More Hollywood Propaganda

In the 2/1/17 post, I showed how the TV show "Homeland" managed to weave their left-wing message into the story line. Much of television and the movies is similar. So, here is yet another example, this time from the TV show "Designated Survivor." The premise of the show is that the character played by Kiefer Sutherland (HUD Secretary) becomes President because, as the low man on the totem pole, he was chosen to stay behind during the President's State of the Union address. When the Capitol is bombed and the government is wiped out, Sutherland, as the 'designated survivor" becomes President.

This is the first season of the show. In episode 19, "Misalliance," we see in the first 20 minutes quite a few left-wing talking points. As a high school band is performing at the White House, the teacher tells the President: "This might be the end of playing music for a lot of these kids...most of their families can't afford private lessons." The President: "Mine couldn't either...I think every student in this country should have access to the arts for their education."

Shortly thereafter, the President is conversing with the Speaker of the House. POTUS: "How familiar are you with the Federal art grants that make these kinds of programs possible?" Speaker: "I remember that bill (authorizing the current funding). The sunset clause was added to get it past some of my more conservative colleagues." There you have it - every student is entitled to what, a musical instrument? At government expense?

I do give some credit to the show, as they have the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman telling POTUS: "Look, I love music as much as anyone. But a lot of folks think we should throw everything we've got into science, technology, engineering and math. We used to lead the world in those areas. Now, we're barely in the middle of the pack." The overall gist of these scenes, however, was that Democrats love music and kids, Republicans - not so much. In fact, the Speaker tells her political nemesis - the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee - that she will resign on this condition: "I want the public arts and education funding reauthorized before I go." The Speaker gives up her career to save the arts for the kids - and from the meanie Republicans.

In yet another scene, there was a discussion about clean water between POTUS and a man in a wheelchair, although I am not clear what position that man held. POTUS: "Clean water should not even be a fight." Man in wheelchair: "You know that business executives only think about bottom line costs." POTUS: "Well, if their only concern is costs you should remind them how much it costs to clean up their mess, especially after we start fining them." Message: business is bad, government is good.

In one of my "favorite" scenes, we hear that the French Ambassador would like to see a reduction in the number of nuclear weapons in the world. Said one aide to POTUS: "Liberals in France have been railing against nuclear escalation for decades, but now even the conservatives are beginning to wonder why they're spending so much damn money just to maintain weapons in Europe." Well, thankfully, there is no danger from the likes of Russia, Iran or North Korea. One aide does question what happens if the Russians fail to reciprocate and reduce their nuclear arsenal. (Is Russia really the only threat?) The President tells everyone assembled that if Russia does not reciprocate, then "we stop." But why are we starting? Just because we "hope" the Russians will respond in good faith? Is the subtle message that the Iranians and North Koreans are no threat at all?

Whether a TV show or movie is based in the world of politics or not, the writers seamlessly weave their left-wing views into the story line. Frankly, it is really not significantly different from what the left-wing mainstream media does, with their left-wing spin part of so many stories.