A few weeks ago, I posted a quick note about Michael Moore’s documentary, SiCKO, which premiered recently at the Cannes Film Festival. Inte
rest in the documentary, which focuses on the US healthcare system, has been high. In fact, Moore, responding to a report in BusinessWeek, which noted that PhRMA had a “spy” reporting on the movie from Cannes, issued a challenge to Billy Tauzin, head of the industry trade group. According to an e-mail republished by pharma industry blogger John Mack, Moore said:
“I invite Mr. Tauzin to join me in New Hampshire later this month for a screening of 'SiCKO' followed by a town hall discussion with a group of undecided New Hampshire voters. Polls have indicated that health care is one of the top issues for voters and as New Hampshire is the nation's first primary state, the screening and town hall discussion will give everyone the chance to discuss how they feel about our health care system -- and specifically the drug industry. I am guessing, given that Mr. Tauzin has launched a glitzy paid advertising campaign featuring children, that he will be more than happy to face the public directly.”
PhRMA’s executive vice president Ken Johnson contacted Ed Silverman, author of the blog Pharmalot to deny Moore’s assertions, saying:
“”This is a pretty desperate attempt to drum up some publicity. Billy [Tauzin, CEO of PhRMA] had nothing to do with this. I spent 15 years in Washington, and made a lot of friends from Hollywood. And one of them, who I'm not going to drag into this [let's call him Mr. X], called to tell me about it. And I got some pretty good blow-by-blow. But we didn't have a spy there, and we didn't send anyone there. It was a friend from the motion picture business.’”
While Moore and PhRMA were trading charges and countercharges, my post on the movie’s premiere attracted a significant number of comments. Debate about the documentary has been heated, with proponents and opponents of single-payer/universal healthcare firing virtual arrows at each other. One commenter even went as far to call another a “closed minded idiot.”
Overall, I think the debate has been welcome and interesting to watch. However, I would like to make this plea. Feel free to discuss the issues, but let’s not stoop to ad hominem attacks.
For more information about the documentary, please seek Mack’s review.
rest in the documentary, which focuses on the US healthcare system, has been high. In fact, Moore, responding to a report in BusinessWeek, which noted that PhRMA had a “spy” reporting on the movie from Cannes, issued a challenge to Billy Tauzin, head of the industry trade group. According to an e-mail republished by pharma industry blogger John Mack, Moore said: “I invite Mr. Tauzin to join me in New Hampshire later this month for a screening of 'SiCKO' followed by a town hall discussion with a group of undecided New Hampshire voters. Polls have indicated that health care is one of the top issues for voters and as New Hampshire is the nation's first primary state, the screening and town hall discussion will give everyone the chance to discuss how they feel about our health care system -- and specifically the drug industry. I am guessing, given that Mr. Tauzin has launched a glitzy paid advertising campaign featuring children, that he will be more than happy to face the public directly.”
PhRMA’s executive vice president Ken Johnson contacted Ed Silverman, author of the blog Pharmalot to deny Moore’s assertions, saying:
“”This is a pretty desperate attempt to drum up some publicity. Billy [Tauzin, CEO of PhRMA] had nothing to do with this. I spent 15 years in Washington, and made a lot of friends from Hollywood. And one of them, who I'm not going to drag into this [let's call him Mr. X], called to tell me about it. And I got some pretty good blow-by-blow. But we didn't have a spy there, and we didn't send anyone there. It was a friend from the motion picture business.’”
While Moore and PhRMA were trading charges and countercharges, my post on the movie’s premiere attracted a significant number of comments. Debate about the documentary has been heated, with proponents and opponents of single-payer/universal healthcare firing virtual arrows at each other. One commenter even went as far to call another a “closed minded idiot.”
Overall, I think the debate has been welcome and interesting to watch. However, I would like to make this plea. Feel free to discuss the issues, but let’s not stoop to ad hominem attacks.
For more information about the documentary, please seek Mack’s review.
Fard,
Thanks for the link regarding Michael Moore's charge of PhRMA spying. Maybe you've seen my little spoof on what may gone on behind the scenes (see PhRMA Intern Makes Movie Mogul an Offer He Can't Refuse!)
But, more importantly, I invite everyone to read my review of SiCKO (see SiCKO is Boffo but Not Anti-Pharmaco, per se). As far as I know, I am the first blogger to actually see the movie before commenting on it.
John
Posted by: John Mack | June 12, 2007 9:59 AM | Permalink to Comment