West Wing: Political Soap Opera © 2001 Philip Ernest Schoenberg, Ph.D. It is hard to believe that West Wing has been on two years as the second television season ended (on May 16, 2001) with President Bartlett facing a scandal over his failure to reveal that he has MS. The first season television finale involved political assassination. We were left wondering who had survived. It was a nice way to get rid of some characters and to add others on this Emmy-winning NBC program. Actor Martin Sheen plays a Democratic President Bartlett on NBC's "The West Wing." On New Year's Day, when asked what advice to offer President-elect George W. Bush, Sheen said, "Just follow his heart and we really, sincerely wish him all the best, and you know, just follow his heart, when he gets in one of those tight spots, just go to his heart and say, 'This is what got me here and this is what will get me through.' " Yet, only weeks later, Sheen informed the BBC that he found Bush "a moron." Sheen the actor should ask himself why West Wing is the only political drama that been a success on television. All other successful political shows have been comedies of some kind. It is because West Wing takes a stand on the issues and political personalities instead of being fuzzy on political parties and namby-pamby on liberal-conservative politics in fear of offending somebody. Viewers of whatever political persuasion can find this television version of politics believable. However, Sheen should take a leaf out of the play book of three notable cowboys. Roy Rogers when asked to run for political office declared he could not do so because his fans were half Republican and half Democratic. Gene Autry, founded the Gene Autry Museum of the Western Heritage, by involving the broad participation of all ethnic groups and points of view. Ronald Reagan, our last cowboy president, always attacked issues, not people. That is why he is well-liked. Once Sheen tries to pontificate as a political prognosticator in the real world, he is removing West Wing from the mythical world and putting it in the world of reality. Half of the program's viewers are Republican or conservative. Why offend them by insulting the fans for their political choices. West Wing is a soap opera like ER, First Watch or Law and Order, and as such bears as much relation to the real thing. The producers of Law and Order fired the actor playing the chief Assistant District Attorney. The actor really wanted to use the program to make comments to make a difference in the real world. The producers preserved the popularity of their franchise. Martin Sheen the television actor will find any downturn in Nielsen television ratings of the viewers' preferences far more devastating than the public opinion polls that President Bartlett always commissions to find out what voters think. As Michael Douglas explained in An American President, you only are as powerful as the last public opinion poll. Sheen should his personal comments to himself to reassure the reelection of President Bartlett. Philip Schoenberg, PhD, is professor of American Government and History at the College of Aeronautics, a consultant to the PBS program on The American President, and an expert on the presidents. He has his own website on the presidents, www.presidentialexpert.com. (888) 377-4455 drphil1@aol.com He also gives walking tours on the presidents. ©1998-2005 Presidentialexpert