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I was a big fan of the West Wing, especially in the early seasons. After a small drop in quality when Aaron Sorkin left, it came back strong in its last season with the Presidential election storyline of Democrat Matthew Santos (Jimmy Smits) running against Republican Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) . The strange thing now is just how much it resembles the real 2008 Presidential election of Democrat Barack Obama running against Republican John McCain.
Similarities between Obama and Santos
In the West Wing, the Democrat, Matt Santos won. In 2008, the outcome has yet to be decided. Let's hope that real life continues to copy the West Wing.
Similarities between Obama and Santos
- Both minorities
- Both had very little national experience
- Both speak extremeley well
- Both are young, good looking and charismatic
- Both are white men
- Both have years of experience
- Both are moderate republicans with very conservative vice presidential picks
- Both are not so young, Vinick was 66, McCain is 72
- In both situations a democrat that ran in the primaries was found to have had an affair (West Wing former VP, Hoynes; 2008, Edwards)
- Both very close races
In the West Wing, the Democrat, Matt Santos won. In 2008, the outcome has yet to be decided. Let's hope that real life continues to copy the West Wing.
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Oh my goodness! My husband and I were just talking about this last week. It is eerily similar, but television is so much more entertaining. Plus, the West Wing wasn't plastering my neighborhood with campaign signs or having the party call me twice a day.
People say this every year but this year is the year that is for real! This is going to be the most exciting election in decades! If not CENTURY! It will be a tight race. I want Obama to win just so I watch FOX news make fun of him. Fox news is very entertaining if you are not very sensitive about political issue. They put on a good show over there. okay i digress..sorry
The scriptwriters for the West Wing interviewed Obama when putting together the series. There were articles written on this during the primary season.
If you listen to Santos's speech about "Hope" which (was posted on YouTube and got attention this week because it was given in front of the Walter Reed Middle School that appeared behind McCain during his convention speech!) you'll see how much his speech echoes those Obama was giving during his run for the Senate.
Just wanted to know I appreciated this post, and as someone interested in the connections between cultural stories and life, just blogged about the last night's presidential debates and their connections to West Wing: http://deborahleiter.blogspot.com/2008/09/life-imitates-art-debate-formats.html
Well.. interesting prediction and Obama really won. Just hope he can be as great as Matt Santos