It Takes Real Chutzpah for a Guy Who Owns Eight Houses (McCain) to Call Barack Obama an "Elitist"

McCain doesn't lack "chutzpah." Yesterday his campaign actually accused Barack Obama of being an "elitist" for saying that it's not surprising that people in small Midwestern towns are bitter after seeing their standard of living systematically destroyed over the last three decades.

Damn right they're bitter; they have good reasons to be. And most of those reasons are the economic and trade policies that have -- and continue to be -- championed by George Bush and John McCain.

The McCain campaign is managed by a cadre of Washington-insider special interest lobbyists. He and his current wife are estimated to be worth about $100 million. He reportedly owns eight houses. His let-them-eat-cake economic policies are based on George Bush's failed radical conservative "you're on your own buddy" philosophy. One after another he supported trade agreements that protect the rights of corporations, but ignore the rights of labor, and have devastated one Pennsylvania community after another. He gets most of his campaign cash from the wealthiest corporate interests around. And he has the gall to call Barack Obama an "elitist"?

This is the same Barack Obama who spent years of his life organizing out-of-work steelworkers on the south side of Chicago -- people just like those who live in Allentown or Erie or Pittsburgh or the Monongehela Valley in western Pennsylvania. He stood shoulder to shoulder with them, sat at their kitchen tables, spent hours in their church basements.

He didn't do those things as a famous candidate, but as a community organizer being paid $8,000 a year by a coalition of churches. You don't build a resume or a client list organizing unemployed steel workers. You do it because you respect the people and you care about justice.

In fact, the trademark of Barack Obama's campaign for president is the honest, respectful way he talks to everyone -- and stands up for everyday Americans.

If you want to talk about patronizing, or "elitism", you need look no farther than the way Bush and McCain attempt to use fear and division to divert the attention of middle class people from the economic policies that pick their pockets, lower their wages, destroy their unions, and outsource their jobs. And all the while they use our money to bail out Wall Street, and give giant tax breaks to the real "elitists" -- the economic elite.

It is Barack Obama who can lead a movement to change the way things are done in Washington. He can do it by empowering and inspiring the people who live in small-town Pennsylvania, and all of the other middle class Americans who have been left out by Bush-McCain policies that have benefited the "masters of the universe" on Wall Street and the Gucci-shoed lobbyist set on "K" Street.

As for Hillary Clinton, who joined in attacking Obama's statement: she should know better. She knows that Obama is the furthest thing from an elitist, and she should know better than to join in the Republican narrative about the candidate who is the likely Democratic standard bearer in the fall.

Robert Creamer is a long-time political organizer and strategist and author of the recent book: "Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win," available on amazon.com.

Comments

[jaglon]

I think McCain should keep quiet. Only a republican with a very narrow view of the world (and one who obviously does not have to worry about where his next meal is coming from) could make such a statement. When McCain lives in one house, and does not have a wife who is worth several million dollars, then I might listen when accuses someone of being elitist. What nerve!

The republicans think that giving bootstrapping lectures to the voters are helping them. Their policies have been a failure and McCain will only offer more of the same. In fact things will be worse because McCain wants to continue all the war mongering that has shared part of the blame in our country's current financial crisis.

[Knowledgeseeker]

some people just cant handle the truth.....
Obama sees the reality in America and want to do something about it.....
Clinton and Mccain need to stop playing political games and focus on the real issues, like the Economy

[jayburd]

If anything, the political backlash of Obama's comments will go against McCain and Clinton. Their fake indignation at his comments help to show how elitist Obama is NOT and they ARE Especially during tax season. Let's examine their tax returns and see who the elitist is.

[SonnyBono]

Senator McCain can claim that he is "just regular folks" because the majority of the money is in Cindy McCain's name - makes it easy for the old "straight talker" - wonder why he can't straight talk Lindsey Graham back from sin and degregation (just kidding - it's in the DNA)

For the record - all the homes are probably in Mrs. McCain's name and the "rustic" cabin where McCain likes to feed the BS to the media has a guest house - doesn't exactly sound like rustic as defined by the former digs of the Unibomber - a little more elitist than you would expect.

One more item - when you consider how low McCain ranked in his class at Annapolis, wonder if he would have graduated if there had not been Admiral before grandfather and father's names?

[TrevorAlan]

Please Dems take this on. Every dem NOT currently running for president needs to come out and shout this down for the sake of party unity. Granted, the Kennedy's and Kerry's are not humble dirt farmers, but we have to stop rich republicans from being able to call ANYONE elitist.

Why doesn't some democratic party group make an ad that just repeats that shot of Bush toasting his people--" the haves, and have mores"?

Democrats need to stop being ashamed of pointing Repub hipocracy!

[jayburd]

No one's ashamed to point out Republican hypocrisy. The problem is getting people to believe it...

