top tier is 'likely voters' whose stances are, in the absence of an incontrovertible traumatic event, unlikely to change one whit. Within this tier, Fahrenheit 9/11 is likely to weaken the resolve of only a few on the right to be impelled by some misdirected sense of optimism to go to the polls in November. At the same time, it's likely to increase the resolve of a few on the left to vote. The net effect of this might be as much as a 0.2% shift, no more.

The middle tier is of 'registered (but not likely) voters' who number nearly as many as the top tier. These are those most likely to be impelled by this film, imho. Optimistically, I can expect this film to generate about a 0.5% shift as a result of both shifted perceptions and increased likelihood of a left-leaning 'unlikely' to get off their brains and go vote. I doubt this will be caught in opinion polling at all, since the determinant of likely vs. unlikely is most often based on a "did you vote in the last {general} election" question rather than subjective proclamations of intent.

The impact of this film will not be seen on opening weekend.

Isn't it interesting how Cynthia McKinney is looking less and less 'extreme'?

[nolabels]

94. Real blood and guts ?

Some how I don't think people understand the implications (yet) either.
I have not seen the movie yet(tomorrows matinee for me), but have read enough testimonials and reviews to see people are starting to realize a little bit on how they have been lied to. The complicit mass media will be needing to spend some time in their face saving as they attempt at putting this noisy cat back in the bag.

http://www.prisonplanet.tv/articles/june2004/062604stormtroopers.htm
Storm Troopers At the Doors of Fahrenheit 9/11

Rob Kall | June 26 2004

The handcuffs hanging from the burly hired security guard were clearly, intentionally evident. He was checking younger-looking ticket purchasers for age, to protect them from the R-rating of the movie. But he looked big and nasty. I was bringing my 14 year old son, and since he accompanied me, there was no problem.

The movie was incredible, besides weaving together a strong case against George Bush and his administration, it was a riveting piece of entertainment. The 24 theater megaplex had devoted its largest room to the movie and it looked like the previous showing and the one we went to see were both sold out.

I'd gone, wearing a blue shirt, like Moveon.org had suggested. I'd printed out flyers with a message from Michael Moore, that I'd downloaded as a PDF file from moveon.org-- ten of them. I started passing them out before I went out the main doors. The flyers just about flew out of my hands and I was disappointed I didn't have more. People wanted them. They wanted to DO SOMETHING.

As soon as I was finished handing them out, I just kept walking, and went through the main exit doors for the particular theater the movie was shown, which put me in the front area within the movie megaplex. This time there were three big, bouncer-type security guards rushing past me, towards the exit doors. "There are people in there handing out flyers," one of them said urgently, as they rushed to go through the doors to catch .... me. They'd seen people walking out with the flyers I'd handed out.
(snip)

[amazona]

37. preaching to choir actually a valuable function

It may somewhat depend on where you live but in many areas it is extremely liberating for people to get out and see just how many of us anti-Bush people are out there willing to pay money to see a documentary of this kind. Preachers want you to come to church because they know that the feeling of community and empowerment keeps you from losing your way. We may be the majority but we've had trouble getting the vote at times...seeing that other people share your views and your vote will not be "wasted" gives people heart. I don't think you can change the mind of a die-hard freep, our focus has to be on getting the reasonable people mad and out of the house.

[stanwyck]

50. Yes, we get energized, plus

those only out to make a buck notice. If we're enough of a force, advertisers, marketing folks, and corporate America in general will follow the money. They don't care about morality or war or truth. It's the money. And our attendance gives them the impetus to play to the liberals. You'll also see more television personalities broadening their views just to make sure they don't alienate too many people. Hate radio has had too many decision makers believing that America is conservative. We aren't. We're liberal with a necon, evangelical administration. Money will change people's minds more than all the news out of Iraq or columns by Paul Krugman.

[robbedvoter]

39. Good! Cuz we have one big chorus. Proof to the contrary added

This is a "we are not afraid " freeper piece.
Not so:

