Try a Little Tenderness

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By Peggy Noonan (Archive) · Saturday, July 31, 2010

Back when the rather radical and ill-thought-through movement known as the John Birch Society—they thought, among other things, that Dwight Eisenhower was perhaps a communist—was still famous and controversial, conservative Ronald Reagan was running for office. A group of Birchers, surveying the field, said that of all those running his stands seemed most congenial, so they would support him. This set off Drudgelike sirens among journalists: Aha! Reagan unmasked as a radical! Why else would radicals support him? So they rushed to demand that he respond to this embarrassment.

Well, he said pleasantly, they said they support me, I didn't say I support them.

He said it mildly, as if the reporters had misunderstood the story. This left them scratching their heads, and the story went away, as stories do. But his feint worked because it was grounded in truth. Reagan was neither extreme nor a Bircher, but there were areas in which he agreed with the Birchers, such as the threat of communism. He also had to function as a practical politician: He wasn't going to tell them to take their votes elsewhere. So he made it clear they were for him, while suggesting they'd bowed to his views, not he to theirs.

This might be a good template for how Republicans approach the Tea Party as 2010 approaches. No, the Tea Party is not the John Birch Society. To note one difference, it does not coalesce around the idea of conspiracy so much as antipathy—to the increasing size, role and demands of government. As this is in line with general Republican thinking and philosophy, Republican candidates should happily accept its support while sticking to their own views and stands, whatever they are. Reagan didn't say he was so grateful for Bircher support that on reflection Dwight Eisenhower really was a communist. He just nodded and kept walking.

For those candidates who are themselves Tea Party, and who identify more with a rebellion than an organization, some advice: Get conservative, quick. Which is another way of saying: Get serious. Conservatives are not fringe and haven't been accused of being fringe since they got themselves a president, in 1980. He cared about reality, about the facts of the world, and bothered to know them. He bothered to think about them. He respected process, or rather respected the reality of it and learned to master it.

He also tried to put his arms around those who disagreed with him; he loved his foes into submission by showing regard for them. "Come walk with me," he said, in 1984. And they did. And they got a new name, Reagan Democrats. Some of them wear it proudly, still. Here's something that sounds corny but is true: Only love makes great political movements. Movements based on resentment, anger and public rage always fade, they rise and fall, they never stay. If you came to play, get serious.

Members of the Tea Party are not going to vote Democratic, and the Democrats have figured this out. Someone noted on cable the other day that only months ago many Democrats still hoped they might benefit to some degree from the Tea Party's populist spirit, and attempted a certain tentative sympathy. True, but they did it like anthropologists discovering a new tribe in Borneo: "Come. No hurt. Be friend." Now, seeing the Tea Party is not gettable or co-optable, the Democrats are attempting to demonize them, and use them to demonize the GOP.

Thus the new DNC scare ad, which features the usual "Jaws"-like monster music, and then the charge that the Tea Party and the GOP are "one and the same." Not only that, they're cooking up a plan to "get rid of" or privatize Social Security and Medicare, repeal the 17th Amendment, and abolish the departments of energy and education and the EPA.

Your average viewer will see this not as information but as theater, like Demon Sheep, and of course propaganda, though some will perk up at abolishing the agencies. But the ad signals a central Democratic argument for the fall, which The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder summed up as "We may be incompetent, but they're crazy."

It's a sign of Democratic panic that a week ago they were saying what was wrong with the GOP was they have no plan, while now what's wrong is that they do have one.

The problem for the Democrats, however, is not a new Contract With America, or the Tea Party. Their problem is Chris Christie.

National Republicans don't want to talk about specific cuts in spending for the obvious reason: The Obama administration is killing itself, and when your foe is self-destructing, you must not interrupt. Let the media go forward each day reporting the bad polls. Turn it into "Franco: still dead." Don't let the media turn it into a two-part story: "Obama is Struggling and The Republicans Will Cut Your Benefits."

