History YMMV / GameChange

* CriticalBacklash: The book and movie in real life, since its' AudienceAlienatingPremise is merged with some very notable and questionable biases.

* UnreliableNarrator: In addition to those portrayed as them in the book and movie, two of the previously unnamed and off-the-record sources for the book have been divulged to be Steve Schmidt and Nicole Wallace. This coupled with the failure of [=McCain's=] campaign effectively sank their careers and made them persona non grata, since not only was it a major breach of "etiquette" for staffers but much of what they said on the record is so dramatically different from what they said off the record that the usual suspicions popped up.

* CriticalResearchFailure: Ironically, one example of the film falling into this, or being accused of it, comes from one in-universe Critical Research Failure: Both Schmidt and their vetting law firm are portrayed as each thinking the other would handle the policy questions with Palin, so none of them were prepared for her serious deficiencies in that area. In reality, there was very little doubt that Arthur Culvahouse was in charge of handling the policy decisions, and he did vet her.
** Palin is told that no vice-presidential candidate has spoken on election night, but Dan Quayle did so in 1992.

* TearJerker: Ted Kennedy, ravaged by brain cancer, coming to speak at the DNC; everyone including himself knew full well it would be his last.

* ApprovalOfGod: Steve Schmidt likened the movie to an out of body experience as it was accurate to how he experienced the 2008 campaign. Nicolle Wallace also said that it was true to her own experiences, as well.

* UnreliableNarrator: In addition to those portrayed as them in the book and movie, two of the previously unnamed and off-the-record sources for the book have been divulged to be Steve Schmidt and Nicole Wallace. This coupled with the failure of [=McCain's=] campaign effectively sank their careers and made them persona non grata, since not only was it a major breach of "ettiquite" for staffers but much of what they said on the record is so dramatically different from what they said off the record that the usual suspicions popped up.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: The film's focus on the Republican side and no plan for a sequel / companion film meaning that the Democrat portion of the book will never got adapted.

* UnreliableNarrator: In addition to those portrayed as them in the book and movie, two of the previously unnamed and off-the-record sources for the book have been divulged to be Steve Schmidt and Nicole Wallace. This coupled with the failure of McCain's campaign effectively sank their careers and made them persona non grata, since not only was it a major breach of "ettiquite" for staffers but much of what they said on the record is so dramatically different from what they said off the record that the usual suspicions popped up.

* CriticalBacklash: Despite the [=McCains=]’ efforts to keep it secret, word got out Lieberman was set to be [=McCain’s=] running mate, setting off anguished cries of [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the end of Conservatism as conservatives knew it]].
** Also the book and movie in real life, since its' AudienceAlienatingPremise is merged with some very notable and questionable biases.
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Obama’s team, in an attempt to combat smears of him being a Muslim terrorist, tried writing ads that played up his patriotism and Christianity. One script went, “If I have the privilege of taking the oath of office, I would do so with my hand on the Bible and pride in my heart.” Obama started reading this, then stopped with a grimace. “Guys, I can’t do this. There are limits.”

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Once it became inevitable that Obama would be the Democratic nominee over Hillary, many of her followers declared they would go with [=McCain=], who increased their support once he chose Sarah Palin.

* HarsherInHindsight: [=McCain=]'s comments about the "dark side of American populism" can sting particularly hard with the rise of Creator/DonaldTrump.
** Heck, a two-part, four-hour ''Frontline'' [[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/divided-states-of-america/ documentary]] linked the rise of Palin's brand of populism ("How's that 'hope-y change-y' stuff workin' out for ya?") to Trump being elected president.
* HeroAntagonist: Barack Obama, at least from the perspective of the liberals who make up most of the movie's fans.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade / [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade Historical Jerkass Upgrade]]: Unsurprisingly for a movie based on contemporary events and with a strong political leaning, the movie (and to a lesser extent the book) have gotten a lot of accusations of this. Probably the most major example are allegations that they did the latter to Palin (with things like ignoring the context of actions like the Alaska poll) and the former with Schmidt (who is strongly suspected to have lied to cover some of his own failings and mistakes on the campaign).

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome:
** Steve telling Palin in no uncertain terms that [[spoiler:she will not steal the spotlight from America's first African-American president and be the first vice-presidential candidate to make a concession speech on election night.]]
** Palin, angry with Nicolle Wallace's coaching of her, cries, "Now I know what Hillary meant when she said she had to find her own voice!", completely ignoring the fact that Hillary Clinton, in addition to being a former First Lady, had a stellar pre-White House legal career and had spent the eight years since her husband's administration as a well-respected Senator -- neither of which could be said for Palin. Wallace shuts her down with an icy, "Yeah. Because you're ''[[PretenderDiss just like]]'' Hillary."

* HarsherInHindsight: McCain's comments about the "dark side of American populism" can sting particularly hard with the rise of Creator/DonaldTrump.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: The film's focus on the Republican side and no plan for a sequel / companion film meaning that the Democrat portion of the book will never gets adapted.

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade / [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade Historical Jerkass Upgrade]]: Unsurprisingly for a movie based on contemporary events and with a strong political leaning, the movie (and to a lesser extent the book) have gotten a lot of accusations of this. Probably the most major example are allegations that they did the latter to Palin (with things like ignoring the context of actions like the Alaska poll) and the former with Schmidt (who is strongly suspected to have lied to cover some of his own failings and mistakes on the campaign).

** Palin, angry with Nicolle Wallace's coaching of her, cries, "Now I know what Hillary meant when she said she had to find her own voice!", completely ignoring the fact that Hillary Clinton, in addition to being a former FIrst Lady, had a stellar pre-White House legal career and had spent the eight years since her husband's administration as a well-respected Senator -- neither of which could be said for Palin. Wallace shuts her down with an icy, "Yeah. Because you're ''[[PretenderDiss just like]]'' Hillary."

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler: Steve telling Palin in no uncertain terms that she will not steal the spotlight from America's first African-American president and be the first vice-presidential candidate to make a concession speech on election night.]]

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade / [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade Historical Jerkass Upgrade]]: Unsurprisingly for a tv series based on contemporary events and with a strong political leaning, the tv series (and to a lesser extent the book) have gotten a lot of accusations of this. Probably the most major example are allegations that they did the latter to Palin (with things like ignoring the context of actions like the Alaska poll) and the former with Schmidt (who is strongly suspected to have lied to cover some of his own failings and mistakes on the campaign).

* HistoricalHeroUpgrade / [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade Historical Jerkass Upgrade]]: Unsurprisingly for a tv series based on contemporary events and with a strong political leaning, the tv series (and to a lesser extent the book) have gotten a lot of accusations of this. Probably the most major example are allegations that they did the latter to Palin, with things like ignoring the context of actions like the Alaska poll.

* HeroAntagonist: Barack Obama, at least from the perspective of the liberals who make up most of the movie's fans.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler: Steve telling Palin in no uncertain terms that she will not steal the spotlight from America's first African-American president and be the first vice-presidential candidate to make a concession speech on election night.]]

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Admit it — no matter where you stand on the political spectrum, seeing the election of America’s first black president is pretty awesome.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Once it became inevitable that Obama would be the Democratic nominee over Hillary, many of her followers declared they would go with [=McCain=], who increased their support once he chose Sarah Palin.

* TearJerker: Ted Kennedy, ravaged by brain cancer, coming to speak at the DNC; everyone including himself knew full well it would be his last.