Quote:
Originally Posted by AGDee
ETA: And I'm sick of both sides spouting off these lame stories about the people they've met around the country. I thought after Joe the Plumber they would stop that crap, but they continue on. It's ridiculous to think that any of those stories are going to change anything or make them seem like "real" people. Nobody in politics at that level are average US citizens.
|
You're completely missing the point of why they do that. It's not to portray politicians as avergage people, but rather to show that they understand average people's concerns and that average people are the driving force(s) behind the politicians' policy proscriptions.
Public "faces" humanize the policy or program that they're talking about. After all, we all know, or think we do, somebody who's be affected or would positively be affected by the policy in question.
We were taught this day 1 in journalism school -- "show, don't tell," but it works in politics, too. People (and voters) respond/empathize when they see direct impact (human interests) of policy.