Populist or demagogue?

Hmmm. Seems as though even some dictionary definitions are rigged against populists!

demagogue
Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
dem·a·gogue also dem·a·gog (dĕm′ə-gôg′, -gŏg′ )
n.

1. A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace.

2. A leader of the common people in ancient times.

tr.v. dem·a·gogued, dem·a·gogu·ing, dem·a·gogues also dem·a·goged or dem·a·go·ging or dem·a·goges
Usage Problem To speak about (an issue, for example) in the manner of a demagogue.
[Greek dēmagōgos, popular leader : dēmos, people; see dā- in Indo-European roots + agōgos, leading (from agein, to lead; see ag- in Indo-European roots).]

Usage Note: Even though demagogue has been used as a verb meaning "to speak about something in the manner of a demagogue" since the 1600s, the verb has kept a low profile in the language. Recently, however, it has become a favorite of newspaper columnists. The Usage Panel does not view the verb with much favor in either its transitive or intransitive use. In our 1997 survey, 94 percent rejected it in the sentence Clinton will demagogue Medicare, unwilling to acknowledge that fundamental reforms need to be made in the system. A similar percentage rejected an example in which a representative can demagogue about price-fixing. Perhaps this resistance should not be surprising, since the use of familiar nouns as verbs is often the subject of complaints

populist
Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
pop·u·list (pŏp′yə-lĭst)
n.
1. A supporter of the rights and power of the people.

2. Populist A supporter of the Populist Party.

n
1. (Historical Terms) history US a member of the People's Party, formed largely by agrarian interests to contest the 1892 presidential election. The movement gradually dissolved after the 1904 election
adj

2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) of, characteristic of, or relating to the People's Party, the Populists, or any individual or movement with similar aims

3. (Historical Terms) of, characteristic of, or relating to the People's Party, the Populists, or any individual or movement with similar aims
ˈPopulism npopulist (ˈpɒpjʊlɪst)

adj
1. appealing to the interests or prejudices of ordinary people
n
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a person, esp a politician, who appeals to the interests or prejudices of ordinary people

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003