Michael Moore and Bob Dole
by Terry Traub
November 10, 2004
I was leafing through some Michael Moore books on the discount table at the Harvard Coop today. I can't bring myself to spend money on this kind of thing, and honestly I wonder who can. Moore writes simplistic, one-sided prose that is very similar to his narrative style in his "documentary" movies. He skips inconvenient facts, just as his movies do, and drives home his points with the righteousness of a fanatic.
One of his books (to be named later--I honestly can't remember at this moment which one) has an essay on Bob Dole. Moore makes a big deal out of his encounter with Senator Dole, a meeting which lasts all of 20 seconds. During this dramatic moment, the Senator offers Moore his left hand, his right hand being paralyzed from a war injury. The Senator carries a pen in his right hand for whatever reason; Moore believes it is to hide the fact that his arm is paralyzed.
Moore then proceeds to pontificate on the pen. Yes, he wrote an entire chapter in his book on the fact that Bob Dole carries a pen in his paralyzed hand. To his credit, Moore made a fair effort at summing up Bob Dole's experience in World War Two, when he heroically jumped out of his foxhole to rescue a buddy and in the process got shot himself. Dole was initially triaged out because his injuries looked hopeless; an "M" was written on his forehead using his own blood to indicate that he was to get no more precious morphine. Eventually however he recovered with only his shoulder and right arm to remain paralyzed.
Well, this was interesting; I hadn't known this about Mr. Dole. But then the pen comes in. Dole carries around a pen permanently clutched in his useless hand, supposedly because it makes his hand look less crippled. Moore launched into a tirade contrasting Bob Dole's "blend in and hide" approach with that of handicapped rights activists who have tirelessly lobbied for recognition and accommodation. He then suggested Dole should carry an Uzi machine gun instead to symbolize his support for gun ownership rights, or else a clothing hanger to symbolize his supposed opposition to legal abortion.
Moore had other not so nice things to say about Dole; basically he feels Dole is a man of little accomplishment except for winning elections. Moore definitely got a lot of mileage out of that pen. But you know, Dole is not a man without accomplishments. He served his country with valor and honor, and he saved someone's life. Did Michael Moore ever serve his country or save anyone's life? Not to my knowledge. He does, however, exercise mightily his right to freedom of speech, a right which Mr. Dole and millions of others have made great sacrifices to protect.
Enjoy your freedom, Mr. Moore.
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