Moore’s ‘Sicko’ Unhealthy for Democrats

Michael Moore’s latest documentary “Sicko,” an indictment of the healthcare industry, has created a dilemma for top Democrats, who are wary of embracing its message — or rejecting it.

In “Sicko,” the filmmaker urges the abolishment of the health insurance industry, tight controls on pharmaceutical companies, and a Canadian-style government-run healthcare system.

Democratic presidential candidates fear rejecting Moore’s proposals could turn off liberal activists calling for massive reform of the healthcare system, whose support could be crucial in gaining the party’s nomination.

But expressing support for his prescription might alienate the larger pool of voters in the general election, the Los Angeles Times noted.

Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards have all taken positions on the issue that differ significantly from Moore’s vision.

As a result, the leading Democratic candidates have sought to “sidestep direct comment on Moore’s proposals,” the Times reported.

Moore has already said he hopes the documentary will play an important role in the presidential campaign.

But Ron Pollack of the advocacy group Families USA doubts it will have Moore’s desired effect.

“To presume that the private sector is going to sit idly by to see the destruction of private coverage I think is a misreading of reality,” he told the Times.

“I think the presidential candidates understand that if health care reform is going to have a chance of success, it will require bipartisanship and a balance of public and private coverage.”

As for the film, “it’s quite effective,” said Robert Reischauer, a leading health policy expert and president of The Urban Institute, who supports universal coverage.

However, “it’s not a documentary,” he added, but rather “policy propaganda.”