The Straw Man.

As a conservative, I find it both interesting and annoying that so much of what we see on TV as “entertainment” leans (or lunges) to the left. In a weird way, it affords me a way to keep in touch (albeit somewhat reluctantly) with what the liberal side of the world is thinking. Not that I have a lot of options…most programming on the networks run from the left-of-center to the far left. The occasional shows that exhibits any love for the right (24 and The Unit) are either too popular to cancel, or anomalies that don’t usually last too long.

I love good writing, and I love comedy. That’s usually enough for me to watch a show like Boston Legal, simply because it’s both well-written and funny. I’ve sat (sometimes uncomfortably) through David E. Kelly’s rants against the military, corporate America, the Right, George Bush, Dick Cheney, the NRA, and Texas. I relate all this by way of explanation, and to show that I’m not some ideologue that rants every time some character pipes up with an opinion that differs from mine.

Since I’m not big on watching the returns, at least until there’s actually something to report, I decided to watch a show we’d TiVO’d. I chose Boston Legal for a little comic relief. That’s when I discovered that this week’s episode went way past a mere left-leaning screed, and deep into the Mother of All Product Placements – virtually a one-hour spot for Obama & Company. The worst part was that David Kelly decided to use his two lead characters – brought to life by James Spader and William Shatner – to play out an argument pro and con for the two candidates. Spader’s Allan Shore debated in favor of Obama. Shatner’s Denny Crane, however, became a straw man for McCain. There was no balance here…no exchange of ideas, no honest exposition of each side’s positions. Evidently David Kelly does not believe that his candidate (Obama) can withstand an honest debate, and therefore used Shatner as a straw man with the lamest bunch of arguments for McCain since Kleenex invented facial tissues. At no point did Denny Crane mount a vigorous or well-reasoned defense of McCain. Odd, since Denny Crane never loses a case. No, Denny existed solely to serve up softballs to allow Allan Shore to hit them out of the park.

Now I have no problem with a show that unabashedly wears it’s opinions in the open. I do, however, have a problem with one that uses the straw man shtick in order to allow the guy espousing his position to decimate the opposition.

For the first time I can remember, I couldn’t take it. I stopped the recording and erased the unfinished episode off the DVR.

If the election goes to Obama, I expect we’ll see a lot more of this. Hollywood will feel like gloating. Congress will attempt to re-invoke the Fairness Doctrine. And the country will be in for a wild swing to the Left. Here’s a cautionary word for tonight’s winners: Be careful what you wish for. And don’t mistake a “win” for a “mandate.” The mistakes the GOP made (and why I think they lost control of Congress two years ago, and what contributed to the results tonight) was that they forgot to dance with the ones that brung them. They stopped supporting the policies they ran on, and became virtually indistinguishable from the Democrats. If you think that this – or any – election gives the winners carte blanche to treat the country to their version of “spoils of war,” you’re mistaken.

The Democrats have been given a huge opportunity to show the country that they have the right answers to the nation’s problems. As a conservative, I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt – for now – and let them prove themselves worthy of the trust that the nation has put in them. I like what President Reagan admonished, though – trust but verify. “Trust” may be too strong a word, but let’s hope that the victory doesn’t go to the Dem’s heads. Because Elephants have very long memories – and if you think the electorate wasn’t in a forgiving mood this year, just wait until four years from now, and see how they are if your plans don’t pan out.