Confessions of an Elitist
I'm an unrepentant elitist. I must report that I even read the New York Review of Books and the London Times Literary Supplement. No kidding. I enjoy them. Not bragging, just confessing. I should have been out more playing in the fresh air when I was a kid. And most of all I deeply admire literacy and rationality in others. See, I have enough guts to start a sentence with an and? Only an elitist would do that. It's the confidence that allows us (or is it we?) elitists to toss out the rules and live by our own notion of what makes a good life or a good sentence. But what I don't have this week is patience with those who have come down hard on Barack Obama by calling him an elitist (read: snob) for making a clumsy but rational and compassionate statement about those people who cannot escape the crushing misfortune of unemployment with its debt and despair; a statement of concern for people who lack health care, and who are forced to live by the first rule of George Bush's America which states, "get rich quick or get out of sight and die quietly."
If you don't believe that small-town America is suffering from despair take a drive through some of those quaint old New England villages with their iconic white churches and their moribund Main Streets that were killed years ago by some massive Kmart mall a few miles away, a mall in which almost nothing is sold with a "made in the USA" label. It's hard to find a town without a storefront that carries the ubiquitous sign "Drug Rehab Center." It's a sign more frequently seen than "Fresh Apple Cider and Maple Syrup sold here." Small-town America is hurting. And when Obama pointed that out it was a humane judgment about the cramped and desperate lives of so many people who live far from the more prosperous cities and their opportunities. His rivals, Clinton and McCain, have tried to turn his somewhat awkward observation into a fatal political blunder. And they are doing a good job of it, word twisting is a highly competitive Olympic sport in which Republicans excel, but a gal like Hillary can easily compete. The rip snortin' gun totin', beer guzzlin' Hillary Hell Raiser, trained to shoot straight during her heroic counter-insurgency exploits in Bosnia, also knows best what the poor feel and need. Didn't she go to Wellesley College and take Miss Witherspoon's Compassion 101 course? This elitist charge about Obama has been picked up and treated with the usual intellectual shabbiness by a mainstream press, and its right wing pundits. The conservative press really wants us to believe that the world is made up of the caring rich (Bush, and McCain) and the happy poor, so that nobody does anything to alter the way things are.
John McCain -- no elitist he -- but a world class opportunist -- has picked up Hillary's song and is singing it loud for all the world to hear. He once did a lousy imitation of Barbra Streisand, but his attempt to impersonate Hillary is far better, he gets the scolding, self-congratulating tone just right. Listen to his new commercial which attacks Obama for his elitism, so filled with the glee of gotcha politics, with the bully boy chuckle scarcely concealed underneath. McCain, who succeeded in financing his ambitions by divorcing one wife and marrying upwards to his rich Cindy doesn't think that Obama has a clue about the white, rural poor. After all, how can a poor black kid ever know what poor white people feel? Hunger, fear, and desperation obviously have different DNA in black and white folks.
Yes, I've had my own problem with Obama's cool demeanor in the past but I see it now for what it is; the careful manner of a man who occasionally puts up a protective shield between himself and the world. And well he should. Let's cut to the chase, as they used to say in Hollywood. What the elite-mongers are actually doing is calling Obama an uppity ni**er and he knows it. What they are saying is "How dare this black man who was raised by a single mother on food stamps and managed to make his way through Harvard pass judgment on those poor whites who didn't have his good fortune in being born black and poor?" Why can't he be more like that decent Colin Powell who took his orders from Bush and spread his lies before the United Nations and then went home to choke on them? Or more like Condi who does a little tap dance with the truth every time she is called before Congress to testify about her egregious failures of judgment? That's the way decent black folks are supposed to behave in government these days.
If elitist means that you were against the Iraq war from the start because you were informed enough to see the horror ahead, then I am an elitist, as were so many in this country, particularly Barack Obama. For me being elitist means making intelligent judgments and rational distinctions and trying to understand the dilemma and the concerns of those who haven't gotten the breaks. Okay, I'm an elitist. But I'll sock anyone in the nose who dares to call me a snob.
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One can interpret this as a condescending post, I don't. I agree with your post. Yeah, ok, you might interpret Clinton and McCain and/or their backers as demeaning Obama under their breath. But that's superficial. If it's true, fine, some people can think whatever they want and always will. But in REALITY, the underlying truth in what Obama said, is historical. There have been scapegoats throughout history. And right now, with the Iraq War, middle east, the economic downturn, post 9/11 America, etc, the anxiety is there. People are more inclined to batten down the hatches, and turn inward, and blame others. And in the meantime, what happens? Lawmakers, can and do encroach on Privacy, as in the Schiavo Case. Which, I might add, Obama mentioned in one of his debates. What Obama said pertaining to small town, is being played like the Telephone game. By the time it goes from Obama to a 100th person, the message has changed. And in between, people fill in their own condescending attitudes about life. Obama should repeat what he said, over and over again because what's happening to the working class cannot be solved with "rolling up your sleeves" mentality but with Politicians being held accountable, like Clinton and McCain.
