the pink politic

Independent Woman Part I

ABC's new drama "Commander in Chief" (and my new favorite show, for that matter) proves that television is still the realm of fantasy (despite many reality show efforts to prove the contrary).

After the sudden death of President Teddy Bridges, his Vice-President Mackenzie Allen (Geena Davis), assumes office against the wishes of both Bridges and Donald Sutherland's satanesque Speaker of the House Nathan Templeton. It is made clear in the three epidsodes aired thus far that Bridges only invited Allen onto his ticket to garner the female vote. He never expected she'd one day sit in the Oval Office.

Either way, Mac is in, and that's all that matters. So many have written about the fact that a woman president (the first ever!) is being portrayed on primetime TV. What I find more interesting is Mac's political affiliation. She's an indie.

A woman president?! An independent president?! A WOMAN INDEPENDENT PRESIDENT???!!!

Why would ABC chose their female voice to be that of an independent?

Mac is enduring the unwarranted Hillary comparisons anyway (http://www.suntimes.com/output/television/cst-nws-comm12.html) so why not make her a Dem?

Viewers.

Half of our bitterly polarized nation could not bear to watch a Dubya clone in a skirt representing the first female commander-in-chief. The other half would, and have anyway, call it a Hillary advertisement.

Needless to say, it's so refreshing to see a person in the White House - male or female, real or fictional - that doesn't have to and will not succumb to partisan politics. You can call Mackenzie Allen a lot of things, but one thing she definitely is, is her own woman.

posted by Tina @ 11:14 PM