As we head into another Presidential primary season filled with candidates that few people find very inspiring, This American Life broadcasts stories of political idealists, stories designed to provide some small sense of hope about American politics. Most of these were first broadcast during the 1996 Presidential race.
Prologue.Ira with an idealistic would-be politician in California. The puzzle of American politics is that our political system is filled with idealistic people, but few of our candidates for top office seem either idealistic or capable of inspiring passion. (11 minutes)
Act One. Upside Down World.
A campaign diary from writer Michael Lewis from four years ago, about a politician you will be hearing a lot from in the next few weeks and months: John McCain ... and the story of a moment when the opposite of normal politics became normal politics. Lewis's campaign diaries are collected in his book Trail Fever: Spin Doctors, Rented Strangers, and Thumb Wrestlers on the Road to the White House. (15 minutes)
Song: "I Don't Want to Be President," Percy Mayfield
Act Two. Kiss and Tell.
A Walter Mondale-voting, gay-rights-supporting unrepentant liberal signs up as a Republican party member — and ends up a party functionary — a delegate to the state Republican convention ... where he wreaks havoc. Dan Savage tells the story. (16 minutes)
Song: "To Serve Mankind," Mono Puff
Act Three. Pete and Repeat.
How California Governor Pete Wilson's anti-immigrant policies found some supporters among immigrants themselves. We hear an explanation of the profoundly idealistic notion of "self-deportation" from its main proponent, Daniel D. Portado. (6 minutes)
Song: " Jordan for President," Louis Jordan
Act Four. Throwing Money At The Problem.
A few years back Alex Kotlowitz wrote a book called There Are No Children Here, about two boys growing up in Chicago's Henry Horner public housing projects. Those projects were across the street from the site of the 1996 Democratic Convention in Chicago, and when the convention came to town, money poured in for a makeover. One of the kids from the book, Pharoah Walton — now grown up — gave a tour, showing us what got fixed up, and how the real improvements in the neighborhood all happened underneath the normal political radar. (10 minutes).
Song: "Christ for President," Billy Bragg & Wilco
Act Four. Throwing Money At The Problem.
A few years back Alex Kotlowitz wrote a book called There Are No Children Here, about two boys growing up in Chicago's Henry Horner public housing projects. Those projects were across the street from the site of the 1996 Democratic Convention in Chicago, and when the convention came to town, money poured in for a makeover. One of the kids from the book, Pharoah Walton — now grown up — gave a tour, showing us what got fixed up, and how the real improvements in the neighborhood all happened underneath the normal political radar. (10 minutes).
Song: " Christ for President," Billy Bragg & Wilco