I went to see the Jeff Smith 2004 campaign documentary on Monday. My boss let me go since it was kind of work-related: we worked that campaign primary in 2004 and we might also screen the film at our upcoming conference. Anyway…

The film was fantastic. I was a little surprised since it wasn’t shot in 16x9 format, so it was weird to see a big screen with this trapezoid image on it. The film also ran for about 10 minutes before any opening credits showed up and I seriously thought they didn’t started the film at the beginning. But, they did.

The film did a very good portrayal, interspersing interviews with Jeff, campaign events, strategy sessions, and commentary by local talking heads from radio, TV, and newspapers. It was amazing to see Jeff work so very hard to win this primary. Damn, if only I worked that hard! Tons of calls, schmoozing, and most importantly, pounding the pavement and talking with folks. It was cold and hard, showing him happy, excited, sad, depressed, and just plain real. The film ends a day or two after the elections. Even though I knew how it all ended prior to getting my popcorn, I was still glued to the edge of my seat throughout this film.

On a personal note, It was really cool to put faces to the emails and phone exchanges I’d had with the campaign back in the summer of ‘04. I’d met Jeff in our office, but hadn’t met anyone else on the campaign face to face.

As for the films affect on me, that was actually somewhat profound. The title of the film, “Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?” was a play on the classic Jimmy Stewart film. Jeff was a nobody, running against a political dynasty in Missouri (as the film notes, a Carnahan in Missouri is like a Kennedy in Massachusetts). He didn’t have funds, his family didn’t back him, and his campaign staff was younger and less experienced than he was! But, he ran an issues campaign. He didn’t spend time just being an attack dog. He had progressive ideas, talked about them with real people, not just talking heads or through surrogate “grassroots” corporations.

In 2004, I was new at my job and newly introduced to the behind-the-scenes game of electoral politics. I was an idealist and believed in candidates. I backed Jeff in 2004, fought for him to get endorsed by my organization and fought to get him contributions.

In 2006, the question I have to ask myself is whether or not the many Mr. Smiths can get to Washington anymore? Have I become so involved in the process that I can’t see the good candidates anymore and only play the safe bets? I’ve looked at some of the candidates I’ve gotten behind and a few are good. But, I really have to look more closely at what I’ve become and see if that idealist is still inside, maybe shivering in a dark corner, but at least still there.