Free 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Showing for GOP

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Maurice Brubaker probably wouldn't have gone to see "Fahrenheit 9/11" on his own, but free admission helped change the Republican's mind.

Brubaker, chairman of the Bush/Cheney campaign team in Union County, was among at least 40 people who went to the Campus Theatre on Saturday to take advantage of a free showing for card-carrying GOP (search) members.

"I don't think you can consider it a documentary, because I don't think both sides were represented," Brubaker said of the Michael Moore (search) film that criticizes the Bush administration's response to the Sept. 11 attacks.

"I don't think this movie would have been made if Al Gore (search) had been elected president, and I don't think Al Gore could have stopped what happened on Sept. 11. I don't think anyone could," Brubaker said.

Eric Faden, executive director of the nonprofit theater, offered the free showing to encourage an informed discussion of the movie between conservatives and liberals. Fewer than 50 seats in the 500-seat theater were filled, but Faden, down $280, said he was happy with the turnout.

"For a film in its fourth week of release, in a small rural county, to have that many people show up is fantastic," Faden said. "This is what we wanted ... people from all sides to see the movie so that there would be an informed debate."

One Republican insisted on buying his ticket, as did eight other people who did not show GOP identification.

Mary Wilt, 87, tried to get several Republican friends to come with her, but they all turned her down. After seeing it, she called the movie "the dumbest thing I've ever seen."

But another Republican, Douglas Reed, described the film as thought-provoking and interesting.

"It had some good points, but I didn't always agree with the way those points were made," the Army veteran said.

Lewisburg is about 120 miles northwest of Philadelphia.