Alex does just this , interviewing most of the old campaign staffers and her father before going to the 2004 Democratic Convention in Boston with her film crew to compare and contrast it with the 1988 Democratic National Convention where her father lost the nomination . Along the way , one of her crew members , Salim ( Aasif Mandvi ) , is repeatedly stopped and frisked by police because of his Arab ethnicity . There she meets up with TJ , her father 's old campaign manager , who is now advising John Kerry . While TJ provides assistance to Alex , she also advises Jack that he is being considered for a position in the administration , should Kerry win the election . She says he would need to make sure footage from Alex 's documentary of him attacking the Iraq War is removed and destroyed , so as not to potentially embarrass Kerry . Jack asks Alex to remove and destroy the footage , which she considers the best part of her documentary . Alex becomes very upset and disillusioned with her father . ( It is also implied that she has had a falling out with him . ) She eventually destroys her whole film , looking to move on with her life
1988 Democratic National Convention
1988 Democratic National Convention
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