By Antonio D. French
Filed Tuesday, June 06, 2006 at 6:06 AM
A PUB DEF VIDEO REPORT Labels: State_Senate, Video_Reports
In a close campaign with nearly half a dozen candidates, any little thing can push one of them to victory. Less than two weeks before the August 8 primary election, one state senate candidate may get that push from a local silver screen.
Washington University professor Jeff Smith is the subject of a documentary film about his 2004 Congressional campaign in which he nearly pulled off one of the biggest political upsets in recent St. Louis history.
The film, titled "Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?," will be seen at the Silverdocs Film Festival in Washington D.C. later this month. But on July 27, St. Louis audiences will get a chance to relive the grassroots campaign which ended with a narrow defeat by the highly-favored heir to one of the state's most powerful political dynasties, Russ Carnahan.
The film will open at the Tivoli theater just days before Smith's name will again appear on the ballot.
On August 8, Smith will face four other much more seasoned politicos. This time though, he is arguably the frontrunner, with a comfortable lead in fundraising and now a film credit on his resume. But will it lead to victory or another disappointment for Mr. Smith's fans?
23 Comments:
Mr. Smith can still go to Washington, because it is more acceptable to be a carpetbagger on a Federal level than a State level according to political etiquette. Mr. Smith was on equal ground running against Carnahan, who quietly carpetbagged with a big family name! Every candidate in the 4th Senatorial race has served more time in real government than Jeff Smith has really lived in the 4th Senatorial District! If Jeff Smith wins the 4th Senatorial District race because of a documentary at the Tivoli, then the City of St. Louis will be on par with California allowing Governor Arnold to rule that land with no prior experience. What the hell is going on here? Wake up and realize that choosing a candidate on experience and issues forms a good basis for s-election, but choosing a candidate because he almost beat someone in the past is pathetic.
Jeff Smith has no experience as an elected official in any capacity in St. Louis, and this is strictly the truth! The real movie is, "Can Mr. Smith go to Ladue and run for State Senator?" Ask Jeff Smith, "Why didn't you run for State Senator in Ladue?" After all, that is where you are from! We don't need anyone to save us here in St. Louis City, and especially someone that has never experienced St. Louis City politics as an elected official!
6/06/2006 1:54 AM
Give me a break. If anyone thinks that a movie is going to win someone a political race then our current politicians have broken the system more than we even understand. This must be the first time Jeff Smith has ever been compared to Arnold. Did someone PUMP Mr. Smith up?
In terms of experience, we are not exactly talking about someone with no experience... We are talking about someone who teaches political science for a living and had the work ethic and savvy to win St. Louis City and St. Louis County against a Carnahan and that's hardly where his involvement in our city ends. I don't mind someone like that going to work for this district in Jefferson City. The dirty little truth is that everyone knows that Jeff will be by far the most effective legislator in this race. What do his opponents have to show for their "experience" in Jefferson City. Let's let the candidates take the issues and their records to the voters and let them decide?
Bill Clinton's first elected office was Governor. Seems like that worked out pretty well. Barack Obama lost a race for congress and was elected to the State Senate before becoming a US Senator. Seems like that worked out pretty well. Dare I say that John Kennedy jumped right to Congress. I am not trying to compare Jeff to these folks but obviously there are thousands of examples. Since when did going to Jefferson City and being ineffective as a legislator qualify anyone for higher office. Since when did anything preclude anyone from running for office.
We need effective representation more than ever. I don't think there is any doubt that the best advocate for this district we could possibly send to Jefferson City is Jeff. The other campaigns are going to show their true colors through shallow attacks. I am going to be proud to have Jeff represent us against Guv. Blunt and his cronies.
6/06/2006 7:15 AM
Antonio, You are doing the most innovative online publishing in St. Louis. Congratulations on the scoop and keep it up.
6/06/2006 7:24 AM
I doubt that the movie is going to attract a lot of undecided voters. That being said, I think this looks very cool and plan to check it out.
