page_title: Fahrenheit 9/11 controversies
section_title: Children of members of Congress serving in Iraq
hierarchical_section_title: Fahrenheit 9/11 controversies / Controversy over the film's content / War in Iraq / Children of members of Congress serving in Iraq
caption_attribution_description: English: Mark Kennedy, U.S. Congressman (R-Minnesota, 2001-2007).
context_page_description: The content of the 2004 documentary film Fahrenheit 9/11 generated controversy before, during, and after its release a few months prior to the 2004 U.S. presidential election. The film, directed by Michael Moore, criticizes the Bush administration's attempt to pursue Osama bin Laden in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks, as well as the Iraq War. Although Fahrenheit 9/11 was generally praised by film critics and won various awards, Bush defenders and several other commentators criticized the film for inconsistencies, lack of context and for being made available online for free download.
context_section_description: Moore says that only one member of Congress had a child serving in Iraq: Army Staff Sergeant Brooks Johnson, the son of Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD). According to Karen Kucher, when Fahrenheit 9/11 was nearing release to the home-video market, two additional Congressmen's children were stationed in Iraq: the son of Congressman Duncan L. Hunter (R-CA), USMC Lieutenant Duncan D. Hunter (who was later elected to Congress himself); and the son of Joe Wilson (R-SC), Army National Guard Captain Alan Wilson.
  Fahrenheit 9/11 also used footage of Moore confronting various members of Congress, encouraging them to enlist their own children to fight in Iraq. Moore approached Congressman Mark Kennedy (R-MN) and showed Kennedy giving Moore a quizzical, confused look. Kennedy expressed displeasure about his portrayal, saying he offered to help Moore and also indicated he had a nephew serving in Afghanistan, but this was edited out of the film.
caption: Congressman Mark Kennedy
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