Ayn Rand’s Revenge (Rand, Republicans, Tea Parties, Etc. Per the New York Times)

New York Times ^ | November 1, 2009 | ADAM KIRSCH

[nickcarraway]

AYN RAND AND THE WORLD SHE MADE
By Anne C. Heller
Illustrated. 567 pp. Nan A. Talese/Doubleday. $35

A specter is haunting the Republican Party — the specter of John Galt. In Ayn Rand’s libertarian epic “Atlas Shrugged,” Galt, an inventor disgusted by creeping American collectivism, leads the country’s capitalists on a retributive strike. “We have granted you everything you demanded of us, we who had always been the givers, but have only now understood it,” Galt lectures the “looters” and “moochers” who make up the populace. “We have no demands to present you, no terms to bargain about, no compromise to reach. You have nothing to offer us. We do not need you.”

“Atlas Shrugged” was published 52 years ago, but in the Obama era, Rand’s angry message is more resonant than ever before. Sales of the book have reportedly spiked. At “tea parties” and other conservative protests, alongside the Obama-as-Joker signs, you will find placards reading “Atlas Shrugs” and “Ayn Rand Was Right.” Not long after the inauguration, as right-wing pundits like Glenn Beck were invoking Rand and issuing warnings of incipient socialism, Representative John Campbell, Republican of California, told a reporter that the prospect of rising taxes and government regulation meant “people are starting to feel like we’re living through the scenario that happened in ‘Atlas Shrugged.’ ”

Rand’s style of vehement individualism has never been universally popular among conservatives — back in 1957, Whittaker Chambers denounced the “wickedness” of “Atlas Shrugged” in National Review — and Rand still has her critics on the right today.

[Rapscallion]

“You have nothing to offer us. We do not need you.” RINOS, take heed...

We want our country back.....we are preparing to take it back, now that it is clear where you are going.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Exactly. This is the kick in the pants we’ve needed. And I’ve lived through Carter and Clinton. They have NOTHING on the current Socialist in Chief.

[sig226]

For if there is one thing Rand’s life shows, it is the power, and peril, of unjustified self-esteem.

this makes me wonder if the author of the review ever actually read any of rand's books. i think the answer will be a convoluted lie, ending in an admission of skimming the cliff's notes for a few minutes prior to writing the review.

[Publius]

He certainly wasn’t a member of our book club.

[Redbob]

"Rand’s style of vehement individualism has never been universally popular among conservatives — back in 1957, Whittaker Chambers denounced the “wickedness” of “Atlas Shrugged” in National Review..."

Whittaker Chambers was never most folks' idea of a "Conservative."

[Redbob]

"Rand’s style of vehement individualism has never been universally popular among conservatives — back in 1957, Whittaker Chambers denounced the “wickedness” of “Atlas Shrugged” in National Review..."

Whittaker Chambers was never most folks' idea of a "Conservative."

[Redbob]

"Rand’s style of vehement individualism has never been universally popular among conservatives — back in 1957, Whittaker Chambers denounced the “wickedness” of “Atlas Shrugged” in National Review..."

Whittaker Chambers was never most folks' idea of a "Conservative."

[Redbob]

"Rand’s style of vehement individualism has never been universally popular among conservatives — back in 1957, Whittaker Chambers denounced the “wickedness” of “Atlas Shrugged” in National Review..."

Whittaker Chambers was never most folks' idea of a "Conservative."

[Kozak]

"A Specter is haunting the Republican Party"

His haunt is now across the aisle..

[Clinging Bitterly]

So long as the GOP is willing to embrace and run on them (as it did in 1993 and 1994).

And this time, it would be nice if they governed on those principles too.

[gogogodzilla]

Ah, here is a good example of “attack the messenger and not the message”.

[tanknetter]

And this time, it would be nice if they governed on those principles too.

The GOP did pretty well back in the mid-1990s. Considering that Clinton was in the WH and getting a veto-proof majority was incredibly difficult. The GOP had really lost its way by the time Bush became President, but was still able to run through the tax cuts.

[elkfersupper]

I blame this on the libertarians and Ayn Rand. LICE, I call them. (Libertarians Infiltrating Conservative Entities).

As a proud louse (singular of lice), I'll see you on the battlefield.

Don't ask to share my food or arms.

[GBA]

Kirsch is beyond clueless. He writes like someone who describing a NASCAR race but has never seen one. So many, many words and all BS.

[Larry Lucido]

Agreed.

[elkfersupper]

You are a wise man, my FRiend.

[Libertarian444]

This is an incredibly ignorant and condescending article about Rand.

Of course it is.   The New York Times wouldn't have published it if it wasn't.

[elkfersupper]

If everyone here is so conservative, why worship the writing of a woman who was a pro abortion atheist?

You forgot pedophile.

The answer - because she was right.

[elkfersupper]

Bump for a fellow Jeffersonian liberal.

[elkfersupper]

Ayn Rand is one of the worst things to ever happen to this nation.

How do you feel about Jimmy Carter and B. H. Obama?