Chapter Fourteen

University of California, San Diego

Auditorium

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. The debate will begin in two and a half minutes. We'd like to remind you that this is a live broadcast. In the event of any technical difficulties, we'd ask that everyone remain quietly in their seats until the issue has been addressed. Should you need to exit the hall at any time, please beware the re-entry will not be permitted mid-broadcast. When the debate comes to a close...," a male voice instructed over the P.A. system.

Backstage

Harm was standing out of the way, watching the happenings, slightly amused. He had never thought that he would be so involved in a Presidential Debate. However, now he had not only been directly involved in prepping the President but was standing backstage watching how his Commander-in-Chief and his staff got ready for the actual debate. His mother couldn't stop laughing when he had told her that C.J. had asked him to stand in a Governor Ritchie. She was one of the few people that knew that despite his vocal dislike of politics, he actually was very interested in it and had a pretty good understanding of it, too. It was another byproduct of his father's shootdown and the controversies around the Vietnam War.

He had started early on to read about the Vietnam War to get an understanding of all facts around it—and never lost his interest since then. At Annapolis, he had taken as many courses in political science as his other studies allowed. As a fighter pilot, he had kept up to date with news and events, as he knew he could be sent into a war zone at any time.

That hadn't changed after his crash, especially after he had started his job at JAG. It was the overambitious and overzealous politicians like former Congresswoman Adele DeLong and some of the shady politics dealing he disliked. He found the dedication C.J., and her colleagues had for their job, the loyalty to the President, and the love of their nation very impressive. They had changed some of his previous misgivings about politicians.

He had visited his mother and Frank earlier that day in La Jolla, as they weren't too far away from San Diego. They had talked about his experiences at their debate camp. Talking with C.J. about her sick father had made him think about his mother and Frank.

He realized he hadn't appreciated having two healthy parents. So, he had stayed in regular contact with them, as much as his job allowed, anyway. Trish thought it was C.J.'s influence that her son called her regularly now, and that made her like the woman even more. They were looking forward to meeting C.J. again, and this time for a little longer than the short time they had spent together during the medal ceremony.

Trish had asked whether C.J. would accompany him or whether Frank and she should accompany Harm to San Diego to meet C.J. Harm had told her it was a bad idea because C.J. wouldn't have any time for them as she would be too busy the whole time.

He was going to the debate because he had been involved in the preparation—and he didn't want to miss the opportunity. He was just happy that his fellow service members agreed with him and behaved so that he didn't get assigned a new case. The Admiral had been very surprised when Harm has asked for another personal day.

And now he was standing backstage as part of the President's entourage. He had seen C.J. a few times throughout the day, and as predicted, she had been far too busy for him or anybody else not involved in the debate. He was watching the First Lady taking a picture with former Undersecretary Albie Duncan and Josh talking to Vice President John Hoynes.

A little further away, the President was talking to Charlie. "I guess what I don't understand is this. Have I ever exhibited any evidence that I'd be mad if a tie got ruined?" Bartlet said.

"No, sir."

"No, I'm not that guy."

"This tie was special."

"The chemicals at the dry cleaner didn't know that."

The stage manager interrupted them, asking for the President and Governor Ritchie to come to the stage.

"Josh?" Bartlet asked.

"Yeah. Guys, we're going to give them the room now," Josh ordered.

As he was one of the nearest to Bartlet, Harm was the first to leave. "Good luck, Mr. President," he said and shook Bartlet's hand.

The President nodded. "Thank you for your help, Commander."

Next was C.J. "Bring it, boss," C.J. said. She received a kiss on the cheek.

"Nothing but strikes," Josh told Bartlet as they shook hands.

"Game on," Sam said as they shook hands.

They made their way to the exit. When Bartlet turned around to talk to Abbey, he saw Toby still standing in the room, crunching loudly on a carrot.

"I just assumed you wanted to include me." They shook hands and Toby exited.

Only Bartlet and his wife Abbey were left.

They listened to the moderator greeting the audience. "Good evening, from the University of California, San Diego. I'm Alexander Thompson. Welcome to the Presidential debate between..."

"Well, it's in the bag. You have someone here to show off for," Abby told her husband.

"My daughters are here?"

"Are you kidding? Ellie's wearing makeup."

"Well, I don't approve of that."

"You understand she's 27, right?"

"I don't approve of that, either," Jed said. "Remember the tie Josh had to give me at the last minute?"

