On Tuesday’s American Morning, anchor Kiran Chertry and correspondent Jason Carroll failed to mention the left-wing politics of filmmaker Michael Moore during a report about his latest project, which targets the financial industry, and included a sound bite from People Magazine’s Leah Rozen, who expressed a desire to “see Michael Moore spank Wall Street.” Carroll emphasized Moore’s credentials, and agreed with Chetry that many would rush to assist him: “They loved that ‘gotcha’ kind of filmmaking, and Michael Moore does it better than no one else and he’s about to do it again.”
The segment on Moore’s new production began with a clip from “Sicko,” his last movie, as Chetry announced that “the controversial filmmaker is setting his sights on Wall Street. He’s actively recruiting people who’ve worked in the financial sector to expose what he calls the biggest swindle in U.S. history.” As she introduced Carroll, the anchor continued that Moore “probably has a rapt audience at this point, because everything that’s happened with this financial crisis and a lot of people are blaming Wall Street.”
The correspondent couldn’t have agreed more with Chetry’s assessment: “Absolutely, you know, and also they loved that ‘gotcha’ kind of filmmaking, and Michael Moore does it better than no one else and he’s about to do it again. Michael Moore says he’s looking for a few good men and women to spill the beans and help him take on Wall Street....Now, his Web site says, ‘Will you help me with my next film?’ The ‘you’ Moore is referring to, is anyone who works at a bank, brokerage firm, or insurance company to come forward and share what he calls the real deal about the abuses in the financial industry.”
Carroll then played Rozen’s “spank” remark, as well as a clip from another critic, who expressed his excitement over “the idea of Michael Moore taking on Wall Street.” He later included the reactions of four unidentified workers to the new project. One labeled the filmmaker “anti-American.”
While Chetry twice labeled Moore “controversial,” and mentioned how “some people think he’s very anti-American and has -- it comes, you know, with a point of view,” neither she nor Carroll mentioned what specific point of view he holds.
The full transcript of the Chetry/Caroll segment on Moore, which began 18 minutes into the 6 am Eastern hour of Tuesday’s American Morning:
MICHAEL MOORE (on-camera): So this is where people come to pay their bill when they’re done staying in the hospital.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: No, this is the NHS hospital, so you don’t pay the bill.
MOORE: Why does it say cashier here if people don’t have to pay a bill?
UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: Those who have reduced means get their traffic expenses reimbursed.
MOORE (voice-over): So in British hospitals, instead of money going in to the cashier’s window, money comes out.
KIRAN CHETRY: All right. Welcome back to the most news in the morning. That was a scene from the Michael Moore documentary Sicko, which took on America’s health care industry. Now, the controversial filmmaker is setting his sights on Wall Street. He’s actively recruiting people who’ve worked in the financial sector to expose what he calls the biggest swindle in U.S. history.
CNN's Jason Carroll is following the story. He probably has a rapt audience at this point --
JASON CARROLL: Oh, yeah.
CHETRY: Because everything that’s happened with this financial crisis and a lot of people are blaming Wall Street.
CARROLL: Absolutely, you know, and also they loved that ‘gotcha’ kind of filmmaking, and Michael Moore does it better than no one else and he’s about to do it again. Michael Moore says he’s looking for a few good men and women to spill the beans and help him take on Wall Street. He’s already taken on the health care industry, the auto industry, and the gun lobby in his films. Now, his Web site says, ‘Will you help me with my next film?’ The ‘you’ Moore is referring to, is anyone who works at a bank, brokerage firm, or insurance company to come forward and share what he calls the real deal about the abuses in the financial industry. Some critics are already looking forward to it.
LEAH ROZEN, PEOPLE MAGAZINE: Do I want to see Michael Moore spank Wall Street? Yeah, I want to see Michael Moore spank Wall Street.
JOSHUA ROTHKOPF, TIME OUT MAGAZINE: Michael Moore represents part of the chorus that should be there. I think if all documentaries were sort of like Michael Moore movies -- that might be a little much -- but at the same time, I personally am excited about the idea of Michael Moore taking on Wall Street.
CARROLL (off-camera): Moore is asking Wall Street workers to spill the beans, if they have information they think the American people need to hear. The question is, will Wall Street want to help? We asked some workers and got some mixed reaction.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN #2: I think that he’ll put everybody on the spot and keep everyone on their toes.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN #3: His opinion is -- his viewpoint is so slanted that it’s really difficult to believe anything that he puts on film.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN #4: I just think his whole mind-set is very anti-American, and I don’t think he’s the right person to ask about anything, quite honestly.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN #5: Well, I think any time Michael Moore targets you, you should be worried.
