Previously on The West Wing:
Ever see Arnie Vinick campaign?
Up close?
He'll go into those
high school gymnasiums...
...in Iowa and New Hampshire
and blow them all away.
Shake every hand in the joint,
kiss every baby...
...hug every widow
on Social Security...
. . .and sound smarter and more honest
than any Republican they've ever seen. . .
. . .because he is.
The New Jersey polls closed
three minutes ago, p.m. Eastern time.
And although we have
no official results yet...
... we can now report that our exit polls
indicate another huge win tonight...
...for California Senator Arnold Vinick
in the Republican presidential primary.
New Jersey's Democratic presidential
primary is still too close to call.
Vice President Bob Russell
was the favorite...
...in the final primary tonight.
But our exit polls show
another very tight race...
...between Russell and
Texas Congressman Matt Santos.
Russell was hoping for a win
in New Jersey...
... to prove a central campaign theme...
... that he is the only Democrat
who can actually win in November.
A Santos win tonight would be
another big upset for the congressman...
...and leave him only about
delegates behind Russell...
...and hurt the Russell
electability argument.
Neither will pick up
enough delegates tonight...
... to get the nomination...
...but a win in the final primary could
give Santos the momentum he needs...
...going into the Democratic
National Convention next month.
As expected, Senator Vinick now has
the Republican nomination locked up.
Reverend Don Butler
was the last man standing...
...against Vinick
in the Republican field.
We're told that he'll concede
the race to Vinick...
...in a speech at his campaign
headquarters in Virginia.
I've got Senator Vinick here.
Just a second, Reverend Butler.
Hi, Don.
Thanks.
Hi, honey.
Hey, Don, I'm gonna need your help
to bring the party together now.
I'll wake you up early, and I'll help
you finish your homework then.
-Okay. Love you.
-Yeah, sure.
No, anytime.
Whenever you want.
No, we'll clear the schedule for you.
Okay, Don.
-Butler wants a meeting.
-Great.
We gotta move fast on VP,
show Republicans coming together. . .
. . .while the Democrats are fighting
for the nomination.
I love Don. He's a great guy.
An honorable guy.
He's the funniest on the list.
But he b*at me up pretty bad
on abortion during the primaries.
How's he gonna walk back from that?
He doesn't have to.
We don't want him to.
You agree on most issues
and respectfully disagree on a couple.
-A couple.
-Sign of strength.
Not looking for a yes man.
Shows I'm looking for someone to help
with the party's conservative base.
That too.
We're in Butler headquarters.
Don Butler, a heartbeat away
from the presidency?
Thank you! Thank you.
Well, you win some, you lose some.
And we won some primaries.
But Senator Vinick won some more.
No. No, no.
Now is the time for this party to come
together and take back the White House.
-Sounds very vice presidential to me.
-He's a good soldier.
I want to thank the Butler Brigade.
Secret Service wants you
to start moving down to the ballroom.
Sheila.
Thanks.
-As was anticipated, Senator Vinick....
-It's Vinick.
Yeah.
We go live now as he addresses
his supporters.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
We got nobody who can b*at him.
-Vinick! Vinick! Vinick!
-Thank you.
We did it!
Senator Arnold Vinick has the
Republican nomination locked up.
But they've been counting votes all
night, and we still don 't have a winner...
...in the New Jersey Democratic
presidential primary.
The lead has been shifting. With
percent of the precincts reporting...
... Congressman Matt Santos has a lead
of less than votes...
...over Vice President Bob Russell.
What are you doing?
-You were sleeping.
-They're still counting New Jersey.
-So what?
-So what?
It doesn't matter who wins.
No one's gonna have enough delegates
for the nomination.
Come on, wake up
and smell the chaos.
No candidate will win enough delegates
to secure the Democratic nomination.
-I promised Tim I'd do the show.
-You will, just not this week.
The more you're on TV now. . .
. . .the less they cover the
Democratic Party mess.
That's the story we want this week.
-I'll pull press events off the schedule.
-Fundraisers?
-No press allowed.
-Excuse me, Senator Vinick.
Don't take too many questions.
Senator, when are you
gonna choose a VP?
