In the week since Mitt Romney announced Paul Ryan as his running mate, the word "wonk" has been liberally used to describe both Ryan and, to a lesser extent, Romney. Ryan is favorably described as "wonky" and in his first interview with Brit Hume he dodged questions by saying that he didn't want to gt "all wonky". The subtext being that he doesn't think Hume or the listeners would understand him when he "gets into the weeds".
I'm struck by the way this use of "wonk" aligns with my memory of how "maverick" was used by the McCain/Palin campaign. Palin described herself as a maverick and it wasn't long before the media used the term without much explanation. It became part of what she was, her brand, so to speak. McCain took on the label, as well, but it didn't seem to fit the near octogenarian. Palin continues to ride the "maverick" label to this day.
My concern is that "wonk" is being used as code for "deeply knowledgeable and intelligent" and that this is becoming Ryan's unquestioned brand, as well. Now Romney is trying to hitch his brand to this wagon, since it masks a lot of negatives. Surely a "wonk" would understand that you can't reduce revenues at the same time that you are giving millionaires massive tax breaks, right? No one who was so "wonky" would propose a destruction of Medicare? Right?