Abu el Banat

Abu el Banat" is episode 97 of The West Wing. The entire First Family gathers for the White House Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. Though Ellie (Nina Siemaszko) is late as usual due to her medical research work, Zoey has arrived, as have Elizabeth (Annabeth Gish) and her husband, Doug Westin, and their two children, Annie and Gus. President Bartlet has chosen Gus to flip the switch and light the tree, but when he ignores Elizabeth's advice to sp... more

Abu el Banat" is episode 97 of The West Wing. The entire First Family gathers for the White House Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. Though Ellie (Nina Siemaszko) is late as usual due to her medical research work, Zoey has arrived, as have Elizabeth (Annabeth Gish) and her husband, Doug Westin, and their two children, Annie and Gus. President Bartlet has chosen Gus to flip the switch and light the tree, but when he ignores Elizabeth's advice to spend time rehearsing the simple task with the child, Gus has stage fright at the last minute and must be replaced in the task by Zoey. Doug has decided to run for US Congress in New Hampshire without consulting the DNC, the DCCC or the county chair. Early attempts by Josh and Leo fail to discourage Doug from running, as they and the President consider him a poor candidate whom they could not support. When Doug angrily lists for Bartlet the early campaign networking he's done, the President realizes that Elizabeth has done a lot of leg work. He... less