CARROLL (on-camera): Well, Moore says it’s up to anyone with information to quote,’step up and be an American and do your duty to help shed some light on the financial collapse.’ He also says any correspondence with him will be kept confidential, that is, of course, unless you agree to participate in his film, and if you’ve seen some of his past films, you know that you’re going to be in there.
CHETRY: Right. It’s very interesting, a very controversial figure. You heard some people think he’s very anti-American and has -- it comes, you know, with a point of view.
CARROLL: Yeah.
CHETRY: And there are others who say, I can’t wait to see what he does, because he does shed light on some things.
CARROLL: Yeah. You heard from the critics. They’re looking forward to it.
CHETRY: Yes. Exactly. All right. Jason Carroll, thanks so much.
CARROLL: All right.
—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.



















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"The biggest swindle in U.S. history", from
February 17, 2009 - 16:27 ET by SickofLibsone of the biggest swines in US history.
Lying swine
February 17, 2009 - 16:44 ET by 10ksnookerWould be more accurate.
Central casting missed out
February 17, 2009 - 18:53 ET by jdlybrandnewsisblues
Should have played the part of "Fat Bastard" in the Austen Powers movie. Hey; who's acting?
Michael Moore
February 17, 2009 - 16:29 ET by pbthinkerMichael Moore reminds me of the Stimulus package the Democrats just rammed through. The more you see of his product, the more problems you have with it. MOst of the damage, on his movies, is done during the first 48 hours, when all the liberal reviewers just praise his content and accuracy. Then come the other people, who actually look at the content and the accuracy and have a problem. Before you know it, the film is discredited but no one knows about it because the MSM has already done their damage. Same goes for the Stimulus, not too many people know what's really in there because our media likes to protect their president.
Election 2008-God's way of showing us that elections count.
Don't forget
February 17, 2009 - 16:46 ET by guttermouthDon't forget about the critics who are there to discredit the films when they haven't actually seen the films first.
Jason Carroll is absolutely
February 17, 2009 - 16:46 ET by myron243Jason Carroll is absolutely correct. Moore does it better than no one else. That means every one else does it better than Moore. Loves me some Freud.
"does it better than no one else?
February 17, 2009 - 18:11 ET by jacktheripperJeees us where do they get these idiots???
Dear old Mom
February 17, 2009 - 19:00 ET by jdlybrandnewsisblues
His Mom chose life. Wow!
~JTR
February 17, 2009 - 19:38 ET by choselife3xYeah, I read that twice to be sure I was reading it correctly.
Does it better than NO ONE else. Ya gotta love it.
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
Golly gee Chetry...some
February 17, 2009 - 19:47 ET by bigtimerGolly gee Chetry...some people do think he is anti-american....I'm one of them...with the exception of the $$$ he makes and the non-deserving awards he recieves...now he just loves those little things in life...you know, then he is an all-american guy to you all on the left...and his bank account I an quite sure the fat, unclean slob is just A-OK with.
I will never forgive the way
February 17, 2009 - 20:42 ET by mostlymoderateI will never forgive the way this jerk treated an elderly Charleton Heston. Moore should have been arrested for trespass, false light of Mr. Heston, misrepresentation and even defamation of a celebrity since his actions meet actual malice. Mr. Moore is a blatant liar that spins lies into facts through the lens of a camera.
Lefty Chetry
February 17, 2009 - 23:51 ET by KrisHow does everyone like the new and improved socialist Chetry? She's always has this liberal cluelessness about her, that politically correct, it takes a village, peacenik mentality, polished off with that winning Planned Parenthood, liberated woman smile.
Michael Moore, so early in the morning. What a way to start the day!!!!! I mean, we've got the man who just saved the free world, lord Obama, with his cunning smile, and as a nice little dessert afterwards, we get a heapin' helpin' of communist sympathizing windbag Michael Moore. And after that, how about another fashion update on Michelle Obama? Oh, it's so absolutely tantalizing!!!!! What heroes!!!
Kris... ...and to top
February 18, 2009 - 00:01 ET by bigtimerKris...
...and to top this day off with a cherry we got O signing the Strangulation Bill.