Don Butler
Encyclopedia
Reverend Don Butler is a recurring character on the American television show The West Wing
, a conservative televangelist from Virginia
played by Don S. Davis
. He was a candidate for the Republican Party's nomination for President of the United States
in the 2006 election, but was defeated by Arnold Vinick
, a U.S. Senator from California
. Little is known of Butler's background except that he described himself as having been raised "in a trailer park in the Appalachia
".
In "In God We Trust
", it is mentioned that Butler won primaries in conservative states that Vinick, a pro-choice
moderate, could never have hoped to have won. It is also said that Butler was the last candidate standing against Vinick after the other candidates (Glen Allen Walken
, Allard and three others) dropped out.
After Vinick secured the nomination, Butler became his first choice as running mate; despite Butler's strong criticism of Vinick's pro-choice
views on abortion
, Vinick thought highly of him and felt he needed Butler to unite the party and help Vinick gain support among pro-life social conservatives. Vinick attempted to offer the VP position to Butler, but Butler contended that he could serve neither as Vinick's running mate nor as his vice president, given their very different views on abortion. Vinick then turned to Governor Ray Sullivan
of West Virginia
, a pro-life conservative with more independent appeal and experience, who accepted the vice presidential nomination.
Butler and his pro-life views are mentioned again in "Message of the Week
", when he is said to be one of the key leaders of the (fictional) American Christian Assembly, a socially conservative group led by prominent Christian Right
reverends. When George Rohr, a key advisor to the ACA, began pressuring Vinick for promises on pro-life judicial appointments and Vinick attempted to defend his position on abortion by highlighting the difference between him and his Democratic opponent, Matt Santos
, on Partial-Birth
, Rohr bluntly retorted "Reverend Butler and the others think that just means that Santos wants to kill a few hundred more babies a year than you do."
Though there is no solid evidence to support that Butler's character was modeled after any actual person, there are similarities to televangelist Pat Robertson
, who is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia
and who himself was a presidential candidate in 1988, and who is also was known for his Pro-Life
and Anti-gay
views.
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
, a conservative televangelist from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
played by Don S. Davis
Don S. Davis
Don Sinclair Davis PhD was an American character actor, theatre professor, painter and captain in the United States Army.-Career:He was perhaps best known for playing General George S...
. He was a candidate for the Republican Party's nomination for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in the 2006 election, but was defeated by Arnold Vinick
Arnold Vinick
Arnold Vinick is a fictional character on the television series The West Wing played by Alan Alda.-Biography:A Republican senator from California and Republican presidential nominee, he is narrowly defeated by Democrat Matt Santos in the 2006 presidential election, with Vinick winning the popular...
, a U.S. Senator from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Little is known of Butler's background except that he described himself as having been raised "in a trailer park in the Appalachia
Appalachia
Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
".
In "In God We Trust
In God We Trust (The West Wing)
-Plot:Senator Vinick wins the Republican nomination for the Presidency and begins working on his campaign and senior Republicans are knocking on his door to vie for the VP slot on the ticket. He gets political advice from Bruno about choosing a vice president and how to deal with the latest...
", it is mentioned that Butler won primaries in conservative states that Vinick, a pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
moderate, could never have hoped to have won. It is also said that Butler was the last candidate standing against Vinick after the other candidates (Glen Allen Walken
Glen Allen Walken
Glen Allen Walken is a fictional character on The West Wing played by John Goodman....
, Allard and three others) dropped out.
After Vinick secured the nomination, Butler became his first choice as running mate; despite Butler's strong criticism of Vinick's pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
views on abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, Vinick thought highly of him and felt he needed Butler to unite the party and help Vinick gain support among pro-life social conservatives. Vinick attempted to offer the VP position to Butler, but Butler contended that he could serve neither as Vinick's running mate nor as his vice president, given their very different views on abortion. Vinick then turned to Governor Ray Sullivan
Ray Sullivan
Ray Sullivan was a fictional Republican governor of West Virginia, played by Brett Cullen. He was a recurring character on the American television show The West Wing. He was the Republican Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in the 2006 election, and the running mate of Arnold...
of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, a pro-life conservative with more independent appeal and experience, who accepted the vice presidential nomination.
Butler and his pro-life views are mentioned again in "Message of the Week
Message of the Week
-Plot:It's three weeks into the presidential campaign and Vinick meets with Frost out on the trail. Santos pulls a stunt which leads to higher approval ratings and jolts the Vinick camp...
", when he is said to be one of the key leaders of the (fictional) American Christian Assembly, a socially conservative group led by prominent Christian Right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
reverends. When George Rohr, a key advisor to the ACA, began pressuring Vinick for promises on pro-life judicial appointments and Vinick attempted to defend his position on abortion by highlighting the difference between him and his Democratic opponent, Matt Santos
Matt Santos
Matthew Vincente "Matt" Santos is a fictional character on the American television show The West Wing, played by Jimmy Smits. His initial appearance is as a Democratic U.S. Representative from Houston, Texas. According to West Wing writer and producer Eli Attie, Santos was based on the then...
, on Partial-Birth
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act
The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 is a United States law prohibiting a form of late-term abortion that the Act calls "partial-birth abortion", often referred to in medical literature as intact dilation and extraction...
, Rohr bluntly retorted "Reverend Butler and the others think that just means that Santos wants to kill a few hundred more babies a year than you do."
Though there is no solid evidence to support that Butler's character was modeled after any actual person, there are similarities to televangelist Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson
Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson is a media mogul, television evangelist, ex-Baptist minister and businessman who is politically aligned with the Christian Right in the United States....
, who is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
and who himself was a presidential candidate in 1988, and who is also was known for his Pro-Life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
and Anti-gay
LGBT rights opposition
LGBT rights opposition refers to active opposition to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights. Organizations influential in LGBT rights opposition frequently challenge judicial rulings, and legislative initiatives, and dispute findings that sexual orientation is an immutable...
views.