[jjayes]

The other part of that Bush toast went something like this: some people call you the elite, I call you my base.

[mariemburns]

The charge that Obama is an elitist is McCain's, Clintons' & Co. new way of saying he's black & doesn't know his 'place.' I can 't use the phrase they mean because it's disgusting, but Clinton especially is hoping the tag will click with those racist voters Ed Rendell mentioned. As for the Bush you-re-on-your-own policy, please note that doesn't apply to rich corporations &/or Friends of Dick & Georgie.

[kingofscotts]

Mr. Creamer

"He reportedly owns eight houses".

Reportedly by who. You are going to make that statement without a single source?

Wow, you don't consider yourself a journalist do you?

If he actually did own eight houses it wouldn't be "reportedly" it would be "fact".

Oh and it wasn't the "bitter" comment, it was that they "cling" to religion (and guns" as a result. That is the most tone deaf statement I could imagine. It suggests that if they were not economically depressed they would abandon their religion.

Keep on making these absurd statements and John M. will be in the White House in 09'. Guaranteed.

[TrevorAlan]

Opinion pieces don't always have to come with footnotes, but there was just a piece (mirrored on Truthdig and HuffPost) but there was just an article from The Arizona Republic talking about his wife's beer distribution fortune somewhere around $27 mil.

Even if he owns half as many as reported, what does that mean to a person losing their ONLY house? And how does that compare with "elitist" Obama?

And since when did the truth ever matter to Karl Rove? Since when was anything true used in electing a Republian since Eisenhower?

This is EXACTLY the sort of detail we need Democrats pointing out about Republicans. Even if one factoid has an element that is not so true we need to BURY McCain with his hypocracies.

Ignoring this sort of argument, staying quiet until we are entirely sure there is nothing unfair about what we say is another way to snatch defeat from the jaws of certain victory. Whose side are you on kingofscotts?

[tandrmcdonald]

Note to kingofscotts;
This is America, we don't have a monarchy.
The use of the word "reportedly" is in the same category as the use of the word "allegedy" when describing people accused or convicted of a crime. I.e. Lewis Libby.
You're looking too hard for trivial things to criticize and missing the big picture.
I don't care if the McCains own eight houses or eighty. I do care that you're making the word "reportedly" an issue when too many Americans are losing the only home they have, and too many of our veterans are living on the streets or under bridges.
Maybe you should look at the meaning behind the words.
A lot of Americans are bitter. We have an obscenely elitist executive office and a disgracefully spineless legislature, neither of whom gives a rat's arse about us. We've been thrown into a war the Republicans don't want to get out of and that the Democrats don't know how to get out of. Our economy is tanked. Our jobs are being sent overseas and corporate kings want to import more foreigners to take the jobs that are left.The only things a lot of us have to keep our hope alive are our religion and for some, their guns.
I don't want to see McCain in the Oval Office either, but let's keep his real face on camera. Pull back the curtain and show the wizard for what he really is; another empty suit from the Republicans.

[jjayes]

It's amazing that supporters of a candidate like McCain and a president like Bush can talk about facts and truth. Their support of a flip flopper and liar can be justified only by blind allegiance and pasrtisanship.

[lechatnoir]

it's increasingly clear that this election is the MSM swan song. The unsavvy candidates keep churning out the most idiotic lies as if they could count on Big Media to cover their asses like in the good old times. We should all enjoy and learn as McSame and Billary paint themselves in their respective corners. It's been a long wait.

[LittleTart]

I have been seeing MSM at a lot of places, but I am not familar with what it means. Please illuminate?

[jwsub28]

The "STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS" will come to a screeching halt once Clinton is out of the race. Obama can concentrate on McCain instead of trying to keep up with the lies and insults that Clinton keeps putting out. His numbers will drop like an elevator!

McCain owning several houses and is worth millions has a lot of nerve calling Obama an elitist. He is a very old man that needs to retire in one of his many homes. He is a Bush clone.

As for Clinton, well there is no EXCUSE for her behavior at all. She owns several homes also, moves to NY to run for Senator. She is no New Yorker. Now she wants to tout killing ducks in Arkansas. I watched her shooting back Crown Royal in a bar, yeah she is one of the guys!

She attacked John Kerry's candidancy, she is very unbelievable. Bill Clinton is just as bad as she is. I am sickened by her treatment of a democrat candidate.

Obama was raised in a poor family with a single parent. Just paid his college loans off with the sales from his books. Went to work after college for churches helping the poor.

Clinton has a lot of nerve calling him patronizing and elitist. Maybe she should run on McCain ticket! They seem to be more a in tune with each other. That is exactly why Obama will win in November. That sure the hell is not Clinton or McCain.

[vippy]

That is why Bill praised McCain twice already and also said in Dec 07 that Bush the Elder will
assist Hillary once she is in the White House! Notice he did not say "if" she gets into the
White House. Both candidates make me sick, both are elitists. Obama just paid off his college
loan, was raised by a single mom - he should be our first choice!

