MSNBC Panelist Compares Sarah Palin to 'Snooki': She's a 'Cartoon Character

What would you say if I told you an MSNBC panelist, who made his name in advertising, compared a former vice-presidential candidate and governor to an over-the-top reality TV star who was just* arrested for public drunkenness? If you said you don't believe it happened, then you'd be wrong.

On Tuesday morning's "Morning Joe," panelist Donny Deutsch had an epiphany and opined about America's fascination with Sarah Palin. According to him, explaining that fascination is "very simple":

“Why the fascination [with Sarah Palin]? It’s very simple and I’m not going to be glib here. She is Snooki. It’s the same math. A younger generation they want to watch this character with big character with big hair who’s funny…you don’t know she’s going to say. It’s no different but for a higher demographic! We watch her she’s interesting looking, whats she going to say? She’s campy, she’s kitschy, it’s telegenic, its television, its entertainment. That’s the fascination. Beginning, middle and end of story, she’s Snooki.”

For those unfamiliar with Snooki, she's the star of the reality TV series "Jersey Shore." On last night's episode, she was arrested for being drunk in public:

And for comparison, a clip from Palin's reality TV series, "Sarah Palin's Alaska":

Palin and Snooki: it's obvious they are both "cartoon characters." They might as well be twins attached at the hip.

In a slightly longer version of the panelist's monologue posted on Mediaite, Deutsch says he knows another panelist, Willie Geist, agrees with him and begs Geist not to leave Deutsch "hanging." Unfortunately for Deutsch, Geist refuses to agree. It looks like not everyone is willing to make the odd comparison:

(H/T: Greg Hengler)

*Author's note: Snooki was technically arrested in July. However the incident first aired on the television show on Monday night.