All language subtitles for The West Wing - 6x10 - Faith Based Initiative.en

Previously on The West Wing:

- Jed!
- I can't do the job, Abbey.

Do you understand? I can't do it.

- Where's Donna?
- She got a new job, I think.

I've got her cell
if you wanna give her a call.

- Pick your dream candidate?
- I don't know how this works.

You pick the smartest, most capable...

...most honorable individual you can
think of, and you have a conversation.

- I'm not running for Congress again.
- I'm not talking about Congress.

Josh should have called.
I could have saved him a trip.

They don't have anyone else?

A Latino district, and they cannot
come up with a decent Democrat?

You'd think.

- Did you leave it open with him?
- No.

I would break you in half.

He knows I'm not going back
to the House.

Give me a hand. These guys are out.

Look at how big this kid is.

I mean, he's down to my knees.
When did this happen?

Shooting up. It's that time.

He's got his own smell.

So, what did he want?

He's not worried about
the House anymore.

Supposed to walk Russell
through a Cinco de Mayo parade...

- ...establish his Chicano street cred?
- Not quite.

I hate politicians
who wear cowboy boots.

That's the least of his problems.

Women spend their entire lives
trying to get out of heels.

What possible use is there?
The guy is a lawmaker.

It's like going through life
wearing a welder's helmet.

- He's not a bad guy.
- Well, his footwear's moronic.

- He's just trying to get elected.
- Exactly.

- God, this is good. You want some?
- What is it?

- It's ice cream, melted. It's good like this.
- I'm fine.

Josh wants me to run for president.

- Of the United States?
- I'm pretty sure.

Wow, they are hard up.

I mean, you know what I mean. It's....

- Are you thinking about this?
- No.

- You're not.
- Told him no.

Told him no. What did he say?

He said that I was right,
that it was a stupid idea...

...and that I made the right decision.

Man of conviction, right there.

He's got it all figured out.
A nine-point plan. It's pretty interesting.

Nine points?

- Why not seven or three or...?
- I don't know.

- This plan is supposed to make you...?
- Win.

- Oh, my God. You're thinking about this.
- I told him no.

Well, I'm going to bed. Those kids
are gonna be up in a couple hours.

Don't forget the trash.

The Bartlet administration
remains optimistic...

...about upcoming trilateral talks
with China and North Korea.

South Korea offers energy assistance
to its power-starved neighbors.

It's quarter past the hour
and this is Morning Edition.

The first chink in the armor of the
Washington-Pyongyang stalemate...

- ... appeared last month in Beijing.
- Oh, my God.

Chinese President Lian agreed
to broker talks...

Are you kidding me?

- Well, good morning.
- Right.

I love it when it's cold enough
to make the mud crusty.

- You don't have to do this.
- Sorry.

You have the full text of this blog thing
from the Rohmer Report?

Go.

"What team does she play on?

Washington abuzz
with fresh allegations...

...that a certain former
Bartlet administration press secretary...

...may have more than a passing interest
in pursuing what many have described...

...as a radical homosexual agenda. "
And it goes on.

- To say what?
- You played sports at Berkeley...

...and were the first girl
in Ohio Prep history to dunk a basketball.

- Oh, Lord God.
- And that's pretty much it.

- Did Tommy call?
- Tommy?

Burly Tommy Keller
with the mop on top?

Two dinners at the Oval Room last week,
the reason I'm wearing this necklace...

...who's picking you up
at 7 tonight Tommy?

- He called?
- No.

- Everybody in there?
- All here. Five minutes early.

Well, great.

- Morning.
- Morning, C.J.

Lovely.

I've never been more attracted to you.

Restrain yourself.
Last night's House vote...

...means we have a budget
headed for conference committee.

We don't wanna get hung up
on a bunch of silly HHS riders...

...like two years ago.
We're close, but it's not a...

- Slam-dunk.
- Hey, now Charlie made a funny.

Guys, our whole agenda's riding on this.
We can't afford another shutdown.

We've got the president's legacy.

This is our last chance to do good,
and it all lives or dies with this budget.

Track this closely.

We gonna get college loan
and Pell expansions?

- Yeah, both versions.
- Just got a list of Republican conferees.

- Wilkinson?
- I thought it was a seniority thing.

They can do whatever they want.

