Aaron Sorkin: The West Wing’s ‘Reasonable’ Republican Party Would Be ‘Unfamiliar’ to Today’s Viewers
As the 25th anniversary of The West Wing‘s Sept. 22, 1999 premiere draws near, series creator Aaron Sorkin was asked how the acclaimed White House drama would play today.
The NBC drama, which ran for seven seasons and collected 27 total Emmy Awards (including Outstanding Drama every year from 2000 to 2003), followed the administration of fictitious Democratic President Josiah Bartlet, played by Martin Sheen.
Noteworthy Republican characters who entered the mix over the series’ run included (but were not limited to) White House Counsel Ainsley Hayes (played by Emily Procter), Florida Governor/presidential nominee Robert Ritchie (James Brolin), White House Counsel Joe Quincy (Matthew Perry), California Senator Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) and Missouri Rep. Glen Allen Walken (John Goodman) — and Sorkin has to wonder if as a whole, they would feel like an anachronism in these post-2000 times.
Appearing at a Saturday event in support of the upcoming book What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service, Sorkin said (per sister site THR), “I don’t want to get a rumble started over anything… and maybe things will be different a year from now, or two years from now… but right now, it would be implausible that the opposition party, that the Republican Party [as portrayed on The West Wing], was reasonable.
“People would watch that and it would be unfamiliar to them as the country that they live in,” he continued. “On the show, while the Republicans were the opposition, they were reasonable, the Republicans that they dealt with.”
Even so, Sorkin believes The West Wing could work today, “for roughly the same reason it worked when it did, which is that, first of all, it was a good show, just good stories well-told by a great group of people.”
What do you think of Sorkin’s POV? Have you given The West Wing a recent rewatch, and found elements simply outdated?
Nope.
Both parties have changed, but the left has gotten far more unrecognizable since 2000.
We are in an era of cancel culture and virtue signaling and as a result people are overreacting to the very reasonable proposals the Republicans have. Conversely, Democrats are so afraid of offending people with purple hair on Twitter that they embrace the most outlandish policies, and screw the majority to appease a very small minority.
Al Gore did not mention climate change at the debates when he was running. He talked about letting states control their own education system. Do you think he would have a space in the party today?
You haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about. Mainstream Democrats have only grown more Centrist, while the vast majority of the Republican Party has been taken over by a Treasonous Felon who helps them with their Christo-Fascist agenda.
Lie and project all you like…sensible people are unimpressed.
It’s hard to even relate their mindset to Christianity at this point; it’s an insult to actual Christians who believe in charity, equity, and loving one’s neighbors as oneself. Theirs is a much more Old Testament outlook, eye-for-an-eye-like.
That is hardly true. Democrats have largely got dragged further left just as Republicans have been dragged more right. For all the good the internet and social media has done it has created an environment that amplifies the extremes on both sides and gives them tools to shut down those with more centralist ideas. It just drives people away from the center (or atleast from expressing centralist views) and either draws people towards into their orbit or pushes people more and more to the other side. And it also creates an echo chamber that just reinforces increasingly extreme views
even if its true which it is not, extreme left seems far more reasonable
The extreme left is every bit as bad as the extreme right. But the extreme left is a tiny portion of the Democratic party. The extreme right is the majority of the republican party. Not a huge majority, but a majority. Probably about 55-60 percent of the Republicans share at least some to many beliefs associated with the extreme right. It is probably 10-15% of the Dems that are far left. And the main body of the Dems at least attempt to counterbalance the extreme left. The Repubs have just cowtowed to the extreme right.
Are they really though? Take the trans-lobby. Is it reasonable to try bully and even try and get them fired just because they don’t believe in your extreme view that anyone on a whim should be able to self-identify that they are trans without getting a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria and then get the legal rights of the gender they identify as? This includes people who aren’t in the ‘destroy all trans people camp’ and are actually left leaning but feel there is way more nuance to the situation than the trans lobby think there is (the trans lobby seem to think there is such a thing as a trans person that can be legislate for when its a grouping that is so wide that you really can’t. It’s one thing legislating that a fully transitioned trans-women should be allowed to use women’s safe spaces, its another to legislate that someone who isn’t transitioning but which they consider trans should be legally allowed). I don’t think any side that basically tries to use fear to shut down proper and valid discussions using fear and intimidation can be described as ‘more reasonable’, they are just as unreasonable as the other side, its just a different set of tactics
LOL
The Squad is reasonable?
