Bartlet Rejects Marriage Bill as 'Legislative Gay Bashing'
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Josh presents a constitutional argument regarding the Marriage Recognition Act, showcasing his legal focus.
Bartlet forcefully rejects the constitutional angle, condemning the bill as explicit 'legislative gay bashing', revealing his moral stance over political pragmatism.
Leo paces silently, absorbing the heated exchange without immediate intervention, suggesting internal conflict about the political versus moral implications.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
outraged
abruptly shuts down Josh, declares 'I don't care about the constitutional argument. It's gay bashing. It's legislative gay bashing.'
- • condemn the Marriage Recognition Act as 'legislative gay bashing' and reject constitutional arguments
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Skinner's sharp rebuke of his colleague's lingering shoulder clap symbolically parallels Bartlet's rejection of the Marriage Recognition Act, both moments revealing the hypocrisy and personal stakes behind political posturing."
"Skinner's sharp rebuke of his colleague's lingering shoulder clap symbolically parallels Bartlet's rejection of the Marriage Recognition Act, both moments revealing the hypocrisy and personal stakes behind political posturing."
"Josh's challenge to Skinner on the Marriage Recognition Act's discriminatory nature parallels Bartlet's later moral condemnation of the bill as 'legislative gay bashing,' both highlighting the administration's ethical stance."
Key Dialogue
"JOSH The constitutional argument..."
"BARTLET I don't care about the constitutional argument. It's gay bashing. It's legislative gay bashing. How do I put"