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Fifth Column
Michael Moore and the Scandal of Student Fees
2004-11-11
This fall, in one of the most spectacularly hyped and unsuccessful political efforts in recent memory, leftist filmmaker Michael Moore barnstormed America's campuses in an effort to increase the youth vote. In speech after speech, he begged, pleaded, and even bribed students (with offers of ramen noodles and underwear) to get to the polls and vote for John Kerry. Although Moore's effort failed (not only was George W. Bush re-elected, but the proportion of "youth" voters did not increase in 2004), it was certainly lucrative. He charged most colleges between $30,000 and $40,000 per appearance and appeared at multiple colleges in battleground states across the country. According to Moore's website, his "Slacker Tour" featured appearances at 63 cities, "mostly on campus." While it is impossible to determine Moore's fee for each of those appearances (on occasion, he did appear for free), it is easy to see that the Slacker Tour brought Moore a considerable amount of money. And much of that money was paid to him illegally.
(in the link)
Posted by:Mark Espinola

#15  
Posted by: Mark Espinola   2004-11-11 4:16:32 PM  

#14  model EU/UN, huh, Mikey? Using someone else's money to make decisions for those less progressive/educated/wise little peepuls?
Posted by: Frank G   2004-11-11 1:34:39 PM  

#13  
Re #8 (lex): Student fees are to be used for official disbursements by the university. As regards speaking engagements, they should be reserved for figures whose speeches and thought have real academic merit rather than for celebrity idiotarians like Mikey Boy.

I agree.

The question I raise here, though, is whether giving the university's student government the authority to make such decisions is a worthwhile university experience. I used to say no, now I say OK.
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Posted by: Mike Sylwester   2004-11-11 1:21:26 PM  

#12  Here we go MS:
One thing that snipers were very discriminating about – every single ambulance I saw had bullet holes in it. Two I inspected bore clear evidence of specific, deliberate sniping.

Call the UN! Convene the Links Committee! Let's do lunch and compare links! Kofi is good for the tab.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-11-11 1:19:54 PM  

#11  #9 Seafarious - one slight correction. Al-Moore didn't cancel his fee. The university was forced by the publicity to cancel paying him Virginia taxpayers' money.

He didn't come for free anyway out of the goodness of his heart - he has none (goodness or heart) - but as a publicity stunt. He could well have afforded to go for free to all the universities he inflicted himself on, but he's a greedy, money-grubbing weasel who publicly laughs at those who pay for his crap. And they keep paying him anyway.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2004-11-11 1:16:30 PM  

#10  I was famous as someone who complained

Ima stunned!
Posted by: Shipman   2004-11-11 1:16:14 PM  

#9  It's a prestige thing, Bulldog. (Oh, and happy Remembrance Day.) Part and parcel of the lefty "it's for your own good/you'll thank me later" worldview, plus a chance to show off how very progressive and forward-thinking your college is. And a healthy dose of spending "other people's money".

When Michael Moore was scheduled to speak (for $35,000 taxpayer dollars) at a college in Northern Virginia (just outside of Wash DC), the local red-state radio station raised a big stink and got him to cancel his fee. Jabba still came and gave his talk...but for free!
Posted by: Seafarious   2004-11-11 10:52:01 AM  

#8  Student fees are to be used for official disbursements by the university. As regards speaking engagements, they should be reserved for figures whose speeches and thought have real academic merit rather than for celebrity idiotarians like Mikey Boy.
Posted by: lex   2004-11-11 10:48:28 AM  

#7  Can I ask why such lectures aren't paid for voluntarily? I mean, if they can sell enough tickets to cover the fee, then fair enough. Stealing from the many to indulge the few is just plain wrong.
Posted by: Bulldog   2004-11-11 10:44:47 AM  

#6  
I would be against paying Michael Moore to speak.
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Posted by: Mike Sylwester   2004-11-11 10:22:44 AM  

#5  Somebody give that swollen garbage bag a world-class surprise. PLEASE!

[Enter Michael Moore]
Crowd: *jumps up as one* SURPRISE!
Moore: *gasps* *clutches chest* ouch *dies*
Posted by: Steve from Relto   2004-11-11 10:06:12 AM  

#4  Everyone asks why tuitions are rocketing up across the US...students are not paying near enough attention that their entire tuition bill for four years of college can be spent...on one celebrity speaker, for one day, for five hundred people.
Posted by: Seafarious   2004-11-11 10:05:36 AM  

#3  I suppose you think Osama Bin Laden and Zak should also be paid for spreading lies and propoganda on our collage campuses as well right?
I'm sorry but I think that if a university is going to spend mandatory student fees for a speaker at least the speaker should be somwwhat honorable and worth listening to. Mike Al-moore is neither.
I see no 'educational enhancement' to having an old fat liar spread his bullshit.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2004-11-11 9:37:44 AM  

#2  
Back when I was attending the University of Oregon in the early 1970s, I was constantly outraged about student fees. I was famous as someone who complained about this issue often in the student newspaper. In particular I complained about such large expenditures for speakers I disliked.

Since then, as the years have passed and as I have been free of the personal aggravation of paying such fees, my opinions about that issue have evolved. I think that the student governments that govern these fees are a worthwhile part of the university experience, and I regret that I myself did not become directly involved. I imagine that many of those who did become involved did develop much valuable experience.

A celebrity like Michael Moore gets $30,000+ for giving a speech. That seems nonsensical, but it's just a fact of life.
.
Posted by: Mike Sylwester   2004-11-11 8:48:23 AM  

#1  I've always maintained MM found a market for schlock leftist nonsense and set about servicing it. I tried to read Stupid White Men, and it's unreadable dreck, and it would still be unreadable dreck if he was revealing the meaning of life. I hear the ghost of PT Barnum telling me there is a sucker born every minute.
Posted by: phil_b   2004-11-11 7:02:51 AM  

00:00