The democrats are center right by international standards, people like AOC would be more to the left but still moderate. This idea that the democrats are “radical left” is ridiculous.
not even close to the truth regarding the Dems.
the GOP were always moving right, courting the Christian right but have lost its integrity since the Tea Party era and now with the Orange one in charge.
He knows more than you. I have been following politics for over 40 years and the left has gone WAY further to the left than the right has to the right. Not even close. The Democratic Party has been eveil since the late 50’s/early 60’s. They are the party that is threatening Democracy. They relazied that Biden wasn’t going to win and they wnet AROUND the primaries to get the person they wanted on the ticket. Regardless of your Ideology, that’s not a good thing & you have to be blind (or dishonest) not to see it.
So…people wanted Biden to drop out because they were worried about his mental state, but now people are complaining and calling it cheating when he did do that and Kamala, his VP, takes his spot.
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Wow. Just can’t win with some people either way, apparently.
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Also, I’m still very curious as to how the Democratic Party has gone too far too the left and what policies of theirs will somehow destroy our democracy. Last I checked, it wasn’t the Democrats whose followers staged an attempted insurrection because they were upset over the presidential election results, and whose leader encouraged and allowed for such a thing to happen.
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But sure. They’re the threat, not the party that tried to disrupt a peaceful transfer of power. Okay. The alternate world some of you live in must be wild.
1.) Packing the Supreme Court
2.) Forcing people to buy cars they neither want nor can afford
3.) Increasing the costs of everything from electricity to food to insurance to property taxes
4.) Zero effect in foreign wars despite spending billions of dollars
5.) Allowing 20 million illegal immigrants to cross the border with tens of millions waiting to cross,
So you are mad for imaginary reasons?
The “evil” party is the one that will lie, cheat, and steal to make this a fascist country.
Spoiler: It ain’t the Democrats.
Dems have moved to the extreme left on all issues while the Republicans are now more moderate. As an example, trump supports gay rights. I am not happy with either party and I was Ronald Reagan Republican.
eh, that not what is happening.
Reasonable proposals? Like ignoring climate change, heavier abortion restrictions, and going back to trickle down economics? And contrary to popular belief, the economy doesn’t instantly change when a new president is sworn in. Obama spent 8 years building up the economy after Bush destroyed it. And Trump enjoyed the benefits of that until he rode it into the ground yet again. Meanwhile the Democrats propose completely reasonable things like a higher minimum wage, paid leave, lower taxes on the middle class and higher ones on the super wealthy, investing in clean energy, universal background checks for guns, abortion access, etc. All of these are policies supported by the majority of Americans according to countless polls. The main issue with Democrats is they’re notoriously bad at articulating this, or properly taking credit when they spend years thanklessly fixing what Republicans broke and then getting voted out just as things turn around.
No one is denying climate change. We’re just not as alarmed about man-made climate change as other people. We’re still far greener than China and India, yet we’re supposed to pay the bulk of the freight with technology that we can’t afford to implement. As to abortion, if killing babies is that important to you, you can move to a state with more liberal abortion policies. This should be decided on a state-by-state basis. And how is that higher minimum wage working out in California? Companies are filing for bankruptcy, because they can’t afford their work force. And those that aren’t going broke are jacking up their prices in order to survive. I’m solidly middle-class and it was President Trump that lowered my taxes, and President Biden (or whomever is pulling the strings) that has raised my grocery bill by about 30%.
@Bill Wilson: Women having the right to control their reproductive choices should never be left up to the states. That should be guaranteed nationwide. Telling women to simply “move” in response to this shows just how little understanding you have of the issue. Especially given the GOP wants a nationwide ban on abortion and have been actively trying to bar women from traveling across state lines to go to states that are more liberal on this matter. Thanks for reminding everyone yet again why men need to stay out of this issue.
“Cancel culture is bad!” exclaim the people who shun and disfellowship in the name of religion.
“Cancel culture” – remind me which party is the one actively trying to remove books from schools and public libraries that might have even the slightest mention of anything LGBTQ+ in them? Which party’s supporters had a meltdown over Bud Light because they had a transgender person promoting the beer? Which party is flipping out over anyting relating to rainbows, ’cause, again, LGBTQ+ connection?
