Games : In Wasteland 2, should I be able to resolve "Save a condemned man - or not" using SmartAss/KissAss?

Based on what I see on the internet, I should be able to convince Mr. Manners to let Fletcher go with Kiss Ass or change their customs with Smart Ass.

When I try that I get a lot of XP, yet Mr. Manners shrugs it off and proceeds with the execution.

Is it a bug or a change introduced in a recent patch?