6/06/2006 7:44 AM
Jeff Smith has plenty of experience for the job. Regardless of where he was born, or where he went to college for his undergrad, he now lives in the 4th, and has for a while. Earning his MA, and PhD at WashU, then teaching at UMSL and WashU, while residing in the 4th is fine. He is not from Illinois, he is from Metro St. Louis. An academic with political power could get things done in St. Louis, and I believe he would represent the urban interests in a political body dominated by a rural agenda.
6/06/2006 7:54 AM
I believe Bill Clinton's first elected office was actually attorney general of Arkansas, not governor.
6/06/2006 9:03 AM
Mr. Smith has taught politics on an academic level, however, those that have attended school on any level know that teachers are not always the greatest practictioners of their trade.
In other words, we would not believe that because a teacher has been instructing on accounting for years but has never practiced accounting as a profession, that they are the greatest CPA to hire at an acoounting firm! In life there is theory (which we learn in school), and then there is practice (which we learn in the real world through experience). The discounting of real work experience in a profession by the former anonymous blogger shows lack of wisdom, come on who are you trying to fool!
We all seek advice about our travels in life from those that we trust to have similar real world experiences.
Case in point, Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous has proven to be more effective in helping individuals remain clean and sober than any other type of counseling. That is because the people that attend these meetings understand the effects of drugs and alcohol better than almost anyone else!
Would a chemistry professor that has taught about drug interactions at Washington University be a more suitable choice to counsel a drug addict to you, Buddy?
Of course not, it is important to understand the nuances and culture of the environment that you seek to improve, and that requires living in the environment and breathing it!
Don't get me wrong, I would be the first person to vote for Jeff Smith if he was running for Political Science Professor of the 4th Senatorial District, because I believe he has more experience as a professor than any other candidate! I am fair and rational, not emotional, unlike some other bloggers!
6/06/2006 10:21 AM
Jeff Smith has my vote. Most of the people running in the 4th district race " that have been in politics" for years have been in it for the wrong reasons. they dont have track records to back up some of the statements they make, We all should check these voting records and see which groups these people are with, you will see that most of them that have been around are in it for the power and money. Jeff seems to be in it for real change. Ive never met jeff but Ive studied the others. My first pick would be jeff but closely behind him I would have so say one of the northside ladies :D
6/06/2006 11:08 AM
Indeed, the other candidates seemed to have been birthed from the same corrupt, dynastic political machine.
6/06/2006 11:18 AM
Is the people's business so complicated that a private individual with a track record of being a teacher, political activist and a community leader can't handle it? Do we feel so great about our political leaders today that we can't elect someone from the outside? I am pretty sick and tired of the insiders and the lousy job they are doing for the state and the Democratic country. Jeff is someone who can bring a different perspective to the job. Anyone who spends 10 minutes with him can clearly see that this is exactly the kind of person that we want as our next generation of leadership in the Democratic party. What is the record or accomplishment that any of his opponents are running on? If any of them were able to demonstrate a track record of making a real difference for the state and the party I could see your point, but to me this choice is clear and I for one am not willing to limit my choices to a bunch of insiders.
6/06/2006 11:21 AM
"Mr. Smith has taught politics on an academic level, however, those that have attended school on any level know that teachers are not always the greatest practictioners of their trade."
The fact that Smith has raised huge amounts of money clearly demonstrates he has political skill.
The fact that he almost beat Russ shows he has political skill.
Jeff is not an untested St. Louis Community College Professor, he teaches at WashU, one of the top Political Science Universities in the Country, furthermore, he almost beat Russ!
6/06/2006 12:25 PM
What I like about Jeff (and why I think he could be such a great Senator) is that it's about a lot more than raising money and winning votes. Jeff builds coalitions and inspires citizens to take action to bring about positive change. That's the most impressive thing about him. Being a small minority in the senate we need people who win the battle of ideas in Jefferson City as well as help organize our party state wide to take back the majority. We need to do this from the ground up. Its hard to find anyone in the state with more experiene and a better providen track record at this than Jeff.
6/06/2006 3:29 PM
First if having been elected before was a reason to vote for someone we would never have any new blood in the system. Also, I don't think it is entirely fair to say look at the voting records. Jeff hasn't won before so there is nothing to compare against. Does he get a free pass? I don't think so. I think people should look at the past, the person, and listen to what they have to say. There is no right way to pick a person to vote for there is only your way.