- Why they do it behind closed doors.
- Isn't this it for him?

I thought he was going to Kansas
to sell flat globes.

- Was he in on budget negotiations?
- Didn't see him.

We keep an eye out. Hit the phones.
Will, what do you got?

VP is speaking to the NAACP
next week.

- I'm coordinating with policy shops.
- You want help?

- You talking to me?
- I may be able to help.

- You're offering to help the VP?
- I can help you with those guys.

- "Those guys"?
- You're the whitest guy on the planet.

Yeah. Got any particular insights
you wanna share?

Is it weird?
Did it just get weird in here?

- A little.
- What else? Kate, where's Uzbekistan?

Something big blew up.
Doesn't appear to be nuclear.

We're going over the pictures now.
We really have no idea.

Never open these meetings
to the public.

Keep me posted.
President's working from the residence.

- If you need him, bring it to me.
- He okay?

He's fine. Temporary balance problems.
Just precautionary.

We don't wanna risk another fall.

You wanna send a message of love,
bring this budget home.

Excuse me, I have to craft a personal
statement supporting reproductive arts.

- Hang in there.
- Yeah, yeah.

- There's a basketball in the trash.
- Nothing but net.

- Don't put out a statement.
- I will be respectful.

- We don't need this distraction now.
- It feels funny.

- Be more articulate.
- This can't be a coincidence.

Rumors about your sexuality the same
day Republicans shove Wilkinson...

- ...on the budget committee?
- You're acting like a dog in Pompeii.

Hold off on the statement.
Let me make some calls.

You're drastically overestimating
the political potency of my sex life.

Not possible.

- This is great.
- Sir?

I have a neurological disorder,
and you've got me doing calisthenics.

Can I put this in a book
I'm gonna write?

If I wanted to exercise,
I never would've become an economist.

- Curtis, my friend, how you doing today?
- Just fine, sir.

Well, a mighty blessing
upon your mighty frame, son.

Appreciate that.
What can I do for you?

- Is my wife about?
- I believe she is, sir.

Thank you. Okay.

You got me trying to do stuff
I couldn't do before I got sick.

When you're feeling wobbly, that's
a good opportunity for range of motion.

Terrific. I'll just pretend
I'm a crustacean.

- Use it or lose it.
- Could be said...

...for the power of the presidency.

- Good Lord, Jed, are you all right?
- I'm fine. I just....

Thank you, Curtis. I may need you.
I'll holler.

- Right outside the door, sir.
- You bet.

- Great kid.
- I'd like to watch him eat a pie.

- You on your way?
- I got a quick meet...

...with your doctor and C.J.
later this morning...

...five interviews and three receptions
this afternoon.

- Oh, jeez.
- Hell's where you gotta keep smiling...

...and you can't take off
your pantyhose.

Want me in the C.J. meeting?

If you wanna hear yourself referred to
in the third person.

I didn't think my schedule
would be so light on protein.

Well, it's all right, Jed.

You can afford to lose a few pounds.

- I'll see you this evening.
- I'll be here.

- He in there?
- Yeah. Don't go in.

- He alone?
- How do you mean?

- Not with others.
- That is correct.

- He'll be fine.
- Step away from the door.

Hey, one second. You all right?

- How's this?
- I'll tell you after I read it.

Come on in.

She likes it closed.

- Interesting girl.
- Yeah. I think I lost the temp lottery.

She's making me finish
one thing at a time. It's insane.

- Tell her to back off.
- You tell her.

- Call Donna.
- I can't.

You may have to resort to manhood.

I'm the victim.
How am I supposed to be a man?

This Wilkinson thing
seem strange to you?

I got calls out to the minority leader
and the conferees.

I'm gonna call the whip
then see Wilkinson.

We'll get this budget locked up.

Why did you go to Houston?

- Why'd you go to Houston? Santos?
- Yeah.

- What'd he say?
- He's not running.

- Could have used him in the House.
- Yeah, it's a shame.

- You went all the way down there?
- I like him a lot.

Russell and Hoynes
both still after you?

- Yeah.
- Make up your mind?

I'm here with you to the bitter end,
with bells on.

Vinick makes his way
through the primaries...

...there's not gonna be
a Democratic Party.

No. I know. I'm on it.

You're done. Leave.

