It's the kind of astute analysis you'd expect from MSNBC - the place for the politics. CNBC regular and MSNBC fill-in anchor Donny Deutsch solved the mystery behind the media's fascination with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
According to the former advertising executive, it has nothing to do with her stance on several hot-button issues - an advocate of gun rights, a pro-life stance on abortion, pro-exploration and drilling for oil and concerned about the fiscal policies of President Barack Obama. Instead, he contended, it is her sexual appeal that held the media's attention - and not just from a male perspective, but a female perspective as well.
"I'm going to throw something out since I'm talking to three women here and I've said this theory before and I'd love you guys to react to it," Deutsch said on MSNBC on July 27. "That - the reason we have a fascination with Sarah Palin - men and women: This is the first woman in power that has sexual appeal and people don't know what to do with it. That's why people are fascinated with her. Everything else is secondary. OK, beat me up."
According to Deutsch, it was sensory overload for the public.
"Men and women don't know how to process this," Deutsch said. "We've never seen a woman in power that looks like this and has this appeal."
Norah O'Donnell, the chief Washington, D.C. correspondent for MSNBC, agreed with Deutsch's analysis.
"Donnie, I think you're absolutely right," O'Donnell said. "I totally do. I heard you say that on Morning [Joe] and I totally agree with you. I think that, look the fascination is part, she's from Alaska. This is a different person, but also she's young. She's 45 years old. She could sit out the next six presidential elections and then run and be the same age as John McCain. So, she's young. She's gorgeous. She has five children. And she doesn't take advice from anyone and she's got a different style, so I think that's sort of the fascination with her."
Deutsch downplayed Palin's prospects of continuing in politics beyond this point, arguing her sexual appeal won't play out long enough.
"This is a new definition of female power we have never seen before," Deutsch said. "Men and women are learning how to process it. They're fascinated. Once they get past that, she'll be nothing but a media figure. She'll never be a political figure."
A recent Culture and Media Institute study examined how the media portrayed Palin throughout the 2008 presidential campaign cycle and found 18 negative stories for every one positive story.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
I voted for Palin and I'd vote for her again ...
July 27, 2009 - 17:01 ET by Jayke... because of what she believes not how she looks.
"BE WARY OF BIG GOVERNMENT." Palin
Exactly.... That's the
July 27, 2009 - 18:14 ET by mattmExactly.... That's the one thing these Leftwits and their RINO buddies don't want to face. They couldn't accept the fact that Reagan was popular because of his ideas and with Palin it's the same thing.
Libs are in denial of reality. This is just one more example of it.
i just love the sweet
July 27, 2009 - 18:44 ET by TruthMongeri just love the sweet aroma of liberal panic:)
...blast everything at the wall and hope SOMETHING sticks...!!!
so let's try.............HER SEX APPEAL..?!
that'll get 'er...
whattya spose they'll try tomorrow
Palin/Prejean 2012
Sex appeal
July 28, 2009 - 14:43 ET by 1uncle1uncle: She is prettier than Da Buma and she wouldn't spend near as much money on 'special interest groups'. She would have saved at least half of the 'Stimulus' since that much or more went to demo special interest groups.She had more expperience, common sense. Unfortunately she isn't black. That lost the election.
MSNBC
July 27, 2009 - 17:09 ET by easygoerDuring the Palin farewell speech MSNBC was showing a Michael Jackson special. "The place for politics", my ass.
Nothing wrong with what MSNBC said this time
July 27, 2009 - 17:11 ET by shawn228I agree the press is brutal to Sarah Palin but IMO there is nothing wrong with saying she has sex appeal because it is true.
Sarah Palin is a good looking woman, and pretty hot. When Sarah shows cleavage she has sex appeal and as John Stewart would say, When Hillary Clinton shows cleavage, that is where b*ners go to die.
"I swear sometimes the self-appointed moral police are as obnoxious and demanding of big government interference as "environmentalist" gun control advocates, labor unions and trial lawyers" ~fitzfong
<
Shawn I think it drives
July 27, 2009 - 17:48 ET by Radical1979Shawn I think it drives women libs crazy that Todd Palin is hot and such a great husband. He's the ideal "liberated man" in that he supports her career, takes care of the kids, but is pretty darn masculine too. Oh, and he's not chasing skirts like Bill Clinton.
Radical
July 27, 2009 - 18:05 ET by shawn228Totally agree, It also drives most of them batty that Rush Limbaugh has so many listeners. It basically drives them nuts for anyone to have a following if they do not agree with their POV. Its actually kind of funny to watch.
