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

[drzoon]

contrary to popular belief...

john mc cain hasn't been vetted any more than his running mate.

this is a very good start... and very solid journalism. which is just as rare as the truth at a republican fund raiser now days!

http://www.rollingstone.com/nationalaffairs/index.php/2008/10/03/five-myths-about-john-mccain/#

[Star2000dancer]

Debate? What debate? Joe Debated...­....mcPain­lin auditioned for a high school show. wink!*wink*

[tempting]

http://www.linktv.org/specials Check out these issues before you make up your mind.

[calliope]

That's an amazing video, thanks for posting it!

[Invox]

Every American who plans to vote should read the Rolling Stone article. It defines what you've been feeling in your gut about McCain. He's not a good citizen.

[columbia72]

Peggy is stuck back in the 80's...wai­ting for the second coming of Reagan - the likeable, gracious but misguided President who started this whole de-regulation and anti-government movement that got us where we are today. She was gushing over Palin's debate performance Thursday night. Caught with the open-mike bashing Palin's selection, gushing over Palin post-debate, now doesn't like Palin's so-called populism. Peggy seems confused. ..confound­ed like most other conservatives with any sense of decency, intellect and patriotism. I will say this - Reagan was a prince compared to John McCain.

[Jessegirl]

I totally agree with you.
I remember when she gave gushing, poetic opinions about Bush and his speeches back in
the day. I am not sure anyone can trust her interpretations. Face it...she loves a tough-talking,
divisive, phoney-bal­ogney...th­at is what gets this woman turned on.
I say, we've all had enough of these old, crusty, tiresome voices who do not connect with America today. We have evolved, we want to get along, we care about each other. We care about our place in the world too.
Gone are the Peggy's-of-the-day that loved a "bird-flippin" presidency.
She's soooooo yesterday.

[Carolab]

Confused? CONFUSED!!!! I'll say.

She actually said this about FDR?

Would FDR say, 'the New York aristocracy deserves another moment in the sun, vote for me?'

That's the Republican talking point against FDR? That he was servicing the New York aristocracy when he put together the New Deal and saved the nation from ruin? They KNOW the opposite is true--that the "aristocracy" considered FDR a traitor to his "class" for helping the common man. He was the antithesis of what they hold dear--enriching the rich.

Too many facelifts, Peggy--they've picked your brain.

[jennbeez]

The Reagans were incensed at John McCain's treatment of his first wife, something that they never forgave him for. Say what you will about Nancy and Ron, they stuck by their "til death do you part" vow.

[freshnotbitter]

Peggy Noonan's first encounter with Ronald Reagan came when she was summoned from her assistant speechwriter's desk to the Oval Office, walked in the door and made eye contact with Ronald Reagan who immediately looked down at his perfectly polished glassy shoes.

I see Peggy has made it to the big time in spite of her wardrobe challenges but if she wants to save her beloved republican party I would suggest that she think of having Sarah Palin get together with the people running McCain's campaign and have them ask McCain to resign and let Sarah run for President - on an actual populist ticket that will be good for this country.

[Bettysdad]

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."

Right-wingers always say things like this because if it came down to something this basic they would lose evry single election.

Good guys v. bad guys is the ONLY thing that matter. And Republicans are the bad guys.

[separatingwheatfromchaff]

"She praised her debate performance"?I wish Peggy had named a single instance that SP wasn't a vapid airhead during the debate.If spewing Republican talking points and refusing to answer questions is good debating,then I'll agree with Peggy,you betcha!

[Wilson201]

To clarify.. this article represents what we all should strive to become. Simple random acts of kindness.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/5/183340/309/352/621029

[JerseyGirl4Obama]

Great article. I sent it on to friends and family...

[Wilson201]

Divisive politics is all the GOP has become. It is an ugly world they are trying to build. I am from SC and it is rampant in these parts. I am scared to speak my mind at times...ev­en with my own family.
This is what the world should see and become.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/5/183340/309/352/621029

[deliriousgod]

Torontonians displaying Liberal party campaign signs had brake lines cut on the cars parked in their driveways. ten families in one neighbourhood. many cars had baby car seats in them. America needs to be Quarantined.

[ContraEgoiste]

Seems there needs to be a definition of "populism".

If by populism you mean the elevation of mediocrity to government then I agree. And McSame and Palin are the embodiment of medicrity and probably less.

