Bartlet Owns Dairy Betrayal, Prioritizes Starving Children
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
A dairy farmer confronts Bartlet about his vote against the New England Dairy Farming Compact, setting up a pivotal moment.
Bartlet bluntly admits to harming dairy farmers with his vote, shocking Josh and the audience.
Bartlet passionately defends his vote by highlighting child poverty, transforming shock into inspiration.
The audience, including Josh, applauds Bartlet's speech, solidifying his moral leadership.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
confused
standing and listening to Bartlet explain tax issues for married couples
- • understand Bartlet's explanation on taxes
hurt and seeking explanation
stands up to confront Governor Bartlet about his vote against the New England Dairy Farming Compact, explains personal financial harm despite past support
- • obtain an explanation for Bartlet's vote that damaged his business
Calm defensiveness masking irritation at persistent badgering
Seated near a corner amid ongoing staff chatter, Toby evasively fields Cal's repeated probes on Bartlet's Dairy Compact stance, calmly defending truth-telling as the simplest strategy while absorbing accusations of electoral sabotage, his stoic gaze underscoring pre-event tension.
- • Deflect Cal's demands without revealing Bartlet's exact response
- • Uphold advice for unscripted honesty in the face of political risk
- • Truth is the easiest and most memorable political path
- • Losing with principles beats winning through compromise
Frustrated worry boiling into accusatory exasperation
Approaching Toby repeatedly in the corner, Cal presses urgently for Bartlet's Dairy Compact talking points, escalating to accusations that Toby urged alienating key voters, frustration peaking as he walks off just before the confrontation erupts onstage.
- • Secure a safe scripted response to protect dairy farmer support
- • Expose Toby's perceived sabotage of the campaign
- • Pissing off core voters guarantees electoral defeat
- • Campaign success demands pandering over blunt principles
Righteously unapologetic with steely resolve beneath a veneer of folksy candor
Commanding the stage at the town hall podium, Bartlet pauses thoughtfully before delivering a shockingly candid admission of screwing over dairy farmers, then pivots to a fiery, eloquent defense elevating child poverty above economic interests, concluding with unyielding presidential principles that galvanize applause.
- • Defend his principled vote transparently to maintain authenticity
- • Inspire the audience with moral clarity over political expediency
- • Child poverty demands sacrifice from vested interests
- • True leadership requires unvarnished truth, even at electoral cost
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Josh's newspaper serves as a prop clutched in the back of the room, crinkling under his fingers as a shield of detachment until Bartlet's blunt admission shatters his focus, yanking him into the unfolding drama; narratively, it symbolizes his initial skepticism and external loyalties fracturing under Bartlet's gravitational authenticity.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The VFW Hall in Nashua hosts the intimate town hall rally, its brick walls and veteran banners amplifying the raw tension as Bartlet's podium confession electrifies the seated, chicken-eating crowd; frigid October night outside contrasts the heated indoor moral showdown, forging a crucible for political awakening.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Bartlet's humor under duress (requesting Leo before anesthesia) recalls his ability to connect authentically (VFW speech) — both reveal his humanity in vulnerable moments."
"Bartlet's principled leadership in the VFW flashback ('screwed dairy farmers for impoverished children') mirrors his insistence on governmental continuity ('convene the cabinet') while wounded — both prioritize moral duty over immediate consequences."
"Bartlet's principled leadership in the VFW flashback ('screwed dairy farmers for impoverished children') mirrors his insistence on governmental continuity ('convene the cabinet') while wounded — both prioritize moral duty over immediate consequences."
"Bartlet's principled leadership in the VFW flashback ('screwed dairy farmers for impoverished children') mirrors his insistence on governmental continuity ('convene the cabinet') while wounded — both prioritize moral duty over immediate consequences."
Key Dialogue
"MAN: "Governor Bartlet, when you were a member of Congress, you voted against the New England Dairy Farming Compact. That vote hurt me sir. [...] I'd like to ask you for an explanation.""
"BARTLET: "Yeah, I screwed you on that one. [...] You guys got rogered but good.""
"BARTLET: "I voted against the bill 'cause I didn't want it to be hard for people to buy milk. [...] If you expect anything different from the President of the United States, I suggest you vote for somebody else. Thanks very much. Hope you enjoyed the chicken.""