I don't know what you're talking about.
This girl's fantastic.

Minority leader on one.

Yes, senator, we understand. Sure.

And we appreciate the restraint
you've shown...

...through this entire budget process.

- Yeah, yeah.
- Thank you.

And you know this White House
is gonna back you 100 percent.

Sit, sit.

Yeah, Baker's my next call.
Thanks for the heads up.

Oh, I'm fine.
I only use the Internet to shop.

Thanks for asking.

- Cripes. What's up?
- So I have some interview requests.

- Go ahead.
- The Advocate, Out...

...The Village Voice,
The San Francisco Chronicle...

- Make my stinking day.
- ... Washington Times...

...Goddess Monthly, Nantucket
Republican and Field Hockey Quarterly.

- Field hockey?
- I just made that one up as a joke.

- Aren't you perky as all get-out.
- It seems to be isolated...

- ...to just the...
- Sports fans. And the statement?

I wanna be sure this doesn't distract
from the government.

Yeah, I've been struggling with this.

Deny something
you have no problem with...

...and make it publicly clear
this is private.

That'd be great.

Okey-dokey.

- Hey. President still in the residence?
- Yeah.

We found out what Wilkinson's doing
in the conference.

- Federal ban on gay marriage.
- Sanctity of Marriage Act.

- They're attaching it to the budget?
- To avoid spending the rest...

...of our days in gridlock,
we ban gay marriage.

Oppose it, we paint the whole party
as out of touch...

...with traditional American values
for the election.

- And the budget goes down in flames.
- Margaret!

Call the residence.
We need to see the president now.

I looked over your r�sum�.
I think we both know it's an undersell.

What I'd take to the vice president
is the knowledge you've gleaned...

...over six years on the frontlines.

I think we can safely say
you've picked up a lot.

I try to pay attention.

I just wanna make sure
I'm not starting a turf war.

Hate to find the deputy chief
at my door with a switchblade.

You're not poaching me.
I need to move on.

And Josh is....

- He'll find someone to answer his phone.
- Well, we can use you. No question.

And not as anybody's assistant.

- Sanctity of Marriage?
- That's right.

- On the budget?
- Yes, sir.

Didn't they attach family planning
to a highway bill last year?

- They did.
- What's with these people?

- Can't stop talking about sex.
- If they can't have it.

Am I having a flashback,
or is my brain going?

Last time they called it
Marriage Recognition Act.

- First term pocket veto.
- Who is this?

- Wilkinson.
- What's he doing on the committee?

- That's what we said.
- It's a guts move by the leadership.

- We slap it down.
- Threaten a veto.

Make it clear this ambush is
unacceptable. Get a statement going.

They'll think twice
before forcing shutdown.

I disagree.

It's a bad pitch. Don't swing.

There any doubt it would get overturned
by the courts?

Well, it's not likely. So far,
anything short of full recognition...

...for same sex partners
is a constitutional no-go.

This amendment is pure symbolism.
Is it worth holding up our entire agenda?

Get it off the bill, guys.

- And if we can't?
- Just get it off the bill.

- Thank you, Mr. President.
- Thank you, sir.

Wilkinson's more of a federalist
than an ideologue.

Why's he suggesting
we override the states?

The courts will take care of that.
We need this budget.

At the end of the day,
you may have to sign it.

- What was that about?
- Well, he didn't say he wouldn't veto it.

- He didn't say he would.
- We can get this done.

- Wanna enlighten us?
- He wants it off the bill.

- We got that.
- We won't play chicken...

...in the middle of a budget round.

We're always in the middle
of a budget round.

With a president who can't go
down stairs?

He's not running again.
Why can't we help him?

He made the call.
Let's get it off the bill.

Try and dole out some budgetary pork
to members of the committee.

- See if we can get this killed.
- Okay.

- Maybe Sioux City needs a monorail.
- I'm late for the first lady.

Share your feelings with Wilkinson.
Talk him down.

With what? A threat that the president
might actually sign it?

You'll figure it out.

He has a 50 percent chance of
developing secondary-progressive MS...

...because the lesions have accelerated
here. That's pretty common.

- You don't know how to stop it?
- Give me 10 years and stem cells.

Sorry.

We need to focus on the best way
to manage his symptoms...

- ...in this unique environment.
- That's what this is.