Hadn't really thought
about it.
Would you rather face
Russell or Santos?
I'm in no hurry to face anyone.
Tell the Democrats they can
take their time figuring it out.
Do you think your lead in California. . .
. . .gives you the lock
on the Electoral College?
I have a lock on the
Republican nomination, nothing else.
I won't take my state for granted.
I'll work hard to win California.
-Work hard to win every state.
-Thank you.
Senator, how can you cut taxes
and cut the deficit at the same time?
I have a two-for-one plan.
For every dollar we cut taxes,
we're cutting spending by $ .
Drastic spending cuts in vital areas?
You call it drastic, I call it necessary.
I'm for good government we can afford.
-No more, no less.
-That's all. Thank you.
What do you think of the deal
the city council's negotiating. . .
-. . .to keep baseball in the city?
-Ridiculous. Teams should pay.
They can pay million for a shortstop
but can't pay for their own stadiums?
-Come on.
-Okay, we're done. Thank you.
-Thank you.
-Senator, excuse me.
Thanks. Now I'm gonna have
to give back my tickets to the game.
-I had to pull a lot of strings to get them.
-Did you pay for them?
-Of course.
-Forget about it. They're your seats.
-Where are we sitting?
-No way. I only got two.
-The kids fighting over who gets to go?
-Holly's got a biology test the next day.
-Brendan's got practice, so. . . .
-Tell Tina to bring her glove.
I want her to catch a foul ball for me.
Yes, Madam Secretary,
I have your memo.
I see.
Yeah, I unders--
I'll give it to the president. Right.
I understood the debt-ceiling situation
perfectly before I talked to her.
Can we have a treasury secretary
who speaks English?
-It's Santos.
-By how much?
-Couple thousand votes.
-Santos won New Jersey?
-Yeah.
-How many delegates?
A press release on raising
the debt ceiling?
-Because I don't understand it.
-No press release.
When's the vote scheduled?
Treasury thinks debt interest
will hit the limit tomorrow.
They want the vote right now.
-Which, of course, is a ridiculous idea.
-Of course.
-The leadership wants it last minute.
-How crazy is that?
They like to schedule at the last minute,
when we're about to default.
That way, it's too dangerous
for any senator to try to stop it.
Leaves time for a few speeches
about how awful it is. . .
. . .we maxed out the national credit card,
a vote to raise the card's limit.
It's a one-sentence bill.
Change the seven to an eight.
-Trillion.
-Yeah, trillion.
Treasury wants the president to read
a -page memo on a short bill?
-They run the worst-case scenario.
-In case it doesn't pass?
The immediate collapse
of the U.S. economy. . .
. . .Japan sinking into the sea,
followed by a worldwide depression. . .
. . .no mortal can imagine.
Followed by week two.
So this debt thing is routine
or the end of the world?
-Both.
-Okay. That's it. Thanks, everybody.
-We gotta do something.
-It's not the end of the world.
-Just the end of a lifestyle.
-It's the end of the Democratic Party.
We're facing a Republican
who can win California. . .
. . .and maybe other states,
and who do we have? We have nobody.
Going into a convention
without a candidate.
See Broder's column today? He says
this is great for the Democratic Party.
Yeah, he's on dr*gs.
Conventions used to be
about picking a nominee.
-Suspense.
-The networks are gonna love it.
-They'll cover everything.
-Yeah.
Instead of predictable emptiness,
all hell's gonna break loose.
The good news is, the Dems
are in disarray.
Bad news is we don't know
who we're against.
-Santos, if we're lucky.
-Santos could be tougher than Russell.
Santos couldn't even carry
his own his state.
Santos won the big states.
Russell's weak in Northeastern
urban women. . .
. . .suburban men, all minorities,
not to mention--
Okay. How much do we need
for the ground game?
We can't plan till we know
who we're against.
They're both strong in different states.
We can't wait till after the Democratic
Convention to build an organization.
Yeah.
Okay. Royce is here.
-Where?
-Reception, waiting to see you.
The majority leader
is coming to my office?
Guess he wants to be
first in line for VP.
Oh, boy. Here we go.
