Arnold Vinick

Arnold Vinick is a fictional character on the television series The West Wing played by Alan Alda. Vinick is a Republican member of the United States Senate from California, a social liberal and fiscal conservative with a maverick streak and a direct manner. Vinick seems to be loosely based on Senator John McCain, although, unlike McCain, Vinick is pro-choice. He is, however, opposed to late-term abortion. Vinick has also been described as a deficit hawk, like McCain.

Related Topics:
The West Wing - Alan Alda - Republican - United States Senate - California - John McCain - Pro-choice - Deficit hawk

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In one episode, Arnold Vinick mentioned growing up in a "citrus-growing" community. In response to this, the town of Santa Paula, which is famous for citrus growing and is often referred to as the "Citrus Capital of the World", wrote to The West Wings production company, asking that Santa Paula be made Arnold Vinick's hometown. The production company has promised to keep Santa Paula in mind for any future campaign filming. In the meantime, the city council decided to organize a campaign for Arnold Vinick, including the opening of an Arnold Vinick Presidential Campaign Headquarters.

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Senator Vinick is a chairman of a Senate committee, possibly the Senate Judiciary Committee, and is a friend to Pennsylvania Governor Eric Baker, who was a staff member on the Senate Judiciary Committee when Vinick was a freshman senator. Vinick was offered the post of Ambassador to the United Nations by President Josiah Bartlet's Deputy Chief of Staff, Josh Lyman, but declined as he intended to run for President. Lyman and former White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry were concerned that Vinick, as an articulate and appealing candidate, offered the Republicans a real chance to win back the White House after Democrat Bartlet's two terms. However, both wondered if he was conservative enough to win the Republican nomination.

Related Topics:
Senate Judiciary Committee - Pennsylvania - Eric Baker - Ambassador to the United Nations - Josiah Bartlet - Josh Lyman - White House Chief of Staff - Leo McGarry

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Vinick opposes federal funding for ethanol as an alcohol fuel, considering it a political boondoggle. He once told Josh Lyman, half-seriously, that he trusts no one who doesn't shine his own shoes. Vinick is a widower with one brother, four children and nine grandchildren. In the primaries, Vinick defeated the Reverend Don Butler and former Speaker of the House and Acting President Glen Allen Walken for the Republican nomination in the 2006 presidential election. Shortly after winning the nomination, Senator Vinick met with President Bartlet to discuss a deal to raise both the federal debt ceiling and the national minimum wage. They ate ice cream together at the White House. They do not always agree, but they seem to get along well and share a certain measure of respect for each other.

Related Topics:
Ethanol - Alcohol fuel - Widower - Don Butler - Speaker of the House - Acting President - Glen Allen Walken - 2006 presidential election - Debt ceiling - Minimum wage - Ice cream - White House

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After the Reverend Butler declined to be his running mate in the 2006 election, due to Butler's strong pro-life views, Vinick, who felt he needed a staunch conservative to balance the ticket, selected Governor Ray Sullivan of West Virginia.

Related Topics:
Pro-life - Conservative - Balance the ticket - Ray Sullivan - West Virginia

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Vinick may be an atheist or an agnostic or other religious skeptic. Though this has been hinted it in his public statements, he has not actually made this public knowledge. Vinick may also be a book collector, having received a 17th century King James Bible from his late wife. Her untimely death, and the harsh requirements of Old Testament Judaic law which he discovered when he read the Bible in depth, made him question his own religious beliefs.

Related Topics:
Atheist - Agnostic - Skeptic - Book collector - 17th century - King James Bible - Old Testament - Bible

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In the seventh season of the show, Sen. Vinick and Gov. Sullivan will be running against U.S. Rep. Matt Santos of Texas, the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, and his running mate, former White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of Labor Leo McGarry.

Related Topics:
Matt Santos - Texas - Democratic Party - Secretary of Labor - Leo McGarry

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