The West Wing

The West Wing -Transcript- Season two, Episode: The Midterm

BARTLET
...it's a good idea to be reminded of the awesome impact... the awesome
impact...

He finally gives up and addresses her.

BARTLET
I'm sorry, um... you're Dr. Jenna Jacobs, right?

JENNA JACOBS
Yes, sir.

BARTLET
It's good to have you here.

JENNA JACOBS
Thank you.

BARTLET
The awesome impact of the airwaves and how that translates into the furthering
of our national
discussions but obviously also how it can... how it can...

He sighs, and addresses Jenna Jacobs again.

BARTLET
Forgive me, Dr. Jacobs. Are you an M.D.?

JENNA JACOBS
Ph.D.

BARTLET
A Ph.D.?

JENNA JACOBS
Yes, sir.

BARTLET
In Psychology?

JENNA JACOBS
No sir.

BARTLET
Theology?

JENNA JACOBS
No.

BARTLET
Social work?

JENNA JACOBS
I have a Ph.D. in English Literature.

BARTLET
I'm asking, 'cause on your show, people call in for advice and you go by
the name of
Dr. Jacobs on your show. And I didn't know if maybe your listeners were
confused by that,
and assumed you had advanced training in Psychology, Theology, or health care.

JENNA JACOBS
I don't believe they are confused, no sir.

BARTLET
Good. I like your show. I like how you call homosexuality an abomination.

JENNA JACOBS
I don't say homosexuality is an abomination, Mr. President. The Bible does.

BARTLET
Yes, it does. Leviticus.

JENNA JACOBS
18:22

BARTLET
Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I had
you here.
I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned
in Exodus 21:7.
(small chuckles from the guests) She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent
Italian, and
always clears the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for
her be? While
thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff, LeoO McGarry,
insists on working
on the Sabbath, Exodus 35:2, clearly says he should be put to death. Am I
morally obligated
to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here's one that's really
important,
'cause we've got a lot of sports fans in this town. Touching the skin of a
dead pig makes
us unclean, Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington
Redskins
still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town
really have to be
together to stone my brother, John, for planting different crops side by
side? Can I burn
my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two
different threads?

Jenna Jacobs fidgets uncomfortably.

BARTLET
Think about those questions, would you? One last thing, while you may be
mistaking this
for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tightass Club, in this building,
when the President
stands, nobody sits.

Jenna Jacobs squirms in her seat but doesn't rise. Bartlet glares meaningfully
at her.
She finally rises out of her seat.

BARTLET
Toby.

TOBY
Yes, Mr. President.

BARTLET
That's how I beat him.

I've seen that exchange on Youtoob - priceless.

There's another segment that's quite interesting about politicians having to pay lip-service to religion. Martin Sheen and Alan Alda have quite an interesting discussion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSWE-...eature=related

The press conference with Alan Alda is fantastic. I would vote for a politician who had the balls to be that honest!