-Okay, bring him in.
-Right.
Mr. Leader.
Arnie. I just wanna be the first guy
in the building to say congratulations.
Didn't have to come all the way here.
Cut it out, Arnie. You're the real leader
of this party now.
I just want you to know
I'm at your service.
Whatever you need me to do,
just say the word.
Thanks, Bob. Have a seat.
First of all, I can be very helpful
with fundraising.
I have the highest yielding
direct mail list in town. Second. . . .
How many delegates
does Santos have?
- .
-So Russell's only ahead.
Seventy-eight. Russell's got .
-And Hoynes has .
-What's the magic number?
gets you the nomination.
Hoynes doesn't have a chance.
He's betting
on the second or third ballot. . .
. . .the delegates will get shaky
about these newcomers.
Move to the guy they've known.
Before the convention, the party
will go through four weeks of chaos.
Fighting over who will be on the platform
committee, what will be in the platform.
-Who gets to speak on what night.
-Uncommitted delegates.
Convincing committed delegates
to switch on the second ballot.
While Vinick is looking
more presidential every day.
Mr. President,
until we have a nominee. . .
. . .you are still the head of this party.
Okay. Let's get Russell
and Santos in here.
-And Hoynes?
-No. C.J.'s right.
-He doesn't have a chance.
-You'll broker a deal?
They're not ready for that.
Just a photo op.
Remind people that we still know
something about running the country.
Maybe a little less
about running a party.
I don't feel comfortable about this.
Everybody does it at this stage.
Bring in new people.
Yeah, but a Democrat? I spent
the last six months fighting this idea. . .
. . .that somehow I'm not a real
Republican, then I bring in a Democrat?
One step at a time. I'm just saying
we should meet with him.
Governor Baker vouches that we can
trust him not to leak the meeting.
-I don't know.
-He says he has a plan to win states.
Okay, bring him in.
Bruno.
Come on in.
-Congratulations, senator.
-Thank you, Bruno. Have a seat.
-Fifty states, huh?
-Sound crazy to you?
Well, it did get my attention.
Republicans have won states twice
in the last years.
They've never had anybody. . .
. . .with as much independent
and cross-party appeal as you.
I can't plan a -state campaign before
we know who I'm running against.
Who told you that? Because if it is
somebody on your campaign staff. . .
. . .you gotta fire that person right now.
I would run you from today
to Election Day. . .
. . .without ever mentioning
your opponent.
This campaign should be all about you,
the reasons you should be president.
And those reasons are exactly
where percent of the voters are.
Pro-choice, anti-partial birth,
pro-death penalty. . .
. . .anti-tax, pro-environment
and pro-business. . .
. . .pro-balanced budget.
I could go on and on.
Oh, please do.
You're in a unique position to run
a completely positive campaign. . .
. . .because most of the country
agrees with you on most of the issues.
The only thing you could do
to ruin that now. . .
. . .is to pick Don Butler as your VP.
So you tell me you're not even
thinking about that, I'll shut up.
You've seen the papers. Everybody says
Butler's on the short list.
Every talking head on TV says
that is brilliant. . .
. . .guarantees you a win, which it does,
but not a big win.
I have to reach out
to the pro-life Republican base.
We have to give them some reason
to come to the polls.
I'm never gonna be that reason.
There are many pro-life Republicans. . .
. . .who are more qualified for VP
than Don Butler.
What do you know
about Republican politics?
-I don't care about Republican politics.
-Well, that I believe.
I don't care about
Democratic politics, either.
Okay, I do care about the Democrats.
Look, they don't know it yet.
You are the best thing
to ever happen to them.
You're moving the Republicans
away from the right wing.
You're not saying Democrats
are not patriotic.
You're just saying
that your approach is better.
You are making politics
a fair fight again.
What?
You think I'm a spy?
I snuck in here,
I'm trying to steer you wrong?
The thought has crossed my mind.
I have spent the last years
ripping this country apart.
Finding wedge issues
to separate the voters.
You don't have to do that to win.
Not this time.
You do this right, you can do
a lot more than win.
You can stop using politics
to divide this country.