- Stress?
- Can't be good.

Before and after pictures
around this place are intense.

No more back-to-back
marathon meetings.

An hour, max. His legs are gonna
cramp and spasm.

Don't want him kicking out
the Resolute desk.

- Or one of the Joint Chiefs.
- How many hours a day?

Depends. Six or seven, tops,
and he's gonna need a nap midday.

A nap? He's gonna love that.

It's the public time
that's gonna be tough.

Standing behind podiums, shaking hands,
Cabinet meetings.

So more phone, more memos,
things he can read and sign.

Too much reading may lead
to optical problems.

You're gonna have to limit
reading materials.

- Oh, Lord.
- Anything else?

High temperatures can trigger attacks.
Gotta keep the Oval below 70.

Okay. So we'll do a daily report on the
president's condition in morning staff.

The bottom line is, we have to be
prepared for anything, every day.

Got a minute?

- You should call so I can gather my wits.
- Sorry.

You've seen The Federal Government
Are a Bunch of Dinks. com?

- What if I reject the premise?
- They're all over the C.J. thing.

- Anything new?
- Her high school basketball stats.

Apparently, she was all-Dayton.

- You heard about the amendment?
- Just now.

- The president wants it off the budget.
- Okay.

It'd be nice if the vice president
made a statement against it...

- ...maybe called Wilkinson.
- The VP is pro-marriage.

As are we all. I've been married
almost twice. Same woman.

- That's unique.
- We're fine with it.

Okay, then.

- So the VP will make a statement?
- What's the president's position?

- He wants it off the bill.
- What's his position?

- That he wants it off the bill.
- And if it stays on the bill?

We need your help on this.

Right. This is a lose-lose for us, Toby.

Coming out for it hurts us
in the primaries.

Coming out against it hurts us
in the general.

I'd have to advise the VP
to wait and see.

I wanna kill it before it learns
to walk.

I don't know why you're here.
Talk to the president about a veto.

Yeah. Good idea.

- It's getting bigger.
- Oh, hi.

Sorry. You wanted an update
on this Internet rumor.

- It's getting bigger?
- Blogs are saturated...

...and now there's a query
from the Post.

They're doing a piece
on strategic bloggering.

- What are you, 4' 10"?
- Me? I'm 4' 11 ".

- I can't believe we're the same species.
- There's your update.

I know we shouldn't say anything, but
are you sure we shouldn't say anything?

Be great to get it off the Net...

...but it would seem like a comment
on the marriage act.

Plus, a statement brings this
to every news outlet.

- I was gonna say...
- Not a peep? Thanks for your advice.

- The conferees are waiting.
- Tommy didn't call?

- Crickets. Guy's starting to tick me off.
- Crickets?

- Senator Wilkinson.
- Oh, I've been waiting for an emissary.

Figured it'd be the vice president.

Senator, you're one of this country's
great federalists.

You believe in state and local control
of education.

- I do.
- State and local law enforcement.

- Yep.
- I'm not sure you think...

...there should be
a federal government at all.

Well, we lost that fight
some time ago, didn't we?

So why would you want
an unprecedented, top-down...

...federal mandate
to govern every state's marital laws?

Now that we have
a federal government...

- ...it can protect national values.
- Like individual freedoms?

I was thinking
of the institution of marriage.

When the budget's done...

...let's get a group to talk about it.

I don't need another study
to tell me what's right.

Senator, I'm not criticizing
the sincerity of your beliefs.

Well, that's refreshing.

Toby, do you believe the Bible
to be literally true?

Yes, sir. But I don't think either of us
is smart enough to understand it.

The president wants this
off his budget.

Well, if you're here to threaten a veto,
now's the time to do it.

I'm a busy man. I don't appreciate
your coming here with hollow threats.

And I don't appreciate people
spreading rumors...

...about C.J. Cregg.

I don't know how to use a typewriter,
much less a computer.

I think the president
is gonna sign it, Toby.

And I think that you're here
because you think he might sign it too.

Marla, I need the numbers
for the meeting.

The earmarks for the conferees.

Can you get that? I'm late here.
Oh, jeez.

- Hello.
- I don't like to be yelled at.

I would like to have the earmarks
so that I can go and do my job.

Earmarks. Is that frat boy for pork?

