It became quite clear to me this weekend that Bill Clinton isn’t reading my blog. If he was, he would have known it was unnecessary to call here and ask us to vote “No on 8″. Wasted energy… my vote is already cast, and my husband is clearly on the “No” side as well.
While I hung up on the previous 5 political calls, something about the voice of a past President on the line causes one to pause and hear him out. We’re actually big Clinton fans here - one of my sweetheart’s most treasured possessions is probably the photo taken of him shaking Clinton’s hand at an industry event. (How lucky is he??!) But certainly, we wouldn’t argue that his was an infallible or inspirational presidency. Interesting to watch, but sometimes more for the Barnum and Bailey aspect than the soaring rhetoric and inspirational stances. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t want to come across as even lukewarm. I’d elect the guy again in a heartbeat… unless he was running against the other president that called us only 20 minutes later…
Who was none other than my most revered elected official - President Josiah Barlett. Okay, okay… I know. He wasn’t REALLY elected – except in our living rooms, where he presided over our nation by seeing the grey in issues, working hard for legislative compromise, and fighting for the good with lofty rhetoric as his battle sword. His was an inspirational presidency – and so, though my votes had already been cast, I also listened to Martin Sheen.
I’ve thought about the fact that I stopped and listened to Sheen MANY, Many, many times now (and only one day has passed). At first, I berated myself. Why pause for a Hollywood celebrity – even if they are a politically active fellow citizen of my state? I find it insulting to think that we’d vote for something just because Cameron Diaz asks us to. It’s even WORSE than the expectation that women would rally around Palin because of her panties.
But when I thought about the two presidents I listened to – the bigger picture came clear. I stopped and listened to Clinton because he was a real President… and it felt odd to hang up on him, even if it was a robo call – clearly understandable. But I stopped and listened to Sheen because he was a really great President… even if it wasn’t real. Sheen’s Bartlett made us feel good about America, about the political process, disagreement, compromise, and sometimes even scandal. America wasn’t easy in the West Wing World… but it was intelligent, reasoned, principled and compassionate. It’s not ridiculous that Sheen’s Bartlett and the West Wing’s America caused me to pause. If only we could expect so much for real….
But today, I’m going to sound completely starry eyed, influenced by Hollywood, and naive and tell you that we can. I’m going to tell you that we are on the brink of a Bartlett presidency… or at least the closest we’ll come, in what I imagine might be my lifetime.
Tomorrow. I believe. We will elect President Barack Obama. Real, and really great. And I don’t care if I sound ridiculous… tomorrow will be an historic day for our Nation. And maybe I won’t pine for the West Wing any longer.
