The College Fix

Michael Moore told a sold out audience at Vanderbilt University Tuesday night to “occupy everything” in order to restore democracy in an America he characterized as dominated by corporate greed and corruption.

The Oscar-winning filmmaker and author made headlines in recent weeks by lending his support and celebrity status to the Occupy Wall Street movement. Moore said, in his mind, Wall Street’s actions leading up to the financial crisis of 2008 were criminal and called for arrests to be made.

“These Occupy protests are the most important movements happening in this country,” Moore said. “Occupy Nashville, occupy Memphis, occupy everything to get democracy back.”

The movement, now in its third week, has spread to several cities across the U.S. and is expected to start Thursday in Nashville.

In his two-hour long talk, Moore placed blame on wealthy Americans for capitalism’s failure in the 21st century, going as far as using a Russian accent to characterize “the rich” in America as Soviet-era communists.

“(The rich) hate the free market,” Moore said. “Their nirvana is no competition, no choice for the consumer.”

Citing the 1960s and 70s, when the highest income bracket was taxed at a rate of 70 percent, Moore suggested we return to higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans.

“(The rich) looked like they were having a pretty good time with 70 percent of their money being taken in taxes,” Moore said. “You know what was done with that money? You have three friggin’ interstates that come to Nashville.”

Taking a break from his political commentary, Moore sang a somber version of the National Anthem at the podium, with the audience gradually standing to join in. Moore said that he sang the song with a sad tone because, “bad things are being done in our name.”

A supporter of President Barack Obama, Moore criticized the President’s performance as “difficult to witness,” but said the Republicans have made his success impossible by refusing to compromise with Obama.

“The Republicans know that the majority of America wants (liberal) things to happen. It was a mandate in 2008, it’s what the American people wanted,” Moore said. “You and I live in a liberal country, that’s one of our best kept secrets.”

Moore told the overwhelmingly receptive crowd of 1,100 people he wants back the president who was proud of his full name, Barack Hussein Obama.

“He put his full name on the ballot. That took guts, that took spine, that took some backbone,” Moore said. “I want that backbone, I want that spine, I want that courage, I want that guy back.”

Moore rose to prominence in part due to his critical look at President George W. Bush’s handling of the War on Terror in his documentary “Fahrenheit 9/11.” Staying true to form, the 57-year old provocateur said Bush, “the frat boy,” left a hell of a mess for the black guy to clean up.”

“You (Bush) wrecked our economy, you got us into two senseless wars,” Moore said.”The mess is still not cleaned up.”

The event, put on by the Vanderbilt University Speakers Committee, was positively received by students in attendance.

“Michael Moore did a really good job at appealing to rational prinicples and backing up the things that he believes,” said sophomore Sid Sapru.

Sloane Speakman, a senior, said she was grateful for the political conversation Moore was able to garner.

“Obviously he said some controversial things but it was really entertaining and I am appreciative that he was able to come here,” Speakman said.

Kyle Blaine is a reporter for the Vanderbilt Hustler. He is a contributor to The College Fix.

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