- Here you go.
- Thank you.

Three hundred thousand dollars
for potato-storage research?

- Starches are vital.
- How vital is $50 million...

- ...for an indoor rain forest in Iowa?
- It attracts tourism.

And mosquitoes, I'm guessing.

I'm trying to get some distinguished
members of Congress to remove...

...a hateful, gay-bashing amendment
from the budget.

By bribing them with taxpayers'
hard-earned money?

I don't know if you read the memo,
but I set budget policy.

- You alphabetize and sort.
- Josh.

You got a second?

- Yeah. Come in.
- You're gonna be late.

So, what are you working on?

Actually, right now, trying to build
an indoor rain forest.

- Well, good luck with that.
- I'm sorry about landing on you like that.

- My wife wants to kill you.
- I got a lot of women mad at me.

- You ought to work on that.
- I do have to go to this meeting.

- Budget glitch we're trying to sort out.
- So would this be a package deal?

- The budget?
- No.

I've been thinking about
your nine-point plan.

- Really?
- Yeah. But I would like to add a 10th.

- What's that?
- You.

The filing deadline's next Thursday.

I'm in, if you're in with me.

So no one here is troubled
that the Paper Reduction Act...

...is more than 500 pages long?

Let's just see if we can squeeze it down,
save a couple of trees.

- Thank you.
- Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

You can always tell a bureaucrat,
but you can't tell him much.

- Unless you tell him in triplicate.
- What do you need, Toby?

- Sanctity of Marriage.
- Yeah, yeah. Will gave me the heads up.

- He helpful?
- Not as obedient as he used to be.

That's good to hear.
That's rough about C.J.

Yeah, it's a rough town.
Mr. Vice President...

...I know you don't wanna get ahead
of the president...

...but we need you to come out
against the marriage act.

- Why would I wanna do that?
- A clear signal from the White House...

- ...and Wilkinson will fold.
- I think Will is right.

I'm gonna have to pass.

Mr. Vice President, this amendment
isn't about protecting marriage.

It's about institutionalizing the last
acceptable form of discrimination.

You can't just sit back and allow
the religious right...

- ...to hijack the social agenda.
- I know...

Presidential campaigning has to be
about more than duck and cover.

This is an opportunity for you
to stand up...

I've got a nephew who's gay.

I love this kid. His name's Todd.

I want him to have the same rights
and opportunities as everybody else.

He wants to go to West Point. It makes
me sick we'd send him into battle...

...to defend a union,
but he can't enter into one.

- Come out against this.
- We're not there yet.

5000 years of socialization didn't go out
the window with the Village People.

You do this wrong, and there'll be
a backlash that sets us back 50 years.

You do it right, we'll be there in 10.

And in the meantime,
what message are we sending?

We're making progress.

We've got domestic partnerships,
nondiscrimination laws.

Besides, demographics or destiny,
kids don't give a damn about this.

You would tell the president
to sign this, then?

I'd tell him to get his budget...

...and so would my nephew.

Tommy?

- Any Tommy?
- No Tommy to give.

- Boston Globe wants...
- Oh, my God.

...to know if we're gonna comment
on the amendment.

- A voice out of nowhere.
- MSNBC too.

MuckrakersManifesto. com has a story
you were gonna coach in the WNBA.

That's ridiculous.
I went to, like, three Mystics games.

Fox News, both mean Irish guys,
whole bunch of websites...

... 11 more newspapers
and be quick about it.

- They're all writing about me.
- Not exactly.

But the amendment gives them license
to mention rumors.

President wants a budget
with no amendment. That's the line.

- And work up a statement.
- I thought we decided not to.

Just in case. Respectful, non-defensive,
not that there's anything wrong with it.

- I tried that.
- And?

And I gave up because it's stupid.

- Is that an option around here?
- Toby suggested it might be.

- What else did he suggest?
- That the chief of staff...

...doesn't issue personal statements that
read like letters to Soap Opera Digest.

- Not that I'm a subscriber.
- I'd like a draft on my desk in an hour.

What are you doing?

- I got a bad temp.
- This is where you become just sad.

Call Donna.

- What happened with Wilkinson?
- He won't budge.

When God starts talking to people,
limits the debate. How's the pork?

Not having much luck
with the other conferees.