That is classic, smart political thinking, but wrong. The public thinks we're sinking as a nation. They want to know someone has a plan to help. The most promising leader in that respect is Mr. Christie, the New Jersey governor, who just closed an $11 billion budget gap without raising taxes. He is famously blunt and doesn't speak in those talking points that make you wonder, "Should I kill myself now with rude stabs to the chest, or should I just jump screaming from the window?"

On "Morning Joe" this week he said, "There were a lot of hard cuts and difficult things to do in there, but fact of the matter is we're trying to treat people like adults. They know that we're in awful shape, and they know that no one else is around anymore to pay for the problems that won't hurt them."

What about the argument that in a recession we need stimulus spending? "It's dead wrong. More spending with what? The federal government continuing to print more and more money and leaving that debt for our kids? It will only grind the economy down further."

On public schools: Teachers complain when they're getting "4% and 5% salary increases a year in a 0% inflation world. They get free health benefits from the day they're hired for their entire family until the day they die. They believe they are entitled to this shelter from the recession when the people who are paying for that shelter are the people who have been laid off, who've lost their homes, had their hours cut back. And all we ask them to do is freeze their salary for one year and pay 1.5% of their salary for their health benefits. . . . As much as I love teachers, everyone's got to be a part of the sacrifice."

Mr. Christie was direct, unadorned: You can't tax your way out of a spending problem, you've got to stop spending. Governors have budgets for which they're held accountable, so he had to move. But Mr. Christie's way is also closer than most national Republicans have come—or Democrats will come—to satisfying the public desire that someone step forward, define the problem, apply common sense, devise a way through, do what's needed.

He's going to break through in a big way. The answer to our political problems lies in clarity, competence and courage, not a visit to crazy town. And he knows how to put out his hand. "As much as I love teachers." That's good.

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kev

Ms. Noonan makes some excellent points with which I happen to be in agreement for a change. However, unless I've misinterpreted her words, it seems she looks on the Tea Party as a rebellion, more so than an organization. While I don't identify myself as a Tea Partier (for no specific reason), I support them. They are a group of people who are not interested in rebellion for rebellion's sake, but are fed up with THIS administration and THIS House and Senate in particular, all thoroughly controlled by the democrat party as well as the radical left. And yes, there are some Republicans included in this anger who can't seem to make up their minds who put them in office. The Tead Partiers are tired of the lies, lack of transparency, backroom, late night deals, out of control spending, out-and-out corruption, and radical left lean. The only people who should fear them ARE the democrats, and for good reason. The ONLY hesitation I have is if they begin to split the Republican vote by running their own candidates as a third party. Then I could have a problem with them. This is no time for us to think third party. Right now we must focus on saving our country from these radical leftists.

Posted July 31, 2010 at 10:08:16 AM

JJStryder

"Crazy Town" is Washington. People wanting a return to the values that made us great doesn't mean returning to a segregationist past. Those claims are a canard raised by the "crazies" leading some down the road to "National Socialism" or whatever you want to call the democrat agenda. Us Tea Party people are serious Peggy, we know how serious this is. That is precisely why we are out on the street and advocating the things we do! I have a hard time reading Peggy anymore without hearing her snobbish elitism.

Posted July 31, 2010 at 11:15:55 AM

Steve Hendrick

all due respects to Ms Noonan, but she wouldn't know what a true Conservative candidate(Tea Party candidate) was even if Reagan came back and explained it...the middle of the road big R bunch, always wanting to stretch across the isle to a one way hand shake is mostly to blame for the near collapse of this country...No...they will be Tea Party Candidates or they won't...their choice...

Posted July 31, 2010 at 1:10:16 PM

mugwumps

You're right that the conservative is not right wing. That's what conservative means. You're wrong about the hate thing though. The commies have preached hate about the man who was able to lift himself up with his own boot straps forever. And they have lasted forever. And kev doesn't realize that he's the biggest problem. It's those who vote for the lefties in the Republican party who caused this mess. The lesser of two evils is still evil and if you vote for "the one who can win in November" you lose. You're perpetuating this mess and sending the message that politics as usual will get you elected. It's not D.C., it's the voters who are crazies.

