I'm watch back episodes of Scandal today, and I had forgotten that these characters are supposed to be Republican or at least "Hollywood Republican." President Grant is supposed to be a moderate Republican from California; his VP Sally Langston is a conservative Evangelical from the South; and the President's chief of staff is an openly gay man. So here is my question: What makes the middle-of-the-road characters on this show "Republican?" Are they fiscal conservatives? Are they opposed to welfare and new taxes? Do they focus on developing free trade and actively oppose labor unions?
Well, no. In fact, we see very little of the main characters' political views at all except that they seem vaguely "moderate." In fact, in Season 2 the President proposes divorcing his wife while he's still in office, which just seems crazy. In Season 4 the President wants to push for gun control, which makes him sound like a Democrat.
Why is the President portrayed as a Liberal? Perhaps because Hollywood doesn't know how to create a GOP character. It's more likely, however, that he has been created as a Liberal hero to contrast with the main villains who are stereotypical Republicans. These villains, VP Langston and Senator Hollis Doyle, are scheming, conniving politicians who are out to steal the White House... and they just happen to be Southern and Evangelical. Did the show's creator choose to make the lead players Republican just to poke fun at the Party?
So, Liberal = Hero, and Conservative Bible-thumpers = evil back-stabbing politicians. The real world is not this black and white, of course. Crazy politicians come in all political stripes. I realize this is just a TV show, but it did get me thinking. How many times have you heard or read conservatives complain that “Hollywood is too liberal” or some such nonsense? Now I am trying to think of a time I’ve seen a TV character who was accurately and compassionately portrayed as a Republican, and I’m not sure I can think of one.
Certain inherently conservative ideas do make an appearance in movies and on TV: the “rugged individual” as the hero, the ever-present crime show, and of course the everyone’s favorite, the war movie. I’m not saying “there is no conservative entertainment.” I am just taking a closer look at Scandal, and finding the portrayal of Republicans “scandalous.” [Sorry I couldn’t resist.]