Andrew Sullivan on BBC Radio 4: Palin Represents 'An America That Is Definitionally White'
"Sarah Palin represents an America this is absolutely, definitionally white, that's very much rural America."
That's how The Atlantic's Andrew Sullivan summed up the former Alaska governor in his appearance on the November 7 BBC Radio 4 "Americana" program.
Echoing Peter Jennings' infamous description of the 1994 midterms, the liberal British-born blogger added of 2010 voters that they had "had a panic, a tantrum."
For his part, Washington-based "Americana" host Matt Frei reinforced Sullivan's analysis, labeling Palin the "Evita of the North" and generally failed to question Sullivan's analysis.
"Despite all the kind of hullabaloo about the Tea Party, and they did have a very energetic campaign, and we were all fascinated by them, they didn't do that well, not as well as they thought they would," Frei helpfully offered Sullivan. The Atlantic blogger agreed, adding, "Without [the Tea Party candidates] the Republicans would have won the Senate. I think that's quite clear."
Sullivan rebuked both liberals and conservatives for having "misjudged" Obama.
"The Left wanted him to be this iconic transformational figure, and the right needed a bogeyman, so, he's stuck in the middle," Sullivan protested.
Of course in doing so, Sullivan completely neglected the fact that Obama and his campaign surrogates sold the then-candidateto the 2008 electorate as precisely an "iconic transformational figure" and that conservatives have legitimate grievances over his policies, such as ObamaCare and stimulus spending.
Sullivan, however, did predict a silver lining to the midterm shellacking that Obama and the Democrats suffered:
I happen to think that in the long run, the middle will work, and the more tempestuous American politics becomes -- especially when it's gridlocked -- the more people seek some sort of calm guy in the middle of it all.
Perhaps Sullivan thinks an Obama figure is needed for America's long-term decline, which he also predicted:
MATT FREI: Do you think the American people are aware of the power of India and China and what this could mean to the supremacy of this country?
ANDREW SULLIVAN: I think they are at a nervous, subliminal level. I don't think they've really faced up to it and addressed it, which is hence this, what I would call almost neurosis about continuing to say America is number one when America may not be number one anymore. I'm just not sure that this isn't cyclical, this isn't the new normal, this isn't the recessionary economy we're always going to live in and that's a hard thing for Americans to adjust to. They do not want to ackowledge that their elevator up has stalled.
- Ken Shepherd's blog
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Comments
Simply amazing!
Submitted by Red Jeep on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 1:09pm.
I don't think there has ever been a person on earth that just by being alive generates as many daily stories as Sarah Palin, who is not running for office or seeking publicity. Astounding.
Whatever Andrew Sullivan has to say about anything.....who cares?
Palin
Submitted by troglodyt on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 1:15pm.
not seeking publicity? Please...
Palin can post the time of
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 6:14pm.
Palin can post the time of day on here blog and the LSM would make something of it. Palin is outspoken and she attracts publicity but does not seek it.
That is splitting hairs.
Submitted by troglodyt on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 7:23pm.
That is splitting hairs. Appearing on "Dancing with the Stars" is seeking publicity.
Barracuda Palin appeared on
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 8:24pm.
Barracuda Palin appeared on DWTS?
Yes
Submitted by troglodyt on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 8:31pm.
To her credit: She didn't dance.
Of course it was
Submitted by ckc1227 on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 8:38pm.
"Appearing on "Dancing with the Stars" is seeking publicity."
It was all about publicity. It couldn't possibly have had anything to do with watching her daughter who was/is a contestant.Of course
Submitted by troglodyt on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 8:42pm.
But she was also using that as a pretext for gaining publicity.
Trog are you that stupid?
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 9:09pm.
Trog are you that stupid?
Yes
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 11/10/2010 - 12:23am.
It is.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
No
Submitted by troglodyt on Wed, 11/10/2010 - 6:05am.
Are you blind?
Put up or shut up.
Submitted by Tenebrous on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 7:09pm.
If you have evidence that Palin is purposefully seeking publicity (as opposed to schooling people who trash her, or participating in the political process), you would have a gold mine on your hands. But it is funny that people who think the same thing just can't seem to come up with anything. Come on, man. You know you want to tell the world what only you have discovered -- that is, unless you're holding out for a book offer.
Visions and Principles blog
Fact 1: Every single person
Submitted by Guttermouth's Return on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 7:18pm.
Fact 1: Every single person who has ever, or will ever sign up for a reality show are seeking self publicity in the most narcissistic way.
does that include news shows?
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 8:25pm.
does that include news shows?
Reality shows, not news
Submitted by Guttermouth's Return on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 8:39pm.
Reality shows, not news shows.
I dont remember THE Barracuda
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 9:11pm.
I dont remember THE Barracuda signing up for a reality show? And I consider some of the news shows below teh calibre of a reality show.
Sarah Palin's Alaska? Tell
Submitted by Guttermouth's Return on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 9:14pm.
Sarah Palin's Alaska? Tell me this isn't the first you're hearing of this:
http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/sarah-palin-alaska/
From the link you provided
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Wed, 11/10/2010 - 3:59am.