Carson wants 600 grand
for alternative salmon products.

I think we should just ditch the budget
and open a grocery store.

- This amendment's gonna pass.
- They don't wanna vote against marriage.

We'll run out of salmon products before
they vote against church and family.

How I hate this issue. It's like walking
around town holding a sick chicken.

If the president isn't willing to veto...

...I don't know how we
nickel-and-dime our way out.

So we don't even try.

C.J.'s caving, VP thinks the country's
not ready to fight discrimination...

...and for all I know,
the president's in naptime.

No one wants to get near this issue.
Even Hoynes is hedging.

Three-paragraph statement.
Can't even tell if he thinks...

- ...there should be a Congress.
- He put out a statement?

He said it deserves thoughtful study.

"Thoughtful study"? He said that?

Straddling the political divide
like an adonis.

- He was on Judiciary with Wilkinson?
- Yeah. Long time.

So Santos stopped by.

Filing deadline's in two days.
He wants me to go with him.

- To Texas? What for?
- New Hampshire.

Why does he wanna go
to New Hampshire?

To run for president.

I kind of talked him into it.
I think I gotta go with him.

- I laid out a nine-point plan.
- Is one of the points a military junta?

Okay. I'm gonna go back
to my office now.

You can't leave.
We're not done here.

You can't skip out with the president
lying flat on his back.

Seven years, you're gonna leave
with a get-well card?

- Gotta think about the ninth year.
- You're gonna tell the president...

- ...you just found a better horse?
- There you are.

- Hi.
- Secretary of agriculture is calling.

- Something about a fruit laboratory.
- Thank you.

So maybe we'll get Carson after all.

If I make any progress,
I'll get you a new whip count.

You getting through all the files?

Yeah, I'm almost up to
the Hoover administration.

Margaret give you call sheets
for the conferees?

Yep. I spoke to McKenna.

- He's fine on the education offsets.
- Figured you just had a heart attack.

- They had to take your call.
- Whatever it takes.

Drives me crazy when they
use the budget as a social soapbox.

It's a popular issue. No one wants to be
the first one to line up against it.

If you live your life
underneath a magnifying glass...

...you tend to stay away
from the heat.

- How you holding up?
- Feeling a little over-interpreted.

The Internet thing.

Am I wrong to wanna set the record
straight, no pun intended?

When I was labor secretary,
The National Enquirer ran a story...

...that I'd married Elizabeth Taylor
while skydiving over New Mexico.

I'm a heterosexual.

I don't know why I just said that except,
as of today, I'm the most famous....

Not famous, but apparently
the most powerful lesbian on the planet.

And the fact of the matter is,
I'm absolutely crazy...

...about this man I just met
and had two fabulous dinners with...

...in the space of one week.

A man who hasn't called me today...

...probably because he's of
the undependable gender...

...or maybe he has even less
of an idea about how to deal...

...with my alleged
and fictitious lesbianism than I do.

So he'll just remain silent...

...like a submarine under the icecap,
and drift away.

Just like the legion of other cowards...

...whom I spent my life
staring at the phone...

...panting like a collie
for table scraps...

...until I became successful
and started to scare them...

...with the very independence
they required me to have so that now...

...I'm looking at some bad numbers,
if you know what I'm talking about.

But what was I supposed to do?

Turn down an opportunity
to serve the president...

...who I believe in and adore?

You just wanna share it
with someone, you know?

- So if you wanna send more call sheets...
- Sure. No, that'd be a great idea.

I need you to stay, Leo.
So does the president.

C.J., Toby needs you.

Wilkinson won't move,
the vice president has chosen...

...this moment to find his noble core...

...and Hoynes may be
behind this whole thing.

- Hoynes?
- We have to put the president...

- ...with Wilkinson.
- That's not gonna happen.

- How's Hoynes involved?
- Doesn't matter.

The president has to threaten a veto
to get this off the bill.

- President's not ready to veto.
- You told him not to.

- I'm not willing to sink the budget.
- Over your dating life.

No, over an empty gesture that's gonna
be struck down by the courts.

So that's what we're gonna do. Pass
the buck and pray for judicial restraint.

President's resting. We can't haul him
down when we can't do what he asked.

You're afraid because it'll call attention
to this garbage they're running.

No, I'm too busy composing my letter
to the editor of Soap Opera Digest.

