As you concede, it does provide insight into the speaker's view of his audience, which, In the case of the clintons and Gore, is, invariably, haughty disdain.
"As you concede, it does provide insight into the speaker's view of his audience, which, In the case of the clintons and Gore, is, invariably, haughty disdain."
So when Bush does it what is it? And there are times when he sounds (on purpose) positively backwoods and uneducated. That isn't talking down to people?
Sorry, but I don't think it's haughty disdain, even when Clinton and Gore do it. It's a simple trick to try to connect better with the audience. And it usually works whether you're black, white, urban, rural or whatever.
When you try to connect some nefarious meaning to every little thing a person like Clinton or Gore does, you start sounding obsessed and even your excellent points start having less impact.