If only Americans aspired to be elite rather than accept the lowest common denominator.
Exactly, isn't it grand to live in a country where intellectuals are treated with scorn. It's almost as if Obama has to hide the fact that he's so bloody smart and articulate. Hillary helped fuel that notion, making fun of his speeches and rallies...
'Yes I Can' and 'Yes We Can' are positive affirmatio
Careful calling a black man articulate is now racist. Of course Obama is not all that articulate. Without a teleprompter he can't go 5 sentences without sticking his foot in his mouth and affending people.
But at least he's proud to be an American. Or was that God damn America. Whatever I guess it doesn't really matter to people who have their eyes closed.
Being an elitist and referring to people in small towns as clinging to religion and guns is not exactly a club any self-respecting person would want to join.
But.......
Oh God! It's AnncoulterinCA, again!!!
Given that your only motive here is nothing more than smearing Obama, it's clear who is an "elitist" here.
Unless you prefer to be looked at by the quality of your arguments (read: smears), then anyone with a tad of common sense is an elitist compared to you.
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AnninCA, you are a saint to stay here and put up with the 13 year olds. Trying to teach anything to this crowd of juveniles is like being a middle school teacher. They are so proud of their ignorance. Their potty mouths and swagger are typical of the age. They will grow out of it, but luckily, most of them aren't of voting age. They don't understand that their elitist attitude is not a good thing. All they long for is to be one of the cool gang.
I'd love to have the following bumper sticker for my car:
Another Elitist for Obama 08.
A great quip -- Make that TWO of us! :-)
Sounds like a real election-winner!
This very much follows the feelings I've had about this issue. I guess Obama (and the rest of us, for that matter) can't be thoughtful or honest, or else we're out of touch. Gosh, I guess if we were real Americans, we should be happy just to be pandered to...
You're right. There's nothing wring about being elitist. People who don't vote for Obama simply don't know any better. You can try to convince them that it's the right thing to do, but they can't help the fact that they're stupid. Slightly less than half of the democrats in the country suffer from far below average IQ's. Otherwise, they'd never need God. They'd never enjoy shooting a gun or helping to rein in massive overpopulation of White-tail Deer by turning them into food for their families. No, if they were intelligent, they'd simply go to The Inn at Little Washington, like normal people, and let the barbarism to others. But most of all...if they only were able to understand
Excellent essay!
And when did it happen that being brilliant and educated is somehow a bad thing? Don't people realize This is exactly what's wrong with this country? Anti-intel
Remember we laughed and made fun of Bushism as he screwed us twice.....
Not now, not this time.
"And when did it happen that being brilliant and educated is somehow a bad thing?"
Probably about the same time that it became terrible to be a "bleeding heart" or a "do-gooder
So, been watching The Daily Show?
Please, don't take this the wrong way. I watched it and agreed with it. But you're a day late and a dollar short, when it comes to being original.
Great points scire. Has anyone seen My Big Red Neck Wedding on CMT? If this show doesn't drive home scires points I don't know what does. If it doesn't scare the hell of you then check you pulse.
Excellent post, scire!!
And I wholeheartedly agree. We need excellence - badly!
we do need excellence, unfortunately Obama does not fit that description.
So, so true. Kids even struggle to "dumb down" in order to be accepted, and it is crushing to their potential. It disgusts and saddens me to live in a culture that promotes mediocrity, even inferiority, and where you're referred to as a "nerd" if you read a book or two. Gawd damn television! As one who never saw one until I was 17, I can recall a very different world. As kids we were taken to the ballet, Stratford Theatre for Shakespeare, and to the opera for Aida and Madame Butterfly. We always had late dues at the library, and wrote prose, poetry and did art for "fun." This country has fallen so far in just a half a century.
I'm a special educator who has spent my career teaching in economically disadvantaged school districts first in poor rural white school districts, and more recently in an urban school district serving poor urban blacks and latinos. I'm voting for Obama. He gets it.
And an aside -- aren't elites a voting bloc too? They get insulted over an over again by the media and politicians and it's ok. Why is that?