Josh is thinking of leaving.

- What?
- To help Matt Santos run for president.

- The congressman from Texas?
- Leo's gone.

Josh has a foot out the door.

It's you and I,
we're gonna have to run this thing.

We gonna stand for something
or just change the sheets...

...for the president's hospital bed?

We fight an amendment with no practical
impact and massive popular support?

Yes, we should fight it.
Fight the symbol. Yes.

Symbols matter.

If they didn't, why would you care what
they say on the Internet?

I have to go downstairs
for a quick meeting.

C.J. called me.

God forbid anyone should see me
bumming around the West Wing.

Might think I'm actually
running the country.

- This gonna be your idea of resting?
- Only gonna take a couple of minutes.

We have a situation here, Jed.

I feel like a guest at the most secure
bed and breakfast on the planet.

What's so important
that you'd risk your health?

- The Sanctity of Marriage Act.
- Oh, that old chestnut?

I was hoping for at least
an international crisis.

Hold the fish loosely, Jed, or it's gonna
flop right out of your hands.

- I wanna put my pants on.
- What?

My pants. I can't put them on.

Oh, okay.

- Here.
- How body from spirit

Does slowly unwind
Until we are pure spirit at the end

You gonna quote poetry now?

So this is why
they make you take vows.

Yep. This is why.

Could you overnight this
up to David at Concord, please?

- New Hampshire office up and running?
- Eleven of them. Cheaper to buy in bulk.

Little different than Orange County
three years ago, huh?

- This guy's got a pulse for starters.
- Well, technically speaking, sure.

Don't miss the romance
of the upstart campaign?

Sorry to make you waste a walk.
Toby already tried to go over my head.

Remind him the vice president and I
actually do talk every once in a while.

You know, he really appreciates
your offer to help on this NAACP stuff.

Sure. Great.

You good?

- How's Donna working out?
- Great.

She have an office yet?
I didn't see her out in the bullpen.

She headed to New Hampshire
for a couple of weeks.

Excellent.

Well, next time you see her,
tell her I say hi.

Of course.

Okay, see you guys
on the plane tomorrow.

Where are you off to?

South Carolina in the morning,
Georgia in the afternoon.

- Working on your Southern strategy?
- And my winter tan.

- You could use a couple of rays yourself.
- I'm not so much in for tanning...

...but I'll give it some thoughtful study.

The luxury of being out
of public office.

I don't have to take a position on every
issue before the Congress.

You served with Wilkinson
on the Judiciary Committee, right?

I did. He's a good man. I mean,
he is out there, but he's for real.

Won't take a cent of PAC money.
It's unbelievable.

So you encouraged him to visit
his righteous indignation down...

...on the budget process, make Russell
swing to the right on gay marriage...

...slay him with the Democratic faithful
in the primary? It makes sense.

I'm just confused who the viable
candidate is when Russell's gone.

You underestimate
the American public.

Generally a good policy.
I don't trust their judgment.

I forgot you work
for the president of Cuba.

I trust their aspirations,
just like all those guys in the white wigs.

- Some were slave owners, I hear.
- Exactly.

- C.J. too? That your handiwork?
- No.

No, I feel terrible about that.

I'm gonna win this thing, Toby.

Hey.

So are the queers gonna destroy
marriage as we know it, or what?

I have no idea.
I'm handing out pork like Popsicles.

Wilkinson's meeting
with the president.

- Thought he was in the residence today.
- Yeah, so did the first lady.

I'd steer clear.

Oh, I'm not getting anywhere near
that one.

- So I think I found my guy.
- Yeah?

- That's good.
- Matt Santos.

- He said yes. He's gonna do it.
- Santos?

- Really?
- I know. I got this nine-point pl...

I don't need to hear it.
You smell a moment, you gotta go.

I don't wanna leave you guys with just
a candygram and a get-well card.

We'll be fine.

Come with me.
I think this guy may be the real deal.

I already found my guy.

I don't know how to tell him, Leo.

Hey.

Hey.

Agriculture's still dragging their feet
on this Appalachian fruit thing.

It was Hoynes.

He wanted to force Russell
to support the Sanctity of Marriage Act.

Heartwarming.

So Santos, huh?

What are you gonna do
when this is done?

