The Left Wing, On NBC

Imagine a TV show that is centered on a Nike outlet in a shopping mall. All the main characters are upstanding, likeable, honest and sincere, idealists. Across the hall is a cesspool of nefarious intrigue, filled with characters that are devious, ruthless, manipulative, untrustworthy and plain stupid. They all work in the Reebok outlet. I imagine critics might say that such a show would amount to little more than a rather novel advertising campaign.

I, personally, am a great fan of NBC's "The West Wing". I think the actors are first-rate, the plots filled with remarkable story-telling power, and the show is a heaven sent relief from the dismally uncreative and pathetic reality TV offerings that have innundated our airwaves for the last couple of years. However, one thing that is glaringly persistant as this show is halfway through its sixth season is just how firmly entrenched the producers and writers are in the wide expanse of the political left.

Aaron Sorkin is a phenomenal writer. I became a clear convert after his spectacular work writing "A Few Good Men". Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you want to look at it, he feels the need to saturate his show with what could be described as straight liberal propaganda. His fictional president, and the president's staff, never fail to defend and champion the most liberal and leftist values, opinions, and attitudes out there in the American political panorama. Between Toby, Sam, C.J., Josh, or the president himself there is always a dialogue or scene where the protagonists debate - and ultimately agree with - the strictest gun control, homosexual rights, the curtailing of American military power, the plight of those not directly helped by the federal government, and the insidious evil of their Republican opponents. While the writers of this show, like any good propaganda czars, always throw in token arguments from the right, and even in a couple of seasons "sympatheic" Republican characters, this palls in comparison to the tremendous bias and active proselytization they conduct for the liberal cause.

While I will always enjoy the show, and never cease to watch, I think it's sad that Hollywood so flagrantly waves political flags in what otherwise, at least to me, would be an almost perfect piece of modern art. It is tongue-in-cheek in its message, but since it's so enjoyable I guess I'm stuck in the sixth season of a novel political advertisement.