"Yeah. I heard that happen. So, do you think there's any point in still having the debate?"

"There was a lot of juice in that tie. It was like in the last seconds. Just the energy getting me out on stage..."

"Well... tough," Abby said without a care.

Charlie entered the room. "Sir?"

"Yeah. I got to go."

"We'll do mushy later. So, for now, I just got to say I love you so much that my head's going to fly off. But, more importantly, game on, boyfriend! Let's go!" Abby ordered.

"Okay."

"By the way, I feel bad. I don't think I've done enough to help you prepare for this debate."

"Why are you telling me this now?" Bartlet asked and turned around to look back.

Suddenly, Abbey pulled out a pair of scissors and cut off his tie. "Just 'cause."

Bartlet looked down at his tie, then up at Abbey like she was crazy. Abby just smiled happily.

"Oh, my God. You're insane. Are you...? You're insane! Charlie!"

"30 seconds, please," the stage manager said.

Bartlet ran out into the hallway. Abbey just swung the tie around and laughed. Bartlet and Charlie made their way to the stage. "Josh, we need your tie," Charlie exclaimed.

"What the hell?!"

"Take it off!" Charlie ordered.

"What happened?" C.J. asked frantically.

"My wife cut it off with scissors," Bartlet replied.

"Why?" Josh asked.

"I don't think we have that kind of time, Josh."

Harm stifled a laugh. He admired Abbey Bartlet and enjoyed seeing her with her husband.

"Folks, can I get you to the stage, please. 15 seconds," the stage manager said.

"No one's done camera test..." C.J. said.

"She's right. Let's run some," Toby said drily.

"Sir?" The stage manager asked.

Sam was fumbling to get Josh's tie onto Bartlet. "Right here."

Backstage, C.J. and Toby came tumbling through the side door.

"Can you keep it down?" The stage manager asked them.

Bartlet and Abbey arrived at the side of the stage, where Abbey fixed her husband's collar. Suddenly, Bartlet pulled his hand back, slapped Abbey on the rear, and walked onstage.

"Oh! Oh..."

"With that, ladies and gentlemen, President Josiah Bartlet of New Hampshire, and Governor Robert Ritchie of Florida," the moderator introduced the contestants.

President Bartlet and Governor Ritchie walked on stage, shook hands, and made their way to their podium.

"The rules for tonight's debate are as follows: A candidate will be asked a question by one of the panelists, and he will have 90 seconds to respond. His opponent will then have 60 seconds with which to ask a question and get an answer - though it must be limited to the same topic. There will be two minutes for closing statements at the end. By virtue of a coin toss, Governor Ritchie, the first question is for you," the moderator said.

"Governor Ritchie, good evening."

"Good evening."

"Perhaps the biggest philosophical difference between you and the President is over the role of the federal government itself and whether national problems have national solutions. Can you explain your view?"

"Well, first, let me say good evening and thank you. It's a privilege to be here. My view of this is simple—"

The debate went on for a while. "No, the question is: Should we focus on 90% of the kids, who go to public school, or give parents money from the public-school budget to send their kids to private school at a time when private schools are even turning kids away who can afford it? Public schools are going to be the best schools in the country. They're gonna be cathedrals. The answer is a change in the way we finance schools!" Bartlet said.

"...we don't need a Federal Department of Education telling us our children have to learn Esperanto, they have to learn Eskimo poetry," Ritchie said. "Let the states decide. Let the communities decide on health care, on education, on lower taxes, not higher taxes. Now, he's going to throw a big word at you—'unfunded mandate'. If Washington lets the states do it, it's an unfunded mandate. But what he doesn't like is the federal government losing power. But I call it the ingenuity of the American people."

"President Bartlet, you have 60 seconds for a question and an answer," the moderator instructed.

"Well, first of all, let's clear up a couple of things. 'Unfunded mandate' are two words, not one 'big word'," Bartlet started his reply. Several people in the audience. And watching at home, chuckled.

"There are times when we're fifty states and there are times when we're one country and have national needs. And the way I know this is that Florida didn't fight Germany in World War II or establish civil rights. You think states should do the governing wall-to-wall. That's a perfectly valid opinion. But your state of Florida got $12.6 billion in federal money last year - from Nebraskans, and Virginians, and New Yorkers, and Alaskans, with their Eskimo poetry. $12.6 out of a state budget of $50 billion. I'm supposed to be using this time for a question, so here it is: Can we have it back, please?"

Backstage, people were cheering.

