Noonan Says Palin's Type Of Populism Is Bad For Country

Appearing on NBC's Meet the Press, conservative columnist Peggy Noonan said that the "populist" tactics being deployed by Sarah Palin was "not helpful to the country" and painted her candidacy as built on class warfare.

"She is a natural," said Noonan, "But I will tell you, I feel increased concern about... what she thinks of as populism, as her populist approach. There are two ways, you know, her stuff about, 'I'm main street, you are the elite, I'm Joe six-pack.' She actually says 'I'm the Joe six-pack candidate.' This has me thinking, gosh, would Lincoln say 'I represent the backwoods type?' Would FDR say, 'the New York aristocracy deserves another moment in the sun, vote for me?' There's something weird about it. But there is also something, for me, concerning. Populism as a tactic is justified often in politics. 'I need this program, the people want it.' Populism as a strategy, 'we're the good guys, you're the bad guys,' is not good. And if that's the road they are going, that's not a good road to be on. It is not helpful to the country."

Noonan has been skittish about Palin's candidacy from the get-go, though not always publicly demonstrative about her concerns. She was caught, off camera, calling the vice presidential pick as cynical. But she has also, on occasion, praised Palin for energizing the Republican base and for her debate performance.

On Sunday, Noonan expanded on those compliments, arguing that Palin did an effective job on Thursday night but one that amounted to a political infomercial.

"I'll be frank, she convinced the American people -- though they had seen her crater in the interview after interview in the previous few weeks before that debate -- that she was capable of coming forward and simply debating," said the Wall Street Journal columnist. "I think she showed that she is a woman of great and natural competence about the show-business of politics, if you will: the ability to look over the camera, to think that the camera is your friend, all of that stuff. But there are questions about other areas."

Comments

[bdaved]

It is kind of odd that when a liberal, or progressive, or whatever the term of fashion is these days, brings up matters of opposing excessive CEO compensation or Wall Street greed or economic inequality it gets shouted down as class warfare. Governor Palin does her hockeymom-­joesixpack­-winkwinkw­ink act and it's populist, or she's just really connected to the people. Governor Palin may have some genuine charm and appeal to a popular audience, but she is no longer being genuine, authentic and ingenuous, and I know there are lots of people in this country who can see through this kind of charade. I just hope there's enough.

[LondonTownNY]

Kudos to Peggy Noonan. Even thoughtful Conservatives recognize that the last think our country needs in these perilous and uncertain times is an erratic, unsteady old man and a cocky whacko behaving like a mad pit-bull. Someone tell McCain to put a leash on his pit-bull because she is crapping all over my country!

[sueno]

Noonan is "way" out of touch.
After being a GOP attack dog for decades, she wants the American people to "soften"
their opinions of both Palin and McCain. Yet Noonan, had no problem attacking Obama
at every opportunity. Noonan idea of populism is based on some kind of 1950's model-
the world has changed, people are smarter and Noonan only knows how to speak to
right-wing extremists. Another one of America's "great thinkers" is lost in her own
"distant world", speaking to solely people above 50, people in dark Washington elite bars
and to do her part in trying to brain wash the rest of us-

[huffyISaHottie]

is there a man or woman who loves the sound of her own voice more than ms. noonan does?

[sufi66]

Whatever she says has no credibility.

This time around she appears sane because she's promoting another vapid book.

Reagan is still her hero despite history's verdict on his culpability in our current economic melt down.

[DemoMom]

The woman is ambitious, well out of her league and doesn't actually care a hoot about the rest of us. We have all met her type in PTAs, local political organizations and in the work situation. Not very well informed but determined to get ahead and her selection by the McCain campaign is nothing more than a desperate cynical ploy to attract the conservative vote. I can't abide her appeal to ignorance and endless references to "elites" of all kinds. I'd be happy to contribute to a one-way ticket for her and "First Dude" to head back to Alaska next month.

[Just2stressed]

Sen. Obama's supporters, PLEASE, PLEASE don't get complacent in thinking that the election has been won. Never accept victory before the time for victory has come. Remember, during the primaries, Sen. McCain's campaign was almost over, everybody thought he would not win the nomiation, and, he did.

This election is not yet over, Sen. Obama has not won, we don't know that he will. Therefore, Sen. Obama's campaign should fight with every breath. DO NOT watch the polls. People do lie to pollsters. They need to act is if they are the underdogs (in fact, they are the underdogs). The campaign should act as though they have everything working against them, not for them.

We are 29 days away. ANYTHING can happen during this time.