You can show us how much we agree,
instead of how much we disagree.
You can put this country
back together.
-Please, C.J., it's a terrible idea.
-It's the president's idea.
Can't you see it's an insult
to the vice president. . .
-. . .to bring them into his White House?
-His White House?
The VP belongs here.
The president is the party head.
He won't let it crash and burn now.
This is his solution? A photo op?
Remind voters we're good at running
the country, which the VP has a role in.
Show everyone that the party
isn't in meltdown mode.
Okay. Russell has to have a separate
photo op alone with the president.
A sh*t of them discussing,
you know, affairs of state.
No. We do this the president's way.
It'll be good for everyone.
Russell can b*at Vinick.
He won twice as many states
and the most delegates.
Santos has the momentum.
Because he won New Jersey
by percent? Russell is our best hope.
He's been a good vice president.
To bring the party together. . .
-. . .he should get behind Russell now.
-Ten a.m. tomorrow morning in the Oval.
Most of the donors tonight are
from the pharmaceutical industry.
You got the list?
I'll give them my "how American
medicine saves the world" speech.
Protect the patents, no price controls,
no Canadian imports.
We got a lot of the energy industry
people tonight too.
Yeah. When? Wait. Hold on a second.
Hi, sweetie.
-The area of a parallelogram is. . . .
-Length times width.
Length times width.
Same as a rectangle?
Yes, that's the same as a rectangle.
No problem.
Love you.
Okay, I'm back.
That's great. Thanks.
You're meeting with the Reverend Butler
first thing in the morning.
Do you think Bruno's right? That we
shouldn't put Butler on the ticket?
Maybe. But we need Butler,
one way or the other.
If he's not on the ticket, we still need
a strong endorsement from him.
Now, these energy types
that will be there tonight. . .
. . .they wanna hear how you're
voting on the energy-deregulation bill.
Well, it depends on what's in it
when it comes out.
It's a very bad message to the
big contributors if you vote against it.
Hey, if you can't drink their booze,
take their money. . .
. . .and then vote against them,
you don't belong in this business.
Hey, glad you could both make it.
-Mr. President.
-Mr. President.
Annabeth, you can bring
in the thundering herd.
Sit down.
It's good to finally meet you,
congressman.
-It's an honor.
-Congratulations.
-Thank you, sir.
-Bob, thanks for doing this.
A pleasure, Mr. President.
All right, that's it. Thank you.
-Thank you.
-Thank you.
All right, listen up.
This is a tough situation for you.
I understand that.
The press is geared up
for its favorite blood sport. . .
. . .Democrats attacking each other.
And I know that's what some people
are gonna tell you to do.
But we cannot allow that to happen.
That would just hand over the election
to the Republicans.
One of you is gonna be our nominee. . .
. . .so I want both of you to start acting
like the nominee right now.
No att*cks on each other.
I'm gonna be watching.
If I think you've overstepped
a line. . .
. . .I'll grab the nearest microphone
and say so.
And don't be surprised if I endorse
the other guy while I'm at it.
-Are we clear?
-Yes, sir.
Smart move.
If one of those guys had
Jed Bartlet's political instincts. . .
. . .I'd be points behind.
You read Ray Sullivan's file yet?
Youngest U.S. attorney
ever confirmed by the Senate.
Two-term state attorney general.
Highest white-collar crime
conviction rate in the state's history.
How much white-collar crime
is there in West Virginia?
He had the guts to go after them.
That's what counts.
Highest percentage of independents
ever to vote Republican in West Virginia.
He won the governorship
with percent of the vote.
-Reverend Butler's here.
-Thank you.
I just wanna be an honest broker here.
That's why I brought in Bruno.
You needed to hear
what he had to say.
Maybe you can win states
his way. . .
. . .but if you choose Butler, you'll lock in
an Electoral College landslide today.
Butler would scare away any Democrats
and a lot of independents.
But you'd unite the Republican Party
while the Democrats are falling apart.
-So you want Butler on the ticket.
-I just want you to hear. . .
. . .everything before making the most
important choice of your career.
Ray Sullivan is the best man.
Don Butler is the best bet.
Bring him in.
