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Following the Script: Obama, McCain and "The West Wing"

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MissMillie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-30-08 01:31 PM
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Following the Script: Obama, McCain and "The West Wing"
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/arts/television/30wing.html?_r=1&oref=slogin




When Eli Attie, a writer for “The West Wing,” prepared to plot some episodes about a young Democratic congressman’s unlikely presidential bid, he picked up the phone and called David Axelrod.

Mr. Attie, a former speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore, and Mr. Axelrod, a political consultant, had crossed campaign trails before. “I just called him and said, ‘Tell me about Barack Obama,’ ” Mr. Attie said.

Days after Mr. Obama, then an Illinois state senator, delivered an address to the 2004 Democratic National Convention, the two men held several long conversations about his refusal to be defined by his race and his aspirations to bridge the partisan divide. Mr. Axelrod was then working on Mr. Obama’s campaign for the United States Senate; he is now Mr. Obama’a chief strategist.

Four years later, the writers of “The West Wing” are watching in amazement as the election plays out. The parallels between the final two seasons of the series (it ended its run on NBC in May 2006) and the current political season are unmistakable. Fiction has, once again, foreshadowed reality.

Watching “The West Wing” in retrospect — all seven seasons are available on DVD, and episodes can be seen in syndication — viewers can see allusions to Mr. Obama in almost every facet of Matthew Santos, the Hispanic Democratic candidate played by Jimmy Smits. Santos is a coalition-building Congressional newcomer who feels frustrated by the polarization of Washington. A telegenic and popular fortysomething with two young children, Santos enters the presidential race and eventually beats established candidates in a long primary campaign.


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liberal N proud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-30-08 01:35 PM
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1. I hadn't given it much thought but that is exactly what is happening
We will get to see what happens after the inauguration this time.
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Kilroy003 Donating Member (543 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-30-08 01:42 PM
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2. The only glaring difference is
Edited on Thu Oct-30-08 01:44 PM by Kilroy003
Obama's embrace of private schools. Do you think he and Michelle will send the girls to a DC public school? I kinda doubt it, unfortunately.

On edit, I also doubt Michelle has a 'tramp stamp'...
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Justyce Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-30-08 01:45 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. If I was in their position, I wouldn't send my kids to a public school while
he's president. With all the nutjobs & threats already, it's just not worth the risk. Safety first.
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Kilroy003 Donating Member (543 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-30-08 01:47 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. I hear ya. But it still sends a bad message.
Like admitting you 'know' the public schools may not be the safest place for kids. But as long as thier not 'my' kids...
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zbdent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-30-08 02:06 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. security risk, same as when it was Chelsea ...
can you imagine the school that has to host the Secret Service security guards while the elementary school classes go on? Major disruption.

I don't think that Repukes should even go near this one ... they did it in 1993, but as they say, these are dangerous times ...
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iamjoy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-30-08 01:50 PM
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5. Yeah, The Analogy
the analogy was pointed out before the Iowa caucus by a co-worker. He told me had had explained the Democratic race to his mother (a big West Wing fan) and he said Hillary was like Russell, Obama was like Santos and Edwards was like Hoynes. At the time, I was an Edwards backer and I said, "Hey, Edwards didn't have an extramarital affair."

Little did I know...

And yes, art and life imitate each other. It's sometimes hard to tell which follows which.
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