But the truth is that this is not the correct definition of populist(ism). The real meaning of populism is what this country was meant to be, and that is government by "we the people".

What I see happening here is the old Karl Rove / NeoCon book play of reframing. They are now turning "populism" into a dirty word, the same way the have with "liberal". And the reason for this is because, due to their malfeasance, they see a wave moving across the country that can coalesce into a movement that will have the unstoppable power to unseat the status quo.

In that case I say that 'populism' is not only what is most needed but it is imperative for the survival of what America is supposed to be.
.

[TheIndependenceParty]

Her populist political style is a compensation for her failures in life, and a way she discovered to seize personal power by personal attack, and unrelenting ad hominem assaults on colleagues, political challengers, ex-lovers and anyone else who stood in her way or has slighted her. Noonan is correct to ring the alarm about Palin's form of political assault. The same sort of angry personality type has arisen in our American and in World History. They have always led to political regimes bent upon destroying adversaries in their own lands, controlling thoughts, and seizing opportunities to conquer others.

We Americans should be afraid of McCain, his abysmal military education record, for his temper, his unscrupulous business connections, both personal and through his wife, and his unrelenting impetuosity. Were he to gamble away his wife's inheritance, I could care less. For him to gamble away rational thinking in the White House by his selection of Sarah Palin as his VP, ... is a preposterous and absurd abuse of his candidacy and his party's nomination. He has made a mockery of America's Women in office, as is consistent with his relationships with women, and comments about them across his life.

In the end, our greatest fear as Americans should be that Sarah Palin might ever set foot in the White House as any more than a guest of State.

[dutch163]

I am hoping the Obamas don't invite her!

[hopefullee]

She's right it wouldn't be good for the country. I think people like Noonan are scared of two things: riots in the streets if Obama loses, and the mess the that would come out of (the good possibility of) having a Democratic House and Senate vs. a president who used racial/ethnic slurs to demonize their candidate at a time when we need to work together to fix the mess this country is in.

[Loompa2000]

Hey Kool Aid Drinkin White Business owners who think Sarah is A OK....if anyone who went to 5 schools to finish college was prospecting for a job....and their resume hit your desk....ho­w long would it take you to shred it? Be Real!!!

Peace

[theoldone]

She may have had to check out 5 schools before she could find one that let her ask her own questions.

[deliriousgod]

if you don't know the answers, change the questions

[dozaa]

OMG so FUNNY!

[tempting]

http://www.linktv.org/specials Check out these issues before you make up your mind.

[luckyrico1]

I don't often agree with Noonan. She hit the nail on the head when she said the caricature of Palin calling herself "Joe Sixpack" as divisive. It is not only divisive, it is dangerous that we, as American voters are given a vice-presidential candidate that we know little about.

The "dummied down" Palin supporters don't care who the real Sarah Palin might be. The one who, along with her husband are ignoring subpoenas. What would happen to real "Joe Sixpacks" and "Hockey Moms" if they ignored subpoenas?

My guess is that your average person would be sitting in jail if they ignored a subpoena to appear before a grand jury.

Has America gotten so stupid that they will vote for criminals if they are folksy and cute? God help us that we as americans have sunk this low.

[lainey]

Ms. Noonan wrote a glowing review of Ms. Palin's "performance" Thursday and now that she and the other pundits realized that the American public didn't agree, she wants to take it all back or rephrase it. I have discovered that news people, except those instinctively left or right, are the only ones who truly stick to the truth as they see it--the rest go back-and-forth, blowing with the wind to keep their jobs. I thought the job of the press was to inform the people about bad decisions that our leaders were making so that we knew what was going on. Noonan and the many like her (Brooks--pick a side) are a big part of why this country is in the shape we are in--for they only care about themselves. To give Ms. Wink and a Smile ANY credit at all is an insult to all the rest of us. Under no circumstances should she be so shielded from interviews. All news outlets should inform us what has happened as a result to Cheney's decision to do so. We are in a complete and utter meltdown both financially and respect wise and those who aren't doing their job (or doing it after the fact) are complicit. No one in the press, should allow her to go on the campaign trail without having a real interview. Shame of the press. Why have your freedom when you suppress it yourself?

[ManyColored]

"We can't win on the issues, so let's try character assassinat­ion."

[hjo4]

Privately I believe Ms. Noonan is for Obama. This is the same woman who loves Kanye West and knows lines from Jesus Walks his single. I 've watched her speak about Senator Obama and a light shines thru eyes when she does.