Elitist = Knowing What the Hell You're Talking About
As quoted by Yahoo news, this is the remark Barack Obama made privately while at a San Francisco fundraiser, referring to why he's expected to have some trouble getting support from working-class voters frustrated with economic conditions:
"It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
This remark has proved more controversial than I might have expected. People are coming out of the woodwork to call him elitist and arrogant. Well, he might BE elitist or arrogant- I'm hardly the best judge- but guess what?
He's absolutely, spot-on correct in what he's saying. It's true. It is the most significant reason why states like Kansas consistently vote against their own best interests year after year. People all over the United States will elect hysterically corrupt morons to office as long as they clasp whatever their pet frustration is to their breast in public. It's a shame that he's now backpedaling and trying to soften the message, because one of the things I like about Obama is his willingness to speak Harsh Truths.
"It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
This remark has proved more controversial than I might have expected. People are coming out of the woodwork to call him elitist and arrogant. Well, he might BE elitist or arrogant- I'm hardly the best judge- but guess what?
He's absolutely, spot-on correct in what he's saying. It's true. It is the most significant reason why states like Kansas consistently vote against their own best interests year after year. People all over the United States will elect hysterically corrupt morons to office as long as they clasp whatever their pet frustration is to their breast in public. It's a shame that he's now backpedaling and trying to soften the message, because one of the things I like about Obama is his willingness to speak Harsh Truths.