Filmmaker Michael Moore is inviting lobbyists for the pharmaceutical and insurance industries that he attacks in his new movie about health care to a free showing of it next week.
Moore is running “Sicko” promotion ads in Washington newspapers listing more than 900 registered lobbyists and telling them they can attend an exclusive showing at no cost next Wednesday at a theater three blocks from the Capitol. His new documentary premieres Monday in New York and two nights later in Washington. The movie opens to the public June 29.
The ads are scheduled to run this weekend and early next week in The Washington Post and tabloids that cater to people who follow politics and activities surrounding Congress.
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“It only makes sense that the very people responsible for perpetrating this awful system on the American people should see the fruits of their labor,” Moore said in a statement. “Without their hard work ensuring that insurance companies make billions denying care to their customers, we might actually have an effective system that guaranteed care to all.”
Moore’s previous film targets have included General Motors executives, gun rights supporters and President Bush.
Paul Miller, past president of the American League for Lobbyists, predicted that some of the listed lobbyists will take him up on the offer.
“I don’t think you can take Michael Moore as the health care authority,” Miller said. “I don’t think any health care lobbyist out there is worrying.”