BillD: your statement was a very simple one; you did not offer   any indication that you were merely "describing." It sounded like a provincial, xenophobic comment to me. I am still not sure what you mean by "distracting" in any case; her   accent would distract   from what she was saying? her accent would distract by reminding one she is not a "real" American? It was a pretty inexact comment. But thank you for clarifying what you meant. You make a good point re: "neutrality" (of looks, ethnicity, voice, etc. if not policitcs) is what voters seem to find most comfortable. I call it "blandness."