… How much are we missing when the president won’t emote on cue? On the one hand, we should take symbolic representation seriously. It’s part of how elected leaders show that they share our values and can give voice to our feelings. …
At the same time, we can’t presume to know what politicians actually think or feel; these are highly skilled performers who are strategic in the emotions that they choose to publicly display and can use these to distract and inflame us.
Moreover, we face the danger of confusing the symbolic expression of emotion with an effective policy response. CONT.
Brendan Nyhan (Dartmouth), New York Times