And I'd rather have a compassionate brilliant ethical elitist lead my country over a moronic, torturing, out of touch, incompetent elitist (just how low must your iq really be to have the educational and economic advantages of George Bush and still be that dumb?), or a corrupt, totally self-aggrandizing, lying elitist anyday.
Elitism has developed a derogatory connotation - deliberately planned by the Republican Party. As has the concept "liberal."
Elitism hasn't developed a derogatory connotation, it's always had one. Elitism is snobbery, which has never really had a good reputation among the general public. You know, it's fine to be better and smarter than others, but when you let that go to your head, and worse still, let others know about it, it's pretty darn ugly.
Anti-intel
I'm sure you did a lot of good for those poor dumb hicks that you looked down on so much. How was it trying to teach children that you hated?
I think Hillary knows and feels that what she is playing is politics..
I have a good vocabulary, but I don't think I had ever heard the term"elitist" until Hillary started screeching about it. It sounds like a made-up word, but that's OK. Hillary is great at making things up.
How embarrassing for you and those who also want to be perceived this way.
Are you familiar with the common literary techniques of irony and sarcasm? Perhaps not. It's an elitist thing.
The beauty of the "elitist" stamp from a tactical standpoint is that it works two fold.
To some its code for uppity, as you say, to others it connotes the more literal meaning, that he's actually better than those poor gun toting, bible thumping, xenophobes in Scranton's suburbs.
A good political weapon is such ambiguity. Of course its not true, but there were definitely elitists in the room in which Barack gave his answer in San Francisco, thus guilt by association is applicable, at least as far as Pennsylvanians might perceive it. Perception is everything in politics, trumping truth every time.
Barack needs to be more aware of this. It matters what you say, and when you say it. Words do matter, and can be used as weapons against you by the Predator-like ilk of Hillary and McCain. Its a jungle out there, and nothing pricks their political ears and senses like hearing you went to another state, and on audio were heard to call Pennsylvanians bitter. Context, well that's not as important as the fact that it's a negative term, and counter to the message of hope you've been sailing across the political landscape so easily on.
Learn from your mistakes, Mr. Obama. PA is lost, but the race is still being run.
I don't know everyone (or for that matter, anyone) who was at the event in San Francisco, but I know Sen. Obama was responding to a question from a couple people who were off to volunteer for the campaign in Pennsylvania.
Were they elitist? I have no idea. But they were, at the very least, asking intelligent questions about the task they were about to embark on.
You're talking about the reality of events of course, and I'm talking about the political spin they invited. Political wisdom and cunning as it were.
The intentions of those involved are unimportant. What was said, and the fact that it could be twisted by Barack's opponents are, tactically speaking of utmost priority.
This is a political war right now. And Barack talking about voters in a state his campaign needs, to a group of backers across the country, using terms like bitter is not politically wise. Sure there's an explanation, and sure he's right in his assessment. One need only to look at inner city ghettos to seem disillusionment, embitterment and outright rage.
But blue collars in Pennsylvania need only hear those disparaging terms, clinging to guns and god, and Hillary gentle prodding " Did you hear Barack's talking down to you???" to put 2 and 2 together and get 13.
Their math is wrong of course, but Pennsylvanians aren't known for their math. Joking, of course.
It's all about perception, not reality in politics.
Did you see the video where she was booed as soon as she started speaking? No there is no mistake. Ms. Clinton is overplaying and it is already beginning to backfire.
Old Jamaican Proverb:
The more mokey climb, the more him expose.
Yes, the extreme left leaning progressives will boo, but all those blue collars hear is "Barack was making fun of you". And blue collars, while not all, generally don't delve into the intricacies and nuances of such statements. They hear "bitter" gun toting, god clinging, foreigner hating Pennsylvanians, by a man talking to a bunch of rich liberals in the golden state.
I said it before this campaign is shaping up to be " Blazing Saddles" the road show, with Sheriff Obama being railroaded and bamboozled by Hillary Lamar, and McCain as Slim Pickens.
Pennsylvania you're the brutish Mongo, with all the muscle of those many delegates at stake, sent to destroy Sheriff Obama. They told you he said "YOU WERE DUMB", I mean "BITTER". Are you GOING TO TAKE THAT FROM HIM?
he said no such thing. He spoke the truth.
Understand Mongo? Sheriff Obama friend. Not enemy.
Hillary Lamar enemy.
May have to start a support group - Elitists Anonymous.
Hell no, too plain, it would have to be named - Anonymous Elitists, cause we're better than other support groups.
HuffPost's Pick
It's guilt by association that Hilary and McCain were trying to pull, and may have succeeded.
