the film generated criticism and controversy after its release shortly before the 2004 united states presidential election. british-american journalist and literary critic christopher hitchens contended that "fahrenheit 9/11" contains distortions and untruths. this drew several rebuttals, including an efilmcritic article and a columbus free press editorial. former democratic mayor of new york city ed koch, who had endorsed president bush for re-election, called the film propaganda. in response, moore published a list of facts and sources for "fahrenheit 9/11" and a document that he says establishes agreements between the points made in his film and the findings of the 9/11 commission.