Whatever I can to stave off the chaos,
mayhem and self-interest...

...that lies just beneath
our civil disguise.

So not the private sector.

The money would have to be
unbelievable.

- See you.
- Yeah.

- You all set, sir?
- I'm fine, Nancy. Bring him on in.

Mr. President, Senator Wilkinson.

Sam.

- Well, you look terrific, Mr. President.
- Thank you.

- Sorry I can't get up, but I can't get up.
- You're in our prayers.

I appreciate that, Sam. I really do.

Now, tell me what I can do
to get your amendment off my budget.

Against nature.

Men leaving the natural use
of the woman...

...burned in their lust
toward one another.

Men with men, working that
which is unseemly. Romans.

Would it offend you, Sam,
if I said this amendment represents...

...a selective interpretation
of the Scriptures?

A complete inversion
of the values of Jesus Christ?

No, sir, it wouldn't offend me.
I'm secure in my faith.

Isn't there something in that book
about forgiveness?

- Aren't we all God's children?
- Of course we are.

Which is why the government
shouldn't institutionalize behavior...

...in opposition to our faith.

What gives us the right
to visit our faith upon the country?

One nation under God.
What gives us the right not to?

- You talked to John Hoynes about this?
- John's a friend of mine.

But I introduced this amendment
because I believe you want to sign it.

You told me as much six weeks ago
at the prayer breakfast.

That civil unions are one thing...

...but that marriage is between
a man and a woman.

I can't stand up anymore.

- Sir?
- I've lost my balance.

It should come back,
but it's gone now.

- Are you dizzy, sir?
- No, I just can't find my balance.

It went away.

I try thinking it back, but it's difficult
because it's not a static thing.

Once it's gone, it's hard to imagine
having it back again...

...and it's disheartening to realize that
thinking just isn't gonna get it done.

You've just got to trust
that you'll happen onto it again.

You only have one more year,
Mr. President.

Yeah, I've got a great future
behind me.

Attaching this to the budget
gives you all the cover you need.

How is this our job, Sam?

I raised my right hand and swore an oath
to uphold the Constitution...

...of the United States of America.

Where was your left hand,
Mr. President?

This was sent over
from the northwest gate.

- It says "Oval Room at 9. "
- Yeah.

- Are the press still in there?
- Yeah.

This is your statement.

Hey, I just wanted to tell you guys
that the Sanctity of Marriage Act's...

...been removed from the budget
at the president's urging.

The conferees are moving towards
a clean budget bill.

It should be on the president's desk
tomorrow.

- Are we on the record here?
- Sure. What the hell.

Are you a homosexual?

You know what?

I've spent the last 14 hours being
snickered at by United States senators...

...being ostracized
on the World Wide Web...

...having my own colleagues
question my ability to do my job.

And I let it get to me.

So I don't think it really matters
whether I'm gay or straight...

...or the best women's
basketball player in Ohio Valley history.

- No one should be treated this way.
- You didn't answer the question.

That's right,
because it's none of your business.

Josh, he can see you now.

- Mr. President.
- Josh.

- How you feeling?
- Not too bad.

Sir, I never imagined...

...that I would be having
this conversation.

Any word on...?

Russell for president.

I wanted to start this journey
in the place where it all started for me.

Soon, we will be inundated
by the polls and the punditry...

...and the prognostications.
All the nonsense...

...that goes with our
national political campaigns.

But none of that matters.

This is the place that matters.

Because every day, children walk into
this schoolhouse to glimpse their futures.

To ask for hope.

They may not know they need it yet,
but they do.

And I am here to tell you
that hope is real.

In a life of trials,
in a world of challenges...

...hope is real.

In a country where families
go without health care...

...where some go without food...

...some don't even have a home
to speak of, hope is real.

In a time of global chaos
and instability...

...where our faiths collide
as often as our weapons, hope is real.

Hope is what gives us the courage
to take on our greatest challenges...

...to move forward together.

We live in cynical times.

I know that.

But hope is not up for debate.

There is such a thing as false science.
There's such a thing as false promises.

I am sure that I'll have my share
of false starts in this campaign...

...but there is no such thing
as false hope.

There is only hope.

And with your help
and your hard work...

...and the hopes of good people
all across this land...

...I hereby announce my candidacy
for president of these United States.