A Change in the Game

Recently, I had the opportunity to see the award winning HBO political drama entitled “Game Change.” Directed by Jay Roach, this is the story of the 2008 failed presidential campaign of John McCain and Sarah Palin.  I thoroughly enjoyed this film and the campaign memories it refreshed.

Official Movie Poster

The movie, which originally aired in March 2012, is based on the book by the same name and written by political journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.

The production stars Julianne Moore, whose physical appearance to Sarah Palin is so uncanny, it's spooky.  Ed Harris and Woody Harrelson also star in prominent roles. The drama is filled with actual media clips from the era and the run for the presidency.

We all know Hollywood takes “theatrical liberties” in its productions, so you have to assume this film isn’t exactly accurate.  Senator John McCain complained the production is completely false as his vocabulary is far greater and he never uses such profane language. However, the distinguished senator from Arizona, portrayed by veteran actor Ed Harris, reportedly did not see the film.

Sarah Palin, who was viewed a rising star in the Republican Party at the time of the campaign, is not painted in a very flattering light.  The former governor of Alaska also refused to see the film but adamantly insisted the film is all false.

Regarding the accuracy in this film, we all expect Palin and McCain to deny, deny, deny. However, Nicolle Wallace (played by Sarah Paulson), a chief Palin aide during the campaign, finds Game Change highly credible. She states that it "captured the spirit and emotion of the campaign” and reported the film was “true enough to make me squirm.”

Steve Schmidt (played by Woody Harrelson) said, “10 weeks of the campaign were condensed into a 2 hour movie.” He also stated, watching the film was like an “out of body experience.”

I vividly remember living through this campaign. I was initially very fearful for then Senator Barack Obama when Sarah Palin appeared on the political scene.  I was confident she was selected to capture and divide the “woman vote.” About 6 weeks later, the media had wrapped around “trooper gate” and she had put her foot in her mouth enough to minimize the threat.

I took two major facts away from this film. 

1. If the carelessness and recklessness of the Republican political machine is anything like what is displayed in this film, we as a people are in terrible trouble.  We should all hope and pray the Democratic Party is not displaying the same level of ineptness.


2. We must exercise greater caution in the selection of those we as a nation rally behind. In the last four elections we've had:

• Dick Chaney, a two term Vice-President that should have been indicted for treason for undermining the Bush Presidency, and for his "accidental" shooting of his "friend."
• Sarah Palin, a Vice-Presidential candidate who knew nothing about how the world’s governments work. 
• Mitt Romney, a Presidential candidate who was not willing to serve 47% of the country.  

We have to display a greater concern for our political processes.

If you haven’t seen this film, I urge you all to view it.  Enjoy it. Think about it! Form your own opinion.