Is ABC’s ‘V’ About Obama?
Nov 4, 2009 by Vic HoltremanThe original V series that aired back in the 80s was basically about the threat of Communism and Soviet Russia, so I anticipated that ABC’s …
The original V series that aired back in the 80s was basically about the threat of Communism and Soviet Russia, so I anticipated that ABC’s remake would have some sort of political undertone as well. What suprised me in the pilot was the apparent target of the show’s political undertone: President Barack Obama.
The episode opens with the standard TV pilot mechanism of briefly showing us a a minute or so of each of the characters we’ll come to know over the course of the series. We have the handsome newscaster who is not taken seriously and wants to get ahead, the single mom FBI agent, a priest and a man with an obviously shadowy background trying to make a fresh start in life.
Soon enough huge spaceships appear over major cities in a scene reminiscent of Independence Day (the writers are quite aware of this, actually pointing it out on the show itself). The ships turn into mega big screen TVs in order to deliver a soothing message by series star Morena Baccarin, who plays alien visitor Anna. She says they are overjoyed to find life on another world – and that they never expected they would find any (then why build a massive video/PA system in to the exterior of your starship?).
They come promoting goodness, peace and light – they’re here to help us with their technology, including setting up healing centers where they can easily cure over 60 incurable diseases. The world is “hurting” according to one of the characters, so it seems the vast majority of the population accepts them on their word without much questioning at all. There are small protests breaking out everywhere, but those folks are looked at as rabble rousers who need to get with the program.
The aliens are all good looking and about hope and change (their words, not mine) and interestingly when reporters begin to ask hard questions upon Anna’s arrival, the newscaster mentioned above accuses them of being rude(!). Later Anna decides that she wants him to be their PR conduit and he is taken aback when prior to their first interview (which could skyrocket his career and fame) she instructs him that he is not to ask any questions that could show the Visitors in a bad light. He balks, but acquieses – and she rubs his nose in it by saying (when the cameras are rolling) that he should feel free to ask anything he likes, they are an open book.
During the interview the phrase “universal health care” is actually used in describing what they are offering and why they should be accepted.
There’s an underground group that knows what the Visitors are up to, but they are looked upon as nutjobs and terrorists even though they are in the right and know what the Visitors are really up to.
Interestingly there is a priest on the show who is skeptical of the Vistors’ intentions despite the Vatican quickly coming to the assessment that the Visitors are good – and he worries about happiness about the Visitors’ arrival turning into devotion and worship.
I’m sure that those who don’t like what the current administration is doing will see a clear connection and those who agree with what Obama is trying to accomplish will either laugh off any such connection as ridiculous or will read more nuanced meaning into the show to demonstrate it actually supports this administration.
What do YOU think?
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@790
so are you subscribing? just curious to what your going to do when it all goes down…
Jago, Its all going down now.
So I guess I’m going to keep speaking out about it until they come for me,,,
@790
i know its all going down now… but was just curious if you would pay the fine or subscribe…?
Hmmm Jago, well I think it sucks that were entertaining the thought but I would have to say that It would be a tough decision but I may leave the country before I pay a fine for not having heath care.
I’ve been thinking about this for awhile now and that’s where I’m leaning,,,
I hope that doesn’t happen,,,
I’ve actually had those plans for quite a while as well… not because of anything political just mainly because i like it there more.
@790
Hmmmm… Of course that Health care is not absolutely free. It costs a lot of money. But, in countries that have Universal h. c. that money comes from state controled social and health insurances. That insurances are not at all expensive, and is payed buy your employer, or your parents employer if you are underaged. If you don’t have a job, than you are under social health care, and again it doesn’t come from your pocket, but from collective state taxes.
And, as Anakin sad, nobody has to wait a lot, and there also are private clinics and doctors too.
what? the original V series was an allegory for nazi germany not the soviet threat.
@Economist
You:
“Of course taxes are high in Scandinavia, but you can’t have sound society with law taxes — that belief is the “opiate of the mass” that all right and right-centered politicians use throughout the world to convince the people to vote for them, and it almost always works. Unfortunately.”
Me:
Higher taxes have never benefited a society. When you take more from people in order to expand government or social programs you hurt those who make up the fiscal foundation on which economies are built on. You’re being farcical here. Btw nice reference to Karl Marx…i had a feeling you were a fan of his given your rhetoric.
you:
“Strong fiscal policy is extremely important for keeping the good life standard. Not having rigid loan policy and strong central bank, plus having lowered the taxes — led to World financial crisis in the first place…”
Me:
You couldnt be more wrong. Fiscal mismanagement coupled with reckless spending has lead to economic calamities in certain countries, and now the US. What youre referring to in your last sentence sounds like communism to me, which is probably why you have such a pedestrian understanding of just how deleterious high taxes are to any established nation, even the US.
