I just finished watching Frontline’s special, The Choice 2008, about John McCain and Barack Obama’s ascension to where they are today, and I couldn’t be prouder that my tax dollars went to pay for that kind of show. It goes onto YouTube and iTunes tomorrow so everyone can watch, and I do hope that you will if you didn’t catch it during broadcast. Excellent work by Michael Kirk and team, including producer/reporter Jim Gilmore and co-producer/writer Paul Stekler (an Austinite!).

I’d also add that Michael Rose contributed an excellent review of the film at Documentary.org, The Road to Washington: ‘Frontline’ Dissects The Choice

I wanted to know more about the substance of their political agendas and, in general, the issues and policies that are dominating this campaign.”

Kirk says that’s not the film he set out to make. “Most the films I make are kind of character-driven narratives. I know everyone always says that, but I really believe in that, and that method has its limitations, which I’ll freely admit. One of them, it’s really hard to stop in the midst of telling a story about a character and say, Let’s do a little investigative section right there and really smack him for having done this or not having done that.”

Kirk agrees that providing this level of detail and context is one of the ways the Internet can work in concert with a broadcast. Read the entire review>>

The show reaffirmed my own choice, but also reminded me that John McCain deserves my respect. I disagree with many of his choices, including how he is running his campaign, but he has served our country in war and in Congress for the better part of his life. I can disagree with his approach, but it is unfair to doubt his sincerity or his commitment to our country.