From the link you provided "Sarah Palin's Alaska is a new documentary series". This is not a reality series, God there is a plague of stupid here. It is a documentary.
It's a reality show. Period.
Submitted by Guttermouth's Return on Wed, 11/10/2010 - 12:51pm.
It's a reality show. Period. You lose. Google Sarah Palin Reality Show and you'll get 1.9 million results.
It's a reality show.
They asked her
Submitted by CobraMan on Wed, 11/10/2010 - 1:15pm.
The producers asked HER to host the show, it wasn't HER invention. So, just how does that equate with HER seeking publicity? She doesn't seek out publicity, others seek HER out because of her popularity. That makes her famous, not narcissistic.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Dammit!
Submitted by Guttermouth's Return on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 9:16pm.
dupe
They're white
Submitted by KC Mulville on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 1:27pm.
Excuse me. What's so wrong about being white? Some of my best friends are white.
yep she is white and so is
Submitted by jkwtrading on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 1:33pm.
yep she is white and so is much of the country.
So???
Submitted by liberalsarefunny on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 1:35pm.
So???
They lost on issues. so they
Submitted by Edhenry on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 1:35pm.
They lost on issues. so they are left with irrelevant race bark.
bark, bark, bark.
Another liberal "man"
Submitted by liberalsarefunny on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 1:36pm.
Another liberal "man" terrified by Sarah....
Not white, but American
Submitted by TheHistorian on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 1:36pm.
Sarah Palin represents an America that puts American before the word African, Hispanic, gay, lesbian, progressive, or many other descriptors. Unfortunately, those who believe they are the descriptor first are offended by Palin.
Those who actually understand that America is in danger from the bigots and politcally correct on the left wholeheartedly support Palin. Yes, I meant bigots, as is those of you who put the descriptors first are BIGOTED against Americans and others who may share their world view. That does NOT include those who put the descriptor as secondary to being an AMERICAN.
And Andrew Sullivan is a perfect example of that about which I am speaking. As is Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson (both Sr and Jr), Rachel Maddow, etc. As the saying goes, if the shoe fits, then wear it.
Dennis Prager
Regressive, Racist Liberals
Submitted by MrShy on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 3:24pm.
And their desire for a white, elitist, "superior class" country.
- American first, Shy second
Join Mr. Shy and The 1* Percent
Hey Shy*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 8:31pm.
"American first, Shy second"
Are you infringing on my post name?
Evil White People!
Submitted by almostacowboy on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 1:40pm.
Now, being white is considered "evil" as is being "rich". Using Liberal logic (an oxymoron if there ever was one), in order to create class warfare, the Lib's would have us all believe that there is a limited amount of wealth and if that person has wealth, they are depriving someone else of wealth. So, it must be the same with "whiteness" - if that person is white, they are depriving someone else of being white. "Those people" took all the white!
I forgot from whom I heard this, but someone once said that the progressives/liberals won't be happy until the entire population of the earth is a consistent "beige" color.
These morons are digging
Submitted by Rowane on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 3:17pm.
These morons are digging their own grave by fomenting racial animosity. If they succeed in starting a race-war do they think their lilly-white asses will be spared the concequences? I'd think they just may be first on the list, as they are the most visible.
You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. (Aaron Tippin)
Why on earth would Frei
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 1:40pm.
Why on earth would Frei question Sullivan's analysis??
To him, Sullivan was merely stating the obvious.
Follow the link and tell the
Submitted by Jack Bauer on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 2:04pm.
Follow the link and tell the BBC and Frei exactly what you think of his choice to talk about America. A drug-taking British homosexual with some weird obsessions...who is clearly MENTALLY deranged.
USE THE CONTACT US LINK
Andrew Sullivan? Are you KIDDING me?
You put a man on air who is gynecologically OBSESSED about Sarah Palin.
A man who is seriously deranged? A man with a thing for Palin's uterus? A man with zero shame who makes a living stating that Sarah Palin is not the mother of her son Trig?
PATHETIC and disgusting and all to typical of Matt Frei'd brain.
All of the above Mr Obama? --- How about ALL OF THE BELOW, instead.
The Left, who hate women,
Submitted by Van Halen on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 2:15pm.
The Left, who hate women, hate Palin because she's been so successful despite their constant disgusting attacks against her. How many Conservative candidates did she bring over the finish line? A bunch! How many Democrats did she send home after putting them on her hit list? Most of them!
Palin is awesome! Go Sarah!
The Left hate women?
Submitted by mandrake on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 2:28pm.
Where do you get the idea that the "left" hate women? I have a wife and three daughters who are leftist. Most of my female friends are leftists..by their standards, I'm a conservative..go figure.
Where do we get the idea?
Submitted by Tenebrous on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 7:05pm.
We get the idea that the left hates America from the left itself.
1) Look at NOW. Do they love women? Apparently they love them so much they supported that scamp Ted Kennedy, through thick and thin, as well as Bill Clinton. Nary a peep about either one of their misdeeds. You see, women are expendable for the political left.