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Hint, it ain’t the Democrats.
And now the right wants to boycott Dunkin’ Donuts because they don’t want to advertise on Twitter. You can’t make this **** up.
Why exactly do school children need to learn about sexual identities in grade school? That’s just obscene
Most of the Republicans ideas have a very Russia or China leaning to them,
Ban protests we don’t agree with
Fire all staff that don’t share the same far right views
Ban abortions
Ban trans care
Ban books we don’t agree with
Do away with elections
Arrest people that don’t share our views
End freedom of the press
With a healthy dose of Sharia, extremist Islam thrown in.
Um did you even pay attention to Trump’s residency? He raised tariffs on all goods coming into this country from China and other foreign nations. Was well on the road to giving us fossil fuel freedom. And incentivized American companies for not taking jobs overseas. So how’s that revisionist history of yours look?
Dude the maga cult ate the republican party…
Pres Bartlet would not recognize his party. Men playing women’s sports; children taken away from families who will not agree to sex changes for their minors; abortions up to, and including day of birth.
More Christo-Fascist lies from Treasonous MAGAts. Is it possible for you people to speak truth at least occasionally?
Is it possible for you to discuss anything without resulting to calli g anyone who doesn’t agree with you names? Goes to show th3 compassion your party has for the rest of America
“Aborting” fetuses up to birth is the stupidest lie. This baby murder fantasy is delusional and frankly frightening. Seek help and probably stay away from children.
What the heck are you talking about? None of those things exist.
Get help bigot
Whos the bigot?
I think both parties have changed over the years, but there’s no comparison to how much Democrats have been radicalized over the last 20 years or so. They can’t even call themselves Democrats anymore, they’ve went so far left that they should have a totally different name/label
Probably right went so far right that left looks extreme left
Republicans since 2015 see a traitorous, adulterous, failed businessman, racist, pedophilia weirdo who wants to date his daughter and be like “yup that’s our guy”
Yeah, Biden showering with his teenage grand daughter gives off the pedo vibes you’re talking about.
OK show me when this happened. You people are weird and have some wild imaginations.
Centrist here. Truth is both parties have changed A LOT. And extremists have also been way louder in both parties during the last few decades. From radical cancel culture without due process to a blatant homophobia and discrimination, i think none of them look anywhere near where they used to be.
That said. Characters like Trump and recent Republican decisions regarding women’s rights, dont say gay, gun control, hipocricy regarding family values, etc make me think they have taken a bigger turn for the worse.
I don’t really understand the hate on cancel culture. If people are choosing to no longer support someone based on their actions or even alleged actions.. that’s kind of their choice, is it not? Like a bakery that chooses not to make cakes for gay weddings. They exercise their right to refuse service to anyone and people exercise their right to no longer give them business. Then the bakery complains about cancel culture tanking their business. It’s so hypocritical.
As would the Democratic Party. Both have been taken over by extremists…
Why does this comment thread feel like the article was posted on a MAGA Reddit thread with the instruction to post as many comments calling Democrats “extremists” as possible?
I am an ex-Democrat who is now an Independent. YES – that party has gone too far left and I saw it several years ago. Bodily autonomy except when it comes to forcing people to take vaccines; being against censorship of library books but okay with it if it is something they don’t want to hear. You cannot be FOR something part of the time – you are either FOR it all of the time or not. Forcing people to buy electric cars and doing away with industries that employ thousands of people (who cannot afford electric cars) – then saying you care about poor people? I don’t think so. I am not a Republican – just saying don’t say the Democrats have not changed because they have and I’m a 60-year-old woman who left them 10 years ago after voting FOR them since I was 18…
Bodily autonomy except when it comes to forcing people to take vaccines;
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Difference is, if I have an abortion, it does not have any impact on anyone other than myself. Other women’s health and pregnancies aren’t affected or altered in any way by me making this choice.
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If I refuse to get vaccinated to protect against a deadly virus in a pandemic, on the other hand, and I infect other people around me with said deadly virus, that DOES have an impact, both directly on the person/people I infect and the public at large.
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So no, not comparable situations. At all. When your actions start affecting others around you, it’s not a personal choice anymore.
I disagree – sorry. I’ve been sick countless times in my life and from your logic I should hunt down the person who made me sick each time. Its ridiculous! So no – I don’t have to take a vaccine (which does not work most of the time) just to make you feel safe.
