This conservative parody of Primary Colors'Äîthe roman a clef about a presidential scandal'Äîno longer sounds so outrageous given America'Äôs current political absurdities.

Harry Beltway, the idealistic grandson of a famous evangelist, has just come back from a missionary tour when he is persuaded to join the campaign staff of Tim Duncannon, an arch-conservative television commentator. Duncannon has set his sights on the presidency, so that he can build a barbed wire fence around the United States. As a Republican candidate, Duncannon promises to protect America from Zulus and wetbacks, and he vows that school prayer will someday return and abortionists will disappear. Harry must run interference when Duncannon's campaign starts to fall apart after accusations of campaign bullying, sexual misconduct, and devil worship. Along the way Harry starts a confusing love affair with a fellow campaign worker that turns out to be, literally, a drag.