Michael Moore’s controversial film “Fahrenheit 9/11” was the winner of the Favorite Movie award Sunday at the 31st Annual People’s Choice Awards. The controversial film was a biting commentary on the performance of President Bush in office. Moore accepted the award from the very presidential Martin Sheen.

Moore looked like he had received a makeover from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy

Moore looked like he had received a makeover from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, as he eschewed his trademark baseball cap and denim for a suit and trendy glasses. And he remained on his best behavior during the night, giving high praise to Mel Gibson who won a Favorite Drama award for “The Passion of the Christ”. "I thought it was a powerful piece of filmmaking," Moore told AP Radio Sunday.

Michael Moore said on his website that a vote for “Fahrenheit 9/11” was a vote against President Bush.

But this win comes amid controversy that the electronic voting system used to tabulate the people’s choice votes was not accurately counted. In the past, a Gallup poll has been used to pick the films, but this year marked the first where the internet allowed people to vote directly for their choice. Some went as far as to say that overzealous movie lovers would go as far as to vote for the favorite nominee more than once.

Some critics have contended that there is no such thing as a secure electronic vote without a paper trail. But why would anyone purposefully tamper with the voting systems of the people’s choice awards? Michael Moore said on his website that a vote for “Fahrenheit 9/11” was a vote against President Bush. "He may have been (barely) the people's choice on Nov. 2, but now the people get to vote again," Moore wrote. It is not yet clear whether Bush will step down pending the results of a recount.

posted by NewsBlog 5000  # Monday, January 10, 2005