Posted July 31, 2010 at 1:11:11 PM

M Rick Timms, MD

It's about Primaries! Conservatives have the opportunity to win the Republican primaries with TEA PARTY conservative candidates. Then they can beat the Democrats in head to head races, rather than simply sound good on the way to defeat in a three way race. You have to be smarter than the chainsaw!

Never compromise on principle. But pick your battlefield - and the proper place is in the Republican primary - most of which will go to the most conservative. ( except in cases like Arizona - where McCain once again acts reliably conservative for a little while, just to fool the voters before going "Maverick" again once re-elected. Time to get rid of these unpredictable, unreliable dinosaurs.)

Until all elections are required to have runoffs for a majority winner - conservatives must work within the Republican party to make it THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY. Our battlefield - and greatest opportunity- is in the Republican primaries. Win them - win the election.

Posted July 31, 2010 at 2:03:12 PM

Chad

I am on board with the Tea Party inasmuch as they influence the populace and politicians to open their eyes and understand what our Constitution has to say about the limited role of federal government. Republicans need to bow to the conservative ideals of the TPP. They don't need to agree with the TPP on exactly how to bring federal government back to its limited role, they only need to accept that it must be done. Our complacency and ignorance allowed federal government to expand; we must be willing to accept it will take much time to restore Rule of Law after all the time we ignored it. I'm only wondering how much patience tyrants will have in this country...

Posted July 31, 2010 at 2:21:38 PM

Jimmy D

I'll even listen to Peggy Noonan if she's talking about Chris Christie. Though Steve Hendrick says it best, still...Good for her in writing this fine piece.

Christie has said some things lately

about "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" that are a concern to those wanting REAL Comprehensive Immigration Law Enforcement.

Short of that he's the golden man in my book.

He is honest and tells us that he will not consider national office. YET. We should believe him. But if anyone needs the spotlight in these re-formative times, Governor Christie is it.

Give him the Keynote at the Republican Convention. Let America compare what he brings to the table to the phony splash Obama made in '06. But don't wait till then to give him voice in all of our United States.

What he is doing in New Jersey is what we must do nationally. And thank God that someone is showing us that it CAN be done!

What I want...

...term limits and a DOJ determined to put a bi-partisan fear of God in Politicians of every stripe.

...a balanced budget ammendment.

...mean nasty ugly prohibitive fines for hiring illegals, with a lucrative bounty system for turning in the cheats. Hey, spare the treasury. Maybe just a three year Green Card would work wonders!

...the UN out of NYC and the founding of a Union of Free Nations.

...a congress dedicated to repealing all laws the offend our Constitution, limit our freedoms, choke our economy and threaten our national security.

...a Public Common free of filth. As you will in private friend, but where my children travel you need to put it away and zip it, thank you. This needs to include the so-called education system.

...a military fit for warfare. May our enemies die in fear. Let nations build themselves.

...a fully resourced industrial base here in America, and within the borders of our actual allies.

... a national determination that Communism and Islamism and all ideologies aimed at the end of freedom must suffer first the intent they offer others. To have freedom we must limit the freedom of slavers. It is not a contradiction.

Posted July 31, 2010 at 8:07:24 PM

Caseace

For too long Republicans have have looked like 'Democrat lite' or 'Us too but not as much as them' politicians. What fiscal Conseverative was not disappointed in Bush's rampant spending and kowtowing to those across the aisle in the spirit of cooperation on the Prescription Drug Act, No Child Left Behind and his attempt at Amnesty etc.? What the Tea Party embodies at its core is simply an adherence to the Constitution. There is not a problem this country faces that would not be solved using that reference. They realize it won't be done over night, but they also see their country slipping away and fear that it is now or never.

Posted July 31, 2010 at 8:29:00 PM

Blair H.

I understand the point Ms. Noonan is trying to make, but it is one thing to have a Republican governor in place with the power of the executive, and another hing to have to work through Dem majorities in both houses and the WH. The Tea Parties are just as tired of Republicans In Name Only as they are of the Dems. Maybe the Tea Party momentum does eventually fade, but if it succeeds in bring the Republicans back to real conservatism, particularly FISCAL conservatism, then I'm ALL for it.

