The Senator was vulgar, almost illiterate, a public liar easily detected, and in his "ideas" almost idiotic, while his celebrated piety was that of a traveling salesman for church furniture, and his yet more celebrated humor the sly cynicism of a country store.
The senator in Sinclair Lewis's "It Can't Happen Here" is portrayed as a crude and uneducated individual whose absurd ideas reveal a lack of depth. His dishonesty is easily recognized, marking him as a public figure who consistently deceives. Such characteristics reinforce an image of unqualified leadership unworthy of respect.
Additionally, his supposed religious fervor is compared to the insincerity of a salesman peddling church furniture, emphasizing a disconnect between his actions and genuine faith. His humor, characterized by cynical wit typical of a rural merchant, suggests a superficial charm that fails to disguise his lack of substance and integrity.
