Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?

Last updated
Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?
CanMrSmithGetWashington.jpg
DVD cover
Directed byFrank Popper
Written byFrank Popper
Matt Coen
Mike Kime
Produced byFrank Popper
Matt Coen
Mike Kime
Starring Jeff Smith
Release dates
  • June 16, 2006 (2006-06-16)(Silverdocs Film Festival)
  • February 7, 2007 (2007-02-07)(United States)
Running time
82 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? is a 2006 documentary film directed by Frank Popper, which follows Missouri politician Jeff Smith's 2004 Democratic primary election campaign to the United States House of Representatives after the retirement of Dick Gephardt from his seat. The film follows Smith as he challenges Russ Carnahan, a member of the Carnahan political family and the frontrunner of a crowded Democratic primary, to capture the Democratic nomination for the seat. The movie's title references Frank Capra's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington , a film in which a naive but well-meaning man (named "Jefferson Smith") becomes a Senator and fights the cynical nature of Washington. [1]

Contents

Synopsis

The film follows Jeff Smith from inside his campaign during his bid to win the Democratic primary for the House seat of Representative Dick Gephardt, who announced his retirement. [2] Smith, a 29-year-old teacher with no political experience, decided to run for the seat against 10 other Democratic candidates including Russ Carnahan, a member of the Carnahan political family. [1] He was instantly dismissed by pundits who saw him as a no-name candidate due to his lack of political expertise and the presence of a Carnahan in the race. [1]

Smith's campaign begins to gain more support as he mobilizes a large grassroots political campaign. [1] He earns the endorsement of Howard Dean at one of his speaking events, and his campaign cuts into Carnahan's initial 30-point lead. [1] Smith, however, loses the campaign by fewer than 2,000 votes.

Critical reception

Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? earned mostly positive reviews from critics; it received an 83% based on 12 reviews at Rotten Tomatoes, and the film won the Audience Award at the 2006 Silverdocs Documentary Festival. [3] [4]

The Washington Post 's Ann Horaday felt that it was a, "funny, engrossing and affectionate documentary." [2] The Boston Globe 's Janice Page noted that the movie restored the viewer's faith in democracy, even if Jeff Smith failed to win the seat. [1] Kevin Crust of the Los Angeles Times praised the movie: "... [the film] captures ground-level political machinations in an utterly fascinating way." [5]

Scandal

In August 2009, Jeff Smith pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for his involvement in federal election law violations (committed during the congressional campaign depicted in the film) and the subsequent coverup. [6]

Related Research Articles

Dick Gephardt American attorney, lobbyist and politician (born 1941)

Richard Andrew Gephardt is an American attorney, lobbyist, and politician who served as a United States Representative from Missouri from 1977 to 2005. A member of the Democratic Party, he was House Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995 and Minority Leader from 1995 to 2003. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 1988 and 2004. Gephardt was mentioned as a possible vice presidential nominee in 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, and 2008.

2004 United States House of Representatives elections House elections for the 109th U.S. Congress

The 2004 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 2, 2004 to elect all 435 seats of the chamber. It coincided with the reelection of President George W. Bush as well as many Senate elections and gubernatorial elections. In the 108th Congress, Republicans held 227 seats, Democrats held 205, with two Republican vacancies and one independent. As a result of this election, the 109th Congress began composed of 232 Republicans, 201 Democrats, one independent, and one vacancy.

Mel Carnahan Governor of Missouri, 2000 U.S. senator-elect (1934–2000)

Melvin Eugene Carnahan was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 51st Governor of Missouri from 1993 until his death in a plane crash in 2000. A Democrat, he was elected posthumously to the U.S. Senate; his widow, Jean, served in his stead for two years until a special election.

Jean Carnahan American politician and writer

Jean Anne Carpenter Carnahan is an American politician and writer who was the First Lady of Missouri from 1993 to 2000, and served as the state's junior United States senator from 2001 to 2002. A Democrat, she was appointed to fill the Senate seat of her husband Mel Carnahan, who had been posthumously elected, becoming the first woman to represent Missouri in the U.S. Senate.

2002 United States Senate elections

The 2002 United States Senate elections featured a series of fiercely contested elections that resulted in a victory for the Republican Party, which gained two seats and thus a narrow majority from the Democratic Party in the United States Senate. The Senate seats up for election, known as class 2 Senate seats, were last up for regular election in 1996. The election was held on November 5, 2002, almost fourteen months after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

2000 United States Senate elections

The 2000 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, 2000. The elections coincided with other federal and state elections, including the presidential election which was won by Republican George W. Bush. It featured a number of fiercely contested elections that resulted in a victory for the Democratic Party, which gained a net total of four seats from the Republican Party. This election marked the first election year since 1990 where Democrats made net gains in the Senate.