As for censorship I abhor all of it – including book banning and those in charge labeling things “misinformation” so they can shut it down. A free society has true freedom of speech – even the speech you don’t like…
Sorkin is right. I was a Republican, and I am a Southerner and a Christian (United Methodist), and I don’t recognize my party either. I now classify myself as a center right Independent, and the last two presidential elections I haven’t voted for either of the two choices that I have been given. I have instead written in my own choice because I’m not supportive of the left, but I cannot and will not support Trump’s Alt Right Republican party either. As a moderate conservative, I now feel lost in my country. I watched The West Wing, and my favorite character remains Emily Procter’s Ainsley Hayes. I was in college/vet school at the time the West Wing aired, and for the first time I saw a female fictional character from my region of the country who shared my political viewpoint depicted on screen, and she wasn’t a villain. It was refreshing.
The same can be said of the Democrat party as well. Both parties are worlds apart from where they were 25 years ago, and neither for the better.
The comment of the day award goes to Rufus. Most people who are members of a particular PARTY cannot see things – and don’t want to HEAR things that are true. Some of us are Independents and we CAN see that both have changed. I worry about the future of this country and the idiots who are in it. Half of them have no clue how many states there are, Senators there are or what the 3 branches of the federal government are. But they will vote according to whatever someone says on TikTok. I fear we are doomed…
Dems have moved to the extreme left on all issues while the Republicans are now more moderate. As an example, trump supports gay rights. I am not happy with either party and I was Ronald Reagan Republican.
The right has gone 100 percent ChristoFascistpropaganda. And Trump only loves himself and his yespeople.
I enjoyed The West Wing and I would enjoy a reboot. Aaron Sorkin has been involved in some of my favorite television
I barely made it into season two of The West Wing. I found his conservative characters to be stereotypical strawmen and women, and I gave up on it.
Let’s face it, The West Wing was a liberal fantasy show even 25 years ago with no basis in reality for either side.
vinick was a republican many would vote for if he was real.
‘ White House Counsel Ainsley Hayes (played by Emily Procter), Florida Governor/presidential nominee Robert Ritchie (James Brolin), White House Counsel Joe Quincy (Matthew Perry), California Senator Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) and Missouri Rep. Glen Allen Walken (John Goodman)’
all reasonable except for ritche.
‘well, crime, what are going to do?’
From an unbiased source…
Sorkin is a fool. Immediately after Biden stepped down, Sorkin published an op-ed in the NY Times suggesting Democrats nominate Mitt Romney as a unity candidate. Romney. The guy Biden said was trying to put black people back in chains. Now Sorkin is saying the same tired thing Democrats say every election season. Oh, Reagan, (Bush, McCain, Romney) wouldn’t recognize today’s Republicans. They’ll be saying the same thing next cycle about whomever is the nominee.
Had no idea a West Wing book is being published, one of my favorite shows in college – adding to my reading list. Thank you TVLine for this excellent FYI this morning :)
He’s absolutely correct, of course. Where are the Arnie Vinicks of today?
Hahahaha…I love how it’s the Republicans now that are unreasonable. Always the Republicans. Like the Democrats are just so perfect & absolutely reasonable creatures. They wouldn’t be the ones violently protesting in the streets every time they don’t get their way or anything like they, would they? That’s just one example. We live in such an incredibly biased world. It’s so sad.
It was unreasonable back then; a partisan Democrat’s paean to Ike that died when they destroyed Nixon.
This comment is absurd.
“On the show, while the Republicans were the opposition, they were reasonable, the Republicans that they dealt with.”
Meanwhile, in real life the Democrats are the most unreasonable group in politics. You don’t have to go far left to find just how unreasonable they are. Cancel culture exists because of them being unreasonable and this statement from Sorkin again leans into that point by saying Republicans today are unreasonable (unlike us).
Self reflection is a hell of a thing. That is the problem with politics today, on both sides.
Because the “reasonable “ Democrats are so wonderful. Burning down cities, ruining private businesses which people saved for and now are broke, attacking people for wearing a red hat which doesn’t even say what they think it says (don’t ever wear a red ball cap again people). Blocking highways so people can’t get to work or school or to pick up their children. I could go on and on about those “mostly peaceful “ people.