The Department of "Homeland Security," created under a Republican administration, is just the sort of boondoggle we didn't need. And just because the Department of Education has been around a while doesn't mean it doesn't need to go. Also, fear-mongering over the fate of Social Security is just a smoke-screen so that politicians can keep robbing from SS taxes and then blame someone else when it finally becomes insolvent (sooner than you think).

No, Ms. Noonan, if the Tea Party is doing anything, it is reminding one party of its roots and nudging back in that direction. As for the other party, I think they have made such a mess of things that they can't garner too much credibility by just saying "look at the crazies over there, don't look at the utter mess we made and did it on purpose so we could 'remake America.'"

Posted July 31, 2010 at 8:53:20 PM

enemaofthestatistquo

Ms.Noonan quoted a ? to Gov.Christie on MORNING JOE "What about the argument that in a recession we need stimulus spending?" GovC's answer "It's dead wrong. More spending with what? The federal government continuing to print more and more money and leaving that debt for our kids? It will only grind the economy down further." He's correct, which brings to mind that CherylGascone of FoxBN was on O'Reilly 7/26 w/JuanWilliams host. She mentioned in the interview that for the 1st time in awhile that personal savings are UP in US. To which JWilliams said it was not an effective way to stimulate the economy for money to be saved rather than spent! Au Contrare, I believe the PEOPLE have taken it upon themselves to show the way out of the recession, a self-correction from the bottom UP. Despite double-digit UNemployment,& a volatile stockmarket, PEOPLE are adjusting personal budgets to within their means, to put money for a modest sure basic savings % return at the disposal of investors, banks, etc. for loans to small biz, to acquire capital assets, create jobs,&bypassing TARP.

Posted July 31, 2010 at 11:20:46 PM

tmatt

I have no quarrel with the Tea Party Members, they have every right to express their opinions, however failure is possible by division. I see the problem as ‘term limits’. It is in the human race that power is addictive.

I would urge Tea Party Members and all those dissatisfied with the current situation in the political arena to address the problem as follows:

Vote against the incumbent ‘regardless of party’. This will bring about term limitation (dumping the deep rooted professional politicians) it will remove from office those who by virtue of time forget what they were elected for and possibly even invert the current status of conditions. I acknowledge some current office holders do not deserve this blanket treatment but it will never happen any other way.

I repeat our problem is ‘Term Limits’.

Posted August 2, 2010 at 9:15:11 PM

Dean DaCosta

Voting against the incumbent regardless of record or party is just as foolhardy as voting along party lines.

People need to pay attention to all the details. Vote for the person who exhibits the qualities and has the record that best adheres to your beliefs regardless of party, gender, race or fundraising ability.

Posted August 3, 2010 at 10:46:42 AM

Rob Risko

tmatt - I think Mr. DaCosta is correct in this instance. Were Congress filled with an abundance of Constitutional Conservatives, would we wish that they were term limited? You say so yourself, there may be a handful that should not be thrown out. I suspect that is because they are the only voices of reason in the current Congress! Vote out all the Democrat incumbents and risk replacing them with less qualified and more silly candidates? At the same time you will vote out the Republican incumbents with the same risk in their replacements?

Ms. (or is it Mrs?) Noonan strikes an important point despite her own political leanings. PRESIDENT Ronald Reagan was gentlemanly and firm. He was also positive in communicating great things. We must hear the villainy of the current administration, but we must recognize the next President by his respectability for the office, which includes truth-telling and positive leadership that rallies this country up to man's age-old dream. Constitutional conservatism is not extreme. It is wise, thoughtful, principled, and consistent. It is a position that advocates respect for individual liberty AND condemnation for evil at the same time; is it a wonder that I really miss President Reagan. Conservatism even embraces radical ideas but for the right reasons: care for the environment because we are called by our Creator to be stewards of that environment in a balanced way that preserves respect, first and foremost, for those created in His image.

Let’s commit to being truth-tellers; wise, thoughtful, principled, and consistent—and YES, passionate!

Posted August 3, 2010 at 3:36:46 PM

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