Sarah Palin, Celebrity “Winner”
Steve Adubato, Ph.D.
CBS 2 Political Analyst

Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin took a shot this past weekend and appeared on Saturday Night Live, the program that has been gaining millions of new viewers in the past couple months, largely by poking fun and making a big joke out of the Alaska Governor.  To her credit, Sarah Palin seemed to have a great sense of humor, even though on many levels, she may not have realized that the joke was on her. 

Politicians get points when they can laugh at themselves— when they don’t take themselves too seriously.  Senator John McCain did an exceptional job doing “stand up” at the Al Smith dinner last week in New York.  He had great material, and delivered it with a deadpan style that was hysterical.  Barack Obama did a pretty good job himself.  But, the Sarah Palin appearance on Saturday Night Live brings the game of politicians appearing on entertainment/comedy programs to a totally new level. 

Let’s not kid ourselves.  Even though Sarah Palin did well on SNL, and got lots of points for being a good sport in both the opening monologue (in which she brushed shoulders with her look-alike, Tina Fey) as well as a “Weekend Update” skit (in which she didn’t rap but danced in place while Amy Poehler played Palin in all her Alaskan glory), she’s not going to get any political points for her appearance.  Those who think she’s not qualified to be Vice President or President are likely not to change their minds about her, because of her “work” on Saturday Night Live.  But Sarah Palin is now firmly in place as an American celebrity.  She’s got “It”, whatever that exactly is.  She draws a crowd. She gets a reaction.  She looks great on camera.  Odds are, the McCain/Palin ticket could get blown out on Election Day, but it’s not going to matter much to Sarah Palin. 

My sense is that her future is not as a policy maker or high- level government official.  Rather, I expect Sarah Palin to do a talk show.  To share her views, and have some fun.  To smile at the camera, and have a lot of laughs in the process.  Don’t be surprised if she gets offered a gig on FOX.  They like her politics, and she’s clearly good looking enough for a network that prides itself on pretty faces who are pretty good talking heads.

So there it is, the world of politics and celebrity come together.  And maybe this was her plan all along, to get enough national exposure to write her ticket the rest of the way.  Book deals, lecture tours, a talk show, a syndicated radio gig, the whole nine yards.  So what, she fell on her face in straight- news interviews with Katie Couric of CBS and Charlie Gibson of ABC.  Mere distractions in the game of celebrity, in which just about any publicity is good publicity.  On a lot of levels, even though Sarah Palin has become a national punch line for many, she has already “won” before this election actually takes place. 

As for John McCain, his prospects aren’t so bright.  He clearly doesn’t have the looks, the personality, the youth and the media style necessary to win in the celebrity game.  Other than the economy, his celebrity is one of the biggest reasons the charismatic Barack Obama is kicking McCain’s butt.  Make no mistake, Americans love their celebrities. 

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