In the article called "Sarah Palin's Alaska: 7 secret political messages in her new reality show", journalist Shelley Ross discusses some hidden messages from Palin's one hour show that premiered last night on TLC. The seven messages Ross found were 1. My campaign commercial is ready (and so is my close up), 2. I have found the perfect running mate- Alaska, 3. Katie Courics can eat my reindeer meat!, 4. I will never make the same mistake twice, and I have a gate in front of my daughters bedroom to prove it, 5. I am motivated by all the right stuff, 6. I am ready for Ahmadinejad, and lastly 7. I have repented for my sins in politics.
This article and Palins show is a good example of politicians using popular culture as the book talks about. The book says "Aware that popular culture can reach groups that otherwise might not be reached, political figures have, for more than a decade, used popular culture" (Bell 364). Sarah Palin is most definitely using her new show to not only promote herself but also to reach a broader audience. The book talks about Bill Clinton using popular culture avenues during his presidency and how it resulted in helping his candidacy by showing people that he was "one of us". Palin is doing this in her show and Ross talks about this in the article by using the example of Palin using a baby gate to keep boys out of her daughter Willows bedroom. She is showing the world that she is a mom but also that she will not repeat the same mistakes.