"Game on," Josh exclaimed.

"Oh, my God!" C.J. said and turned to Harm. She planted a big kiss on his lips. Harm didn't mind at all.

"Strike 'em out, throw 'em out!" Sam yelled and turned to the reporters. "Anybody want a spin?"

Still, in Harm's embrace, C.J. turned to Toby. "It's not going to be Uncle Fluffy."

"No," Toby simply stated.

The debate continued.

"...and the partisan bickering. Now, I want people to work together in this great country. And that's what I did in Florida - I brought people together - and that's what I'll do as your President. End the logjam, end the gridlock, and bring Republicans together with Democrats, 'cause Americans are tired of partisan politics," Ritchie said.

"Mr. President?" The moderator asked.

"Actually, what you've done in Florida is bringing the right together with the far right. And I don't think Americans are tired of partisan politics. I think they're tired of hearing career politicians diss partisan politics to get a gig. I've tried it before. They ain't buying it," Bartlet stated, to the amusement of the watchers.

"That's okay, though. That's okay, though, 'cause partisan politics is good. Partisan politics is what the founders had in mind. It guarantees that the minority opinion is heard, and as a lifelong possessor of minority opinions, I appreciate it. But if you're troubled by it, Governor, you should know, in this campaign you've used the word 'liberal' seventy-four times in one day," the President said, making with a dramatic pause. "It was yesterday."

"Governor Ritchie, many economists have stated that the tax cut, which is the centerpiece of your economic agenda, could actually harm the economy. Is now really the time to cut taxes?" The moderator asked.

"You bet it is," Ritchie said emphatically.

"We need to cut taxes for one reason - the American people know how to spend their money better than the federal government does."

"Mr. President, your rebuttal."

"There it is," Bartlet said. "That's the ten-word answer my staff's been looking for two weeks. There it is. Ten-word answers can kill you in political campaigns. They're the tip of the sword. Here's my question: What are the next ten words of your answer? Your taxes are too high? So are mine. Give me the next ten words. How are we going to do it? Give me ten after that. I'll drop out of the race right now," Bartlet exclaimed with feeling.

The President turned to the camera. "Every once in a while, every once in a while, there's a day with an absolute right and an absolute wrong, but those days almost always include body counts. Other than that, there aren't very many unnuanced moments in leading a country that's way too big for ten words. I'm the President of the United States, not the President of the people who agree with me. And by the way, if the left has a problem with that, they should vote for somebody else."

Backstage

As the debate ended, Harm had made his way to the staff. C.J. was talking to Toby, Josh, Donna, Sam, Carol, and Andy. "I'm going to make a bold suggestion, but hear me out. Let's not spin. Let's leave the room. We'll use the experts, but nobody from the campaign, nobody from the White House, and definitely not us."

"Why?" Josh asked.

"There's nothing left to do here, and it's inelegant. It's the punch Ali never gave Foreman when he was going down."

"Absolutely," Toby stated.

"All right, just a statement. 'The President's on his way to Washington to get back to work'," Josh said.

"And there'll be a lot of drinking on the plane," Sam said. "I don't think that should be included in the statement, though."

"No," C.J. agreed. "Good, heads-up."

The group broke up. When Albie Duncan walked into the Spin Room, the reporters called out for him.

"Trade with China is essential for human rights. By engaging China and making them by the same global trading rules as everyone else, we gain 1.2 billion consumers for our products, and we strengthen the forces of freedom, and the President knows this," Albie stated to the reporters.

"Mr. Secretary?"

"Uh, I'm sorry, Miss Cregg, do you need me?"

"I have a question. Isn't there a decent chance you and the President are wrong?"

"I'm sorry?" Albie didn't know what C.J. was doing.

"I mean, doesn't he also know that Chinese political dissidents are going to be sewing soccer balls together with their teeth, whether or not we sell them cheeseburgers? I mention this because the President just reminded us that complexity isn't a vice."

C.J stated and walked over to him. She bowed down to whisper in his ear. "You're the one I like, too." She kissed him on the cheek, then walked away.

"That concludes this debate. Thank you very much and good night," the moderator said.

Bartlet and Ritchie walked over and shook hands.

"It's over," Ritchie whispered in his ear. They both knew it to be true.

"You'll be back," Bartlet replied, not believing it. And he wasn't sorry about the fact either. He not only disliked the politics the man stood for, but disliked the man himself.

They walked back over to their sides of the stage where their respective families were waiting for them.