From
Battlegrounds and Ballot Boxes
Ummm I still don't understand why the term Heather ever "came into vogue" for a political use, as Dana at Dean 2004 Blog argues, except that gen/Xers are desperate to make their mark (blogs not enough?).
I don't need to argue against the post. Ezra has done that with passion and intelligence as usual. (I need not talk about how this statement sounds like every right wing idiot: "Turnover now. Marshall, Yglesias, Stephanopoulos, Matthews, all you Heathers, get out of town. If you can make a living in the Real America, maybe someone will invite you back." cause Ezra did it for me.)
However, I have a serious problem with the film references. As a former film student (read: film snob) comparing "Heathers" to the claims about these columnists has no merit (the claims don't either in terms of Ygelsias and Marshall). However, let me address the reference to the Mr. Smith Goes to Washington/Government Girl opposite themes that shed light on Dana's outlook in this post.
Personally I like my Washington movies to be Capra or Capraesque (West Wing, Dave, The American President). It seems that Dana prefers the anti-Capra film "Government Girl" made during World War II. While the film is lighthearted it never stuck a chord with America because of it's ... well ... cynicism.
The film (which I have only seen once) actually takes the entire plot of Mr. Smith and turns it on it's head. An executive comes to washington to schill for a corporation and ends up getting in trouble but is saved by his secretary. Same plot with motivations reversed. The films theme seemed to me to be an important wartime message attacking Questioning policies in washington. Painting those who lobby and congress as a possible negative problem for our country. Basically it is the sit down and do what your told message that
It's this pessimism that losses us elections. We need to sell dean (or Clark) as Mr. Smith going to Washington not a cynical man hoping to increase the turnover in Washington. In fact since dean will most likely not increase turnover I think it is a bad sell.
Just as important is the generational appropriate "Heathers" reference.
This is the second time that Dana seems to ignore the impure main character of the film and concentrate on the collective that she doesn't like. In the film, Veronica makes a half-heartedly joins the "Heathers" and is far more dedicated to their demise upon meeting Jason Dean (the most obvious un-remembered reference in 80's movies). Jason Dean is an example how both extremes are ridiculous.
If our liberal columnists are the "Heathers" then why is one of the people Dana mentions just out of college and worked with Dean? The "Heathers" also were intentionally evil, very evil. Of which I would hate to attach to people like Marshall who helped bring down Trent Lott. Not only do the comparisons fall flat, Heathers is a bad example for Dean supporters to bring up also (great for Greens though).
The whole film is about the self-centered world of teenagers and how EVERYONE in it lacks any real understanding of the entire world around them. It makes the case that everyone who tries to run things, solve things or change things will end up hurting people. This means both ends of the spectrum the Heathers and Jason Dean. This realization is only given to Veronica at the end of the film. Therefore as a Dean fan Heathers would be the last film I would bring up, it is the quintessential cynical 80's film that shows the establishment and Jason Dean "the rebel" lead to pain and ruin.
Thus once again the wish for change is denied. Cynicism reigns. These are the realities of each of these (good) films. I think people should choose their film analogies more carefully. Just a thought.