Reverend Butler. Thanks for coming in.
Hey, Arnie. Good to see you.
Thanks for coming by.
I really appreciate it.
You know, the Secret Service has me
feeling like I'm in solitary confinement.
You think they got a tight leash
on you now. . .
. . .imagine what it's gonna feel like
when you move down the street.
I hit you pretty hard
during the primaries.
And I just want you to know
it was never personal.
Abortion is not a political issue
with me.
I know. I respect that.
I've been thinking about how we
could work around our differences. . .
. . .and put them behind us and head
toward November together.
That's funny. So have I.
Don, I think you can help me take
the White House back for the party.
You won states I never could win.
I think in the general election,
with you on the ticket--
Arnie, let me stop you right there.
I suppose I could go along with you
on the environmental issues.
We agree on oil drilling in ANWR.
We could probably get closer together
on trade.
Maybe split the difference
on textile tariffs.
And we could just keep talking
tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts.
Yeah. We're in lock step on that one.
But then we come back to abortion.
And I am here to tell you, Arnie. . .
. . .I do not respect your position
on abortion. . .
. . .and there's just no way in the world
I could run on a ticket with you.
No way. You know, I wanted to be
a good soldier.
I wanted to help the party.
I really did.
I prayed on this one. Prayed a lot.
And this is where I came out.
This isn't easy for a kid who grew up
in a trailer in Appalachia.
Finds himself within shouting distance. . .
. . .of the vice presidency
of the United States.
Next in line. It's not easy.
Well. . . .
You're kidding.
Did you actually offer it to him?
I tried to.
-And he turned it down.
-No, he cut me off.
He didn't let me offer him
something he would have to refuse.
-He's a classy guy.
-What about an endorsement?
It wasn't the best time
to ask him for it.
Butler's live on MSNBC.
Did Vinick offer you
a spot on the ticket?
No, he did not offer me
a spot on the ticket.
Did you discuss the vice presidency?
I requested the meeting simply to let
the senator hear directly from me...
... that I have no interest
in running for vice president...
...and don 't wanna be considered
for the ticket.
Would you wanna be on the ticket if
Vinick changed his position on abortion?
First of all, I'd get down on my knees
and thank God for performing a miracle.
Then I'd have "Vote Vinick"
tattooed on my forehead.
Reverend, will you pray for him
to change his mind?
I'm sorry. You really surprised me
with that one.
You know, I never heard a good idea
from a reporter before.
Yes. Yes, I will pray
for Senator Vinick.
And he's welcome to come down
to my church any time he wants...
...and pray with me. Now, I'll be back
in the pulpit this Sunday.
And there will always be a place for
the senator in the front row. Thank you.
-One more question.
-Great.
One more.
How do we spin this thing?
Say you fully respect
Reverend Butler's position. . .
. . .that he's not interested in VP.
Just keep repeating those four words:
"Fully respect
Reverend Butler's position. "
Five words.
The Butler Brigade needs
to keep hearing that:
"Respect, respect. " Then we hit them
with some direct mail pieces. . .
. . .about your opposition
to partial-birth abortion.
Get Butler supporters
to vote for the lesser of two evils.
-Thanks.
-Are we getting Butler's endorsement?
-Don't know.
-Why not accept his invitation?
-Go down to his church on Sunday.
-And?
And pray for his endorsement.
It's a great photo op.
Yeah, it's a great photo op,
but he can't take any questions.
-He always takes questions.
-I know.
That's what all of us out here
in the cheap seats love about him.
So. . .?
"Senator, we know what
Reverend Butler prayed for.
What did you pray for?"
"Senator, do you think Reverend Butler
is wrong about abortion?"
"Senator, will you remove opposition
to abortion from the party platform?"
You ain't getting any questions about
how we pay for sports stadiums.
So he shouldn't go to Butler's church.
You can't play Butler.
He's not a politician.
-Fooled me.
-Look.
All I am saying is Butler's
gonna make a decision. . .
. . .to endorse you and rally his troops
or not.
There's nothing you can do about it.
-So, what do we do?
-You play the game you came to play.
You don't play Butler's game.
