The Right Kind of "Populism" - Kerry, Edwards

[wyldwolf]

If the decline of the once-invincible Dean campaign is one big story in the Democratic presidential nominating process, the other is the rise of two candidates, Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards, who were written off and left for dead by the "experts" long before the actual voting began.

As we've noted before, this development should not be all that mysterious. Sen. Kerry has the same qualities today -- a stirring biography, solid foreign policy and national security credentials, a deep mastery of issues, toughness and self-discipline, and an ability to attract all sorts of Democrats -- that made him the early frontrunner at the beginning of 2003. Sen. Edwards has combined an impressive array of new policy ideas, an optimistic tone, and a powerful speaking style into a message that appealed to voters far more than to jaded pundits. Both men have taken to heart former President Clinton's advice that successful challengers to incumbent presidents must provide both a reasoned critique of administration policies and a clear alternative agenda for the country.

But much of the fire that Kerry and Edwards have brought to the campaign trail is based on what some call "populism" -- a sustained attack on the special interests aligned with George W. Bush and the privileged individuals and corporations that have most benefited from his rule. It's important for Democrats to understand this particular kind of populist appeal, and what it does and does not mean, because populism is one of those words that mean very different things to different people.

At its best, populism is a term for any kind of appeal to the broad swath of Americans who work hard and play by the rules, as opposed to the few who rely on privilege and connections. This approach, as Bill Clinton showed, is entirely consistent with a unifying, forward-looking policy agenda that places the national interest, as embodied in the values and aspirations of the great American middle class, above special interests, including those operating through government, who seek to use public policies to feather their own nests.

http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=131&subid=192&contentid=252354

[lastknowngood]

1. not popularism stolen lines

from Dean to they are planning to lose to the shrub. This will be the worst blow out in history if Kerry ,the anointed one, is the candidate this country will never recover.

[dumpster_baby]

2. Ha ha! CorpGovMedia must be getting scared. We are seeing more of ...

Ha ha! CorpGovMedia must be getting scared. We are seeing more of these lectures chiding the candidates, subtextually warning them not to play to the voters' desires for a REAL populism. Instead, CorpGovMedia lackeys like the "New Democrats" want us to get a fake Clintonian populism. Well, fuck Clinton and fuck the New Democrats.

[dolstein]

3. Kerry is not a credible messenger for a populist message

Edwards is the real deal.

[leyton]

4. I don't know about Edwards

I like Edwards and all, and I guess he's still my pick. But every time he answers a question, he has to return to his roots in South Carolina and his "regular people" thing. Every time he does that, it sounds a little less sincere and a little more polished/pandering, and every time I like him a little bit less.

[spooky3]

7. That's understandable, but I try to remember that most people

don't care as much about politics as we do, and they are hearing it for the first time, so he has to stick to that same message, especially because he is pre-empting the "rich trial lawyer--what does he know about my life?" attack.

I've decided not to listen to as many of anyone's stump speeches because it's like hearing the Herbal Essence commercials for the zillionth time. :-)

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. While Kerry and Edwards are strong "populists"....

Clark is the strongest one.

[jenk]

6. Edwards played to the southern crowd perfectly tonight

so he pissed off a couple of far left Dems, so what? In the south you have to tailor your message to the moderate to conservative Dems. Edwards did just that, nobody else did.

[joshcryer]

8. I thought NDOL wasn't for Edwards?

Huh...

[Iverson]

9. If they have to put populism in quotes ...

... that's what I call a clue about the writers' depth of understanding of the idea.

It's like food that tastes "good."

[stickdog]

10. As opposed to the left kind of populism ...

or any real form of populism at all.

[robbedvoter]

11. Didn't DLC say Gore "lost" because of the damn "populism?" (Joe did)

So, now suddenly populism is a good thing?
Edwards railing about "washington politicians" - like OJ looking for the killer
As for kerry "kicking the barn door" - I can't top that!

[Cheswick2.0]

12. the only thing Kerry has brought

is a lot of Dean's best lines which Kerry is parroting. Edwards is slick, but amazingly still boring as hell and way too conservative. He defended the war in Iraq last night FGS.