Brendan Nyhan

The demeanor fetish

News reports are already playing up the “demeanor” of John Roberts as a selling point. But isn’t this a silly way to judge a person in politics? George W. Bush’s 2000 campaign was largely based on how his demeanor was different than conservatives like Newt Gingrich, and it fooled a lot of people into thinking he was a moderate. We can only judge a politician or a judicial nominee based on what they have said and done in the past. Whether they have a friendly demeanor or a “good heart” is irrelevant.