The Numbers Don't Lie - As I Said Long Ago, Populism Is On the Rise

Back in August, I wrote an article for the Huffington Post entitled "An Economic Populist Is Rising In the GOP Presidential Primary." In that article, I predicted that Republican Mike Huckabee would rise and potentially win the Iowa caucuses based on his relentless focus on economic inequality and class-based populism. I chided the media and Democrats for ignoring him, and when I wrote this article, I was laughed at by many reporters, pundits and readers alike.

In November, I wrote a nationally syndicated column for Creators Syndicate entitled "The Huey Longs of Iowa" about both Huckabee and John Edwards. I once again noted that these two underdog candidates were competing in the Iowa caucus despite being outspent precisely because both men were running as bare-knuckled economic populists. As the only nationally syndicated columnist to write something like this, I was largely dismissed and laughed off by national political reporters, pundits and many readers, with most telling me the Iowa race was between only Romney and Giuliani on the Republican side, and only Clinton and Obama on the Democratic side.

Now the results are in: Huckabee has resoundingly won the Iowa caucuses, John Edwards duked it out in a dogfight with Barack Obama, who has over the last month adopted much of Edwards' populist rhetoric. That Edwards was even close in this race at all, and that Huckabee won outright is a success for both candidates considering they were grossly outspent by candidates being funded by huge corporate interests. More importantly, these results (regardless of who ends up winning what is effectively a tie in the Democratic race) resoundingly support precisely what I wrote way back when the Punditburo in Washington was still berating economic populism, and downplaying the very real class-based anger that is roiling America.

In the last week, a few columnists have scurried to point out what I pointed out a long time ago about both Huckabee and Edwards - as if it is some sort of new revelation that the country is ready for a truly populist economic politics. However, watching CNN, it is clear national political reporters will continue to ignore economic populism's central role in American politics. When it comes to Huckabee, all the talk is about religious conservatism, even as conservative publications like the Weekly Standard have very recently acknowledged that Huckabee's economic message is what has propelled him to victory. Similarly, when it comes to Edwards miraculously being in the middle of the race despite being outspent, all the talk is about the horserace. It is as if the Washington media and political Establishment will do anything to pretend that the public's anger at corporate greed and economic inequality simply does not exist.

They don't want to admit this anger exists because it fundamentally indicts the corrupt system that has allowed such economic oppression to flourish - a corrupt system brought on by the hostile takeover of our government by big money interests that I described in my first book. But, as they say, the numbers do not lie. They are there for all to see - and they prove what I and many progressives have been saying for years.

As I said at the beginning of the day, no matter what the final exact tallies, we the progressive movement - and We The People - are already winning.

Comments

[racje]

Populist geography: where are those Iowa populists?

Huckabee and Edwards shared some geography in Iowa. If you look at the map http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/results/index.html , 28 of the 29 counties where Edwards came in first were also won by Huckabee. Neither of them did well along the Mississippi or Missouri rivers, or in the big cities. Romney took river counties mostly; Hillary took the Missouri (and some northern counties) and Obama took the Mississippi (along with great swathes of central Iowa as well).

I don't know much about Iowa. Perhaps someone who lives there could tell me if there's a the river counties that's different from the central counties? Or a prairie populism that still flourishes between the rivers?

[Taan]

Regardless of who wins, don't expect any significant changes at the national level until we have public financing; direct presidential elections; overhaul of the voting system and severe limitations on PAC and lobby monies.We have been brainwashed to believe that money can cure anything. And with the nation coming more and more under the influence of corporation control, a decisive turn around in how the politics works is the basis for a refocusing on true democracy.

[angryoldman]

Health care in the wealthiest most powerful nation on this planet should not be "affordable" ,it should be a birthright and goverment run . It's always been a mystery to me that the U.S. is willing to go broke waging war but can't seem to find the means to help it's own people.I would rather pour billions of dollars into a government run and paid for not for profit universal health care system than into the MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX'S bank account!

[luziannagirl]

Yes, Huckabee's economic message is evidently resounding, and the echos are pinging back to his campaign, too. I think Edwards will, in the end, move them ALL toward a more populism stance, a la Louisiana's late Huey P. Long.

Somebody just said Huckabee went on a MSM am talk show & actually used the words "populism" and "plutocracy".

His disturbing religiosity & evangelicon support notwithstanding, this guy definitely knows which way to jump.

Whoa!

[cynicalintell]

If Obama or Hillary win the nomination, democrats will lose the presidency. I'm sorry Obama fans, but, just showing up and not voting is not good enough for me. I want someone who will take a stand, by actually voting. Preferably for my beliefs. Obama has not done that. I believe we need John Edwards, not only because he has been the consistent populist, but because I believe he will prosecute those guilty of the murder of our men and women in Iraq. (Oil war).
John Edwards has been out ahead of the cool-kids for awhile now, and even though he has been outspent three and four to one, he still claimed second. You would not know by watching the media, because its all about the so-called rock-stars. Bull. The corporate controlled media wants Obama and Clinton, they fear John Edwards. Precisely why I will vote for Edwards.

