The West Wing's take on religion and politics.

Longhorn

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Fri Mar-25-05 10:37 AM
Original message

The West Wing's take on religion and politics.

Did you catch Wednesday's episode where the Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Vinnick, played by Alan Alda, reveals to President Bartlett that he is an atheist? And he warned the press and the public that he would not answer any questions about religion, that if they had such questions, "Go to church," that we can't have a separation of church and state if you have to prove you're religious before you can even get elected.

No way this character is a Republican!!

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onager

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Fri Mar-25-05 11:00 AM
Response to Original message

1. Reminds me of...

Edited on Fri Mar-25-05 11:02 AM by onager

...the political movie thriller, "The Contender." Joan Allen played an atheist and pro-choice Republican who's recently switched to the Democrats.

In our current climate, this really verged on sci-fi/fantasy!:-)

The great Philip Baker Hall played Allen's father, who is also an atheist and an ACLU-type lawyer.

There's a great scene where Hall hears his little grandson talking about Jebus. He good-naturedly tells Allen something like: "I fought in the courts for years so he wouldn't be exposed to that nonsense about Jesus in the public schools."

Allen responds that the kid believes in Jesus right now, but he also believes in Santa and the Tooth Fairy.

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Longhorn

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Fri Mar-25-05 11:07 AM
Response to Reply #1

2. I don't think I've seen that one.

Isn't there a sex scandal that threatens her candidacy? I'll have to watch for it and check it out. Thanks!

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onager

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Fri Mar-25-05 11:46 PM
Response to Reply #2

4. Yes!

The Vice-President dies and Allen is nominated to be his successor.

Gary Oldman plays the Gingrichoid right-winger who wants to bring her down. This was one of Oldman's best performances ever, IMO.

Since "everybody has done something," as Robert Penn Warren noted a long time ago in All The King's Men, Allen soon has an old scandal resurface.

Will refrain from posting any spoilers...

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progressoid

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Fri Mar-25-05 06:27 PM
Response to Original message

3. It was an interesting twist

It was poignant yet quite fantastic. I know a couple atheist Republicans, but I can't imagine any Rep politicians actually coming out. At least not in today's political climate.

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Blue Gardener

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Sat Mar-26-05 06:58 PM
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5. It was great

I would almost vote for a Republican if they were like Vinnick.
I want Jimmy Smits to win though.

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