Kevin Spacey plays House Democratic Whip Frank Underwood in the hit online show House of Cards. Flickr/Peter Patau
WASHINGTON – The phrase “art imitates life” has never been more true when it comes to the hit show “House of Cards.” A show about Congress, power and revenge, “House of Cards” might hit a little too close to home for some on Capitol Hill.
“[The characters] actually get bills done,” a House Democratic aide said. “But the clash of egos, the arm twisting for votes and everyone trying to take each other out is pretty accurate as well.”
Aaron Sorkin’s megahit and its political predecessor, “The West Wing,” highlight the presidency and the inner workings of the Hill with two different approaches. In typical political show fashion, “The West Wing” portrayed characters jumping through hoops for votes and support, but without the jaw-dropping backstabbing of “House of Cards.” It, on the other hand, uses greed, murder and bribery to get things done on the Hill.
“If ‘The West Wing’ was Dr. Jekyll,” the aide said, “then ‘House of Cards’ is Mr. Hyde.”
Murder isn’t part of the real-life job description and neither is a last-minute roll call vote surprise.
“It never happens like that,” said the aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss inner Capitol Hill workings. “There’s no clock counting down to the last second and someone losing by one vote.”
No matter how realistic or unrealistic political entertainment might be, even congressmen are curious. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the Senate deputy whip, has seen the British version from which “House of Cards” is adapted.
“[Political shows] can be highly entertaining,” Cornyn said. “I’m all for reading political novels and watching movies about politics, even if it’s not all true.”
When the show resumes in the fall, Cornyn plans to watch fictional House Democratic Whip Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) manipulate his way to the vice presidency, even if it means killing people along the way.
Cornyn can’t seem to stay away from political entertainment: He is now reading Advise and Consent, a 1959 novel by Allen Drury that has been said to be the definitive Washington tale. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., had originally recommended the movie to him.
It sounds like Kevin Spacey’s gaining a Capitol Hill fan club.