The Arnold Effect in Germany

From Reuters today:

The straight-talking Hollywood action star’s election win in California has had an electrifying impact on Germany, leading to calls Friday for top politicians to voice clear ideas in simple language or be swept away at the polls.

“The more confused we are by what they say, the greater our longing for a man or woman with simple words,” wrote Bild newspaper columnist Franz Josef Wagner. “The only problem is that it’s the wrong ones who usually master simple language.”

Schwarzenegger’s victory in the California race for governor has led to editorials calling for German politicians to abandon their barely comprehensible speaking style in favor of “Klartext” (straight talk).

Is this good? Is this creepy? Maybe even downright scary? I honestly can’t quite tell.

Kash