Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Bradley Whitford Slams 'Rational Republicans' As The 'Fakest' Thing About 'The West Wing'

Bradley Whitford Slams 'Rational Republicans' As The 'Fakest' Thing About 'The West Wing'
Erik Voake / Stringer / Getty Images

The West Wing was an American political drama that ran from 1999 to 2006.

The show gave a fictitious look at daily life in the federal government as the administration tackled political issues.


The show was extra fictitious if you were to ask Bradley Whitford, who was a series regular for all seven seasons. Whitford told Buzzfeed on their AM2DM show that the most fake thing about the series was "rational Republicans".

You can see the interview below.

Whitford, who recently won an Emmy for his role as Commander Joseph Lawrence in Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, was a little shy about sharing his opinion.

When asked about how The West Wing would be different if made today he giggles a little before saying:

"The fakest thing about that show was that we had rational Republicans."
"That's a creature that used to exist."

Which considering the current state of politics, isn't the most inaccurate statement in the world.

He goes on to say that the current political climate is so much different from when the show came out, there's no way it could be the same.

"Unfortunately, because somehow we've gotten to this place where if we don't agree politically it's not just that we don't agree politically, it's that the other person is insane."
"I'm guilty of that kind of thinking."

Whitford's comments had a lot of people nodding in agreement.



However, some think he's being a little revisionist. After all, The West Wing was seen as such a liberal fantasy that it used to have the nickname The Left Wing.

It also existed in a world where people thought zippy one liners and rational evidence could shut down a disagreement. It posited the idea that our government officials were very rational, even though it aired while our government was ramping up for the ill-fated Iraq war.

The West Wing was good television, and we could hope for worst fantasies for our leaders. But it's still just as fictional and unrealistic as Game of Thrones.

Basically, there's no reason the show couldn't come back today.

(Aaron Sorkin, if you're reading, I'm a big fan. Please bring it back.)




The interview with AM2DM continued, asking Whitford who his character Josh Lyman would support in the upcoming election.

He believes Josh would be very 'pragmatic' and support Pete Buttigieg in the primary.

"I think Josh would be one of those people that want to strengthen Obamacare, get a public option in."

That doesn't mean it's who he genuinely wants.

Whitford speculates that if not for his pragmaticism...

"I think he'd like Elizabeth Warren a lot."

Which has people wondering what characters would say about the current primaries.



Bradley Whitford may have let his own political views slip in this interview. Earlier this year, he hosted a fundraiser for Buttigieg.

Does this mean he actually supports Warren?

Who can say?

Whitford is producing and starring in the new NBC comedy Perfect Harmony. The musical series is about a choir group of misfits in a small town, and premieres September 26th, 2019.

You can get The West Wing complete series here.

*****

Listen to the first season of George Takei's podcast, 'Oh Myyy Pod!' where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.

Be sure to subscribe here and never miss an episode.

More from Trending

Kim Kardashian; Kimi Antonelli
Pascal Le Segretain/WireImage/Getty Images; Luca Barsali/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Kim Kardashian Just Sent A Peace Offering After She Sparked Backlash By Stealing Teen F1 Driver's Towel

At just 19 years old, Andrea Kimi Antonelli seems barely old enough to have a driver's license. But instead of cruising around town with friends, he's driving over 200 miles per hour through the streets of major cities as a Formula One (F1) racer.

The Italian driver, who prefers to be called Kimi, isn't just an also ran either—he's already won won five Grand Prix races since his 2025 debut with Team Mercedes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jesse Watters; Hillary Clinton
Fox News; Dominik Bindl/Getty Images

Jesse Watters Ripped Live On Air After His Overtly Sexist Rant About Hillary Clinton's Place In History

Even Fox News personality Jesse Watters' own colleagues pushed back after he dismissed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as just a "female" who will be a "footnote" in history following her remarks that former President Joe Biden's reelection bid was a "terrible mistake" for the Democrats.

Clinton argued that Biden's first significant error was deciding to seek a second term after initially presenting himself as a bridge to a new generation of Democratic leadership.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jon Ossoff; Donald Trump
MS NOW; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Jon Ossoff Masterfully Hits Back After 'Unstable' Trump Tries To Insult Him With Cringey New Nickname

Georgia Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff hit back at President Donald Trump after Trump branded him "Jon Os(jerk!)off" in an unhinged post following the Republican runoff results.

In this year's midterm election, Ossoff will face Representative Mike Collins, Trump's preferred candidate, after Collins defeated fellow Republican Derek Dooley in Tuesday's GOP runoff.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peter Doocy; Donald Trump
Fox News; Magali Cohen/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images

Fox News Just Told The Truth About Why Iran Is So 'Eager' To Sign Onto Trump's New 'Deal'

In an unexpected twist for Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, nepo-baby White House correspondent Peter Doocy called out MAGA Republican President Donald Trump's deal to end the war he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel provoked with Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz that was closed because of their actions.

The son of Fox News veteran Steve Doocy spoke to Fox News host Will Cain on Tuesday from Geneva, Switzerland, where Trump was attending the G7 Summit. Cain asked Doocy if he could hear what Trump said, to which he replied that he could and that he agreed with Trump's assertion that he's "very rich."

Keep ReadingShow less
Three children blowing out birthday candles; Tweet by @Liza137823
Dennis Hallinan/Getty Images; @Liza137823/X

X User Dragged After Complaining About Neighbor Hosting Birthday Party With Six Kids In Backyard

Not everyone likes children or hearing kid noises or activities, but when you are in close proximity to a child-friendly space, you're going to hear some of it, whether that's at a park or even living next door.

X user @Liza137823 got onto the platform expecting to receive validation and comfort from her fellow X users, but all she received were critiques when she complained about a kid's birthday party happening without getting her permission first.

Keep ReadingShow less