Posted on 11/01/2008 5:35:10 PM PDT by kathsua
Many people suggested after the nomination of Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential candidate that she was comparable to Jimmy Stewart's character in the Frank Capra movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". The character in one of the other movies in the unofficial trilogy that included "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" is somewhat similar to the Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
"Meet John Doe" is about a man plucked from obscurity because of his inspiring speeches. In the movie set in the Depression, Barbara Stanwyck plays columnist Ann Sheridan who is one of many employees fired from "The Bulletin" after it is purchased by wealthy tycoon D. B. Norton (played by Edward Arnold who was also in "Mr. Smith..."), a man with apparent fascist tendencies who wants political power. For her final column after being fired, she makes up a letter by a man called "John Doe" who treatens to jump off city hall because of all the corruption, etc. in the country. The letter becomes a sensation and as a condition of rehiring her she has to find someone who will pretend to be the ficticious author of the letter.
From a large group of unemployed men who claim to have written the letter, she selects a baseball player with a bad arm played by Gary Cooper (who also had the lead in "Mr Deeds..."). Doe takes the job in exchange for a promise of money so he can have his pitching arm fixed by Dr. "Bonesetter" Brown.
The paper then proceeds to carry a series of protest columns ghost written by Sheridan under the John Doe byline. Norton decides to put John Doe on the radio and Sheirdan's mom persuades her to provide a more positive speech instead of the negative columns. Norton notices his servants are entralled with the speech and decides to start a national movement in John Doe's name.
Norton wants to use the movement to help him and his crooked friends take over the White House with Norton as the candidate. Doe overhears the plot and leaves town.
In the real life version Barack Obama is the person plucked from obscurity because of his ability to deliver inspiring speeches and the wealthy tycoon is George Soros who decides to have his "John Doe" run for the presidency, possibly because Soros, who was born in Hungary, is ineligible. Obama unlike John Doe decides to go along with the plot and run for president.
Are we in a Frank Capra movie? We'll know Tuesday. A victory by Sen. John McCain could indicate we're in a Frank Capra movie and everything will eventually turn out okay. A victory by Sen. Barack Obama could indicate the movie is by someone like Roger Corman and we don't know how things will turn out.
Palin is the ideal the founders thought of when they gave us this great country, the “Citizen Candidate”.
Open the phonebook from anywhere except a city in this country and I will be gladly governed by first 535 names instead of our current congress.
Barack Obama reminds me of Elmer Gantry!
Yes. It’s called “Why We Fight”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.