Michael Moore talks about Al Gore [View All]

In San Francisco for a screening of SICKO.

http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=2738

Most compelling of all, however, was the picture he painted of his relationship with former Vice President Al Gore. Gore is not featured in “Sicko,” but his name came up in the Q&A on Wednesday night, and it sent Moore into a lengthy, wistful tale about his meeting with Gore at his Tennessee home a year or so ago.

Turns out “Farenheit 911” – which opens with an excruciating sequence in which, having had the 2000 election snatched from him, Gore must preside over the Senate and beat back, one by one, the protestations of members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who all refer to him as “Mr. President” in anguished and defeated tones – had a powerful impact on the Gore family. Now, as an environmental crusader with an Oscar-winning documentary under his belt like Moore, Gore was evolving into an activist, even visionary American leader.

They also talked about the devastating impact Ralph Nader had on the 2000 election (those cocksure “progressives” weren’t snickering during this portion of the Q&A, I can assure you). Moore was one of the most ardent, high-profile supporters of Nader’s that year, a fact that seemed to flood him with regret on Wednesday night. But he was awestruck by Gore’s equanimity on the subject: “I didn’t lose because you voted for Nader,” Moore paraphrased Gore as saying. “I lost because I obviously didn’t do enough to convince you to vote for me instead.”

Moore came to see Gore as a brilliant, brave, sincere and, yes, humorous politician who would be great for the country, great for the world. “I hope he never listens to another advisor again,” Moore said, stopping just short of endorsing Gore, or anybody, for president in 2008 – although he made it pretty clear he’d drop everything to help Big Al if he does in fact run.