Moore Accused of Bribing Students To Vote; GOP Asks Prosecutors To File Charges

By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
October 6, 2004

Republicans are accusing liberal film producer Michael Moore of bribing college students with various gifts in exchange for voting and asked prosecutors on Tuesday to file charges against him for violating election law.

Moore, whose controversial Bush-bashing movie "Fahrenheit 9/11" was released on DVD on Tuesday, has been traveling across his home state of Michigan to various college campuses in support of Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry. During the visits, Moore is said to have offered gifts to students who have never voted before as an incentive to cast their ballots in the November 2 election.

However, Greg McNeilly, executive director of the Michigan Republican Party, claims this is in direct violation of election laws prohibiting bribery in exchange for votes.

"We want everyone to participate in this year's election, but not because they were bribed or coerced by the likes of Michael Moore," McNeilly said to the Associated Press, explaining that he has asked four county prosecutors to file charges against Moore for his illegal efforts to recruit new voters.

Describing these college students who have not voted as "slackers," Moore is confident these votes will make the difference for Kerry in next month's election against President George W. Bush.

Moore is in the midst of a 60-city tour where he is requesting as much as $50,000 per speaking engagement along the route.

As part of his program, those who have not voted before are asked to come on stage and pledge to Moore that they will vote. Young student voters who just turned the legal voting age of 18 are offered various gifts such as free underwear, a year's supply of Tostitos, and packages of Ramen noodles if they make the pledge to vote, McNeilly contends.

McNeilly said the Wayne County prosecutor's office should prosecute Moore for contracting with these students for something of value in exchange for their agreeing to vote.

Wayne County prosecutor's office refused to comment on the investigation.

In a related story, conservative political action group Grassfire.org has released a new parody called "Michael Moore Exposed" which will help "counter Moore's efforts to hijack the election."

This humorous cartoon clip reveals the group's belief that Moore's motivation for his liberal activism this year has been his intent focus on the money he has been able to make off of being against Bush.