You don't play anybody else's game.
You do exactly
what you planned to do.
Make a move on VP quickly,
show you're moving ahead. . .
. . .while the other side
is without a nominee.
-Who's next on your VP list?
-Ray Sullivan.
Good choice. Great resume.
Crime-fighting prosecutor.
Budget-balancing governor.
-Wins West Virginia for us.
-Get him in here today.
Make the Sullivan meeting the story
instead of the Butler meeting.
-Sheila?
-Works for me.
-Okay. Set up the Sullivan meeting.
-Sounds risky.
Not the craziest idea
from the Democrats.
The president won't like it.
It's the way to get
a minimum wage vote.
But sticking an amendment
on the debt ceiling?
They won't even try it
if the president says no.
-When do they need an answer?
-You know, like, now.
It's way too risky.
But if the Democrats can force a vote
on the amendment. . .
. . .it puts the Republicans
in a tough spot.
Don't wanna vote against
a minimum-wage increase. . .
-. . .in an election year.
-But they will.
Most of them, yeah,
but what does Vinick do?
Bad time for him to break
with his party. . .
. . .especially now that he has
this Butler problem.
-Will he?
-He'll go where the voters are.
DNC polls show percent
in favor of raising minimum wage.
And I haven't been able to get
the working-poor a raise in seven years.
Could be your last chance.
He'll vote for the cloture motion.
Doesn't mean he'll vote. . .
. . .against the minimum wage
if it comes to a vote.
Okay.
I know I said
we'd get there early.
-But. . . .
-I wanna see batting practice.
Well, a couple things have come up.
You just hang on.
Okay, George. Thank you.
I really appreciate it. Good.
You have to go vote.
-On what?
-Cloture motion.
Democrats are trying to stick a minimum
wage amendment on the debt ceiling.
Cheap stunt. What are they gonna do?
Not raise the debt ceiling
if we don't raise the minimum wage?
-It's a game of chicken now.
-Couldn't be more reckless.
If they don't pass it. . .
. . .we're gonna have a lot more
poor people in this country.
Don't they know what
a depression looks like?
The minimum wage
would be the maximum wage.
They're aiming at you, trying to separate
you from the party.
Seems to be getting easier every day.
Hey, look who's here.
-Hey, senator.
-I'm counting on you bigtime.
I can't vote, you know.
I'm counting on your mother
to vote for me.
I'm counting on you to catch me
a foul ball tonight.
No way. If I catch one,
I'm keeping it.
She can't give it to you.
It's a violation of Senate gift rules.
-Gotta go now.
-See you later, Tina.
-Bye, senator.
-We'll be right back.
It's just a quick vote.
We gotta get past the press
as fast as we can.
-No Butler questions.
-Okay.
-Senator.
-Senator.
-Sorry, guys, he's got no time.
-Were you surprised at Butler's--?
-Sorry. I gotta vote.
-You accepting his invitation?
I really have to go. Sorry.
Are you coming to his church
this Sunday?
I think I'm gonna--
I have some TV commitments that day.
Meet the Press is more important
than church?
I don't know what my schedule
is on Sunday.
-Get us out of here.
-Sorry.
Going to another church on Sunday?
Do you think doing Sunday TV is
more important than going to church?
-Where do you go to church, senator?
-Senator.
-Do you go to church at all?
-Senator.
No, Mike, no one saw this coming.
Vinick went from the candidate
who answered any question...
... to being the guy who won 't even
tell us if he goes to church.
-Let's round up the troops.
-Senator, do you go to church?
Honey, we're kind of busy right now.
We gotta get you to that game, right?
I didn't really expect
to see batting practice.
I haven't gone to church for a while.
-I think you should.
-Yeah.
Unless you don't believe in God.
My best friend, Maggie,
doesn't believe. . .
. . .because her parents
don't believe in God.
But she still comes to our church on
Christmas Eve to see the nativity play. . .
. . .because I'm always in it,
and she's my best friend.
I gotta get back to work.
Hang in there, honey.
Right. Just so you know. . .
. . .our polling shows that if you were
to revise your position on abortion. . .
-. . .you would--
-Flip-flop on abortion?
