Kristi Noem: A First Take

Kristi Noem

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem made her national debut on Saturday as she gave a speech at CPAC 2021. 

A libertarian friend wrote me and said, "Noem is, of course, better than the typical Republican...But Republican politicians always disappoint. Always. It doesn't matter what they say at conferences like CPAC. They always turn out to be mostly bad...Any thoughts?"

So here goes. Here is my take.

In some ways, it was an impressive speech. 

She has a good speechwriter. I was most impressed when she took on cancel culture warriors and their attempt to cancel the founding fathers: 

Across America these last several months, we watched an organized, coordinated campaign to remove and eliminate all references to our nation’s founding and many other parts of our history...

By discrediting the individuals who formed America’s founding principles, they create doubt, and then they can remake America into a very different political image. It is our job to help explain why this is wrong...

Our founders had their flaws, certainly. But to use those flaws to condemn their ideals... is both unjust and it’s self-defeating. How many of us can even live up to our own ideals? Without the words, the beliefs and the sacrifices of those few, the world would not have a ringing example of true freedom. To attempt to cancel the founding generation is an attempt to cancel our own freedoms. Let’s always remember, America is good. Freedom is better than tyranny. We are unique. We are exceptional, and no American should ever, ever apologize for that.

Outside of Rand Paul, I can't think of another politician who would make such a strong case.

But my correspondent is correct, politicians always disappoint.

There was one tell in her speech that hints she may be part of the neo-conservative camp when it comes to foreign policy. She made clear that she sees problems with China and that the United States must take a global leadership role, apparently including against China (my bold):

These days, too many are embracing China, a nation that crushes freedom of speech and religion. China literally places religious minorities in internment camps. China responded to the COVID virus by trying to cover it up. And one of their mitigation strategies was to weld doors shut to lock families in their homes. Friends of China are not friends of freedom. Make no mistake, America’s leadership is needed in the world. So now let’s have a really candid conversation. Everyone in this room and those listening at home, they know that America needs leaders right now. Those leaders need wisdom. They need the confidence to stand up for our principles and a will to act. Those leaders need to be conservative.

This is a very big red flag.

After hailing the founding fathers and even mentioning Geroge Washington by name, the paragraph above shows she does not grasp or chooses to ignore Washington's advice in his farewell address to avoid foreign entanglements.

So Noem may just be another politician with freedom rhetoric that is just itching to go to war.

It is early so I don't want to form a hard opinion yet but, at this early stage, she doesn't sound solid from a libertarian perspective when it comes to foreign affairs. That is a big problem. It means when it comes to war she may be in alignment with the deep state. Let's see how many other deviations from libertarian foundations she signals and how many deviations she isn't talking about openly but that she would be willing to make to gain the four-year throne. The key to get a complete sense, of who she is, will be to see who she has as advisers around her and who supports her, but I am not optimistic at this point. 

-RW