Inside the Beltway

Every vote counts?

“The president of the United States shook hands and nearly kissed a dog.”

—Official White House pool report surrounding President Bush’s impromptu stop in Pottstown, Pa., on his way to a campaign appearance in Lancaster. The dog, a 3-year-old American Eskimo, was named Vixen.

Moore’s prop

The family of U.S. Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone was shocked to learn that video footage of the major’s Arlington National Cemetery burial was included by Michael Moore in his movie “Fahrenheit 9/11.”

Maj. Stone was killed in March 2003 by a grenade that officials said was thrown into his tent by Sgt. Hasan K. Akbar, who is on trial for murder.

“It’s been a big shock, and we are not very happy about it, to say the least,” Kandi Gallagher, Maj. Stone’s aunt and family spokeswoman, tells Washington Times reporter Audrey Hudson.

“We are furious that Greg was in that casket and cannot defend himself, and my sister, Greg’s mother, is just beside herself,” Miss Gallagher said. “She is furious. She called him a ‘maggot that eats off the dead.’ ”

The movie, described by critics as political propaganda during an election year, shows video footage of the funeral and Maj. Stone’s fiancee, Tammie Eslinger,kissing her hand and placing it on his coffin.

The family does not know how Mr. Moore obtained the video, and Miss Gallagher said they did not give permission and are considering legal recourse.

She described her nephew as a “totally conservative Republican” and said he would have found the film to be “putrid.”

“I’m sure he would have some choice words for Michael Moore,” she said. “Michael Moore would have a hard time asking our family for a glass of water if he were thirsty.”

Adieu, Bubba

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