Life Imitating Art - "West Wing"

Lately I'm struck with how closely the current presidential race is paralleling the fictitious race in the final seasons of "The West Wing."

Though the show had a Democrat in the White House (Martin Sheen as "Jed" Bartlett), the last presidential race was about electing his successor.

Before the general election, there was a fight among many people in his party, but the "presumptive" nominee was the sitting VP. From out of nowhere, a young (40's) Hispanic candidate emerged (Matt Santos, played by Jimmy Smits), with new ideas, appealing to voters who had previously been disenfranchised and cynical. After a nomination battle that lasted into the convention, the newcomer won.

In real life, the presumptive Democratic nominee has been challenged, and likely beaten, by a young Black candidate who appeals to the same sort of people in the same way.

Once the Democratic candidate was chosen in the TV show, the race was between this new face and a well-known, well-respected centrist Republican (Arnold Vinick, played by Alan Alda), who disagrees with his party on some of its most conservative views.

And in real life, we have John McCain. Who could be as likeable as "Hawkeye Pierce" but a real life war hero with Centrist views? We have McCain.

Admittedly, there are differences in "real life." But the similarities are remarkable.

Now I have to hope for the same ultimate Presidential selection.

And I will continue to wonder - did the show reflect the country's willingness to move away from "Old White Men?" Or did it, instead, condition the country to accept that move?