The politics of resentment
by Tom Sullivan
At Salon, Jim Newell suggests that although Gov. Scott Walker holds a front-runnerish status in the GOP's 2016 presidential field that may not last, he is still a credible candidate. "Notwithstanding the concern that he has the charisma of a nightstand," Newell adds.
But he cautions critics to avoid attacking Walker for his lack of a college degree. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean gave Newell the opening by questioning Walker's academic credentials on Thursday's "Morning Joe." That exchange did not go so well for the former DNC chair, making him look in Newell's estimation like a "snooty liberal snob jerk."
It's not a particularly trenchant observation, but the fact that the iconically liberal Vermonter took a swing at Walker's education and whiffed ought to discourage others on the left from having a go at it. Democrats have enough ground to make up among the white, working class without compounding the problem by sneering at the non-degreed.
Leave attacking people's education to Walker. He's a professional. His plan to slash $300 million from the University of Wisconsin's budget is playing to his base:
But to his critics, Mr. Walker, in both his proposed cuts and in the discussion that arose over the Wisconsin Idea, is trying to capitalize on a view that is popular among many conservatives: that state universities have become elite bastions of liberal academics that do not prepare students for work and are a burden on taxpayers.
“This is a budget that serves Scott Walker for president, and it doesn’t serve Wisconsin,” said Jon Erpenbach, a Democratic state senator. “He’s trying to appeal to the most conservative of conservatives, the Republican voters in early-polling states. And there’s 5.5 million people back home saying, ‘Wait a minute.’ ”
The politics of resentment is an art as fine as winemaking on the right. Liberals don't do it well and shouldn't try.