MichaelMoore.com

Mike's book aimed at forming a Moore perfect union

By Sherryl Connelly / New York Daily News

Provocateur Michael Moore is stirring things up again, and not just with his new book "Mike's Election Guide 2008."

He recently posted an open letter begging Caroline Kennedy to pull a Dick Cheney and name herself as Barack Obama's vice-presidential candidate.

"She's a beloved figure," says Moore. "She's the Kennedy every one likes. And these times require bold and brave moves."

So far, Kennedy has remained silent on the subject.

But Moore also upset his publisher by suggesting there's no time to waste doing things like reading his book. Everyone should be out working for their candidate, he insists.

"It's designed to be small, so you can fit it in your backpack and pull it out when you have a moment, say between making phone calls or going door to door," says Moore.

"Mike's Election Guide 2008" is his attempt to make clear what's at stake in this year's race for the White House and for Congressional seats. Moore, as always, takes no prisoners, at one point asking, "Is it true Democrats drink from a sippy cup and sleep with the light on?"

Moore himself will not be attending the Democratic convention in Denver, but not because he's going soft on the Dems. He's still as upset with them as he is with the Republicans.

Moore is too busy practicing what he preaches. Right now, that means working full time to get two Democratic candidates from Michigan elected to Congress.

"I've been hitting all my old haunts, the bowling alleys, the gun clubs, talking to the guys I grew up with," he says. "They don't like Democrats, they don't like liberals, and I tell them you don't have to become one. You can keep hating them, but you have to agree with me that the last eight years have not worked.

"At this point, we need to try anything - and Obama is anything. And if he doesn't do the job we can throw the bum out in four years."

Moore, who has made his radical views widely known in controversial documentaries such as "Sicko" and "Fahrenheit 9/11," is concerned that the conservative arm of the Democratic party is infiltrating the Obama camp.

"The conservatives already have a party - it's the Republican party. And the more Obama tries to sound like them, the more he makes their message sound okay. The people on the fence want to hear something real."

In fact, Moore wants the Democrats to get off the damn fence themselves.

"The Republicans come out fighting with fire and we come out with a garden hose. They come out on their Swift Boats with made-up stuff and we're like, 'Vote for me, please, and everything will be fine.'

"C'mon, fight for something here. Nobody wants to belong to a party of wusses. Obama needs to come down on McCain, and come down hard. Not him personally, but the things he stands for are so old and wrong."

Does Moore think Obama will win in November?

He laughs. "I am required to respond in the following manner: Yes, he has a great chance of winning."

A guffaw is then followed quickly by something that sounds like a plea.

"Listen, I'm trying to hold out some sort of hope. I have to."