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Politics
Bradley Whitford Slams 'Rational Republicans' As The 'Fakest' Thing About 'The West Wing'
25 September 2019
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.
<p>
The show was extra fictitious if you were to ask Bradley Whitford, who was a series regular for all seven seasons. W<a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/davidmack/bradley-whitford-west-wing-republicans-mayor-pete-buttigieg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hitford told <em>Buzzfeed</em></a><u><em> </em></u>on their AM2DM show that the most fake thing about the series was "rational Republicans".
</p><p><strong>You can see the interview below.</strong>
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="11455" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ZKEA7E1569449160"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1176652032016408576" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">.@BradleyWhitford on how "The West Wing" would be different if it were made today: "The fakest thing about that sho… https://t.co/Xp1iFkmgcC</div> — AM2DM by BuzzFeed News (@AM2DM by BuzzFeed News)<a href="https://twitter.com/AM2DM/statuses/1176652032016408576">1569370680.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
Whitford, who recently won an Emmy for his role as Commander Joseph Lawrence in Hulu's <em>The Handmaid's Tale</em>, was a little shy about sharing his opinion.<br>
</p><p>
<strong>When asked about how <em>The West Wing</em> would be different if made today he giggles a little before saying:</strong>
</p><blockquote>
<em>"The fakest thing about that show was that we had rational Republicans." <br>
</em><em>"That's a creature that used to exist."</em>
</blockquote><p>
Which considering the current state of politics, isn't the most inaccurate statement in the world.
</p><p>
<strong>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.</strong>
</p><p><div id="insticator-container" class="embedid-c230ccfe-b34e-4c23-8bb0-aaf80e33dfdf"><div id="div-insticator-ad-1"></div><div id="insticator-embed"></div><div id="div-insticator-ad-2"></div><script data-cfasync="false" type="text/javascript">Insticator.ad.loadAd("div-insticator-ad-1");Insticator.ad.loadAd("div-insticator-ad-2");Insticator.load("em",{id : "c230ccfe-b34e-4c23-8bb0-aaf80e33dfdf"})</script></div></p><blockquote>
<em>"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." <br>
</em><em>"I'm guilty of that kind of thinking."</em>
</blockquote><p>
<strong>Whitford's comments had a lot of people nodding in agreement.</strong></p><p><div data-conversation-spotlight=""></div></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="8e207" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="UB09GO1569449160"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1176557887159558147" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@BuzzFeedNews As a former Republican, I agree.</div> — Supercords (@Supercords)<a href="https://twitter.com/Supercords/statuses/1176557887159558147">1569348234.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
<br>
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="c1ac9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1NG32M1569449160"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1176570940836200448" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@BuzzFeed @BradleyWhitford "The fakest thing about that show was that we had rational Republicans,"
Where have you gone Arnie Vinnick?</div> — Jolly (@Jolly)<a href="https://twitter.com/jolly1766/statuses/1176570940836200448">1569351346.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
<br>
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="69fa7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="BMUDS71569449161"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1176584998524088320" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I wish Josh and "The West Wing" characters were real or remotely resembled actual White House inhabitants today.… https://t.co/xshCInHdxr</div> — Michelle Schall (@Michelle Schall)<a href="https://twitter.com/michelles816/statuses/1176584998524088320">1569354698.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>However, some think he's being a little revisionist. After all, <em>The West Wing</em> was seen as such a liberal fantasy that <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160731203723/http://www.jewishjournal.com/up_front/article/the_left_wing_20011012" target="_blank">it used to have the nickname</a> <em>The Left Wing</em>.<br></p><p>
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.
</p><p>
<em>The West Wing</em> was good television, and we could hope for worst fantasies for our leaders. But it's still just as fictional and unrealistic as <em>Game of Thrones</em>.
