FRONTLINE | The Choice 2012 | Season 2012 | Episode 19 | PBS
Overview
Title: The Choice 2012
Air Date: 10/08/12
Duration: 1h 54m 17s
Synopsis: An exploration into the lives, backgrounds, and political journeys of the presidential candidates of 2012, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. It highlights decisive moments, personal stories, and the political landscape.
Focus: Personal histories, political ideologies, and campaigns of Obama and Romney.
Key Themes
Barack Obama
Personal Background
Born in Hawaii, son of an African father and a white mother from Kansas.
Lived in Indonesia and later raised by his grandparents in Hawaii.
Struggled with racial identity as a child.
Formed "The Choom Gang" during high school.
Political Career
Worked as a community organizer in Chicago.
Attended Harvard Law School, became the first black president of the Harvard Law Review.
U.S. Senator for Illinois.
Presidential Campaign: Focused on unity and bipartisanship.
Presidency
Faced challenges in uniting a polarized nation.
Passed the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) with no Republican support.
Emphasized covert operations and targeted killings, notably the killing of Osama bin Laden.
Mitt Romney
Personal Background
Grew up in an affluent Detroit neighborhood, youngest of four children.
Deep Mormon faith with a family history dating back to the church's earliest days.
Attended Cranbrook School and later Stanford, became a missionary in France.
Business career at Bain Capital, specialized in turnarounds and leveraged buyouts.
Political Career
Ran unsuccessfully against Ted Kennedy for the U.S. Senate.
Governor of Massachusetts, known for Romneycare, the precursor to the Affordable Care Act.
Presidential Campaign: Positioned as a turnaround specialist focused on economic reform.
Major Conflicts and Campaign Strategies
Obama's Challenges
Struggled to achieve bipartisanship promised in his campaign.
Faced a significant backlash from Republicans, particularly over healthcare reform.
Managed economic challenges and covert operations, balancing public image.
Romney's Campaign
Transitioned from moderate to more conservative positions to align with the Republican party.
Romneycare became a contentious issue during the Republican primaries.
Positioned as a successful businessman with the ability to fix economic problems.
Conclusion
Election 2012: A decision between two contrasting paths for America, shaped by the personal histories and political visions of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
Legacy: Both candidates presented as having a sense of destiny, and the election as a pivotal point for the nation’s future.