"I swear sometimes the self-appointed moral police are as obnoxious and demanding of big government interference as "environmentalist" gun control advocates, labor unions and trial lawyers" ~fitzfong
<
Shallow DD , It's what 's in her MIND,and Her character; yaTWIT
July 27, 2009 - 17:12 ET by upcountrywaterI have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a
nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin [genitalia] but by
the content of their character.
Keep dreaming MLK...
Over DD's head... way over..
Free speech was a theme of her farewell
speech at a crowded picnic in Fairbanks, as the outgoing governor
scolded "some seemingly hell bent on tearing down our nation" and
warned Americans to "be wary of accepting government largess. It
doesn't come free."
And she told television cameras: "How about, in honor of the American soldier, you quit makin' things up?"
Thank you Sarah Palin for speaking for me.
Reagan VS Liberalism
He's Nothing But a Media Figure
July 27, 2009 - 17:14 ET by JustAlAnd he doesn't have her sexual appeal, or her common sense, or her grasp of the issues, or her opinions on the major issues which coincide with the majority of conservatives, or her speaking skills, or her people skills.
Deutsch and these other hopelessly shallow elitists are scared excrement-less over this lady, who despite being relatively young and very attractive, refuses to be objectified.
If you want to smell the fear just check out the "comment is free" blog over at the Guardian, they have at least one Palin bash a week over there and the panic is palpable.
Whoa whoa whoa!
July 27, 2009 - 17:25 ET by Roger the ShrubberWait a minute.
Hillary doesn't have sex appeal?
Very metaphorical, Shrubman
July 27, 2009 - 17:34 ET by FranksamWhoa whoa whoa?
You could not have come up with a more appropriate discription of Hill's sex(?) appeal, as far as I'm concerned.
Hiyo Silver, away!
:)
July 27, 2009 - 19:46 ET by Roger the Shrubber:)
She doesn't---
July 27, 2009 - 17:35 ET by misterbill-- even have curb appeal!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Just ask Bill. Doubling
July 27, 2009 - 17:42 ET by bigtimerJust ask Billy Boy.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Nope,
July 27, 2009 - 19:22 ET by UpNorthall Hillary has are cankles..... And a philandering husband.
He may have a point about the haters
July 27, 2009 - 17:30 ET by katiejaneI don't think people SUPPORT her due to her sex appeal but I could believe that the people HATE her for that reason. It makes as much sense as the reasons they try to give. Who would have thought - those free-wheeling libs are hung up on sex.
Working on a theory
July 27, 2009 - 17:48 ET by boomerconbut I can't figure out the right hypothesis.
Conservative women are more attractive than liberal women because:
a) Conservatism makes people feel better, happier, and thus more attractive to all who behold them.
b) Attractive women are, by nature (meaning they don't have the distracting angst of being...unattractive), intelligent enough to know that conservatism is the more logical approach.
Just watch Fox News any weeknight. Where'd those ladies come from? All very intelligent, sharp, perceptive, witty, and attractive too! it's almost too much (almost).
boomer - how about c)
July 27, 2009 - 17:54 ET by Radical1979boomer - how about
c) conservative women believe in marraige. We respect our husbands and their masculinity. We enjoy looking (and being) female. We just try harder.
Yay! Crazy Theory Day!
July 27, 2009 - 17:58 ET by balboaYay! Crazy Theory Day!
bal, Spoken as a true atheist, who's clueless to many things.
July 27, 2009 - 19:14 ET by upcountrywaterTypical lefty squeezings from the resident holier than thou ; balboa
WOOO hooo
It was a bonkers - crazy
July 27, 2009 - 19:18 ET by balboaIt was a bonkers - crazy theory that deserves little more than what I gave it. Anyone with common sense can see that.
These debates on who has the
July 28, 2009 - 06:30 ET by Roger the ShrubberThese debates on who has the prettier chicks is rather sophomoric. the Paultards did the same thing in 2008. Let's face it: both major parties have their fair share of Susan Estrich's, Helen Thomas's, and Ann Coulter's... And, please, no responses on how "hot" Coulter is. She isn't. She writes some good stuff, but she is not centerfold material, folks.
Deutsch full of pelosi
July 27, 2009 - 17:42 ET by konoWhat the Old Media can't deal with about Sarah isn't her sex appeal, it's that she's comfortable in her own skin. Other pols seem to feel obligated to put on a facade, while Sarah was willing to be authentic.
Personal authenticity in politicians is more intimidating than anything, because someone who's preoccupied by their image can be bought, blackmailed, or otherwise compromised. A person who needs no facade tends to have less (or even nothing) to lose.
Donnie is not a former ad exec . . .
July 27, 2009 - 17:48 ET by Gat New York"According to the former advertising executive"
Look at the leadership;
http://www.deutschinc.com/
Never really cared for Deutsch
July 27, 2009 - 20:56 ET by Kingfish17Thanks for the link.
