Moore Looking Forward to Fred’s Next Video

After Moore traveled to Cuba to get a look at its health care system, Thompson produced a video for the Web site YouTube in which the former Tennessee senator said the renegade filmmaker ought to consider checking into “a mental institution.”

“He is one of my favorite TV actors,” Moore joked regarding Thompson. “I can’t wait for the next video.”

Moore was in town for the D.C. premiere of his latest documentary, “Sicko,” and some heavy-duty promotion. Not that he needed it on the Hill.

In the early afternoon, he was treated to a “hearing-style” briefing in the House Judiciary Committee room (most committee hearings aren’t punctuated by applause, cheering and shouts of “Michael, we love you”).

The members present — all of whom support his views on health care — loved him, too. A sample of their comments:

- Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif.: “I hope [the film] will be widely viewed across the country.”

- Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.: “Thank you for bringing the abstract to reality.”

- Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich.: “This has been a transforming experience for us, and we haven’t even seen the movie.”

- Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio: “Michael Moore’s skill as a documentary filmmaker is going to provide a significant boost” to the universal health care bill Kucinich is sponsoring with Conyers. (Moore also thanked Kucinich for running for president.)

- Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.: “He’s a genius — with a creative mind.”

Moore thanked Republican Darrel Issa from California for being there, but Issa did not speak.

Moore had to agree with all the flattery. “Eventually, when the [American people] are told the truth, they do the right thing,” he said. “The trick is getting the truth out there.”

He also commented on Hillary Clinton’s ill-fated effort at universal health care in the early 1990s, saying it “maybe wasn’t necessarily the right plan.”

In the weeks before Wednesday’s premiere, Moore ran ads in Washington newspapers, inviting more than 900 registered lobbyists for the health care industry to attend a special 4 p.m. screening at the Union Station movie theater, a few blocks from the Capitol building.

At 4:03 p.m., the theater lobby was almost vacant of attendees, except for the “10 to 12” invitees that decided to show up, according to a PR representative at the event. When we asked for the names of the attendees, the rep declined to give us any information, “for reasons of confidentiality.”

Earlier in the day, Moore canceled an appearance at the Take Back America conference at the Washington

Hilton because he was unable to catch a flight to D.C. in time.