"DES PERES, Mo. — Before the movie started, Leslie Hanser prayed.
"I prayed the Lord would open my eyes," she said.
For months, her son Joshua, a college student, had been drawing her into political debate. He'd tell her she shouldn't trust President Bush. He'd tell her the Iraq war was wrong. Hanser, a 41-year-old homemaker, pushed back. She defended the president, supported him fiercely
But Joshua kept at her, until she prayed for help understanding her son's fervor.
Emerging from Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11," her eyes wet, Hanser said she at last understood. "My emotions are just…. " She trailed off, waving her hands to show confusion. "I feel like we haven't seen the whole truth before."
<snip>
"In theaters nationwide, many viewers said they couldn't imagine loyal Republicans coming to see a movie the Bush administration had dismissed as a twisted montage of misleading innuendo and outright falsehoods. But for all the partisan hooting, the movie did appear to draw at least a strong smattering of the Republican and the undecided voters that Moore most desperately hopes to reach.
And some of them said they were deeply moved.
Moved enough, perhaps, to consider voting for Kerry in November.
For Richard Hagen, 56, it was the footage from Iraq: the raw cries of bombed civilians, the clenched-teeth agony of wounded American troops. A retired insurance agent from the wealthy River Oaks neighborhood in central Houston, Hagen described himself as a lifelong Republican. But then, standing by his silver Mercedes, he amended that: A former lifelong Republican."
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/la-na-fahrenheit27jun27,1,6893011.story?coll=la-politics-pointers

[demgrrrll]

42. Brad wrote another article this month for the Tribune, Precinct Voters

Stand By Their President. Puff piece on why people are going to vote for Bush and stand with him. Is the Trib a Knight paper or a corp paper? The Tampa papers are more conservatively oriented than the
family owned St. Petersburg paper. On edit I did find that the Trib papers have a big interest in deregulaltion for mergers. I am not sure if the deregulation that they are seeking has occured or may occur in the future. Just some more information.

[leQ]

41. well, isn't that what bu$h is doing every time he speaks? eom

n/t

[Media_Lies_Daily]

52. Interesting. This article conflicts with quite a few posts on DU...

...in multiple threads about quite a few undecideds and Republicans going to the movie and being heavily impacted.

This article is disinformation of the worst sort.

JMHO.

[glitch]

53. "We may be preaching to the choir but the choir is growing"

I forget who said that in a speech two years ago - Bill Moyers or Jim Hightower, someone like that. The choir must be huge by now.

Okay now, EVERYBODY SING!

Edited to day it was Paul Hawken who said it.

[Dr Fate]

59. And only kids & sci-fi nerds saw "Star Wars" in the first 3 days too...

I'll bet the 1st 3 days of 1976's "Star Wars" was mostly kids, & sci-fi geeks too. But by the end of the Summer, even Grandma knew about it.

Dont worry folks- the average moderate or undecided voter is not going to stand in line to see a "news movie"-and it is not even playing in most "heartland" type towns anyway...

...But it wont be banned form Video stores in October- and these voters may very well pay 3 dollars to rent the DVD to "see what all the fuss is about"

[grasswire]

60. propaganda propaganda

This movie has nothing to do with John Kerry.

It has everything to do with George Bush.

[Devils Advocate NZ]

62. "virtually everyone" - that old spin...

That's because virtually everyone lining up for a matinee at Sunrise Cinemas in Hyde Park Village identified themselves as Democrats

But not EVERYONE eh? So by definition it isn't "preaching to the choir", is it?

If even ONE person at each screening saw it who was undecided, then thousands of undecideds would be seeing it.

Trust the "liberal media" to try and hide that FACT from the public.

[The Animator]

67. Farenheight 9/11 is palying at 7 theatres in Tampa...

Funny that he picked Hyde park. I'm from Tampa, lived there for 21 years. In my memory Hyde Park was a pretty wealthy part of town. I suppose he might have gone there in hopes that turnout at that theatre would not be very big, so that he could proclaim that the movie was a flop. I'm sure he was surprised at the turnout, so another effort to spin this formulated. He probably didn't get a chance to speak with everyone going into or leaving the theatre, so he probably only picked those in line who looked liked they would be democrats "You can normally tell those by the color of their skin." Possibly scanning the crowd for the largest clump of "dressed down" movie goers and made a be line or the "choir" and even their he found more conservatives than he was expecting. If their were four democrats and one republican in that group well hell, that almost virtually everyone, in a line with 100 people in it.

P.S. I'm sure that if he'd picked Regency 20 in Brandon, he would have found a shit load of Nascar dads and soccer moms, and a butload of teenagers too. That theatre is always packed, and in the years that I lived in Tampa, I watched Bradon grow from a veiw farms into an explosion of suburbia. Yeah, nobody's gonna see this film.

[peterh]

68. If it’s preaching to the choir….

Then hopefully the benefit will be to move those that are just “registered” in the choir over into the “most likely to vote” in the choir….

[union_maid]

74. Oh, piffle!

This movie is out there. It's available all over the country. It's getting mad publicity, thanks in part to the RW. MM is promoting it in media appearances and making additional good points when he does. It's not some art house film that people have to seek out. It's getting its point of view into the culture. It's the whole political landscape that needs changing. One thing alone isn't going to do it, but there are getting to be a lot of things now.

