While Ron Paul and Rudy Giuliani were slugging it out, Fred Thompson made more news by having a non-debate. Recently Thompson wrote an article in The National Review and criticized Moore for going to Cuba to film his recent documentary ‘Sicko.’ He was critical of Moore’s writing skills and mentioned that Castro didn’t even use Cuba’s medical treatment when he took ill. “According to Forbes magazine, by the way, Castro is now personally worth approximately $900 million. So when he desperately needed medical treatment recently, he could afford to fly a Spanish surgeon, with equipment, on a chartered jet to Cuba. What does that say about free Cuban health care?” Thompson wrote. Moore is also currently being investigated by the Treasury Department because his trip may have violated certain trade embargoes. Moore responded to Thompson’s article and challenged him to a debate. Moore accused Thompson of contributing to Castro’s wealth, and of violating trade embargoes because he likes Cuban cigars. “In light of your comments regarding Cuba and Castro, do you think the ‘box upon box of cigars, Montecristos from Havana’ that you have in your office have contributed to Castro’s reported wealth?” Moore suggested in his letter that the winner of the debate could, “light a Victory cigar with one of your Montecristos.” Thompson then responded to Moore’s challenge with a video released yesterday. Thompson refused to debate Moore, citing scheduling conflicts. In the video Thompson already has his victory cigar in hand, and tells Moore he should ask Castro about documentary filmmaker Nicolás Guillén Landrián, who was tortured because of a film he did. “He did something Castro didn’t like and they put him in a mental institution for several years, giving him devastating electroshock treatments. A mental institution, Michael, it might be something you ought to think about,” Thompson says. Thompson doesn’t play games, and should be a real treat if he jumps into the Presidential race. Take that Michael Moore, a little electroshock from Thompson.
Alan Cosgrove
Here is Thompson’s video response to Michael Moore;