Accents in politics

David Freddoso posts a letter from a Southerner about the effect that politicans' accents have on voters. Perhaps there are some people who are put off by a Southern or midwestern accent. I know that I've never been fond of a New York accent, but I'm pretty sure that that doesn't enter into my feelings about Rudy Giuliani.

But what is really fun is the link that Freddoso supplies to this quick accent quiz. It pegged me correctly as a Midwesterner (I grew up near Chicago.)

You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."

Well, there it's wrong - I've never called soda "pop." But I'd be willing to vote for someone who did.