Gosh Darn! Who Is She Talking To?

In a high school English class, we had to write a paper about socialects. Those are little phrases, slang, contractions -- just language -- used by certain people who work in the same office, are part of the same fraternities, live in the same geographical area, etc... I found the idea of socialects very interesting, and it's true that every little group has it's own language. It's a way of relating and being comfortable with those in your groups.

So, while I was watching the Vice Presidential debates, I wondered, "To whom is Gov. Palin speaking"? I heard her use phrases like, "gosh darn" and words like "golly," and all I could think was, "She surely isn't speaking to me." She's on a national platform, but speaking to a specific group. The fact that she chooses to speak in vernacular only encourages division; I think. I felt like an outsider.

So, I actually felt a little insulted. I'm a voter. So, why aren't I being addressed? That's not to say that someone has to speak "my language" to communicate with me. I would appreciate it if politicians spoke to all Americans, and that can usually be achieved by following the accepted rules of Standard American English.

I'm sure there are plenty of voters that appreciated her "common folk" approach, but the United States is made up of all types, including those that may have just learned the rules of SAE a year ago. So, do the gosh-darns help them to get her points? I doubt it.

What do you think? Do you like the hometown dialect? Do you think politicians should speak less formally to reach the masses, or is a grasp and use of correct grammar and diction a benefit? Maybe my respect for SAE is making me a stick-in-the-mud. If so, let me know.