@Economist – Funny you say that about private clinics. If the state run or government run HC is so good, why would anyone want to PAY money from their own pockets for BETTER HC? Am I the only one that sees the irony in that statement?
@ Daniel
About taxes: See any Scandinavian country for example. There is no poverty, no racism, everybody has health care, taxes are highest in the world (that, of course, didn’t happen over night — people became richer and had to pay higher taxes, thus building the society with highest standards and best life conditions in the world). The only turndown in North of Europe is cold climate.
And lets have a look now at USA: low taxes (Bush) led to biggest deficit in modern human history. I don’t know if you are aware but USA have the biggest debt in the world right now, I think it was more then one billion billion dollars in 2008., but I must check on that.
Right now that debt is significantly lower — and why is that? Because of the financial crisis, which started from USA but spread through the world, bringing every economy down, thus stronging American weakened economy.
@Paul Young
Why?
That way anyone can have a choice. The only thing why would someone go to the private is because he thinks that public doctors could have too many patients. And private practice is not to expensive either — many foreigners are it’s prime contributors: plastic surgery and teeth job are far cheaper than in USA.
@ Daniel
And one more thing. Karl Marx is a must read author in all countries of the world (yes, even USA) when studying or working about economic. He is not the founder of communism as he is not the founder of capitalism, but you could say that he heavily influenced both.
1,2 trillion $ is predicted budget deficit for 2009. in USA.
I suppose an Iraqi could see the parallels to their situation and the original “V”. I’d imagine to them, the Americans are the “Visitors”.
I thought this thread was about a TV show, not Face the Nation. Could we get back to the show before tempers start to flare?
@J A Reyes
Comment deleted. I don’t care to see you on the site again.
Vic
@anakin
That’s funny, I know a lot of people from Canada, and they all say the wait in public hospital ER’s can be as long as 48 hours…
I am from a country with the same thing, public hospitals and private ones and it’s the same thing there, the public free hospitals have RIDICULOUS lines in the ER and people are literally passing out or DYING while waiting to be seen…
@Economist
And talking about a country with no poverty, let me ask you, how much technological advancement comes out of that country? Probably not many right? Do you know why? Because the people know that regardless of whether or not they go through the trouble of researching and developing something new and innovative that they will get paid the same. So why go through the trouble of doing something new and innovative when you can just sit on your ass at home watching TV and the government will pay for your living?
Competition and the promise of wealth is basically the only way to motivate individuals and industry to put in the effort to invent and develop new things. Look at the government in the USA. Government controlled things like the DMV, Postal Service, etc. are very inefficient. Why is that? It’s because there’s no competition, so they have no motivation to be more efficient because they know no matter what, people have no choice but to do it through them. What is the only government controlled industry that’s actually very efficient? Weapons development. Do you know why? Because there is competition, in the form of other countries developing weapons. Why do you think so many inventions and technological advancement came out of WWII? Because we were forced to find better ways to do everything so we have a better chance of winning the war.
Competition is the best motivator. It’s great to have some countries where everyone is equal, but if EVERY country was like this, we will NEVER progress technologically.
Not to mention, if the European model is so great, how come they have been around for how many thousands of years and yes America has been around for just over 200 years and we have become the world’s super power (well, not anymore…). Why do you think we got that way so quickly? It’s because of our DIFFERENCES that make us better. Sorry to say, but I don’t see why we should try to copy countries that are not as great as ours. Obviously what we’re doing WAS working…
Where is Dwight D Eisenhower when we need him… lol.
@ Ken J
One of the finest and most argumentative posts for the different opinion. With most of that what you wrote I could agree. Not like some other guys here.
@ mike
So very true.
@ Ken J
But…
Last few sentences. Let’s not forget that Europe is made from a lot of small countries, and that EU is by no means same model of state union like US. In modern history Europe, except for British Empire (not to mention crazy Nazi guys), didn’t have aspirations to become world number one. Doesn’t have capacity, either.
What I am trying to say, it’s good to be great, but there is no need to be proud in being number one. That’s huge problem, because many countries, especially poor ones, see Americans as arrogant. And fundamental and insane individuals easily become militant.
@Economist
In this instance I would say them seeing us as arrogant is akin to jealousy. I wonder what their response would be if they were given the opportunity to move to America. That’s right, they would. There’s a reason million of mexicans come here illegally, because they feel the US gives them a chance at life.
