Director Michael Moore needs attention and he’s hitching his ride to Clint Eastwood’s new movie, American Sniper. This past weekend he tweeted out:
“My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren’t heroes. And invaders r worse,” Moore tweeted. “But if you’re on the roof of your home defending it from invaders who’ve come 7K miles, you are not a sniper, u are brave, u are a neighbor.”
My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 18, 2015
The inevitable backlash started and Moore got what he wanted. His name in the press. He sent several tweets clarifying what he meant, i.e. he gets to stay newsworthy for a few more days.
Hmm. I never tweeted 1word bout AmericanSniper/ChrisKyle. I said my uncle killed by sniper in WWII; only cowards would do that 2 him, others
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015
So ppl want me 2tweet something bout American Sniper? Great acting! Powerful message. Sad ending. There. My FB post: https://t.co/By4leT6b67
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015
Oh, and Iraqis are called "savages" throughout the film.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015
Sorry to have to state the obvious again: Invading a country that hasn't attacked you is illegal & immoral. History will judge us harshly.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 19, 2015
Moore expanded on his opinion in a Facebook posting:
Awesome performance from Bradley Cooper. One of the best of the year. Great editing. Costumes, hair, makeup superb!
Oh… and too bad Clint gets Vietnam and Iraq confused in his storytelling. And that he has his characters calling Iraqis “savages” throughout the film. But there is also anti-war sentiment expressed in the movie.
Most of us were taught the story of Jesse James and that the scoundrel wasn’t James (who was a criminal who killed people) but rather the sniper who shot him in the back. I think most Americans don’t think snipers are heroes.
Hopefully not on this weekend when we remember that man in Memphis, Tennessee, who was killed by a sniper’s bullet.
You know who Michael Moore is? The white Al Sharpton.