Obama is a good guy. I get it. This doesn't mean that he won't have the occasional "gaffe" (code word for fairly offensive remark). But on the topic of class, Obama, his campaign and his supporters have been offensive before. I've written about this in an earlier post, The Workings of Class. Back then no one really paid any attention to his implied classist statements because they weren't as clear cut as:

And 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.

As with all things, we, as Americans, need things spelled out for us. To be fair to Obama, there was probably something to his tours in small towns in Pennsylvania that gave birth to such remarks and like everything he says, there is a kernel of truth. Some one or some group of people probably said something outlandish about Mexicans invading the workforce or there were one too many intense debates about gun control. But his statements and the context in which they were made are so representative of the growing divide between classes in this country.

The Intellectual Elite Think They Know It All

The intellectual elite think that they are smarter than the average Joe. And they treat them that way on everything from economics...Click here to read more

The intellectual elite ARE smarter than the average Joe by definition; that's why they call them intellectual elite.

This is not the same as "class" membership.

Although to give the average joe credit, they usually say that them book smart folks don't got a bat of common sense, with not a little bit of hysterical laughter all around. Usually average joe can't force elitist intellectual to take in a population within their neighborhood that dislike them.

FieldingBandolier:

The intellectual elite ARE smarter than the average Joe by definition; that's why they call them intellectual elite.

This is not the same as "class" membership.

And that quote by obama, is MUCH worse when you see the video, so if the media had portrayed his demeanor, the manner he said it including inflections then you would have a better understanding of how much of an OUT the media gave Obama on that. They gave him a pass to the bathroom, Obama should be on his knees licking the boots of Ted Turner and Jane for helping him out in this campaign.

quote revised:

Senator Obama during a campaign fundraiser during a society event characterizing the pennsylvania voters as "bitter" he goes on to say "they cling to guns or religion" , the dinner tables were pushed back and the chairs pulled up in a circle around Obama as he strutted from side to side, mocking the Midwestern state he continued "they have an antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations," and grinning he jokes "it is true when it is delivered by a 48 year old dude named Barrack Obama then it adds another layer of scepticism ", the predominately white male audience all laughed, and Obama paused laughing himself. And he looked at the group of financial backers, and gave the knowing grin dismissing that these wealthy men and women could be in the same category as those other people.

video link

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what I think of obamaites link

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pictures of people at event, along with pictures of limos they arrived in etc.

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woman's rant on Obama and his affiliation with one of the terrorists (Was in Afghanistan during 9/11?)

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Poor folk paying off Ivy League college loans are the biggest elitists of all. They get bitter.

Elitism has little to do with income level. It is defined by looking down upon others.

If one says that bitter folk "cling to guns, cling to religion, to an antipathy of those who are not like them", if one claims that "for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of America", if one listens for twenty years to "God damn America!", one is an elitist.

Notably absent from Obama's latest remarks is a disavowal of what he undeniably said. Because he clearly believes that. That's not good.

The guy went to Harvard Law School, was president of Law Review there. He's a United States Senator, and he's running for President. Jesus F'ing Christ, he must think he's better than we are.

Damn straight. After 8 years of a President who's dumber than a post, let's try someone who actually is smarter than the average American.

Socratic pigs, and all that.

Isn't "Nouveau Riche" a term that people who didn't suffer the indiginity of having to earn their own money use to denigrate people who did?

Is there a term out there that shows elitism more than "Nouveau Riche?" If so, I haven't heard it.

No one is saying that our President shouldn't be brighter than our average Joe. The question is "does he have to belittle them in the process?"

I like Obama but more than once in this contest, he's treated the working classes will a distinct lack of respect, which makes me feel like he just doesn't get it. His pie-in-the-sky rhetoric is so discordant with their everyday lives and what I find irritating being an SF local is that his views are very reflective of most Obama supporters.

"Obama lost the beer drinking vote. They must be 1. racist or 2. ignorant/stupid."

"Obama lost the Hispanic/Asian vote. They must be 1. racist or 2. ignorant/stupid."

I'm starting to see a pattern is that is disturbingly elitist and so out of touch with the majority of how Americans live.

He's a good guy, but let's not make excuses for him. Hanging out with your Pac Heights buddies and talking down to our "ignorant" folks is not the best strategy to get elected.

Harvard, Princeton, gosh.

Has Obama ever been able to explain "they cling to guns, cling to religion, to antipathy toward people different from them"?

No, because it's what he believes about Middle America. Clearly. It wasn't a typical smooth move. It was an inadvertant revalation of truth.

Good post but no, actually, he's not such a good guy. He is classist, intellectually elitist and a snob, and totally out of touch with the mass of the American electorate. If the Dems are not more careful in Denver in August and he ends up as the Dem. nominee, he is going to get CREAMED by John McCain.

We're watching the Philadelphia Debate right now & he has been evasive, elitist and intellectually dishonest from the first question until the current ones. He is a condescending snob who clearly believes he is superior to the electorate and a Constitutional law professor who would/might make a fine A.G. but certainly & definitely, NOT a good President. He isn't convincing anyone tonight, ioho. Last, if he is indeed gaining in PA over Sen. Clinton, it is ONLY because he is outspending her three or four to one.

Hillary In 2008 -- It's About Time!

Bravo.

Of course, you know I intend to vote for McCain. Hell or high water.

But a basic sense of fairness convinces me that Hillary's getting a raw deal. Also, that Obama's completely vulnerable in the general.

wdot = Wyoming Dept of Transportation?

Like TDOT here in TN ?

Of course, I do know that. And it's your prerogative. She is indeed getting a raw deal, not only on here but hugely more importantly, from the MSMedia. And yes, he is, totally & completely vulnerable. As I have posted before, somewhat crassly, Senator McCain is going to cream him in the General. We're watching him right now in the Philadelphia debate and he isn't doing well at all -- especially when (finally, finally, finally!) pushed to the wall about some of the really dumb things he has said. I do appreciate your basic sense of fairness, Urquhart.

As ever, "L."

p.s. I also appreciate your cutting sense of humor; it is so needed around here right now and so lacking. Connie.