I like the analogy of Reagan and his 20-mule-team Borax commercials. Clearly, Reagan did not have gravitas, right, Carl?
What a shill - the questions is, for whom?
Reagan started out as an actor ... that's what he did before he got into politics. It was his day job, and he had to overcome it in order to be taken seriously.
Once he had established a solid political pedigree, with two full terms as governor, and a long stint of solid political commentary, he didn't play actor anymore.
Palin's evidently going the other direction -- using "actor" as a means of getting her face out in front of the electorate. Which is exactly what she shouldn't be doing.
The biggest knock against Palin is the perception -- eagerly promulgated by the media -- that she's an intellectual lightweight with no grasp of the issues. Even if that's not true, that's the perception she needs to be trying to change.
This is a political mistake.
Boraxo Ronald & Patty Reagan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnZaq7E4HOE&feature=related
Ronald Reagan for Boraxo Soap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsJJG7j1zhM&feature=related
26-Year-Old Ronald Reagan in Hollywood 1937
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCABHblTi80&feature=related