Obama's an elitist?

[scottpuig]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you scared the shit out of me with that!!!!!!

[Kamal]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

[subterFUSE]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

This was more intended to be an indictment of our current President than an endorsement of anyone in particular, but I think it would be tough to argue that Obama isn't a sharp mother fucker. You might be able to get yourself admitted to an Ivy League school through your connections (cough, Bush, cough), but you don't get to be editor of the Harvard Law Review without being a seriously smart cookie. Matter of fact, although I like her zero, I would have to concede that Hillary is an extremely intelligent person as well.

Obama, in particular, is renowned for being exceptionally intellectually curious, going out of his way to try to understand the things he doesn't understand and asking lots of questions. Bush, in contrast, can't be bothered to read something that is more than one page. Do you ever get the feeling that you could beat Bush at Scrabble? I do, and that bothers the hell out of me.

I you want to be president, then you are not brilliant. You are either a complete imbecile or hopelessly insane. Possibly both at the same time. It's the worst job in the world.

[88Mariner]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

[Shpira]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

dude...elitism is in fact natural and largely unavoidable. Let's face it - not everyone is born equal in terms of abilities. Everyone should have certain inalienable rights, but you don't want the high school dropout with 3 teeth setting your monetary policy or trying to find the next cure for cancer. And so it's always going to be the case that you will have an elite higher IQ set of people who will generally "run things" in society...one way or another.

What your saying for the most part is true yes elitism is (in reality so far) unavoidable...but thats simply not what is meant by the term elitist or elitism...if the elite in power acts in its own interest - to preserve its power position, its financial supremacy...

But thats a completely different topic and I don't want to bore MS members with my political theory stuff...whoever is interested

The best book I have on the topic is called "The Irony of Democracy: an Uncommon Introduction to American Politics" written by Thomas R. Dye and Harmon Zeigler.
Its really good if you have a chance read the first chapter at least.

[toasty]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

They have to nominate someone brilliant first.

This was more intended to be an indictment of our current President than an endorsement of anyone in particular, but I think it would be tough to argue that Obama isn't a sharp mother fucker. You might be able to get yourself admitted to an Ivy League school through your connections (cough, Bush, cough), but you don't get to be editor of the Harvard Law Review without being a seriously smart cookie. Matter of fact, although I like her zero, I would have to concede that Hillary is an extremely intelligent person as well.

Obama, in particular, is renowned for being exceptionally intellectually curious, going out of his way to try to understand the things he doesn't understand and asking lots of questions. Bush, in contrast, can't be bothered to read something that is more than one page. Do you ever get the feeling that you could beat Bush at Scrabble? I do, and that bothers the hell out of me.

[subterFUSE]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

let's shoot for someone brilliant for a change and see how that works out...

They have to nominate someone brilliant first.

[toasty]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

dude...elitism is in fact natural and largely unavoidable. Let's face it - not everyone is born equal in terms of abilities. Everyone should have certain inalienable rights, but you don't want the high school dropout with 3 teeth setting your monetary policy or trying to find the next cure for cancer. And so it's always going to be the case that you will have an elite higher IQ set of people who will generally "run things" in society...one way or another.

Daily show had a great thing on this last night, where Jon Stewart pointed out, correctly I think, that we should want our president to be elitist in a lot of respects. The way he did it was obviously designed to be funny, but he's spot on to the extent that the presidency is a position that calls for the best of the best, not a simpleton that "you can have a beer with."

Besides, we've seen what happens when we elect someone that reminds us of ourselves and is approachable -- let's shoot for someone brilliant for a change and see how that works out...

[CactusBeats]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

The quick poll on CNN this morning was (paraphrasing) "Were you offended by Obama's comments?"...

FWIW, I would like to suggest that offense is usually only taken by comments that have a degree of truth to them. A good proportion of the "right" in this country being shame-based at heart, pointing out how illogical the right's arguments and emotional tendencies are, e.g. second ammendment hysteria, fear of gay-marriage, flag-burning, etc. (I could go on and on) can be severely disconcerting for a group conditioned to viewing themselves as inherently logical and the world as black & white. Those in power in the Repubican Party laugh all the way to the bank and to the presidency (lately) when this lower socio-economic class, largely rural whites, continues to be swayed to vote AGAINST its own economic interests by these ridiculous appeals and constant fear-mongering from conservative politicans and radio hateocracy.

I stress that the crime Obama committed here was not specifically what he said, but was merely his role in pointing it out. It triggered a massive shame-attack amongst some in this group by being outed as "easily emotionally swayable," "economically illogical," and being "highly vulnerable to fear-mongering" (big surprise) when it comes to exercising their right to vote. Beware of evoking the shame of the right. For the right can and will use that shame in attempts to justify practically anything.

[Miroslav]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

dude...elitism is in fact natural and largely unavoidable. Let's face it - not everyone is born equal in terms of abilities. Everyone should have certain inalienable rights, but you don't want the high school dropout with 3 teeth setting your monetary policy or trying to find the next cure for cancer. And so it's always going to be the case that you will have an elite higher IQ set of people who will generally "run things" in society...one way or another.

[Shpira]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

^^prevents progress in a major way , enables monopolies and prevents competition hindering progress even further...its not very good - its undemocratic as certain groups of society are over represented...i can seriously go on with this for a long time ...


p.s agree with the Hilary comment

[Jenks]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

1. Obama's comments about small town americans being bitter: 100% true. I'm from small town america, he is spot on.

2. On 'Elitism': What's the problem with that, really? I have no problem with Elitism.

3. Hillary: get hit by a truck.

[superdave]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

So now Hillary has an ad coming out about Obama's comments. They say Republicans are dirty and know how to win campaigns. It seems like the Clintons are dirty and do whatever it takes to win elections too.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/14/new-clinton-ad-obama-is-out-of-touch/

[toasty]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

Further evidence that this isn't going to help Hillary in a serious way -- she raised the issue and got jeered at an Alliance For American Manufacturing forum:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/14/pennsylvania-crowd-jeers-clinton-attacks-on-obama/

[toasty]

Re: Obama's an elitist?

Barack made me a mixtape?? Holyshit!

That's not all he did -- keep clicking, and it will keep putting up new ones. What a nice guy, that Barack Obama.