In all the times I've ever seen him on television, I've never once heard that he was on the payroll of the Clintons and the Dems. I knew he seemed kind of greasy. It all makes sense now.
"I've sentenced boys younger then you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it, but I felt I owed it to them." Judge Smails
biggest bidder
July 27, 2009 - 18:01 ET by WesenMaybe Deutsch would be interested in buying a nude painting:
http://www.nydailyne...
I support Palin, but
July 27, 2009 - 18:33 ET by gopsteveI support Palin, but C'mon!
The guy does have a point folks! Would you prefer to watch her speeches on TV, or listen to them on the radio?!
Any other politician, you wouldn't care, in fact, you just as soon listen to another politician on your car radio on the way home.
Having said that...
This is great, they really fear her. Just like they used to try to pass Reagan's popularity off as "Oh, he's a great actor and knows how to speak and play to the camera." Never mind that it was his policies we approved of...no that could not be!
Watch this Palin (ha ha!), she's going places!
Beautiful Woman - Inside and Out
July 27, 2009 - 18:37 ET by BW222I am a huge Sarah Palin fan but I cannot disagree with their view that she has sex appeal. She is a beautiful woman - inside and out.
Can you name another female politician who actually tries to tone down her looks? If you see one of the rare photos without the glasses and her hair down, you'll see that Sarah looks about 28 and is even more beautiful than you imagined.
BW222
This is hypocrocy at its best.
July 27, 2009 - 19:34 ET by general company"That - the reason we have a fascination with Sarah Palin - men and women: This is the first woman in power that has sexual appeal and people don't know what to do with it.
They seemed to "know what to do with it" Attack her and everyone around her.
"This is a new definition of female power we have never
seen before," Deutsch said. "Men and women are learning how to process
it. They're fascinated. Once they get past that, she'll be nothing but
a media figure. She'll never be a political figure."
Just couldnt help themselves, could they? I wonder if that remark is from confidence in the msm's ability to further degrade Palin, or their lack of confidence in Palins ability. I know who my $ on
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Sarah Palin isn't only lovely, she's VIBRANT!
July 27, 2009 - 20:03 ET by ekslibShe's lively, curious, authentic, interested in people.
She's obviously has good management skills.
Other politicians pale by comparison.
No hard feelings?
July 27, 2009 - 21:28 ET by Barker"..Everything else is secondary. OK, beat me up."
OK, Donny Deutsch, consider this post a kick to the crotch followed by a knee to the face.
Feel better?
Now look at her again.....
How many anchor babes are there for their looks?
July 27, 2009 - 21:31 ET by nkviking75Want to throw this back in the face of the MSM? Point out the vast majority of the women on TV news, local or national, and tell them they're mainly there because of their looks. They'd have a hissy fit!
Palin certainly is hot, and that undoubtedly helps, but I don't think that's all of her appeal, not by a long shot. A lot has been made of his missteps, but she has also shown signs of real potential. More than that, she gets the base revved up because she's one of them. If she figures out how to get past the media filters and let people see her real self, she could have a real shot at the White House next time around.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Re anchors
July 27, 2009 - 22:56 ET by slickwillie2001... or even something as trivial as 'perkiness'.
just wait until Trig can talk
July 28, 2009 - 00:16 ET by RousseCertainly Sarah Palin is an attractive woman. She is also a real woman. She's all the things that feminists desire and espouse, but darn it all, she believes in life for all. And for that, she must be denied. If only she had been a liberal Democrat.
My fondest hope is that someday, Trig Palin's voice will be heard throughout the land. Imagine what he will have to say. Thank God for his parents, who realized that his life was valuable, regardless of what the Democrats might say about his "quality" of life.
How I loathe, abhore, and despise Democrats and liberals. They will kick Sarah Palin in the head until they think she is dead. Then they will say she is too damaged to have any impact on the country.
God, hear my prayer. Protect this woman, and use her to show your glory, and praise Your Name.
I don't remember my Mom....
July 28, 2009 - 08:27 ET by Gecks....looking like that when she was 45! Damn!!! The Woman has got some great genes. Plus the fact that she has a loving, supporting Husband, there is alot of jealousy out there.
I loved the little jab at Hollywood and the starlets using Alaska as thier talking point. Are you listening Ashley???
"We eat, therefore we hunt!" Love it!!!
Gecks
"Your right to Life, Liberty, and the Persuit of Happiness ends at my front door, and my wallet!"-Me!
If
July 28, 2009 - 10:52 ET by jessieHIf not for Palin, We would probably be blind by now.
First woman in power that has sexual appeal?
July 28, 2009 - 12:58 ET by Ruths husband BenHow soon they forgot that bodacious babe, Janet Reno!
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho