News and Politics | October 04, 2008 | 28 comments

Dumbing down of the GOP

source: http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2008/10/04/dumb/

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MeganMcKenzie
Sarah Palin's debate performance should signal the beginning of the end of her fad. But for the moment it is worth looking at the meaning of her nomination, without the protective varnish of what conservatives usually dismiss as political correctness.

Why should we pretend not to notice when Gov. Palin's ideas make no sense? Having said last week that "it doesn't matter" whether human activity is the cause of climate change, she said in debate that she "doesn't want to argue" about the causes. It doesn't occur to her that we have to know the causes in order to address the problem. (She was very fortunate that moderator Gwen Ifill didn't ask her whether she truly believes that human beings and dinosaurs inhabited this planet simultaneously only 6,000 years ago.)

Why should we ignore her inability to string together a series of coherent thoughts? As a foe of Wall Street greed and a late convert to the gospel of government regulation, along with John McCain, Palin promised to clean up and reform business. But when her programmed talking points about "getting government out of the way" and protecting "freedom" conflicted with that promise, she didn't notice.

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Why should we give her a pass on the most important issues of the day? Supposedly sharing the fears and concerns of the average families who face the burdens of mortgages, healthcare and economic insecurity, Palin simply refused to discuss changes in bankruptcy law and proved that she didn't know the provisions of McCain's healthcare plan.

All the glaring defects so blatantly on display in her debate with Joe Biden -- and that make her candidacy so darkly comical -- would be the same if she were a hockey dad instead of a "hockey mom." In fact, the cynical attempt to foist Palin on the nation as a symbol of feminist progress is an insult to all women regardless of their political orientation.

There was a time when conservatives lamented the dumbing down of American culture. Preservation of basic standards in schools and workplaces compelled them -- or so they said -- to resist affirmative action for women and minorities. Qualifications mattered; merit mattered; and demagogic appeals for leveling were to be left to the Democrats.

Not anymore.

Actually, the Palin phenomenon is the culmination of a trend that can be traced back to Dan Quayle, the undistinguished Indiana senator whose elevation onto the Republican ticket in 1988 had nothing to do with intellect or experience and everything to do with the youthful appeal of a handsome blond frat boy. (That was how Republican strategists thought they would attract female voters back then, which must be why they believe Palin represents progress.) Quayle too was unable to articulate, let alone defend, the policy positions for which he was supposed to be campaigning. He too had to undergo the surgical stuffing of stock phrases into his head as a minimal substitute for knowledge and thought. And in the same sad way, he too benefited from the drastically reduced expectations applied to anyone whose inadequacy is so obvious.

Quayle deserved more pity than scorn, however, because he seemed to know that he was fighting far above his weight class. Palin evokes no such sympathy, with her jut-jawed, moose-gutting confidence in her own overrated "common sense" and her bullying insistence that only "elitists" would question her expertise.

As Biden showed quite convincingly when he spoke about his modest background and his continuing connection with Main Street, perceptive, intelligent discourse is in no way identical with elitism. Palin's phony populism is as insulting to working- and middle-class Americans as it is to American women. Why are basic diction and intellectual coherence presumed to be out of reach for "real people"?
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28 comments // Dumbing down of the GOP

  • charleskaj
  • Blkwdw
    • 0
      Blkwdw  

    • This is directed at nobamajon who exactly are the "Terrorists" you are referring to. Just out of curiosity is it your contention that America is perfect or damn near and lastly why do you think it is Americas job/right/duty/purpose to keep everybody else in check?

    • 3 years ago
  • Katanajon
    • Katanajon  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • ChristmasAsen
    • 0
      ChristmasAsen  
    • Katanajon:

      Sigh, your argument would be founded on better ground if we were actually there to keep those bastards in check. But no, we are there to ensure opium gets made and their oil productions stays favorable to us.

      "And some of arn't scared to tell you it.Instead of attacking me, which makes me stronger. Lets talk Policy or Strategy. Or keep on with the 3rd grader crap."
      I agree with you, ad hominem is a instant lost of the arguement for anyone who uses it.

      "The USA will pay the price.Kenny J my position in 2003 is the same as it is today. KILL ALL THE TERRORIST!!! let Alla sort them out. And we are all Americans. But being Anti American has been the Lefts trade mark since the 1960's."
      You are playing into their hands, rather than have contempt for your fellow Americans, why not listen to their voices of reason and reply with your own?

      You said it yourself, we are all American.

    • 3 years ago
  • GatorMonkey
  • Nozlo
    • 0
      Nozlo  

    • If, repeat if, I am in a generous mood I would say that Sarah Palin gave a performance in the debate that was 95% effective. Is this good enough for a potential President of the USA? Some would say fine, 95% is a good mark so that is good enough for me.

      But then point out what would happen if 95% of landings at JFK were effective. Millions would die every year.