6/06/2006 3:59 PM
Jeff Smith has raised a lot of money in the raise because he is from the wealthy City of Ladue, and he can be controlled by many city politicians in South St. Louis because he is such a little guy physically. The average tough guy in South St. Louis could intimidate Jeff Smith in a backroom meeting. Mr. Smith will do whatever a select few Southside leaders tell him to do if he gets in office, and if he doesn't he will be a one term Senator! Jeff Smith has talked about what he will do for Social Security and that is a Federal Program. So much for the Washington University is superior to the Community College theory!
6/06/2006 5:00 PM
Short jokes. We can see exactly how desperate the opposition is. Jeff is the only candidate with the guts to campaign door to door in every neighborhood in the district. Why do I get a sense that's not true for the last poster.
Regarding social security, if anyone thinks that Derio's support for a social security plan like George Bush's isn't a relevant insight
into a candidate's policy perspective as they head to Jefferson City needs to have their head examined. Supporting social security privatization certainly doesn't reflect my value system.
Some might want to dwell on height instead of the real policy differences between the candidates in the race. That is a shame. Somehow it shows who is truly small in stature.
6/06/2006 5:25 PM
I hear the movie is great and can't wait to see it. I doubt it will have any impact on the race. I am glad it is coming to town.
6/06/2006 5:35 PM
- *PREDICTION* - Jeff Smith Will Win!
6/06/2006 7:12 PM
Losing a closer-than-expected election to a clear favorite has been the springboard to later success for several prominent MO pols. Kit Bond's close 1968 loss to Congressman Hungate helped propell him to victory over State Auditor Haskell Holman in 1970. John Ashcroft's surprisingly strong run for the GOP congressional nomination against favored Gene Taylor in 1972 made him Bond's choice to succeed him as Auditor. (While Ashcroft lost that job to Democrat George Lehr in the Watergate backlage election of 1974, he went on to win the AG spot in 1976, the first of five consecutive wins before his 2000 loss to the late Mel Carnahan.) More recently, Democrat Mike Daus' path to state rep was paved by his narrow loss to Jennifer Florida for Alderman.
This looks like a low-turnout election, one in which effective grassroots organizational work is magnified. This favors Smith, although Amber Boykins could also win it.
6/06/2006 9:20 PM
Amber Boykins will win this race for Senator in the 4th District. Her grassroots campaign is the best amongst the different candidates, and people are really taking offense to a carpetbagger being shoved down our throat by the political power structure of South St. Louis. That same power structure thought that the election was in the bag for School Board candidates James Buford and Darnetta Clinkscale. They had more signs than anyone else, and $500,000! Both the signs and the money took a royal beating, because the people didn't want power structure driven candidates running the School Board. Jeff Smith will get most of the endorsements of unions and the like, because he was chosen by the power structure. However, the real power structure is the people, and the people will rise again to block anybody from winning election that is a power structure plant. Jeff Smith represents the power structure people that really don't want to live in the City of St. Louis, but want to reap all the benefits from St. Louis City. They want the state contracts, tax credits, and all the other goodies, and then they drive back out to Ladue to go home! Mr. Smith tried to go to Washington, and failed! Don't worry though, you are more than welcome to go back to Ladue. By the way, I think you know how to get there!!!!!!!!
6/07/2006 1:01 AM
It is interesting that there is a strong anti-south City sentiment among Boykin's supporters here with an additional mix of class warfare. Frankly, unless Rep. Boykins or Rep. El-Amin drops out, they will split the vote of their supporters, as they appeal generally to the same constituents. Mr. Gambaro, while looking like a slick candidate, doesn't play well to middle Americans. So, with little serious opposition, the funding advantage, a strong campaign structure, and being in-tune with the voters, it looks like Jeff Smith will win.
On a side-note, I'd like to see people post with their real names rather than using "anonymous". It would be interesting to see who all these anonymous people are I think.
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For the purpose of full-disclosure, I have not received any fruit baskets from any candidates for making this or any other post. Thank you, and have a nice day!