1992 United States Senate elections

The 1992 United States Senate elections, held November 3, 1992, were elections for the United States Senate that coincided with Bill Clinton's victory in the presidential election. Both parties swapped a pair of seats, resulting in no net change in partisan breakdown.

2006 United States Senate elections

The 2006 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, 2006, with all 33 Class 1 Senate seats being contested. The term of office for those elected in 2006 ran from January 3, 2007, to January 3, 2013. Prior to the election, the Republican Party controlled 55 of the 100 Senate seats.

Russ Carnahan American politician

John Russell Carnahan is an American politician from the state of Missouri. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 3rd congressional district from 2005 to 2013.

Robin Carnahan American businesswoman and politician

Robin Colleen Carnahan is an American businesswoman, lawyer, and politician, who previously served as the Missouri Secretary of State and currently serves as the Administrator of General Services in the Biden administration. She is the daughter of Missouri politicians Mel and Jean Carnahan. In 2010, she was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate to replace retiring Republican Senator Kit Bond. She was then a senior advisor at the global strategy firm Albright Stonebridge Group. In 2013, Carnahan was named a fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. In February 2016, she joined the General Services Administration as the director of the state and local practice at 18F, a role she held until January 2020. She then became a fellow at the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University.

2006 United States Senate election in Missouri

The 2006 United States Senate election in Missouri was held November 7, 2006, to decide who would serve as senator for Missouri between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2013. The incumbent was Republican Jim Talent. Talent was elected in a special election in 2002 when he narrowly defeated incumbent Democrat Jean Carnahan. Carnahan had been appointed to the Senate seat following the posthumous election of her husband Mel Carnahan, who had died in a plane crash shortly before the 2000 election. Talent's Democratic opponent was Missouri State Auditor Claire McCaskill. Early on the morning of November 8, Talent conceded defeat to McCaskill, having faced considerable political headwinds. Talent lost the election with 47% of the vote, to 50% of the vote for McCaskill. This was the last election an incumbent Republican senator lost in Missouri.

Jeff Smith (Missouri politician) American politician

Jeff Smith is an American politician who served as a member of the Missouri Senate, representing the 4th district from 2007 until 2009. His district covered the western portion of the City of St. Louis.

Joan Barry is an American politician. She was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1996 and was re-elected in 1998, and 2000. In 2004 she was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Congress losing the Democratic primary election to Russ Carnahan. Barry is also a Registered Nurse who has worked in the field of obstetrics at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis County. She is married to Phil Barry, who is also a former Missouri State Representative.

Howard Dean 2004 presidential campaign

The 2004 presidential campaign of Howard Dean, 79th Governor of Vermont, began when he formed an exploratory committee to evaluate a presidential election campaign on May 31, 2002. Dean then formally announced his intention to compete in the 2004 Democratic primaries to seek the Democratic Party's nomination for President on June 23, 2003. Dean dropped out of the race in February 2004 after a poor showing in the Wisconsin primary.

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri House elections in Missouri

The 2008 congressional elections in Missouri were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Missouri in the United States House of Representatives. The primary election for candidates seeking the nomination of the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, and the Libertarian Party was held on August 5.

2010 United States Senate election in Missouri

The 2010 United States Senate election in Missouri took place on November 2, 2010 alongside 36 other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Primary elections were held on August 3, 2010. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Kit Bond decided to retire instead of seeking a fifth term. Republican nominee Roy Blunt won the open seat.

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri House elections in Missouri

Elections were held on November 2, 2010, to determine Missouri's nine members of the United States House of Representatives. Representatives were elected for two-year terms to serve in the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011 until January 3, 2013. Primary elections were held on August 3, 2010.

2012 United States Senate election in Wisconsin Election

The 2012 United States Senate election in Wisconsin took place on November 6, 2012, alongside a U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic Senator Herb Kohl retired instead of running for re-election to a fifth term. This was the first open Senate seat in Wisconsin since 1988, when Kohl won his first term.

2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri House elections in Missouri

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 and elected the eight U.S. Representatives from the state of Missouri, a loss of one seat following the 2010 United States Census. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate.

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan

The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the 14 U.S. representatives from the state of Michigan, one from each of the state's 14 congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate in 33 other states and various state and local elections. The deadline for candidates to file for the August 2 primary election was April 19.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Page, Janice (November 3, 2006). "Warts-and-all quixotic quest keeps the faith". The Boston Globe . Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Hornaday, Ann (September 22, 2006). "'Mr. Smith': A Poli Sci Class Worth Taking". The Washington Post . Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  4. ↑ Cockrell, Eddie (June 21, 2006). "Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?". Variety . Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  5. ↑ "'Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?'". Los Angeles Times . February 2, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  6. ↑ Kollipara, Puneet. "Jeff Smith Gets 1 Year In Prison, $50,000 fine". Student Life. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.