Continetti: Sarah Palin And The New Populism

The Weekly Standard's associate editor Matthew Continetti's book The Persecution of Sarah Palin: How the Elite Media Tried To Bring Down a Rising Star was published this week. In his latest essay for TWS, Continetti examines the similarities between Jackson, Bryan, Reagan, and Sarah Palin and finds that they are "striking":

This is not to say that they are alike in every respect. Nor is it to say that Palin's achievements to date rank with the others'. And, of course, American populism is a deep and complex tradition. But it's nonetheless true that a couple of traits span the centuries and unify these four political figures. The first is the reaction they provoke among the elites of their age--what one might call the "Coonskin Cap Critique." The second is their advocacy of dispersed power, open markets, and American individualism.

[...]

Last year the public elected an inspirational leader who promised change. Barack Obama promised to open government, end insiderism, and confer no special privileges. He promised to reach across the aisle and adopt his opponents' best ideas.

This was all an illusion. As the Obama presidency has developed, people have realized that this is not the change they sought. The Treasury secretary is a tax cheat overseeing a Wall Street bailout program. The congressman in charge of the tax code is under investigation for various frauds. From auto bailouts to the stimulus to health care, the president has implemented or advocated policies of which the people disapprove.

Obama's governing style is based on personal interaction with major policy stakeholders. So, when the president formulates a policy, he brings into the White House all the titans of industry and top lobbyists who might be affected. The rule applies whether the issue is the financial system, climate change, or health care: Obama listens to and makes deals with market incumbents. The theory is that such negotiations will produce legislation that satisfies everyone involved. But whatever the benefits, the costs are all too clear: Incumbent stakeholders use government access to drive out competition, increase their leverage, and limit transparency.

In other words, Obama has rejected the tradition of Jackson, Bryan, and Reagan. He has rejected putting trust in the common wisdom and collective judgments of the American people. He's sought comfort in the "expert" knowledge of technocratic elites. Liberal Democrats in Congress set the agenda. The unions drive trade, health, and labor policy. The bankers drive economic policy. Joe Six Pack is left out in the cold.

But the elites continue to mess things up. Confidence in American institutions continues to erode. Faith in the American future continues to decline.

Is there an exit? Yes. All it would take is for a populist leader like the one in Wasilla to pick up the Jacksonian, Bryanite, Reaganite torch and deliver this simple message to Obama and the political class: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this big-government crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon the cross of Goldman Sachs.

It's an excellent analysis by Continetti and should be read in its entirety here.

Update: Manly weighs in on the topic here.

- JP

Sarah Palin must choose her battles carefully

The Sarah Palin story of the week is the news that the former Alaska governor is about to debut a new organization which may or may not be called Stand Up for Our Nation. Likely to be a 527 non profit issue PAC, the group should be rolled out to coincide with the release of her Going Rogue memoir and the launch of her book tour.

Since the Palin team has been so tight-lipped about the project, it has been the subject of some speculation. Jamie Jeffords expects to see "a libertarian leaning, populist type initiative to counter the standard Republican, fit me for a toga line of Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, and Mike Huckabee":

"I think it is a good idea for Palin to attempt reshaping conservatism into a populist movement. Yesterday, USA Today said the majority of the country’s wealthiest districts were represented by Democrats... a plutocracy with all the prerequisite contempt for the have nots..." 

"Let us not forget the conservative elite, floundering though it is, and their contempt for Palin and the conservative base."

Aligning herself with the TEA Party/Townhall movement may seem like a natural fit for the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate, but Sarah Palin must tread carefully. She doesn't want to completely burn her bridges to the GOP establishment. She has a few friends inside the Beltway -- Fred Malek is one -- whom she doesn't want to alienate. There's nothing like having grassroots support, but if Sarah Palin wants to be president some day, she will need the support of big donors and the big campaign contributions they make to pull it off. And these money men are to be found almost exclusively among the members of the establishment. In The Art of War, Sun Tzu advised to never fight a battle that can be avoided because it wastes people and resources. He also advised that when you do decide to fight, choose your battles and battlegrounds carefully.

So the former governor must choose very carefully those candidates whom she will support, endorse and campaign for. A good example is the Nevada race to oust Senate majority leader Harry Reid. Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian are the two leading canidates for the GOP nomination. Lowden has stated that she's a Palin fan who views herself as similar in several respects, including her views on the issues. But Sarah's dad and her brother have been campaigning for Tarkanian across Nevada. Since Sarah has not interjected herself into the race, the help for Tarkanian from her family has so far allowed Sarah Palin to avoid alienating Lowden and most of Sue's supporters. It's a good example of the former governor wisely avoiding a costly battle which doesn't have to be fought.

Some other candidates shouldn't present such a problem. In New York's 23rd District, for example, Sarah can set herself apart from Newt Gingrich by giving her support to Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, as have Fred and Jeri Thompson. Gingrich, rather inexplicably, has joined the RNC and NRCC in endorsing liberal Republican Dede Scozzafava. Meanwhile in Florida, now that Sarah Palin is no longer a governor, it also shouldn't be a problem for her to throw her support behind conservative Marco Rubio in his battle with Vichy Republican Charlie Crist, even though Crist was once Palin's colleague in the Republican Governors Association. It is in individual contests like these where Sarah Palin can go against the GOP establishment and still keep those friends she has and needs inside the Beltway.

Sarah Palin must walk a fine line between populism and party. By wisely using her new oranization to promote those policies which are important to her, and her existing PAC to support the campaigns of viable conservative candidates, she can position herself as the leader Republicans as well as independent conservatives and libertarians will want to follow.

- JP

Quote of the Day (July 11, 2009)

David Warren:

"The reason why Palin appeals so deeply to so many 'middle Americans' in the 'flyover country' is of course the same reason she is so profoundly detested by the pointy-heads of the coastal elites. In words, in deeds, and in electrical resonance, she expresses the life-wish of the former, and exposes the death-wish of the latter... She has the heart of a lion, and she will not run away."

- JP