</p><p>
<strong>Basically, there's no reason the show couldn't come back today.</strong>
</p><p>
<em>(Aaron Sorkin, if you're reading, I'm a big fan. Please bring it back.)</em>
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="0339c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ZRIIWI1569449161"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1176574328944635907" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Actually the fakest thing about the show is his pronunciation of "*DeKalb* County, Georgia." https://t.co/p719Mjx3P7</div> — Brandon Howell (@Brandon Howell)<a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonDHowell/statuses/1176574328944635907">1569352154.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
<br>
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="e9356" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="XVHPKQ1569449161"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1176554074751340544" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@BuzzFeedNews No, Brad. It didn't.</div> — Cultural_Richard_Marxism (@Cultural_Richard_Marxism)<a href="https://twitter.com/swjr0822/statuses/1176554074751340544">1569347325.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
<br>
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="ffdad" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="GQU5I81569449161"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1176566202438565888" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Former Chief of Staff Josh Lyman supports @PeteButtigieg this is cannon send tweet. @PeteForAmerica… https://t.co/F8oolNloWq</div> — Kelsi Constant (@Kelsi Constant)<a href="https://twitter.com/KelsiConstant/statuses/1176566202438565888">1569350216.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
<br>
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="7856c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="I7H7HM1569449161"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1176574648282157058" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@thehill Actually, the GOP would bear more resemblance to Gilead from his other show.</div> — Matthew Cissna (@Matthew Cissna)<a href="https://twitter.com/CissnaMatthew/statuses/1176574648282157058">1569352230.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
The interview with AM2DM continued, asking Whitford who his character Josh Lyman would support in the upcoming election.<br>
</p><p>
<strong>He believes Josh would be very 'pragmatic' and support Pete Buttigieg in the primary.</strong>
</p><blockquote>
<em>"I think Josh would be one of those people that want to strengthen Obamacare, get a public option in."</em>
</blockquote><p>
That doesn't mean it's who he genuinely wants.
</p><p>
<strong>Whitford speculates that if not for his pragmaticism...</strong>
</p><blockquote>
<em>"I think he'd like Elizabeth Warren a lot."</em>
</blockquote><p>
<strong>Which has people wondering what characters would say about the current primaries.</strong>
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="e7981" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2WUTWA1569449161"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1176574311865507840" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">But would Toby be a Berner? https://t.co/EFtmDVQzGI</div> — Public Defender (@Public Defender)<a href="https://twitter.com/propublic66/statuses/1176574311865507840">1569352150.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
<br>
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="6e306" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="50RKQS1569449162"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1176570583515107329" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Josh Lyman also originally supported John Hoynes in the Dem primary so maybe he's not an expert on this. https://t.co/Fc3gw9QRoL</div> — Billie Jean “Li’l Sebastian” Petty (@Billie Jean “Li’l Sebastian” Petty)<a href="https://twitter.com/KrysMcFly/statuses/1176570583515107329">1569351261.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
<br>
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="c02bd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="YS4HVX1569449162"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1176666414830292992" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">CJ would be a Warren stan & work for her. Toby would act like a Bernie bro to annoy CJ but vote for Warren. Josh wo… https://t.co/tWIF0yCNo5</div> — Claire Jackson (@Claire Jackson)<a href="https://twitter.com/claire_ejackson/statuses/1176666414830292992">1569374109.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
Bradley Whitford may have let his own political views slip in this interview. Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/24/politics/gwyneth-paltrow-bradley-whitford-pete-buttigieg-fundraiser/index.html" target="_blank">he hosted a fundraiser for Buttigieg</a>.<br>
</p><p>
Does this mean he actually supports Warren? </p><p><strong>Who can say?</strong>
</p><p>
Whitford is producing and starring in the new NBC comedy <em>Perfect Harmony</em>. The musical series is about a choir group of misfits in a small town, and premieres September 26<sup>th</sup>, 2019.
</p><p>
You can get <strong><em><a href="https://amzn.to/2lEYmZA" target="_blank">The West Wing</a></em></strong> complete series <strong><em><a href="https://amzn.to/2lEYmZA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a></em></strong>.
</p><p>*****</p><p>Listen to the first season of <strong>George Takei's podcast, '<a href="https://anchor.fm/ohmyyypod"><em>Oh Myyy Pod!</em></a>'</strong> where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.</p><p>Be sure to subscribe <em><strong><a href="https://anchor.fm/ohmyyypod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a></strong></em> and never miss an episode.</p><iframe frameborder="0" height="102px" scrolling="no" src="https://anchor.fm/ohmyyypod/embed/episodes/To-Shame-or-Not-to-Shame-e5cq4a/a-anj696" width="400px"></iframe>
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