Ms. President finally ready for prime time

The nonfiction book “Cosmic Voyage,” posits the theory that aliens live among us, but they have not revealed themselves because humans are not ready. These benevolent aliens are preparing the way to acceptance through popular culture. For instance, the aliens whispered plotlines into the ears of the writers of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” The plotlines depicted humans making peace with aliens of all shapes and stripes.

An out-of-this-world theory, I know. But “Cosmic Voyage” got this right: If you want to prepare the masses for major societal change, infiltrate popular culture first.

The White House Project, a nonpartisan organization based in New York City, works to “advance a richly diverse, critical mass of women into leadership positions, up to and including the U.S. presidency.” Folks there are cheering the news that in the fall TV lineup, Geena Davis will play Vice President Mackenzie Allen who assumes the top spot following the death of the president.

“Commander in Chief” debuts Tuesday at 9 p.m. on ABC. The White House Project is urging women throughout the country to gather together for parties the night of the premiere. The organization’s Web site, www.thewhitehouseproject.org, even offers party-planning tips.

I did a telephone interview this week with Marie Wilson, president of The White House Project. Wilson predicts we’ll see some serious women contenders in 2008, but she’s betting on 2012 as the year we’ll elect our first woman president.

Wilson was cofounder of “Take Our Daughters to Work Day,” a huge cultural success that celebrated its first decade by adding boys to the mix. The girls who took part in the early years wrote letters to Wilson, saying, “I want to grow up to be president.”

Wilson, who is now 65, thought, “We better get cranking. I’m not going to die without seeing this happen.” So she created The White House Project in 1998.

She is excited about “Commander in Chief” because “popular culture reaches more people than all of our efforts to get research out there or get programs off the ground.”

Speaking of research, The White House Project released a Roper poll last week in which 79 percent of those surveyed said they would feel comfortable with a woman president, and 84 percent would feel comfortable with a woman vice president.

Wilson and others have lobbied Hollywood for years to depict a woman as president. No, they did not whisper this plotline in the ear of Rod Lurie, the creator of “Commander in Chief.” But The White House Project did give him an award for “The Contender,” his well-received 2000 film about a woman vice-presidential candidate.

Wilson watched a sneak preview of “Commander in Chief,” and she says, “Rod Lurie got it right.”

For instance, even though Mackenzie Allen is vice president when the president falls ill, she is asked to turn down the presidency in favor of the male Speaker of the House.

Women who are the first of their gender to assume a power job are sometimes asked “not to lead,” as Wilson put it.

And President Allen juggles her role as president with her roles as wife and mother. Again, a touch of reality. When women participate in candidate training with The White House Project, they always ask: “Can you really have a family and run for office?” Wilson will now tell them: “Watch this show. You cannot do the job if you are not grounded in the reality of family life.”

Wilson’s organization lists the cities where women are holding parties. Seattle is on there; Spokane and Coeur d’Alene are not. Here’s hoping some Inland Northwest women throw “Commander in Chief” parties. Invite the true believers. But also invite folks who believe a woman president is as frightening as aliens hiding among us.

Maybe the show will help them make peace with the concept.

Welcome to TV Land, President Allen. Can’t wait to interview your real-life counterpart in 2012.