You would take to percent
of the vote. . .
. . .and a comfortable cushion
in the Electoral College.
-Thanks, that's very helpful.
-Just thought you should know.
One sh*t of you walking
into a church on Sunday. . .
-. . .to put this church thing behind us.
-Won't work.
The press will ask,
"Why not go to Butler's church?"
Then they'll ask you when was
the last time you went to church.
I'm guessing wasn't last week.
Been a while.
How long?
Counting weddings and funerals?
Okay, everybody. Governor Sullivan's
gonna be here any minute.
Let's clear out.
Has it been years?
You know where I am
Sunday mornings?
I'm in here or at home,
doing my job. . .
. . .doing what I promised
the people of California I would do.
Giving every minute I can.
-How many years?
-I don't know.
I used to go with my wife
every Sunday I was in California.
Then when she got too sick to go,
you know, I stayed home with her.
And after her funeral, I didn't wanna
go into that church again.
So about five or six years.
I'm not the only senator
who doesn't go to church.
You're not just a senator anymore.
Yeah. Okay. Put him through.
It's Royce.
Yes, Mr. Leader.
I understand.
Yes, he can handle that.
We'll get him over there right away.
He wants you to go see the president.
-Governor Sullivan is here.
-Thank you.
Royce is afraid they're not gonna pass
the debt-ceiling bill in time.
Wants you to work out a deal
with the president. . .
. . .so the Democrats will let us pass
the debt ceiling before midnight.
So five minutes with the governor,
then you'll go to the White House.
Okay.
-Governor Sullivan.
-Sheila.
Hey, Ray. Great to see you again.
-Good to see you, Arnie.
-Have a seat, please.
-Thank you.
-I'm sorry. I gotta make this quick.
The Democrats are jamming us up
with an important vote.
Gotta go to the president,
straighten it out.
Well, governing before politics,
that's my motto.
-Really?
-No, I'm just kidding.
Come on. Loosen up, Arnie.
Everyone on TV tonight
is saying that this meeting. . .
. . .is about the vice presidency.
Well, they're right for once.
-Did you offer it to Butler?
-No.
Good. I don't wanna be
anybody's second choice.
You've seen this problem develop today
about my going to church.
-You mean, not going to church.
-Yeah.
That's all right.
I go enough for both of us.
I've been reading about your positions
on a lot of things.
But there are
some environmental issues. . .
. . .you haven't dealt
with in West Virginia.
Here's the deal with the issues, Arnie.
I can get in line with you
on everything except abortion.
Nothing's gonna make me
change my mind on that.
But I'm guessing
you wouldn't want me to.
Toby, do you have a copy of the--?
The president's waiting for you,
senator.
Mr. President, I'd hate to think that
you were consulted by Democrats. . .
. . .about doing something
as irresponsible. . .
. . .as playing games
with the debt ceiling.
Have a seat.
But I'd like to think
they'd follow your leadership. . .
. . .if we could agree on a way
out of this mess.
-You came to the right place.
-Good.
What did you have in mind?
Democrats withdraw
the minimum-wage amendment. . .
. . .from the debt-ceiling bill.
You pass the bill. . .
. . .then you give them a vote
on the minimum wage.
You'll lose on the minimum wage.
We might be able to shame enough
Republicans into doing the right thing. . .
. . .in an election year.
How about you withdraw
the minimum-wage amendment. . .
. . .we pass the debt ceiling clean. . .
. . .and I round up enough Republican votes
to pass the minimum-wage increase.
You can get that done?
We have Republican senators
in seven states. . .
. . .with higher minimum wages
than the federal level.
California, it's a buck- higher.
We don't want jobs moving
to lower-wage states.
I can get you the votes.
-What do you want from me?
-I announce the deal.
Democratic candidates for president
wouldn't be happy. . .
. . .watching you take credit for this.
Well, then let them pass
the debt ceiling for you. . .
. . .and get you the
minimum-wage increase.
Anything else?
-Help me keep a secret.
-What's that?
That I just gave you
more than you asked for.
Let me hang around for a while. . .
. . .as if we're really slugging it out
in here.