[bdl0715]

The Clinton's do not own several houses. They own one in NY and one in DC. When they were in the White House, they owned none.

[KSH]

I have been saying all weekend that I thought it very strange that Obama would be called elitist. A guy just got done paying off his student loans once he wrote a book. And is worth about $1 million bucks - compared to Clinton and McCain's worth that is a hard sell for Clinton or McCain.

[SShaw490]

Bill got a sum that's amost equal to Obama's net worth by making four speeches in Latin America supporting a trade deal that his wife opposes.

[dignityandhonor]

I'm looking forward to the general election. The only reason McCain has any poll numbers right now is because nobody knows anything about him - other than the thin gruel ladled out by the fawning media. Once people get to know Johnny Mac, the less inclined they'll be to vote for him.

[elisunday]

Amen, my brotha!

[SShaw490]

Hillary Clinton and John McCain calling Obama an elitst is like a guy who used political connections to avoid service in Vietnam questioning the service record of a guy who served in Vietnam and received commendations there. Hillary and McCain call Obama an elitist while either of them have made 25 times as much money as Obama over the last 10 years. Hillary and McCain call Obama an elitist after their campaigns are supported by lobbyists whose sole job is to REPRESENT elitists. In other words, politics rarely has any real connection to the truth.

If you like politics as usual, support McCain or Hillary - you'll get more of the same.

[JohnnySorrow]

The sad thing about this argument is that the words "elitist" and "elitism" have been used improperly so often, that people don't even know the real meaning anymore.

American Heritage Dictionary - e·lit·ism or é·lit·ism (ĭ-lē'tĭz'əm, ā-lē'-) Pronunciation Key
n.
1. The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources.

2.
a. The sense of entitlement enjoyed by such a group or class.
b. Control, rule, or domination by such a group or class.

Please explain to me how any of these things occurred in Obama's statements. Just because you unfairly mischarcterize someone's motivation and/or belief system, that does not make you an elitist. It makes you a poor sociologist.

He has not in any way advocated that they be treated differently as a result of their beliefs or perceived lower status. Now, if he was to say that (I don't know) certain states were not as important as others or certain states' voting processes were not as valued as others and therefore should be discounted...that would be elitist.

[hwebb54]

Wow. You have no idea what an "elitist" is do you? Sounds like you think that if you have more money than someone then you are the bigger "elitist" That is just stupid. Is someone like Warren Buffett an elitist because he has 47 billion dollar? No. Elitist are people who look down on people who aren't on their ideal level. Obama didn't understand that people do not attend church just because they were hurting financially, they attend because they believe in god. I think by writing this story, you have proved that you are out of touch with small town America as well. I don't like McCain but I respect him. Obama deserves no respect and he will be the reason Democrats lose the Presidency if he is the nominee.

[knighthowl]

You are precisely the type of person that Mr. Creamer is talking about. You will vote against your economic interest because you have been offended by misunderstanding what Obama said. Unless, of course, you are a Rethuglican and are simply seizing upon any argument to oppose someone who has a history of supporting the downtrodden and to support McSame whose history is the exact opposite. I respect McCain for his behavior as a POW. I do not respect him for his behavior as a politician.

[AlphaDoc]

>Sounds like you think that if you have more money than someone then you are the bigger "elitist"<

Guess you missed the part about McCain's "let them eat cake" approach to the economy and Bush's trade policies.

>Obama didn't understand that people do not attend church just because they were hurting financially, they attend because they believe in god.<

It's amazing that you could have listened to or read Senator Obama's statements and come away with such an impression. I'd say you need a little work on your comprehension skills, my friend.

[b2008]

I think you should check "elitist" in a dictionary. You are using the wrong meaning. Take a look at Johnny Sorrow's post above your own. We cannot blame Obama for being an elitist. That is definitely incorrect.

[kenyaw]

Senator Obama was talking about what motivates people to vote a certain way, not why someone goes to church!! The entire topic was about WEDGE issues that get people to vote for a certain candidate or party. Wedge issues like, guns and gay marraige. Did you really not understand that, are you being serious??
That same type of statement has been made one thousand times over the past few elections. He did not say something new. That does not make him out of touch. That shows that he is informed on something pretty basic.

[compassionone]

Thanks for doing the research on the # of houses McCain owns. This is very concrete and enables people to think for themselves should the Republicans take this approach. Since McCain married into a wealthy family he would have a motive to propose legislation to protect this elitist family wealth.

Obama has been quite resilient in reshaping any branding by opponents. The Republican party is so disorganized this year. Bush was clueless like this in 2000, but he had all daddy's boys to help him get in.

McCain will be easy to expose for old timer he is. He will make a fool of himself in the first debate with Obama.