Elitist = Knowing What the Hell You're Talking About

[willtruncheon]

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

Comments

[willtruncheon]

I guess that depends on what 'elitist' means in this context. To quote an old friend of mine, "If elitist means 'not the dumbest motherfucker in the room' sign me up". If your brand of elitism is people who live on the coast and drink lattes, I guess that's me. That's a pretty irrelevant political distinction, however. I'm also a blue-collar laborer in a monogamous heterosexual relationship, I have no college degree, and I live pretty close to the poorer end of the economic spectrum in a small city.

I think a lot of people use the word "elitist" when they really mean "snobby". I mean, what are the elite? The best or most skilled members of a group, right? And elitism is the belief that certain people deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority (according to the American Heritage College Dictionary). Speaking personally, I want the best and most skilled candidates in office. I find it hard to believe that rational voters would conclude otherwise. Is that elitist? Is there any way to demonstrate flaws in other's reasoning without being branded an elitist snob? If there isn't, I'm comfortable being branded an elitist.

[tirianmal]

The fact is that those who throw the term around the most in the media, are themselves part of the elite. Rush Limbaugh? Anne Coulter? ... the various candidates? All of them are in the elite.

Clinton herself, no matter what she may say about where she comes from, is now a multimillionaire politician toasting with the likes of the D.C., Hollywood, and international elite. Calling Obama an elitist is the pot calling the kettle black. Or in her case ... maybe the pot is calling the kettle white. :)