      Can the world really take a chance on 95%? Everyone should demand 100% at all times from the most powerful individual on the planet and Sarah Palins performance the other night and in previous weeks shows that I am being very generous indeed.

    • 3 years ago
  • jh64487
    • 0
      jh64487  

    • so the conservative argument I'm hearing from this is that being right and being a moral leader isn't as important as simply winning at any costs, that pretty much sums up mccain post 2000. pitiful how mccain is using the same slander approach that cost him the nomination in 2000. not that it was in doubt (see divorce, treatment of women, pow/mia history etc) but the man has no morals whatsoever)

      "The GOP had no choice but to dumb itself down if it wanted to remain competeitive."

      way to go guys...thanks for being honest at least

    • 3 years ago
  • arcticspirit
  • Katanajon
    • Katanajon  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • dissimulator
  • jh64487
    • 0
      jh64487  
    • Katanajon:

      i think its funny that you refer to yourself as "we on the Right" with a capitalization. easy bud, we're all americans at the end of the day, some of us are simply progressive while others are...regressive ;)

    • 3 years ago
  • kennyJ
  • kennyJ
    • 0
      kennyJ  

    • Ummm the Palin Effect is more like a Disney Movie- "Hockey Mom Governor Goes to to Washington"- Yet it should be obvious that just because someone can run a lemonade stand, doesn't mean they could run the Pepsi Corporation.

    • 3 years ago
  • ChristmasAsen
  • MeganMcKenzie
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA  

    • The GOP had no choice but to dumb itself down if it wanted to remain competeitive. The nomination of Barack Obama by the Democrats over infinately more qualified and capable candidates proved that logical thought and intuitive reasoning was not going to be a part of this year's election. It showed without a shadow of a doubt Americans were not looking to make an intellgent choice, but that they just wanted to play American Idol.

    • 3 years ago
  • dissimulator
  • JohnA
    • 0
      JohnA  
    • JohnA:

      Why, because I can see the truth? Do you think the Republicans would have named Sarah Palin as VP if the Democrats hadn't of opened the door to style over substance by nominating Obama over more qualified, more experienced candidates?

    • 3 years ago
  • kennyJ
    • 0
      kennyJ  
    • Image
    • JohnA:

      John so you are of the opinion that the Republican's vetted Palin BECAUSE Obama is so unqualified? Interesting

      I have to ask you about Dan Quayle...

    • 3 years ago
  • arcticspirit
    • 0
      arcticspirit  
    • JohnA:

      OMG... lol.. you are right.

      And Quayle, were any of us old enough to be political then?
      I was in HS still... and very busy.
      So I really don't know more than what leftists say about him, and it's the same song and dance that they say about everyone, hardly anything unique.

    • 3 years ago
  • kaffegeek
    • 0
      kaffegeek  

    • her work in the debate was brilliant. bidens lack of knowledge was much greater, taking into account his age and experience.

      you socialists have to understand, Palin is normal, you are not.

    • 3 years ago
  • arcticspirit
  • jh64487
    • 0
      jh64487  
    • kaffegeek:

      mmm, in america...that's sadly true. but something like 1/6 up to 1/3 (including Palin) of americans actually believe jesus is coming back in the next few years and that all these worldly problems are heralding his approach. and they're happy about this!

      so yea...ill stick with being abnormal (as in...intelligent)

      you can stick to being normal ;)

    • 3 years ago
  • karrer
    • 0
      karrer  
    • kaffegeek:

      Isn't anyone terrified that all we are asking of our Vice President is that she be of "normal" intelligence?

      We're not talking about the assistant managership of Arby's family restaurant here... This is someone who will be within a heartbeat of becoming the most powerful (if no longer the most respected) person on the planet.

      I think its fair to demand elite performance from any candidate starting on day one. Yes, that means day one prior to their "crash course" in international politics. I'm talking about elite performance, not an "elite background." It's become abundantly clear over the last 8 years that having a privileged upbringing, Yale education and father who was a former president DOES NOT make one qualified for our nation's top job.

      Simply being informed on the issues is the role of a responsible voter, and its clear that Palin has not yet managed even that. In fact, she can't even seem to repeat McCain's own positions consistently with an army of the best coaches the GOP can muster at her side day and night.

      Let's be realistic about this... if you aren't concerned about the future president or VP being any more qualified than you personally are for the job, then write your own name down on the ballot and vote for yourself. After all, no one knows how to make a roast beef sandwich like yours! Why shouldn't YOU be the one to run our nation into the ground.

      For all you non-elitist, Average Joes and Joleens out there, vote YOURSELF for president in 2008!

      ...And enjoy Arby's sandwiches!

    • 3 years ago
  • QCBUCKI
  • jc911truth
    • 0
      jc911truth  
    • kaffegeek:

      I am so happy to see that most people in our country have the brains to sift through all the BS and conclude that Palin is Failin' and McCain is McSame. News Flash: The People Are Taking Back America.

    • 3 years ago
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