6/07/2006 2:51 AM
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6/07/2006 10:48 AM
I also have not been paid off my Mr. Smith; I simply like his position, and his experience. I think he's a nice guy as well.
"Jeff Smith will get most of the endorsements of unions and the like, because he was chosen by the power structure."
Funny how the Police did not endorse him, because he was against the residency requirement, which is a criterion that cannot be removed.
It is also funny since he challenged the "power structure" in his election campaign against Russ Carnahan.
City Officials with connections in the County, and State Government is a good thing. If a candidate has ties outside the City, this gives him greater influence. If Vince Schoemehl had more rural or county friends, then perhaps he could have beat Carnahan in the primaries. With greater political influence outside the City, we can recruit support for urban issues, such as control of the police department, and a city/county merger, which require outside help. Furthermore, influence in the county could go a long way to getting tax increases for Metrolink, which is required if we expect any more transit expansions.
We need to get over this phobia that all things outside the City are bad. If we expect to join with the County on any sort of projects, political or infrastructural, we are going to need coalitions and friends on both sides of the City Limit. We need more Jefferson City support as well, and xenophobia will not further our goals.
6/07/2006 10:55 AM
I can't help but suspect "anonymous" has never spoken to Jeff. The movie's trailer talks his deficits. For instance, he's maybe 5' 4", he has a lisp, and someone says he sounds like he's been castrated.
Within moments of meeting him though, none of those things register. What you're struck with is his poise laced with intensity. He's gentle and tough-minded at the same time. His brown eyes are warm, and miss nothing. He genuinely likes people, and has the energy of a three-year-old boy on Christmas morning.
Listen a while longer, though, and his intellect becomes obvious. Ever noticed how there are generally a couple of standard "solutions" each party has for a brighter tomorrow? Those aren't the things you'll hear from Jeff. He doesn't succumb to those tired old workhorses that seem to be staples in most political arsenals. He knows his stuff, and it's good stuff, and a lot of it is entirely new stuff.
He's a scholar, and unlike the old chestnut mentioned earlier about how teachers teach because they can't make it in the real world, his scholarship is not the musty theory of some forgotten past. Even "anonymous" must have some inkling that Jeff didn't get those plum teaching positions because he's an intellectual lightweight slouching toward Bethlehem.
What was spectacular about Jeff's 2004 campaign was the passion of the grassroots effort. I've worked on lots of campaigns and never have I seen such love and loyalty paid a candidate.
At the election night party, the crowd was practically floating on air. There was such joy at what looked like fruits from a hard fought campaign. The scores of coffees, the thousands of doors, Howard Dean's endorsement, Daily Kos's endorsement--it had been a combination of grueling work and incredible successes. Heady stuff. Jeff was slightly ahead of Russ Carnahan most of the night (as I remember it at least). When some of the last precincts came in, the tide turned and Jeff lost by a few hundred votes.
One of Jeff's former students stared blindly at the results, tears streaming down her face. She was exhausted, having been up for more than one night during the final push. Working in D.C., she'd taken time off to help with campaign. As disappointed as she was, her belief in Jeff and his ultimate success was unshaken. I spoke to her not long ago and she'd been accepted into grad school at Yale, studying political science.
Jeff inspires people, and not just young people. He's got a Kennedy-esque charisma, a Gore-like wonkishness but with Clinton's lack of pedantry and genuine love of people.
And he's a progressive, although his knee doesn't jerk left by any means. He helped found a charter school in the city, for one.
It's worth noting how plugged in he is to the African-American community. How refreshing to see a white male politician at polls in North St. Louis, knocking on doors north of Delmar, or playing basketball the entire route of the Annie Malone Parade. What's more, he gets that poverty is not a moral condition, and something can be done about it.
So, "anonymous," frankly, you really don't know what you're talking about. You took maybe three disparate factoids and established a specious case against a candidate about whom you obviously know very little. Such a paper tiger! Next time, pick an issue, or three. Real ones. That's what we need to argue.
And yes, I have no fruit baskets.
6/10/2006 2:10 AM
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