[Corby]

75. College Station, TX -- Hostile Territory

I saw it last night in College Station, Texas -- home of the G.H.W. Bush Library. Hardly neutral territory.

The house was packed. At least half of the audience HAD to be Republicans or Independents. (You can't sling a dead 'dillo in this town without hitting a scrum of Bushies.)

There was a wit in the front doing his Cheney impersonsation, coughing "Fuck you" at Al Gore during the opening. Then he went quiet as the movie progressed, and we heard nothing more of him.

If F9/11 is packing them in in paleoconservative College Station (which hosted a home-grown of a "I Support the War in Iraq" Rally in March) there is no way this movie is only preaching to the choir.

[PassingFair]

77. Waaahoooo!

Thanks for the good news, Corby! And welcome to DU!

[GoldenOldie]

78. AMEN from one of the choir members

I seen an awful lot of young people registering to vote during my viewing of F-9/11. 3-generations viewed this movie and my grandson who has been spouting the Neocon trash and has been a little amazed that his little whitehaired grandma has been marching in the peace walks and baking goodies for the Moveon bakesales, calling and e-mailing, etc., after having a minor stroke, has been quietly listening to my rants, he became my seat partner at this movie. I was so pleased to see that most of what I had been telling him was reflected in this movie.....straight from the mouths of Georgie and thugs. Although he just turned 17 and will no be able to vote in the next election, he has become a member of the choir and his voice will be heard with his voting friends and family.

[glitch]

82. Congratulations GoldenOldie! You give us all hope for our family

members - they can be deprogrammed. I just found out a niece has changed her registration from Republican to Independant. Very proud Auntie here.

[TexasBushwhacker]

83. Yeah, all the Corps members are sweating

For those not familiar with Texas A&M, it has a large ROTC program called "The Corps" and many are going to college on ROTC scholarships. They will have military obligations when they graduate. I don't know how they could watch F 9/11 and not be concerned.

[GalleryGod]

80. Somebody Order MORE CHOIR ROBES! The Choir box is damned Crowded!

We went to the 11a.m. SUNDAY show and had about a 75% House. Which is about 350 people for this one theater inside the RITZ 16 in Southern New Jersey.

The cool thing was the demographics!
We've been going to the Ritz 16 for at least 5 years now..it was the first time we've seen African Americans in attendance. At least three large groups.

Too cool!

A stunned reverent silence afterwards..spontaneous discussion groups breaking out in the hallways...parents helping teens with facts...kids comforting Moms.

What a day..almost like Church.

Your Man in the Faculty Lounge:donut:

Gallery God:smoke:

[Lisa]

84. yes -- are there any surplus surplices out there?

The past 2 days, the theatre in my town that's running Moore's film has scrapped the late-night showing of "The Terminal" and had two screens showing F 9/11. This didn't even happen with the Harry Potter movie!

[RetroLounge]

81. "This is a real danger" - Yeah right

Nice Faux News(sic) talking point bullshit.

I'll paraphrase Moore: It always good when you have a choir to give them something to sing about.

RL

[ThoughtCriminal]

85. Preach to the Choir - Watch Choir Kick Ass

It is helping to break the idea that one cannot speak out. It is putting the GOP on the defensive. Bush supporters are finding themselves in embarressing conversations. It may be the choir, but a much more heavily armed choir.

[Babel_17]

87. 1%

If but one percent of the viewers are likely Bush voters who become motivated to vote for Kerry this movie will have accomplished an awful amount of good.

If but one percent are apathetic Kerry supporters who become motivated to definitely vote and help spread the word the movie will have done its job.

Bush has close to zero margin for error IMO, even by his own numbers.

[isa-lee]

88. It is energizing the base.

I organize voter registration drives. I got two new volunteers yesterday as a direct result of F9/11. I had talked to these individuals about volunteering before they saw the movie and got a somewhat lukewarm reception. After the movie they could not wait to sign up for some shifts. One of them out and out called Bush a murder. And we are nice suburban stay-at-home mommies- liberal, yes, but not rowdy types. I think Bush is in deep doo-doo.

[Swamp Rat]

91. What do choirs do? They SING!

Millions of "Michael Moore songbirds" will teach their song to all the "dodo birds" and then they'll all BECOME "Michael Moore songbirds" too.

Then Ashcroft can sing Bush's eulogy.

[John_H]

92. LOL! Pardner, if your only defense is only dems will see it, you're toast.

The reason the entire GOP is in full panic mode is because plenty of swing voters are going to see this film. And the wing nuts have no factual response. Buh bye now.