What you don’t always get from youtube are original dates. Dates posted, sure, but dates of content – seldom. I would love to know when this (what looks to be a political commercial) was filmed. Martin Sheen is just a puppy – no older than Charlie Sheen is now (and maybe even younger) but he looked every bit the part of West Wing’s Pres. Jed Bartlet even then.
This is a powerful message. And it’s perhaps more powerful when you realize Martin Sheen – the man – is a devout Catholic. It’s possible the message in this clip is more applicable today then it was when originally filmed:
Here he is after seven successful seasons of West Wing, reflecting on the role West
Wing may have played in inspiring young Sen. Obama to run for president:
But back to the separation of church and state. I am a huge fan of West Wing. This is one of my favourite scenes between Martin Sheen and Alan Alda - it has that very important message of reminding people how government elections should never be measured in terms of religion. It’s the famous ice cream scene from season seven, set in the kitchen of the White House, after hours:
There’s so much misinformation out there at the moment because the Republicans, Fox News and many Evangelist candidates are shoving it down the throats of anyone who will listen how America was founded on Christianity and that we are a Christian nation. We’re in fact not a Christian nation. The thing that’s always made us attractive to the rest of the world is that we are a multi-cultural, multi-religious nation of differing beliefs, able to co-exist under one roof.
I’ll leave you with another of my favourite men – George Carlin – who infamously said…
“In America, anyone can become president. That’s the problem.”
August 31, 2011 at 7:17 am
This may very well be the first time I regret not ever having been a TV watching woman.
Wish there was a way to “revive” the West Wing, so that people could learn, but I am afraid it would bottom out in the ratings. The climate has changed, and I fear that Mr. Alda’s sentiments are now considered heretic.
Thank you for posting this clip.
August 31, 2011 at 11:51 am
Also a huge fan of the West Wing, complete seasons available on DVD, also individual or complete seasons can be rented on amazon instant video – I just finished watching seasons 1 and 2 again on DVD. Great clip on separation of church and state, especially with the likes of Michele Bachmann saying God was sending a message with the recent earthquakes and hurricane. Of course she backed off saying she was ‘joking’ The joke will be on us if we let one of these looney tunes near the White House.
August 31, 2011 at 12:01 pm
I must say, after hearing the excuse of her comments having been ‘a joke’ I went back and listened to her actual speech twice more. Nowhere in her demeanor, inflections, body language, facial expressions did she even hint she was kidding. She was seriously intending her comments to serve as a wake up call. I hate when people back peddle like that.
If you believe in something, believe in it. Otherwise sit down and shut the Hell up!
*OzMud: Proud owner of all 7 seasons of West Wing!*
August 31, 2011 at 10:18 pm
@OzMud
what I don’t understand, aside from the obvious point that she didn’t appear to be joking as you say – is why no one has pointed out just how disgustingly hideous it is to make a ‘joke’ out of peoples loss of lives (nearly fifty people at last check), the families and friends distraught and torn apart, the massive property damage that has left many homeless and their businesses destroyed.
Why hasn’t the media called her out on that? The original sentiment (ie obviously not joking and deadly serious) was an atrocious evil thought – implying people deserved their fate – but the revised sentiment -oh it was a ‘joke’ was even worse!! Did you know that she actually bragged about her wonderful sense of humour in her explanation? The nerve! The woman was not only covering for an awful evil thing said – but she actually thinks a terrible storm in which tens of people die is not only a laugh, but quite a very good laugh!
Sometimes I think I’m the only person seeing sense. I just want to meet an actual American that supports this woman, that thought her comments on the storm were hilarious, and just ask ‘WHY? What is WRONG with you? How can you be so hateful and proud of it?’
I’m afraid I don’t know anyone of the sort here.
August 31, 2011 at 11:02 pm
Tan, I agree.
I shouted at the screen: “Don’t you realize that people died in this storm?”
It was not only her spoken words, but the body language of absolute arrogance arising from the knowledge that her words would be met with roars of approval.
These people frighten me, because they are devoid of any sort of empathy.
August 31, 2011 at 11:17 pm
@fromthediagonal
I’m relieved I’m not the only one! But where is the media on this one? They should have pinned her down to the original sentiment and challenged her on that:
‘If it was a sign from God, how do we know the message was actually a reaction to a clown such as yourself doing so well in the GOP primaries?’
‘If you claim to know God’s will; well you are claiming you are a prophet. Are you a prophet Mrs Bachmann, or are you breaking the commandment to not bear false witness?’
‘If God is outraged about government spending, why would he send a natural disaster that only serves to further deepen spending and deficits?’
‘Why would you imply that the innocent people killed this week were willingly killed by their own creator? Are you implying they deserved to die, as why else would God choose them?’
‘Finally; are you going to sincerely apologise to the friends and family members of the people killed for further impacting their grief by implying God wanted them dead? Also; are you going to end your campaign here and now out of respect for the results of this gaffe?’
August 31, 2011 at 11:30 pm
Tan, all of those questions you suggested would have been appropriate, but we know that none of that will happen. Most of the media take their orders from those who are working to make a US theo-corporatocray a reality.
August 31, 2011 at 11:30 pm
typo alert: “corporatocracy”
September 1, 2011 at 5:36 pm
When she uttered the totally ridiculous words about God’s message to the US, there was a lot of laughter coming from the audience. I took it to mean that they were laughing AT her stupidity for making such a statement. It then seems reasonable that her advisers reviewed the tape & had her issue her “I was being funny” statement. She certainly didn’t give any indication as she said it that she was joking. She looked like all the other far, far, right fringe evangelists ranting to instill fear and hate in their congregations.
September 1, 2011 at 8:09 pm
KiheiKat, I wish I were as optimistic as you.
Do not forget that these are people who agree with her, otherwise they would not be at her “shows”. She was not joking, and neither were they. She looks like all the other far, far, right fringe evangelists… because she is… and they are.
September 3, 2011 at 3:36 am
Wonderful post Ozmud. I forgot what a great show ‘The West Wing’ was. I will have to look for the DVDs. It was definitely a different era when politicians of different parties could get along like that.