October 7, 2009

After John Amato suggested it, Michael Moore wound up on Sean Hannity's Fox News program doing a one-on-one debate last night. It was classic cable talk TV, a serious go-round between two of the most capable verbal pugilists of the left and the right.

Judge for yourself, but it looked like it was no contest: Moore consistently threw Hannity out of his talking points and onto Moore's own political terrain, in part because he was able to claim the high ground -- both ethically and morally.

The key moments:

-- When Moore asks Hannity if he believes in "conspiracy theories" about WMD in Iraq.

-- When he tries to pin Hannity down on his own church attendance. It's precious.

John Amato:

Well, you have to say that Michael Moore lived up to his promise to me in our exclusive interview when he said he would go on FOX Noise with Sean Hannity and give them a little "something-something."

Amato: Would you ever go back on FOX again?

Moore: Yes,I would go back on FOX again. I would not go on Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck because they use far too much hate speech and calls for violence and I cannot participate with anyone that goes down that road. I stayed off because somebody at the studio told me that whenever I go on their ratings go up and I'm not interested in helping them sell products and make money for themselves and having said that I'm ready to tee up (garbled audio, but I think he said Hannity) Hannity I think pretty soon.

Amato: That would get huge ratings and it's also really enjoyable to see you kick them around because you know the type of Democrat that go on most of the time that are just so weak and that's the way they like them so that they can serve them up and kick them around.

Moore: Then I will make a point during this tour to try and go on one of their shows and give them something-something...

Amato: Do it for the blogosphere! (laughs)

Moore: Do it for the blogosphere. This one's for you!

Bill O'Reilly and Beck have both remained pretty quiet over Moore's comments to me that he would never go on Bill O'Reilly or Glenn Beck because they are part of the hate speech that has promoted violence in our society. Moore did this for the blogosphere and you know BillO is fuming.

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