I have been engaging a freeper in another thread who is of the opinion that Sarah Palin is a populist who has “done damage to her intellectual reputation” by being populist.
In particular, the user was concerned with the way she came across to independents on the “interview programs”
I don’t see why using populist rhetoric is inherently bad. By all accounts, she backs up her rhetoric by taking concrete stands on most subjects and not falling into rhetoric that must be parsed out.
I have watched most interviews she has done (including Couric, Gibson and Walters, though why she would even agree to those of her own free will, I don’t know) and I think she comes across fine.
If anyone wants to see how Sarah Palin comes across when the dumbass interviewer isn’t openly hostile, see a part of her 45 minute interview here at http://www.howobamagotelected.com/sarah-palin-unplugged-on-the-media.asp
There is a difference between being non-hostile and throwing softballs.
She’s populist without being classist.