Comments on: Mr. Smith goes to prison

By: MrSmithGoesToDC

MrSmithGoesToDC — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:52:50 +0000

i JUST finished watching “Can Mr Smith”… thinking wow what an awesome guy, this guy is like the original Obama. Then I went on google to read more about him and this is what i find. wow

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By: Jerome Howard Bauer

Jerome Howard Bauer — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:56:03 +0000

Concerning the film about Jeff Smith’s 2004 campaign, despite the title, the film did not exactly portray Smith as an avatar of Capra’s Jefferson Smith. I have seen the film only once, at the Tivoli when it first opened, but I remember this award winning documentary as a candid portrayal of Smith out on the street handing out fliers, shaking hands, and occasionally losing his temper and swearing. This “warts and all” approach played well to the upscale Washington University crowd, but it would have offended both my working class parents. I can imagine a similar film about another Washington University Lecturer, Jim Talent, with a catchy title playing on his name. At least one of my students worked for both Democrat Smith and Republican Talent. I can understand why. Both ably represented the interests of their constituency, dwellers in the notoriously insular WashU Bubble.

Jeff was regarded, by some folks in some parts of town, as a carpetbagger. I believe I heard that from Jeff himself, when he met with some of my WashU Coop students during his summer 06 campaign. I doubt if he would have been so candid with another constituency.

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By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:12:27 +0000

Actually, Eve, Professor Smith NEVER preached idealism to the students in his campaigns and elections. If you chose to believe that, OK, but the fact is, he frequently lectured about people cutting corners and playing dirty tricks in campaigns, and he described how and why. He said that like most candidates, he would do most things if he thought it gave him an advantage, and talked candidly about gray areas and some things he’d done that were legal, but not neccessarily ethical, that he regretted. You can say he was wrong to do what he did and you’re right – he broke the law – but you can’t say he was a hypocrite as a professor, because it’s just not true at all.

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By: wu 08

wu 08 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:45:37 +0000

This may be the best op-ed I’ve seen in Stud Life in my time affiliated with the university. Mature, thoughtful, and clear, it is everything an op-ed should be. Kudos.

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By: David Shapiro

David Shapiro — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:17:54 +0000

I find it strange that so many people (including former students) felt that Professor Smith was the perfect moral being. He was a good guy, for sure. Oftentimes, he meant well. I didn’t see this coming, but it is not the most surprising thing to ever happen in the world of politics. I think the majority of his former students can attest to that.

That said, I still support the ideals Smith has fought for. His has been the cause of every responsible liberal.

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