[Jaid]

Its a sad day in hell when a candidate is deemed presidential if they can manage to put two sentences together to form a paragraph. When mediocrity is embraced opposed to excellence. Now I see what the Europeans mean when they say Americans are just plain stupid because they are stupid! Two years of Bush to be followed by another 4 years of McBush. God bless ignorance.

[pjburns11]

"The heels are on, but the gloves are off!" nyuk nyuk.

Cheap. Pathetic.

What's worse, is how many Americans think that is hilarious. We the Sheeple...

http://thetruthburns.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/you-can-put-eyeglasses-on-a-flock-of-sheep-they-are-still-a-flock-of-sheep/

[dac253]

I felt the same way about American Idol

[ggirl00]

Peggy Noonan showed me her true colors when she expressed her "real feelings" off camera and stated the talking points 'on camera'. She confuses me, so I pretty much ignore everything that she says.

[laurinek]

Good point.

[dillydawg]

I agree completely.

[sufi66]

She's just a propagandist for whatever promotes herself in any given situation. Like Sarah, she's a real nut case.

[gadfly55]

Palin appears to the world as completely and utterly incompetent and potentially extremely dangerous. She is appealing to the worst instincts of a population manipulated by political masters who play upon the worst fears and tribal instincts for survival in a world indifferent to traditional values. She does not speak for ordinary people, anymore than Joe Biden, or Obama who have certainly grown from very humble origins to become outstanding individuals capable of bringing the country back into the global community. Sarah Palin is the vestige of a fallen order, and is being used to maintain the control of a very cynical elite who have effectively destroyed the country as a coherent society in the interests of becoming obscenely wealthy beyond comprehension. She is also a deluded narcissist who cares nothing for anyone else's suffering and believes that she is an agent of God Almighty. McCain beware, do your country a service and cease your campaign now.

[irishgawdess]

Love what you wrote. Thanks.

[Elrancho]

Wonderfully put. You are a far better commentator than the majority of journalists in the US.

[Liberalforsure]

Brilliant! Could you post a couple of times and post the same on other blogs.

[JoeTwelvePack]

Vladimir Palin to McCain's Medvedev. Duck!

[ObamAtomic]

Far right social conservatives,lower education,divisive (racist) poorest.cultist religion
the moist important trait,,lower education.

[scully09]

Didn't Palin and her husband want Alaska to be soverigne from the lower 48?

[irishgawdess]

"First Dud" want(ed) Alaska to secede from the U.S. He is/was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a political party in the state of Alaska. I say "is/was" because at one time he was a member, but I don't know about now with the change of events in their lives. I recently read that SP attended one of their conventions, but haven't verified that, nor that she was ever a member.

[ObamAtomic]

Ms Noonan,you can not have both way,,She did an effective job ,as to put women down,ask
yourself,do you want to be treated as the*girl* or professional woman?
Admit it ,the woman is unqualifie­d,mediocre politician,the sad situation her career is over.
McCain tool,,,,,,,Her standard are very low,we American disagree with her...
Defending her performance in the *Debate* is denied there are 7 days in a week!
What *Debate*?What you call *Populism* is called *Stupidism*.

[ConEd]

"Who is that masked man?"

[Pulemerci]

Palin appeals to most Americans who are sick of Washington insiders (think 4 decades of Joe Biden and how much he accomplished). Her folksy demeanor is refreshing as opposed to Biden's Washington-speak. Her energy policies are exactly what this country need NOW!

[ObamAtomic]

Palin appeals to a little group of trolls like you!

[laurinek]

She is an empty, cold as ice, unqualified person. "Folksy"? Why the justification for her nomination means any of us could be VP, or horror of horrors-President. I'm certainly all for an outsider but I require more in my leaders than a wink.

[eric7727]

What an idiot. McCain is a Washington insider. The VP does NOT run the country. Duh!!

[Deluded]

I really must change my tag - there are far too many really deluded contributors for me to realistically compete .

[Riani]

Wait, let me get this straight. Palin is a fresh Washington outsider? My understanding is that the use of the word "Washington" in this context is not literal, but rather connoting politicians altogether. She might not be a Washington insider, but what has she been doing up in Alaska the last what, 12 years, or more? Watching hockey games? She's a politician, through and through, make no mistake! And great with double speak. She's an outsider, a fresh face, but Barrack Obama is inexperienced. She and John McCain are Mavericks, but her ex-chief of police or safety or whatever up in Alaska, now he is a rogue! And her husband is not interfering in her running of Alaska, no, he's merely First Dude. You betcha.

Oh, and the great American dream is not Obama's pull yourself up by your bootstraps strive for excellence, no, it's NcCains priviledge and Palin's mediocracy.