Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Sicko is ailing

After the war, Democrats are counting on health care to be the big issue of 2008. Every presidential candidate has some plan for universal coverage. Even more important, Michael Moore released a new "documentary" showing the problems in the current system and pushing for a French-style system.

The Dems and universal health care are in trouble. Moore's Sicko is bombing at the box office. In five weeks it has taken in less than $20 million. That's not bad for a documentary but it is terrible for a grassroots movement. Moore's last movie, Fahrenheit 911 was supposed to drive George Bush from office and it set box office records for a documentary. It turned out that the only people who went to see it were the true believers. The people whose minds Moore wanted to change stayed away from the movie.

The same is happening here except even the already-converted are staying away, also. It turns out that this is not the pressing issue of the day. The irony here is that Moore toned down his usual approach in order to make a more persuasive movie.

No comments: