MSNBC Anchor Helpfully Defines 'Elitism'

Media personalities say the darnedest things sometimes! Like MSNBC's Contessa Brewer, who helpfully defined elitism this afternoon as basically A). being well educated, B). being successful, and C). insisting on that counting for something.

[WATCH.]

BREWER: Even a hard scrabble childhood does not guarantee you're not an elitist. All it takes is a scholarship to college, graduate with a degree and go on and get a good job and start making a good salary and the choice is up to you: do you stay real to your roots or become a big old snob?

CHRIS CILLIZZA: Oh! Tut tut! Tee hee hee!

JULIE MASON: Ah! Titter titter titter! Siiiiigh. It's true what you say.

Really? We're going to hear about this crap from a woman named Contessa?

Comments

[blaqntelligence]

As my fellow posters so eloquently put it: I want, no I demand, my president to be elite.
I don't want them to be just like me.....
Why? Often,I can't balance my own budget, what would I do with this economy?
I have more month than money.....
I am not always diplomatic......
As a nation, we are in a mess that only an extraordinary person will be able to diminish....

[DiogenesII]

At what point in time did we declare that achievement, intellect, excellence and hard work to be a pejorative? What day was it that we declared that competence, inexorably, negates one's capacity for understanding and compassion? Most of us aspire to, irrespective, of vocation, avocation or chosen field of endeavor, seek to fully actualize our full potential. When faced with complex issues and
tasks, we seek the best and brightest to secure the most favorable outcome. I want an elite, garbage man, waitress, electrician, educator, physician, football team and an elite mechanic. I want someone blessed with intellectual curiosity.

I want truth and rectitude. I want subject matter experts.

I do not want some crony whose only qualification is that he or she is the nephew or niece of Uncle "Fred".

We, to our great detriment, have allowed the "elitist" to redefine, by dent of tortured logic, individual and collective competence as scurrilously "un-American"... We've ascribed, falsely, a definition that implies entitlement and nobility, rather than competent people engaged in noble acts, in furtherance of the good for the planet and its inhabitants. This is yet another inane device of distraction and I find myself in need of a shower for having devoted my time on such a pointless non-issue. And we wonder why we've lost so much of our competitive advantage in the world.

Shall we forever be "Stuck on Dumb, Dangling on Stupid"?

I want Meritocracy not Mediocrity. And I want merit to be rewarded.

[littlepuffycloud]

First thing...Is Contessa even a real name?
so...getting a good education and then a good job and being somewhat proud of both make someone elitist? Isn't that part of the American Dream? That would make most parents elitist since that's what we all want for our children.

I want a president who is really really smart. I have plenty of friends with whom I can bowl, drink beer, clear brush, gas up the truck, duck hunt, drink black coffee and buy groceries. I want to smarten up instead of dumbing down. Idiots.

[yoli647]

Imore I agree with you 100%

[lmore]

It absolutely amazes me that this country seems to have such a disregard for those who are intelligent.

We've already had a stupid President that everyone want to have a beer with.... and look at how that's worked out for us.

'Elite' is cream of the crop.... and that's the kind of person that I want to be my President.

[Horst]

You want the best educated, smartest people running your country. , not overweight losers who like varmint hunting.

[nolalily]

Yes, heard from a woman named "Contessa" who has a high-profile, cushy job and undoubtedly has a rather high-profile educational resume.

[CalexenderJ]

Well let's use her own test and apply it to Obama. Hardscrabble childhood? check. scholarship to good schools? check. College degree? check. Now here's the key, did he stay true to his roots or did he become a big old snob? Well he eschewed Wall Street, or a equally lucrative law career (which as the president of the Harvard Law review he certainly could have gotten) to teach the constitution, and be a civil rights attorney on the south side of Chicago. I'd call that staying true to your roots, choosing a career path that would enable him to give the most help to ordinary people. So I guess that means he's not an elitist.

[1question]

I think the next POTUS need to be "elite "and...then some.

I"ve had enough of the lies, distortions, and distractions.

[kira181]

Actually, the anchorwoman was correct in her explanation of "elitism". It is your interpretation that is incorrect.

So, yeah, Jason. I guess you do "have to hear about this crap from a woman named Contessa" because, apparently, no one else has explained it to you.

[ajax2]

I wonder if the young woman has ever opened a dictionary without pictures?

[Rex11]

Elite
(noun)
A group of people considered to be the best in a particular society or category.

I don't know about all the dumb people in this country, but my ma and pa teached me to strive to be the best I can be. 'member them commercials - "Be All You Can Be" in the Army, or "Aim High" in the Air Force?

Who wouldn't want to be considered elite?

If having an education, common sense, intellectual curiosity, goals, a drive to achieve those goals, becoming successful because of that drive, and having hope for the future is being elite, than sign me up. I want that!

I don't know if I would be considered elite, but I sure as hell don't lump myself in with dumb bastards who still think Saddam was responsible for 9/11, think Obama is a Muslim, or voted for Hillary in Indiana.

I suppose Contessa doesn't consider herself part of the elite since she speaks of it in third person.

Aw crap I'm ranting again. Time for my meds.

[Susan60]

Exactly Rex. When did elite become something bad??? Because the GOP and the media told us it was, just like they made Liberal a bad word. Forgive me but if the definition of elite is the best of society and a category, then give me an elite person for President.
I quite frankly am tired of picking a president because I want to have a beer with them. Go into any bar in my town and you will quickly see that the people drinking in there are not the kind of people we want running the country. How many bar seats do you think Bush indented with his butt? Many is my guess.

[Rex11]

She's silly, caddy, and says the stupidest things about the most serious of matters. Somebody please take this empty headed reader off the news and put her on The View with the other caddy girls.

[ChicagoDMT]

Contessa is staying true to her roots! Girls with looks don't need no books. I hope she gets elected Ms. Congeniality.

[Grannysue]

To quote Billary, "God bless the rich", that's about as elitest as it gets.

[IslandGyal]

What she said is true.

[paganmist]

She'd do much better in porn where she doesn't have to actually talk.

[Mark01]

Its funny with these MSNBC idiots...I saw one this morning who tried to be a smart ass to Adam Smith I think one of Obama's Superdelegates...she asked him why Obama had not been able to win any primaries since the one in MS. The Congress man started laughing and quickly pointed out that there had only been 1 primary in PA after MS which was favored for Clinton.
She looked pretty stupid after that.

[lizinatl]

...somebody bring me my Webster's please....just words, but....ELITISM: entitlement, rule, control, dominant...hmmmm, sounds more like the Clinton History .....but, get this ------ ALL POLITICIANS....

[Myshkin57]

The problem with this country is that there are too many educated people! Down with the educated elitists!!! Be a real person and do not try to better yourself!!!

[cliffdvr]

Well, "some people say" that this would mean that this country would rather it be run by a moron, but ...

Hey, wait!

[GravitonX]

Mediocrity praised. The Ignorant exalted. Excellence scorned. The Noble debased. The tragic poem of the Rise and Fall of the United States of America.

[Hare]

The overweight lady laughter was so worked, they know what they say is caca but they have to pretend and be fake...how elitist!!!!

[aquarius2001]

The message that is going out to kids is ...getting a college education, good job, and being successful is Baaaaaaaaadd!!!

I wish they would stop with this CRAP!

[America08]

These people kill me. When people talk too much they start to say stupid things.