Can I get you anything?
Where's the ice cream?
I think I could live on coffee ice cream.
Hardest thing about this job is knowing
this stash is down here hours a day.
-How's your health?
-Good days and bad days.
Good days aren't as good
as they used to be.
Kind of like a speeded-up
version of aging.
-You've had better days, huh?
-Yeah.
Whatever happened to separation
of church and state?
It's hanging in there, but I'm afraid
the Constitution doesn't say anything. . .
. . .about the separation of church
and politics.
You saying that's a good thing?
I'm saying it's the way it is.
Always has been.
You think the voter really needs
to know if I go to church?
I don't need to know, but then I'm
not gonna vote for you anyway.
It's not up to us to decide. . .
. . .what the voters get to use
in evaluating us.
A little odd coming from someone. . .
. . .who wasn't exactly completely open
about his health.
-That was a big mistake.
-Was it?
What did we know about
Lincoln's health when he was running?
Nothing.
Washington, Jefferson.
What about FDR's health?
And when he d*ed in office,
did people say:
"Gee, why didn't he tell us
he was sick?" No.
Did they say,
"I wish I didn't vote for him"?
No.
I don't know how you plan to handle
this religious thing in the campaign.
Yeah, well, that makes two of us.
I could let it slip that I think
a candidate's religion. . .
. . .or how often he goes to church
isn't relevant to choosing a president.
You'll say that on the way
into church?
Are you accusing me
of politicizing churchgoing?
You've had an awful lot of photo ops
on the church steps.
I went to Mass every Sunday
long before I went into politics.
I did too.
Why'd you stop?
One Christmas, my wife gave me a
very old edition of the King James Bible.
Seventeenth century.
It was a real find for a book collector.
It was a thrill just to hold it.
Then I read it.
You can't take it literally.
That's what my priest friends
kept telling me.
But the more I read it,
the less I could believe.
I could not believe there was a God. . .
. . .who said that the penalty
for working on the Sabbath was death.
I couldn't believe there was a God. . .
. . .who said the penalty
for adultery was death.
I'm more of a New Testament man
myself.
I couldn't believe that there was a God
who had no penalty for sl*very.
The Bible has no problem
with sl*very at all.
Lincoln could have used
a little help from the Bible.
You think Lincoln was an atheist?
I hope not.
That would mean all his references
to God were just purely political.
He didn't make any until he started
running for office.
No, and he certainly was a doubter.
What about you?
You gonna try to save my soul?
Sorry.
Let's just say I struggled
for a long time with that book.
Finally, I just gave up the struggle.
The only thing you can pray for
in this job. . .
. . .is the strength
to get through the day.
You can try coffee if you want,
but prayer works better for me.
Try the pistachio.
Yes. We have reached an agreement
on the debt-ceiling bill.
We will pass it within the hour
and send it to the president. . .
. . .for his signature before midnight.
The minimum-wage amendment?
We have a separate vote on the
minimum-wage increase tomorrow.
-Is it gonna pass?
-Yes, it will.
I'll vote for it.
There'll be more than enough
bipartisan support to pass it.
Are you reconsidering Reverend Butler's
invitation to his church this weekend?
I fully respect
Reverend Butler's position.
I mean, I appreciate his invitation,
and. . . .
Look, I respect Reverend Butler.
And I respect his church too much
to use it for my own political purposes.
That's exactly what I'd be doing
if I went there this Sunday.
Because the truth is, it would just be
an act of political phoniness.
I may be wrong...
...but I suspect our churches already
have enough political phonies in them.
Senator, do you or do you not--?
You can 't have a separation
of church and state...
. . .if you have to pass a religious test
to get in this government.
And I wanna warn everyone in the press
and all the voters out there. . .
. . .if you demand expressions
of religious faith from politicians. . .
. . .you are just begging to be lied to.
They won 't all lie to you,
but a lot of them will.
It'll be the easiest lie they had to tell
to get your votes.
So every day until the end
of this campaign. . .
. . .I'll answer any question anyone has
on government.
But if you have a question on religion,
please, go to church. Thank you.
Senator. Senator Vinick. Senator.