earendel wrote:
OK, I can see that - however in terms of issues, there wasn't much of a difference between Obama and Clinton, and there is a BIG difference between Obama and McCain, and between Clinton and Palin. I don't get the "elitism" charge (one off-hand remark does not an elitist make). The only thing I can figure is it's a gender thing. Which is OK, I guess, except that it seems to me that one should support the candidate that reflects one's personal views, irrespective of gender or race.
Obama's elitism, like that of many intellectual Democrats in general, does not stem from that one comment. Politicians always try to skewer their opponent by taking a single comment out of context and claiming it accurately reflects their opponent. If that comment fits with the general public perception of the politician, the meme sticks; if not, it doesn't.
Obama's whole attitude from the grandiose speeches to the Greek temple at the Democratic convention to his laughable "attempt" at bowling, smacks of elitism. Look at descriptions of his 2000 failed Congressional run and you will see how the voters rejected him for that reason. Obama strikes a lot of people as an arrogant elitist.
John McCain doesn't, which was why he could show up at a bikers get-together in South Dakota and seemingly fit right in. Obama could never pull that off (neither could Mitt Romney). McCain for all his money doesn't come off as elitist or condescending and Obama does.