Louise Thornton
Encyclopedia
Louise "Lou" Thornton is a character in the NBC
television series The West Wing portrayed by Janeane Garofalo
. The character's first appearance is in Season 7 of the series.
's presidential campaign was entirely accidental – Josh Lyman
had told campaign staffer Ronna Beckman
not to invite her to a meeting of Democratic media consultants, however Beckman misunderstood and did invite her. However it was Thornton's critical analysis of Josh's campaign management which led to him asking her to join the campaign as Communications Director, reporting to him. Santos persuaded her to join, but on the condition that she reported to him and not Josh. Josh explained the reason for hiring her: "..she's got an IQ of 200, she knows this image stuff backwards and sideways and it's better than having her on the outside lobbing mortars.."
As Communications Director of the Santos campaign, Thornton advocates a combative approach towards the presidential campaign of Republican frontrunner Arnold Vinick
: in contrast to Josh Lyman
, she favored the launch of negative ads, portraying Vinick as a typical Washington insider tainted by more than two decades of service in the United States Senate. During the campaign, she was also involved in a "campaign fling" with fellow staffer Otto. Lou mentions in one episode that her home state is New Jersey
.
Following Santos's victory in the election Josh persuaded Thornton to join the incoming Santos administration as Communications Director.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television series The West Wing portrayed by Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist and writer. She is the former co-host on the now defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. Garofalo continues to circulate regularly within New York City's local comedy and performance art scene.-Early...
. The character's first appearance is in Season 7 of the series.
Character biography
Thornton's involvement in Matt SantosMatt 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...
's presidential campaign was entirely accidental – Josh Lyman
Josh Lyman
Joshua "Josh" Lyman is a fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he was White House Deputy Chief of Staff in the Josiah Bartlet administration...
had told campaign staffer Ronna Beckman
Ronna Beckman
Ronna Beckman is a character in the NBC television series The West Wing. She is portrayed by Karis Campbell. The character first appeared during the program's sixth season. She was present from the very beginning of Matt Santos's campaign for the Presidency, eventually becoming the Executive...
not to invite her to a meeting of Democratic media consultants, however Beckman misunderstood and did invite her. However it was Thornton's critical analysis of Josh's campaign management which led to him asking her to join the campaign as Communications Director, reporting to him. Santos persuaded her to join, but on the condition that she reported to him and not Josh. Josh explained the reason for hiring her: "..she's got an IQ of 200, she knows this image stuff backwards and sideways and it's better than having her on the outside lobbing mortars.."
As Communications Director of the Santos campaign, Thornton advocates a combative approach towards the presidential campaign of Republican frontrunner 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...
: in contrast to Josh Lyman
Josh Lyman
Joshua "Josh" Lyman is a fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he was White House Deputy Chief of Staff in the Josiah Bartlet administration...
, she favored the launch of negative ads, portraying Vinick as a typical Washington insider tainted by more than two decades of service in the United States Senate. During the campaign, she was also involved in a "campaign fling" with fellow staffer Otto. Lou mentions in one episode that her home state is New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Following Santos's victory in the election Josh persuaded Thornton to join the incoming Santos administration as Communications Director.