Art imitating political life

Years from now political scientists will have a ball analyzing different aspects of the 2008 presidential race. Either way, Americans’ choice will make history — electing either the first black president or the first female vice president. That’s important, but maybe not as eye-catching as a look at the role played by television satire. Late-night hosts Jay Leno and David Letterman have had an expected field day with the campaign news, with Letterman breaking especially hard against Republican John McCain. Then there’s NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” which created a sensation for itself and actress Tina Fey with Fey’s dead-on impersonation of Gov. Sarah Palin. Fey’s characterizations of Palin as a pretty-faced airhead no doubt have helped erode Palin’s approval ratings — testimony to how entertainment-centered our culture has become. It’ll be interesting to see if Palin can overcome the Fey-popularized image, not only in the current race but in future races.

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