We tuned into the West Wing about 15 minutes into the season finale tonight, and obviously missed a key point. Why is the White House Counsel talking about potential federal offences, because the Prez kept his MS a secret? I understand the political problems involved, but what makes that secrecy potentially criminal?
(Although after Monica&Bill, us foreigners think that potentially anything that goes on in DC could be the basis for some sort of criminal charge…)
The White House counsel is trying to make sure that the President did not commit by fraud by filling out some sort of official document about his health where he failed to disclose his pre-existing medical condition.
It’s possible that if the rest of the staff knew about his MS, they would all be part of a conspiracy to defraud.
Hey, Northern, the season finale is 3 episodes away.
Even if the President did lie about his health I’m not sure that would constitute “fraud” in the legal sense. He wasn’t under oath and while lying is wrong it’s not really illegal in most cases… lest not forget that FDR what crippled for much of his presidency and it was kept a secret from the public. When it finally came out there was no hue and cry that he had lied to the public for all of those years… mostly admiration for what he had done while he WAS confined to braces and eventually a wheel chain… the drama here is that they are worried that the public would be pissed if they found out… I’m not really sure why they would be.
I’m surprised that Aaron Sorkin has brought up the cases of Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson, two presidents with serious medical problems, both of whom kept much (if not all) of their illnesses hidden.
Cleveland had surgery to remove a cancerous lesion from his jaw and kept it secret. Wilson was almost completely incapicitated by a stroke, although most people were unaware of how bad it was since the White House greatly restricted access to Wilson at the time.
I think the Colorado Avalanche should be under the same scrutiny for not revealing the extent of Joe Sakic’s shoulder injury.
I believe the point that Sorkin is trying to get at it is that if the President knowingly lied about his medical condition on any legal form, he could be considered guilty of civil perjury, which was the same crime that Clinton was charged with.
Whether or not a president should get charged with a crime like that is a matter for GD.
see how out of touch I am? I thought that was the finale.
What did happen on the finale? I just watched the penultimate episode of the season and i don’t have the season finale on tape. I want to know, please!
from http://www.jedbartlett.com:
In the second season finale, the Haitian army besieges the American Embassy there and Bartlet continues his campaign to sufficiently fund the Justice Department’s case against Big Tobacco. Additionally, Toby gets a surprising job offer and the President gets some sage advice from an unexpected corner.
From TV Guide:
As it happens, a tropical storm is bearing down on Washington on the day the President is to disclose that he has MS and has been lying about it for eight years. Bartlet himself is distracted, but the staffers are, as usual, all business as they deal with Congressional Democrats, party officials and network execs. They also must fashion two responses to the question that is certain to be asked first at his prime-time press conference: Will Bartlet seek reelection?
Written by AARON SORKIN
Directed by THOMAS SCHLAMME
Not to worry, lee, it was a “To Be Continued” which means they will rerun it the week before the season premier in the fall.
doesn’t anyone who saw it care to gove details?
Here’s a very detailed recap: Two Cathedrals