John Schwenkler and Daniel Larison disagree with the
argument that Sarah Palin's
folksiness is an act. My sense is that it isn't an
act either. If it is, then the act predates the 2008 presidential
campaign. But I don't quite agree that her interviews and debate
performances have always sounded exactly like she has sounded
recently. She's no Cicero, but the older footage I've seen shows
much less winking at Joe Sixpack and the Hockey Moms. Some of these
differences come down to perspective, however. If you find Palin's
perkiness annoying and her shtick unpersuasive, you are going to be
more likely to detect that which irritates you when watching her on
TV. If you find her charming and likable, you are going to be
inclined to reach a different verdict. And then are some things --
"Err, the Bush Doctrine? Wha?" -- that just aren't subjective.
topics:
Sarah Palin