They issued a half-hearted weasel-worded complaint about Moonbeam calling Whitman a "whore". And where have they been on Palin? Oh yeah, sitting in the back, chuckling.
2) The left loves abortion, dressing it up as "choice" (as long as you choose abortion!) and "reproductive freedom" (as long as you choose to have an abortion!). Abortion hurts women emotionally, physically, spiritually, in addition to ending an innocent life. If the left cared about women, they would stop promoting something that hurts women.
3) The left is totally silent about the abuse of women in other countries, specifically Muslim countries. Where are they on women's rights in Iraq? Afghanistan? Do they cheer when women voted in Iraq? Nope. Do they care when women are treated as half a man, executed in "honor killings", or married off at ten? Nope. The left cares so much about women that it can't manage to find the words!
And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Visions and Principles blog
Ok I took the time
Submitted by mandrake on Wed, 11/10/2010 - 8:29pm.
I asked several members of my family and friends (all female and lefties) to read your post . They all agreed with your points. So tell me again why the "letf" hate women when many women lean to the left?
Am I white? Yes, escept for
Submitted by Captain Repus on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 3:51pm.
Am I white? Yes, except for the back of my neck which has a red tint.
Am I a racist? No, I have nothing against any inferior race.
Inferior to whom? Whites?
Submitted by Guttermouth's Return on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 3:56pm.
Inferior to whom? Whites?
OMG, thank you for pointing
Submitted by Captain Repus on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 4:00pm.
OMG, thank you for pointing out my Freudian slip. I think I will go on an apology tour, and maybe even push for reparations. My bad. My so bad.
Okay, now I think you need to
Submitted by Guttermouth's Return on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 4:05pm.
Okay, now I think you need to look up both "inferior" and "Freudian slip."
C'mon DeadOne, lighten up ...
Submitted by Captain Repus on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 4:28pm.
C'mon DeadOne, lighten up ... get a sense of humor
Hey Cap, the inferior comment
Submitted by Guttermouth's Return on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 4:32pm.
Hey Cap, the inferior comment was a bit ugly, but I've got a great sense of humor about most things. No hard feelings. ; )
Great. Now I can get back to
Submitted by Captain Repus on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 4:42pm.
Great. Now I can get back to figuring out what to do about those pesky black folks.
Hahahhaha... Okay, I'll let
Submitted by Guttermouth's Return on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 4:50pm.
Hahahhaha... Okay, I'll let that one slide on humor alone. See ya bud.
Thanks for your opinion andrew.
Submitted by Vic138 on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 3:08pm.
NOT! And now obama represents mainly black america. Why all this focus on race? Maybe Palin represents the middle class? Naw, not inflammatory as race.
America is in decline?
Submitted by MidAmerica on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 3:43pm.
An America in decline is exactly what we were told during the Carter years. The evidence was all around us.
Then came Reagan. And it was morning in America again.
Why is America having such troubles now? GOVERNMENT!!
We could be having a roaring economy ritght now and a happy country but the boot of the government is purposely on our necks. Reagan showed us it was true in 1980 and it is still true today.
But a wealthy and contented country will not accept government intrusion. They have to knock us down so they can 'help' us back up.
Racism and liberals
Submitted by Richard B. on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 4:26pm.
I think that without racism the liberals would not have anything to dicuss. I have never heard Sarah Palin make a racist comment. As far as her representing "white" America, it is about time someone represented white America.
Apparently it's OK for there
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 5:00pm.
Apparently it's OK for there to be a "black America" but not "white America."
Black America is diverse. White America is exclusionary.
No, White America is
Submitted by Guttermouth's Return on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 5:08pm.
No, White America is devolutionary.
Without the teaparty very few
Submitted by eaglewingz08 on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 6:16pm.
Without the teaparty very few republicans or independents would have shown up at the polls. But randy andy knows that. As for Sarah Palin, isn't she part Eskimo or descended from an alaskan tribe through a grandparent? Damn that Sarah Palin, her 'white america' includes native americans as "white" thereby ruining the bigoted memes of libtard marxists like randy andy. Damn that Sarah Palin cause her 'white america' includes Indian Americans Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindel, and Tom Scott and Allen West, J.C. Watts, Marco Rubio, Thomas Sowell, and the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr, among many others. How dare she caucasianize those minorities by turning them into her 'white america'. Who does she think she is? Michael Jackson?
Funny how it is the democrat voter who refuses to vote for african americans and minorities nominated by republicans, but they are never labeled as racists or bigots for doing so.
Andrew Suggests...
Submitted by Tenebrous on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 7:11pm.
...that what we really need is a benevolent dictator, once again exposing his ignorance of the American soul. That's what you want, Andrew, because you do not understand liberty. You want to be a slave.
Visions and Principles blog
Andrew represents
Submitted by arnonerik on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 11:21pm.
Andrew Sullivan represents an America that is definitely homosexual but we already knew that so what's the point? Anybody who looks a Sarah Palin would assume she was white. Perhaps Andrew is trying to imply that Sarah and the people who like her are racists. That's an empty charge since she endorsed black candidates who ran in predominately white districts. (West won cause he is the better man). I think Andrews mind has been poisoned by his personal habits.