And I just donated $100 bucks, your turn.

[Primadonna]

It's all about change David ... and you have been on the forefront in writing about this David and Goliath story. So, let's take that change a bit further ... in every aspect of our lives we will have to address how each of us will be compensated for our work as change is rapidly occurring in every industry ... and layoffs abound.

A new means by which to compensate each person for their contribution must be examined. As a fellow journalist, I admire your research, examination and your ability to articulate such findings astutely. I also understand how challenging it is to be an independent contractor, or freelance. I was once employed by the MSM and one thing I do miss, besides the mass distribution, is knowing where my next paycheck is coming from. That knowing is what is missing now for most in every industry. Community more than ever is being called forth ... along with compassion ... as we are all bought and sold in some form. You may want to consider a "donation" button on your website.

Division of each of us in this country is what this administration has been built upon. Embracing the differences, i.e., those who might have more economic wealth than the next guy and seek means by which to distribute it in ways that benefit the whole, seems very appealing and collaborative. Come on John Edwards.

Meanwhile, we see what can happen to an industry and a nation when only a few own the airwaves. Keep writing David Sirota as you have many fans ... and you really might want to consider that donation button.

[Pogue22]

The anger of the middle class is the unreported story of today. It's hasn't been class warfare yet because the middle class hadn't fought back. It has been a class invasion and subjugation.

I support Edwards because he is addressing the message.

Obama, if he were smart, would recategorize himself as a Populist, rather than a Democrat or Republican. Firmly entrench in the middle ground and draw Democrats, Republicans and Independents to him. It would highlight himself as an agent of change beholden to neither party establishment.

Edwards, for some reason, in my mind cannot shift his brand from Democrat to Populist, even though he is beating the drums louder for the cause.

The big risk is that now, the entrenched Democrat politicos will see their power at risk and coaslesce in support of Clinton in the same manner they did to stop Dean by propping up Kerry despite Kerry's poor early performance. Then we can look forward to more of the same.

[nyscribbler]

I'm an Edwards supporter, but I'd like to know what David Sirota thinks about Bloomberg as a potential "out" for corporatists if Edwards and Huckabee win the respective nominations. Is this the circumstance for which Bloomberg is being groomed as a potential third party candidate? If not I am interested in what he is up to. Any ideas?

[luziannagirl]

David S.

Yes, you said it.

The "little guy" IS reaching a breaking point. At the point where all the little guys realize how many other little guys there are out there, in similar dire straits, and distributed over the entire political spectrum, populism will sweep over America like a hurricane storm surge.

Just hope it doesn't take more Shock Doctrinesque "shocks" for that to happen.

Don't know how many more Hurricane Katrina/Ritas we can take.

[geobushono]

...as I watch cspan this am, why is the conversation still about hillary and barak with nary a mention of John Edwards?

[islandfever]

You nailed it all right, David.

Edwards-Obama, or Obama-Edwards.
Gets you both future vision & enthusiasm.

Some bite mixed with a real sense of our splintered society.

Why is it when the fatcats get caught with their fingers in the till, its the maintenance crew who gets mandatory ethics training in this society?

When the company falls on hard times, the peopns get their pay cut, but the CEOs only make more obscene amounts?

We need to learn from the stratification of India.

We don't need to create a society of "Untouchables" living off the trash heaps in this country. It is rapidly extending into the middle class.

It IS poetic that the day of the Iowa Caucus, Pat Robertson posted his latest "God Report."

[pygmytyke]

C'mon Dave. For a guy as astute as you,stop worrying about the lack of recognition from the blathering boobs of the msm.
There's an old saying that says,"The hardest idea to understand is the idea upon which one's job security depends on not understanding".You're on the right track Dave and because you are you'll never get credit from the est. lackeys.
Keep up the good work. All of us "pygmies" down here in the roots love ya.

[vernonbc]

What a big steaming pile of horse patooey. Obama stole Edwards rhetoric? Get a grip David. Obama has had the same message for 10 months. He hasn't had to change it at all because it's who he is. He didn't have to apologize for all his votes in the senate or adopt a new style for this campaign like Edwards did.

And, um, Edwards wasn't close. He lost by 9 points too, just like Clinton did. I think you need to go back to grade school and brush up on your math.

[mamacita]

And yet there's an article by another poster at this very moment on Huffpost saying that the nomination is only between Clinton and Obama! "Somebody" isn't paying attention....

Is there an outbreak of ADD in the MSM, or is it just a case of wishful ignorance?

[bertisbert]

As usual - great post, David. The mainstream media is running scared, but their arrogance and resulting incompetence will only accelerate the pace of their self-destruction. The Internet needs to find a way to fund real investigative journalism, and I think it's coming. Once that happens: buh-bye NBC News/MSNBC/CNBC, ABC News, CBS News, NY Times, Fox News, CNN, and the rest of the cronies.
And good riddance!
Now all we have to do is keep this Internet thing alive and free......