Defining Elite

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's a little jarring to hear John McCain and Sarah Palin complain about "elites." We are, after all, talking about two wealthy and powerful Republican politicians. And yet, complain they do. In the second part of his interview with the members of the Republican ticket, NBC's Brian Williams inquired about exactly who the "elite" are.

"Oh, I guess just people who think that they're better than anyone else.... So anyone who thinks that they are -- I guess -- better than anyone else, that's -- that's my definition of elitism," Palin replied. [...]

"I know where a lot of 'em live," McCain added with a laugh.

"Where's that?" Williams asked.

"Well, in our nation's capital and New York City," McCain replied. "I've seen it. I've lived there. I know the town. I know -- I know what a lot of these elitists are. The ones that she never went to a cocktail party with in Georgetown. I'll be very frank with you. Who think that they can dictate what they believe to America rather than let Americans decide for themselves."

First, Palin just got finished telling voters that people in small towns are "the best of America," where people are "patriotic" and "pro-America," and where "we find the kindness and the goodness and the courage of everyday Americans." Sounds like "elitism" to me.

Second, for all the talk McCain offers about "cocktail parties in Georgetown," let's not forget that he's been a frequent guest at these fancy soirees. The Washington Post's Sally Quinn, a D.C. socialite, noted recently that McCain has been a regular on the Georgetown party circuit. "I've sat next to him many times at dinner parties in Georgetown," Quinn said. "He's an absolutely delightful dinner partner."

Look, we're talking about a candidate who's been a Washington insider for a quarter of a century, who forgets how many homes he owns, who owns 13 cars, who married into a very wealthy family, and who's an "absolutely delightful dinner partner" in Georgetown. There's nothing especially wrong with any of this, except when he feels justified complaining about the "elites."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Typical divisive tactics.

Incidentally - aren't the "elitists" he's referring to also Americans?

McCain's a goof. Essentially he's defeating his whole argument - as there's an implicit assumption that he and his followers are "better" than the "elitists" he's complaining about.

Edited October 23, 2008 by Paul Daniels

[lucyrich 20]

I think the elites buy their clothes at Saks Fifth Avenue and Niemann Marcus. Or maybe to be really elite you have to have your clothes bought for you at these kinds of stores. You know, the kind of stores that only exist in the America-hating part of the country, not the real rural America. If your goal is eliteism, it might help to think you're so much better than real America that it's OK for your clothes to be bought and paid for using someone else's money that comes from the kind of political donations that would corrupt most people. But if you're really elite, you'd think you're above being corrupted by that kind of money.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think the elites buy their clothes at Saks Fifth Avenue and Niemann Marcus. Or maybe to be really elite you have to have your clothes bought for you at these kinds of stores. You know, the kind of stores that only exist in the America-hating part of the country, not the real rural America. If your goal is eliteism, it might help to think you're so much better than real America that it's OK for your clothes to be bought and paid for using someone else's money that comes from the kind of political donations that would corrupt most people. But if you're really elite, you'd think you're above being corrupted by that kind of money.

I think it goes to show that every time the Right Wingers come up with a label for the Left, whether it's elitist, hypocrite, moral-relativist, etc., they find themselves eating crow because the very definitions they use for those labels can be easily applied to those pointing the finger.

They were successful for awhile in painting the Left as moral-relativists...against family values, until enough Republicans in Congress got caught with their pants down. American voters will eventually wise up to such nonsensical labeling.

[Amby 490]

I don't think I'm better than everyone else, I KNOW I'm better than everyone else. What does that make me?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't think I'm better than everyone else, I KNOW I'm better than everyone else. What does that make me?

A narcissist.

[Amby 490]

I don't think I'm better than everyone else, I KNOW I'm better than everyone else. What does that make me?

A narcissist.

hey that's what my mmpi said...you're good

[Danno 1,228]

I don't think I'm better than everyone else, I KNOW I'm better than everyone else. What does that make me?

Delusional perhaps.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't think I'm better than everyone else, I KNOW I'm better than everyone else. What does that make me?

A narcissist.

hey that's what my mmpi said...you're good

mmpi?

[Amby 490]

I don't think I'm better than everyone else, I KNOW I'm better than everyone else. What does that make me?

A narcissist.

hey that's what my mmpi said...you're good

mmpi?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Mul...ality_Inventory

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't think I'm better than everyone else, I KNOW I'm better than everyone else. What does that make me?

A narcissist.

hey that's what my mmpi said...you're good

mmpi?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Mul...ality_Inventory

Ah, ok.

IMO, we are much more than just our experiences and events in our lives. If we let those things define us, then we are in constant search for our lost self.