The "Tina" Effect

[democraticinsurgent]

By JACK COLWELL

SOUTH BEND

While there was no Bradley effect, there were other effects, including what that might be called a Tina effect. One of my Notre Dame journalism students told the class of her experience at the polls. She voted early in her home state during mid-semester break. She is an “A” student quite serious about her vote for president.

She also is from a family with conservative Republican views, which she shares. So, it was no surprise that she was planning to vote a straight-Republican ballot. In the voting booth, ready to do so, she thought of Tina Fey. Tina Fey was not on the ballot. Or was she?

The look-alike for Sarah Palin, who captured the unique speaking style and reasoning of the vice presidential candidate in skits on Saturday Night Live, had caused this student not just to laugh, but also to compare the Tina talk with the Sarah talk in the vice presidential debate. She had found that much of the skit was identical to the non-sentence “maverick” lingo of the real Palin.

There in the voting booth, finger poised for the planned straight-Republican vote, this student decided: “I just can’t do it.” She voted for Obama.

Colwell has covered Indiana politics over five decades for the South Bend Tribune.

http://www.howeypolitics.com/2008/11/06/jack-colwell-the-tina-effect/

[Tesla]

1. Thanks Tina

for saving our country!!

[poverlay]

3. I KNOW right? I love the "Tina effect"...n/t

[geekgrrl]

2. Thank you Tina Fey! There is power and truth in satire!! nt

[indepat]

4. Tina Fey: a national treasure even before the Palin skit

:D

[Andy Canuck]

5. I love Tina Fey, so out of respect,

please refer to her work as sketch not a skit. Skits are what campers put on, sketch is what comedians write and perform. Now everyone should watch 30 Rock and laugh with Tina all over again.

[Janice325]

6. Thanks, Andy!

I had no idea there was a difference between a skit and a sketch. I've always loved Tina on SNL (waay pre-Palin), and intend to watch 30 Rock tonight for the first time.

[Janice325]

7. Tina effect.

I love the sound of that! At least we know it will go down in SNL history and television history, maybe even a little bit in the history of this great country.:applause:

Thank you, Tina!:thumbsup:

PS I'm glad you don't have to do that sketch anymore. Whew!

[norepubsin08]

8. Interesting Article

I've been saying this for some time. I remember reading about Gerald Ford and how he felt Chevy Chase undercut him. The way tv spins serious national discussion can and does have a profound impact upon how we mold our perceptions. Thank you Tina Fey

[gauguin57]

9. Tina Fey will be on Oprah today, if anyone wants to watch.

And if anyone missed her on Fresh Air on Monday, check her out. She talked about how she approached her impression of Palin (using her dialects training from her theater classes in college).

http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=13&prgDate=11-03-2008&view=storyview