A question about the 1962 version of "The Manchurian Candidate"

If the brainwashing was a communist conspiracy, why would the plot have a right-wing McCarthy candidate put in office? That seems contrary to their original motives?

The candidate (the vice-president) himself is more of a stooge for his wife who would ostensibly be running the country for the Communists (both the Soviets and the Chinese.) It's the connection between his wife and the brainwashed (or as they say, "dry-cleaned") assassin that makes the plan work, at least in theory.

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