Energy. Tax cut. Lift American Spirits. Everyday political issues, wouldn’t you say?  Taxes and fuel prices aren’t exactly things we can ignore.

That’s why I got such a kick out of Sarah Palin’s keynote address at the latest Tea Party Convention.  The sassy Alaskan was caught studying notes written on her hand during a Q&A session.  

It was a pretty simple question, too — all she had to do was name what she thought were the country’s three biggest issues.

FENLON

Now, I’d never criticize someone for having speech notecards, or for using prepared notes to keep the facts straight. Being an eloquent, effective speaker is no easy task.

But if I were a major politician — say, a former governor, vice-presidential candidate and potential future presidential candidate — I’m pretty sure I’d be able to name my top three issues without a cheat sheet.

Yeah, if I were Sarah Palin, I’d be red behind the ears if I couldn’t remember what political topics were closest to my heart.  And I’d be embarrassed right down to my toes if I used a cheat sheet after smarmily referring to President Obama as a “charismatic guy with a teleprompter.”

Sarah Palin may be a preeminent politician — in the realm of all flash and no substance — and a great speaker who can rally the crowds … so long as she doesn’t have to do much serious thinking. I’m amazed she’s become such a popular political figure. But this latest faux pas, at least, presents an educational opportunity.

The more than 1,500 students in the University’s School of Public and International Affairs now have a perfect example of how not to handle a public speaking event. Or, the lesson might be that if you must use a crib sheet, make sure to avoid hypocritically mocking the competition.

The Palin method guarantees headlines and attention, but respect is something else entirely.  The controversy surrounding her covert palm reading has increased since the Tea Party convention. 

Her zealous supporters may follow her to the ends of the Earth, but the rest of us have to wonder if Palin knows where she stands on major political issues.

If our political science students avoid the Sarah Palin route and back up their work with emotion and conviction, they’ll go on to great things.  But others also can learn from Palin’s mess up.

I am a journalism major and making speeches hasn’t been a big part of my education. But presentations invariably pop up throughout high school and college and I’ve approached nearly all of them with trepidation. I hate public speaking.  Merely the thought of it makes me nervous.

Thinking of good old Sarah, though, helps put things in perspective. When I make a presentation, knowing my facts backward and forward helps my confidence immensely. If I know my stuff, it’s no longer about reciting some canned material I’ve been assigned to speak on.  The presentation becomes a passionate conversation.

It may still be a conversation I’m eager to have over and done with, but that’s a step up from hating the entire process.  

And I can only imagine how much this perspective will help me in the future — whether it’s a business presentation or a story pitch, a degree of studied confidence is a tremendous asset in any situation.

We all can look to Sarah Palin for tips on how to pander to an audience.  But when it comes to actually knowing our issues … well, maybe we should figure that out all by ourselves.

— Wesley Fenlon is a senior from Clarkesville majoring in magazines