If Barack had made his remarks in some small town in Pennsylvania, after a question necessitated such, or even in Kentucky under the shadow of some mountain mining company it would've been different. It wasn't. It was in sunny, elite San Francisco, California, birthplace of the hippie movement to some, Silicon Valley to others, Marin Wine Country wealth to others still. A galaxy far far away from Scranton PA.
In making those remarks, in answer to that question, he was telling tales out of school, not in the state which he was talking about. Well, some Pennsylvanian blue collars might be thinking why the hell didn't you say that stuff to our face?
It didn't bother many, according to some polls, but it tapped a nerve. He was absolutely right in his assessment of gods, guns and bitterness, it's just the time and place were entirely wrong to make them. He's not elitist, he's clumsy politically, telling too much truth at the wrong time to the wrong people, which is possible. If Marin aristocracy can handle the truth, so can a trucker in suburban Philadelphia.
Say it to their face next time Barack.
If all of the circumstances surrounding his comments were made available, people would understand that he was answering a question by a supporter who wanted to go to PA to help and wanted to know what they needed to know about his challenges in getting votes.
He was explaining how the small communities ( the people least likely to support him) was feeling and what his challengers were reaching those people.
He wasn't talking down about them, but was rather empathetic towards them while admitting that the Republicans use these people with wedge issues like guns, religion, immigration and trade and promises to keep their values in tact, in order to secure their votes knowing darn good and well, that once the nomination is wrapped up, the politician wasn't going to do anything for them.
If these small communities who has been living with their economic disparity over the last couple of years and presidents don't get what's going on, and Obama is reaching out to them and they don't want to vote for him because he's black, well they get the president they deserve.
You overestimate the attention span of the American electorate, who think in terms of soundbytes, and who have to deal with a new scandal and its subsequent developments every hour on the hour as reported on the CNN ticker and Larry King, and Lou Dobbs, and Anderson Cooper.
What Pennsylvania's heard is that someone was insulting them, then heard him use the word bitter, and terms like clinging to guns and he wasn't talking directly to them, but to some people across the country. That's all they had to hear.
Intelligent people view context, and try to listen to what he was trying to say, but in this circus atmosphere it's hard to hear with a never ending parade of clowns and elephants, and Hillary the ring master screaming into her megaphone " Behold the elitist from Illionois".
You can't make gaffes like that and expect a deep introspective examination, this society deals in soundbytes fortunately or not. And Barack should know better. Perhaps he does, and never expected one of his supporters to bring it out for all the world to see and hear. Not that its something to hide, just that it takes too long to explain to a public who don't much like listening, and have an ravenous appetite for political bloodsport.
Woh, great analysis. But what we are missing is that he has been thinking and talking about those small town issues long before this campaign. But I agree, timing was bad, especially when the blue/red divide is so deep
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Yet, SpringH2O, you are NOT insulted when Hillary compares and includes herself with the working class by continually referring harshly to the "wealthy and well connected" as if she and Bill are not wealthy and well connected? Interesting. For me it's easier to understand how Obama in his earnestness to excel, might become detached and intellectualize on issues at times, but for Hillary to stand up there and present us with a bald faced lie, not once, but many times.....
I am well read and from Pa. (imagine that) What bothers me, is not "bitter," it's about relying on guns and religion (Marxist, relying on religion does not make one stupid) "political silly season" It's like being slapped in the face and blamed for being slapped. I AM insulted.T
I am (as it appears) hated because of MY skin color.
My town was part of the underground railroad.
I was to pray in my closet, or else seem boastful.
I was taught about my family (Palatines) fought for this country and to make a living. They founded towns, post offices and served on school boards. I want the constitution to survive AS IS. My faith taught me to "discern" and to "test the spirits" Being a believer is a matter of common sense for me, not a weakness. You might not agree with me but at least give me respect.
Were you at all insulted by a woman drinking whiskey shots, and talking about duck hunting to ingratiate herself with blue collar Pennsylvanians, who the 109 million dollar woman couldn't be farther detached from.
Were you insulted by the insinuation she made that Barack Obama said you weren't resilient, when in fact he said no such thing. Or that he talked down to you, when he didn't. Pointing out economic hardship, and the means people employ in dealing with them, is not mocking them. Did Barack Obama laugh in that audio?
I didn't hear any laughter. Are you sure you're not insulted by the color of his skin? Because there's a lot of that going around, masked by false anger at universal truths Barack Obama stated in his answer in California.
You haven't listened to the entirety of Jeremiah Wright's sermons if you came away thinking it was bigoted. Don't be played for the fool by the media. In context, Rev. Wright spoke much truth.
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