@Ken J
Excellent, excellent post my friend.
@Economist
Let’s not play naive here. Every country strives to be number one. It’s just that when they don’t or can’t accomplish it, they pretend they don’t care to be. It’s better than admitting defeat.
And I don’t think USA is required to put into consideration who will be jealous of them prior to working toward being the best. If that’s the case, then nobody should strive for excellence since there will always be those on the bottom that will be jealous and call that person arrogant.
I for one certainly didn’t consider what some GED holders would think of me when I was applying at universities to get my degree…
@Ken J – WHy do you come back when you can better arrange your thoughts into a more coherent opions
Well spoken my friend – makes me proud to live in teh same state as you.
@Economist – I’ve been reading the wisdom of Kenj for a few months now and I think I’m safe in saying he speaks for me. So, when ever he addresses you just assume I’m standing behind him with my arms folded, nodding my head and occassionaly pointing at your saying “Yeah what now!?!” HEH
Let’s try and bring this back to the show fellas, we could go all day talking about domestic political opiinon much less worl political opinions.
It’s easy to draw conclusions about any show, current or present, by comparing them to the cuurent policital trends set by those in office. Do I think the writer intential created the show as a anti-Obama message? No, but the similarites are uncanny.
If you get a moment check out this article by Jeffery Jena who is friends with Scott Peters (the creator and writers behind the V remake). It could change your prespective a bit on this whole story.
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjena/2009/11/05/exclusive-behind-the-v-controversy/
“Don’t be frightened. We mean no harm…”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11104515@N03/4080811881/
Paul wrote:
“I’ve been reading the wisdom of Kenj for a few months now and I think I’m safe in saying he speaks for me.”
Um, Economist, Paul says you’re ugly! *sticks out tongue*
Damn Paul, you’re so immature!! lol
@Paul
Reading that article, I think that makes it even more sad for Mr. Obama. The story was written portraying the Visitors as being a sort of trojan horse, bad guys disguised as good guys. But the similarities between them and the Obama administration is undeniable. So what did he inadvertantly point out about the Obama administration? Especially if it was written before he saw it, so technically, in his own mind, what they are doing and how they are acting is very suspicious. Yet he doesn’t see a problem with the Obama administration behaving almost exactly the same??
To me, the fact that it was unintentional is even worse for Obama… But that’s just my opinion.
@Jerry
You:
“People say that scifi fanboys need to get a life, but after reading much of what’s been said about “V” at various internet sites, it’s pretty clear that Beck/Limbaugh fanboys need to get a life. Your Obama obsession is showing.”
Me:
Well Gee Jerry seeing as how many people inside the beltway are ALSO making commentaries on how there are subtle references to Obama and his rhetoric in the reimagining of V i’d hardly think that your dismissive and condescending statement about the “beck/limbaugh fanboys” holds any weight in truth.
I do apologize if you find it disturbing to believe that there are ANY non liberal holdouts in hollyweird that would dare to take shots at your leader…i know how trying a time this must be for you. At least you can keep watching good old Msnbc, where your leader always comes off as walking on water.
@Anakin
You:
“I’d like to correct a false statement from Daniel here.
“In Canada you can literally die from the wait that is sometimes required when attempting to get an operation done.”
WRONG. Speaking as a Canadian and having lived here my entire life, I have NEVER seen or even heard of anyone dying from waiting to get an emergency operation. Furthermore, if you are unhappy with public hospitals, you can always go to a private one. Yes, the OPTION is there even though most of us would rather choose the public system (it’s free)”
Me:
Actually friend it is YOU who are wrong. Just because you havent seen the kind of thing that i mentioned happening it doesnt mean that it doesnt taken place. Here’s a few tidbits of info that id like you to look over:
“In Canada, almost a million citizens are waiting for necessary surgery and more than a million Canadians can’t find a regular doctor. In the small town of Norwood, Ontario, a weekly drawing is held in which a townsperson wins the right to access the town’s one family doctor. ”
source: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/story?id=3580676&page=1
Or how about a canadian son who had to be on a waiting list to get a CRITICAL surgery done?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsqyVGha-3A
Please try to inform yourself of the facts before you try to discredit others prematurely. Thanks.
@Economist,
I thought I was clear on this?
I don’t want the federal government telling me what I can and can’t put in my body. Imposing fines for
Non-compliance of a mandatory forced system is completely Un American and unacceptable way of life to me and other Americans.
The last time I checked Scandinavia was a very controlled and elite run country. You have nothing left to protect,,,
We have a Constitution and freedoms over here, some of us are fighting to hold on to…