The Iron Lady

“The Washington Post-ABC poll just out produced an extraordinary 57% disapproval of the economic stewardship of Barack Obama, whose life goal seems to be to reverse the policies of 1980-2000.” [emphasis added]

--Daniel Henninger, Wall Steet Journal

Margaret Thatcher ruled Britain from 1979 to 1990, leading her Conservative Party through three election victories.

I have seen the odd movie, “Iron Lady.” Do you think race hurt Obama’s election prospects more than it helped? Me neither. Thatcher became Britain’s leader in part because she was a woman and because she was a grocer’s daughter.

Still, as I have suggested and as we all know, Thatcher was bigger than “woman prime minister.” She was a transformative, revolutionary political leader, big enough to stand right alongside the transformative, revolutionary Ronald Reagan. The two were larger than the sum of their parts. Thatcher-Reagan. Roosevelt-Churchill. Dominant English-speaking duos of the 20th Century.

Millions in Britain still hate Thatcher for the way she transformed their country, much as Obama and millions of others quietly curse Reagan for the changes he brought America. The British left is very important to the world of Meryl Streep and her team, who correctly viewed a Streep portrayal of Thatcher as a pretty direct path to an Oscar. So how to handle the Thatcher story in a way that doesn’t alienate the left?

First, dwell on Thatcher’s dementia, not her strong leadership. Streep’s convincing portrayal of Thatcher in advanced decline really is Oscar-winning acting, a brilliant—and wonderfully pro-left—move from Streep and her team. At the same time, there is just enough of Thatcher in her youth and prime to keep the story interesting (of course a much better movie would have focused on what Thatcher called “the Downing Street years.”)

Second, deflect leftist criticism by playing up (in interviews, not in the movie) Thatcher’s less-than-conservative side. From Jen Vineyard’s story on the movie, carried in “Indywire” (Canada):

Streep pointed out, Thatcher was a fiscal conservative, not a social one. "She was pro-choice, she was an early proponent of global warming, and she had no beef against personal lives, homosexuality," the actress said. "She would have been drummed out of the conservative party in America."

Third, defame conservative powerhouse Maggie as a less-than-adequate mother. Virginia Postrel, in “Bloomberg,” calls the “Iron Lady” movie:

the Gospel According to Anna Quindlen, the [New York Times] writer and columnist who enshrined [her gospel’s] maxims in . . . the best-selling book A Short Guide to a Happy Life. “No man ever said on his deathbed I wish I had spent more time in the office,” she instructed. “Don’t ever forget the words my father sent me on a postcard last year: ‘If you win the rat race, you’re still a rat.’” The film presents Thatcher as just such a rat -- a woman who too zealously pursued public achievement and spent way too much time at the office.

1-2-3. Hollywood reduces Thatcher to a sad old lady who alienated the people she most cared for, and who Streep tells us was a closet liberal to boot.

Here’s a taste of the real Margaret Thatcher, from a 1979 campaign speech:

The Old Testament prophets did not say “Brothers, I want a consensus.” They said, “This is my faith; this is what I passionately believe; if you believe it too, then come with me."

With that passion and drive, Thatcher between 1979 and 1987 reduced the number of British civil servants by 22.5% (732,000 to 567,000). That's a career-justifying accomplishment.