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Palin Channels Ahmadinejad

Her self-presentation, politics, and biography are like his

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 3, 2009 9:13 AM CDT

(Newser) – Sarah Palin and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have their differences—but their images, politics, and even life stories show significant overlap, writes Juan Cole for Salon. Both are former governors of “frontier states,” both drum up support through “wounded nationalism,” and both battle foreign influence. “Above all,” however, “both are populists who claim to represent the little people against wily and unscrupulous elites.”

Both politicians call themselves mavericks in their ordinariness. Palin says she’s “not a member of the permanent political establishment”; Ahmadinejad says he’s not inside the longstanding Iranian “power circle.” Both see media criticism as stemming from an “elite conspiracy,” a hallmark of potentially dangerous “right-wing populism,” which can ignore the facts and stifle dissent. But while Palin’s looking like a possible president, Cole concludes, “at least Iranians only got Ahmadinejad because of rigged elections.”

In this Sunday, July 26, 2009, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gives her resignation speech in Fairbanks, Alaska.
In this Sunday, July 26, 2009, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gives her resignation speech in Fairbanks, Alaska.   (AP Photo/Al Grillo)
In this photo released by the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivers a speech Thursday, July 16, 2009.
In this photo released by the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivers a speech Thursday, July 16, 2009.   (AP Photo/ISNA, Saman Aghvami)
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks during the Republican Governors Association conference November 13, 2008 in Miami, Florida.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks during the Republican Governors Association conference November 13, 2008 in Miami, Florida.   (Getty Images)
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Right-wing populism is centered on a theory of media conspiracy, a "my country right or wrong" chauvinism, a fascination with an armed citizenry, a willingness to declare political opponents mere terrorists. - Juan Cole

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 23 comments
lindamae
Aug 4, 2009 5:01 AM CDT
Ho, hum. Consider the source.
Shannonals
Aug 4, 2009 3:42 AM CDT
Strange comment there DeniseVB, as if Presidents worldwide don't sit down with countries they consider, "evil". Seriously, do you think the United States has just been sitting and talking with countries that are on the, "good" list?
MeMayer
Aug 3, 2009 10:16 AM CDT
Maybe she'll grow a beard?

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