Am I the Only One?
Am I the only one who objects to the McCain/Palin use of the word "Federalist" when talking about states rights issues - like they constantly repeat in the Roe v. Wade conversations? In the Couric interview last night she said she thinks it's a state issue, because "I'm a Federalist." This echoes a November 19,2006 interview McCain had on This Week with George Stephanopolis when he also said he favored decisions being made at the state level "Because I'm a Federalist."
Clearly Palin has been watching and mimicking McCain's earlier performances, but nobody has told her his use of the word was wrong then and it's wrong now. A Federalist by definition advocates a strong federal system with a strong central government, not one with emphasis on state decision-making.
Further treatment is on BC Politics in an article by Brad Schrader datelined November 21,2006.
You would think that at least one person on their staff would be literate and be alert at the same time, but it merely shows again that the McCain campaign structure is unfocused and weak.
Clearly Palin has been watching and mimicking McCain's earlier performances, but nobody has told her his use of the word was wrong then and it's wrong now. A Federalist by definition advocates a strong federal system with a strong central government, not one with emphasis on state decision-making.
Further treatment is on BC Politics in an article by Brad Schrader datelined November 21,2006.
You would think that at least one person on their staff would be literate and be alert at the same time, but it merely shows again that the McCain campaign structure is unfocused and weak.
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They know what they are saying, but not what the greater ramifications of the term are (no surprise).
Irony not being their strong suit, the Federalist Society is a conservative/libertarian outfit, that has on its web site a "Conservative & Libertarian Legal Scholarship: Annotated Bibliography", (no bibliography for the thousands of liberal-government works) as well as a book, (only one title at the store), "Originalism".
October 2, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, Mike. At the time of the founding fathers, "federalists" argued against those who favored a league of independent nation-states. Federalists said that fledgling America would be stronger with a centralized government, but one that allowed the states to retain autonomy. Federalists advocated for stronger federal government.
Today, on the other hand, federalists focus on the other side of the promise: a federal government that nevertheless allows individual states to retain the bulk of governing authority and autonomy. Today's federalists point out that the federal government has broken the promise made to the states 200+ years ago, and has stripped states of autonomy. It's the same philosophical position that federalists have always held, but because the context has changed, it almost appears that the beliefs have changed. Federalism has always advocated for a limited role for a federal government. 200 years ago, there was too little federal government; now, they believe there is too much.
October 2, 2008 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is a better way to explain the distinction between modern "federalists" and the original meaning of the term, but it still falls short of how the Federalist Society sees it.
They think the real federalists amongst the founders were the ones that screwed up, there should have never been a strong and stable federal government except for how it serves the states.
They have claimed the term because it has it roots in the founding of the country and sounds like it means something.
October 2, 2008 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're wrong. "Federalist" has long been standard usage meaning a "state's rights" conservative.
More here:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/10/is-palin-a-federalist.php
I think people complaining about this usage of "Federalist" being wrong are actually revealing themselves as newbies to the political scene, as if they only began paying attention recently and have been in a coma since the Robert Bork confirmation hearings through 2007. A Federalist is a state's rights conservative, it's standard usage in political journalism for quite some time.
October 2, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a little harsh and personal, artappraiser. We should be more welcoming to those who are recent converts to online political discussions. You were new once too. And I'm sure you haven't always been as bright and informed as you are today.
October 2, 2008 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
From a quick google, from American Bar Association Journal:
http://abajournal.com/news/justices_help_federalist_society_celebrate_25_years/
October 2, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just because they use the word incorrectly and are trying to claim kinship to a philosophy they clearly don't understand, doesn't mean we should entertain their absurdity.
This idiot society aside, the original meaning of the term federalist is one who advocates for a strong federal government.
Palin, McCain, the Federalists Society and you are wrong.
October 2, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's standard usage.
The first 4 hits from google for
McCain + Federalist
October 2, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
October 2, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, if you don't understand what it means when someone like Sarah Palin uses it, you're at a significant handicap interpreting what's going on in politics in this country. That meaning packs a wallop, and it's one that's real clear to most people involved in politics. It means that they are going to support appointing conservative judges with an "original intent" reading of the Constitution, including "states rights," and is a clear statement against another one of the right's bogeymen, "activist judges." Saying you are a Federalist gets conservatives to the polls to vote for you.
October 2, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't get me wrong, it's quite possible she doesn't fully understand what it means, and that she was only fed it as a talking point she was supposed to remember to say by McCain's tutors. But in no way could it be a mistake, from from it, it's a dog whistle, it's the part of McCain's beliefs that are most attractive to the right-wing base. All of his statements on what kind of judges he would appoint and his Senate voting record on judiciary matters are in line with the Federalist Society, he's a believer.
October 2, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about they call themselves "fedheads"? Has a better ring to it.
October 2, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink