The Manchurian Candidate

Everyone seems to be delighting in the hardly-veiled parody of the Cheney/Halliburton connection in the remake of the Manchurian Candidate. Sure, there are lots of parallels between this fictional plot and the current presidential race, but no one seems to be talking about another, very central connection to the story, which has now been used to skewer politicians in two eras.

The brainwashed assassin rises to greater glory because of his bravery in combat, where he was supposed to have saved his entire company, who are all brainwashed to describe him as "the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life."

Now, which candidate have we seen in the constant company of his old combat buddies whose lives he saved? Which candidate has incessantly trotted these old men out for his own political gain?

COUNTERPOINT by NastyBoy:

Having not seen the latest movie, The Manchurian Candidate, I can not comment on that, but let's take a look at who the President has trotted out for his own political gain.





Conclusion: They all do it.

COUNTERPOINT by jodru:

Which is exactly my point. The brilliance of the original film is that it is an equal-opportunity offender. It takes jabs at every part of the political machine. I just wanted to balance out the interpretations of the film which were only seeing it as a parody of the Halliburton/Cheney connection.

ADDENDUM by jodru

Note how eerily similar the swift boat conspiracy theories have become to this movie. Right wingers are actually now suggesting that Kerry wounded himself in order to manufacture his own war hero status. I bet they'd just love it if Theresa Heinz turned out to be the Commie operation commander!