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"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
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The Myth That Populism & Anger Lose Elections
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| Contributor | RP |
| Last Edited | RP Jun 09, 2005 07:30pm |
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| Category | Commentary |
| News Date | Thursday, June 9, 2005 01:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | One of the big arguments by the Beltway elite against Democrats embracing a new economic populism says a political party must always be FOR something, not just against things - and always avoid any tinge of populist anger. Now, I'm not saying Democrats need to fully embrace a politics of "pessimism, anger and divisiveness" - but the idea that they should be so afraid of that kind of populist politics because it doesn't work just doesn't pass history's smell test.
Does anyone really believe that the modern Republican Party - which now controls all three branches of government - hasn't ascended to power on "pessimism, anger and divisiveness" and on being against things? Think about it. Their party is based on these tenets: government is bad (pessimism/against government), you are being ripped off by taxes (anger against taxes), those evil "others" - minorities, gays, immigrants, liberals, etc. - don't share your values (divisiveness/against the "other"). Similarly, Newt Gingrich's Contact With America was all about pessimism, anger and divisiveness. Hell, Tom Frank's book is ALL ABOUT the success of what he calls "backlash" conservatism. |
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