Amazing but not surprising

Michael Barone argues that Michael Moore’s success (see Rocket Man’s post below) may not be shared by the Democratic party which, based on the list of those who attended the Washington premiere of Farenheit 9/11, seems to have joined forces with him. Barone finds it “amazing that any politician, however opposed to Bush, would want to be associated with this film or its maker, a man who said shortly after the 9/11 attacks: ‘We, the United States of America, are culpable in committing so many acts of terror and bloodshed that we had better get a clue about the culture of violence in which we have been active participants.’ As for the current situation in Iraq, Moore has written: ‘The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation are not ‘insurgents’ or ‘terrorists’ or ‘The Enemy.’ They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow–and they will win.'” Barone then asks, “Are these messages Democrats really wish to embrace?”
The answer, I think, is yes, many Democrats very much wish to embrace this message. The intended question was probably more along the lines of whether there is political risk in associating with Moore. The answer depends on whether Republicans and conservatives are successful in exposing that association and its meaning. My guess is that, as long as Kerry stays away from Moore, there will be no price to pay, except possibly for Senator Daschle who decided, oddly given his close race in South Dakota, to attend the Washington premiere of Moore’s film.
According to Barone, Richard Ben-Veniste of the 9/11 commission also attended. While this strikes me as shocking, I think that if Ben-Veniste’s role as commissioner is not thoroughly discredited by now, there’s nothing he can do that will discredit it.