Fun with linguisitcs: Elite
The GOP is doing it again, raising up the word "elite" as alleged evidence that this country is divided into two camps: people who think they are too good for everyone else and the Repubicants.
Let's review.
As linguist Geoff Nunberg postulates in the piece linked above, Obama is "elite"—even though he was born to a teen mother, had an absentee father, was on food stamps, and had a scholarship to attend middle school and high school—because he actually "paid attention" at Harvard.
John McCain, son of an Admiral, raised among a privileged Washington DC set, graduate of West Point: not elite.
The media, for vetting a Vice Presidential candidate that her running mate apparently didn't have the time nor the inclination to do thoroughly: elite.
Cindy McCain, with her $300,000 ensemble that she wore on Day 1 of the RNC: not elite.
John McCain's eight houses: not elite
Cindy McCain's net worth of about $100 million, which provides private jets and a luxurious lifestyle: not elite.
You're elite if you are a black man (or half-black man) who went an Ivy League school.
You aren't elite if, while earing 6 carats worth of diamonds and/or flying in a private jet you use the following words: Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR, Jesus, my friends, field dressing, hunting (but only if you drop the final /g/.) Get it?
America, don't be so stupid.
A little off topic, but even Dooce blogged about politics today: http://www.dooce.com/2008/09/04/and-boom
And this whole elitism garbage is just that: garbage.
Posted by: Nicole | September 04, 2008 at 02:47 PM
You mean... I am ELITE!?
Oh my word. It's time to celebrate. Somebody break out the red plastic cups and dixie plates, we're eating FANCY tonight!
Posted by: Cant Hardly Wait | September 04, 2008 at 02:47 PM
The republican party is praying on the ignorance of Americans. I'm not talking about stupidity, I'm talking about lack of education when it comes to politics. So yeah, as far as a lot of people know, Obama is an elite muslim and that's all they care to know.
Posted by: Natalie | September 04, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Candidate who cares about the working class and supports the collective over the few: elite.
Candidate who only cares about the wealthy few instead of the downtrodden many: Not elite.
Fun game.
Posted by: Amy@UWM | September 05, 2008 at 04:59 PM