Lobbyist Go After Michael Moore

That seems to be a Moore appropriate title. Ever since Michael Moore's scathing documentary against Baby Bush, the government and Republicans have been after Moore. His new documentary, "Sicko", that is scheduled for release has been causing fear in the health care industry for years.

Well now it seems the lobbyist, ooops meant the Feds , have become involved by launching an investigation of Moore's trip to Cuba and their timing is perfect - right before the film premieres at the Cannes Film Festival. And too bad that this publicity is just going to help the film do better in the box office.

Now Moore had applied for a license to take 9/11 workers to Cuba for treatment, but the Feds never responded. So being Moore he went anyways. That was the point, to show how a country that the US deplores and is supposed to be so bad has better medical care for its citizens. Also, who could argue that at least Moore was acknowledging that the 9/11 workers are suffering from illnesses caused by their being patriotic. Apparently, the Cuban media has picked up on the discrepancy, which is probably going to keep Fidel alive a few more years.

Maybe Moore's documentary "Sicko" will start a national debate on the role that lobbyist and politicians play in making sure the American people cannot afford basic health care. For a film that has not been viewed yet, former Republican Fred Thompson is already weighing in with an uneducated opinion:

"What is it that leads people to value theoretically “free” health care, even when it’s lousy or nonexistent, over a free society that actually delivers health care? You might have to deal with creditors after you go to the emergency ward in America, but no one is denied medical care here. I guarantee even the poorest Americans are getting far better medical services than many Cubans."

Yeah Thompson, even the poorest Americans can receive some medical services, but that happens in the emergency room and they are subsequently billed for those services. Then the hospital sends the big bad collection agencies after them. Never heard of Fidel doing that.

Perhaps Thompson forgot to mention one American who is featured in Moore's documentary. The poor woman's insurance company denied payment for the ambulance that transported her to the hospital because the service was not pre-approved. They did not care that she had just been in head on collision and that while suffering head injuries and lying in a smashed up car, she was unable to get on her cell phone and call the insurance company.

And whoever is the source leaking information about Michael Moore's fear that the Feds are trying to destroy his documentary needs to stop. If Moore decided to send a copy of his documentary outside the country for protection then what does that say about America and freedom of speech, expression and free press.