What does “Democrat Elitism “ mean exactly?

I think "Democratic elitism" is a phrase the GOP has used to demonize any type of education, knowledge or success obtained by their political enemies.

Politicians on the right with Ivy League educations will demonize academic institutions as sources of liberal indoctrination. Wealthy Republicans will talk about elitist democrats being out of touch with the average American while asking their supporters to ignore the many commas in their own net worth.

Trump, with his literally gilded penthouse in the sky, is the best example of this. Grew up rich, attended Ivys (and sent his children there), surrounds himself with the privileged..

But his supporters will tell you he's an every man.

It's one of the most breathtaking examples of cognitive dissonance in our history as a country.

IMO, it also includes the stuff like the arugula controversy. While touring a farm in Iowa, Obama mentioned the price of arugula at Whole Foods, and it went from there. Which is part of why the Dr. Oz crudites thing was picked up as fast as it was.

You could not be more correct. I am a first-generation college student from parents who were first-generation high school grads. My dad had a lifetime addiction disorder and PTSD and my mother was afraid to leave the house. I grew up in farm town. But I am the Democratic Elite because I clawed my way out of that to Ivy League schools and am a professor, while Mr. Man of the People urinated millions into a gilded toilet.

I am so tired, y'all.

How many times just on this board did you call Trump a liar?

How many times have you called Biden a liar?
Here, I'll start you off with the first one, taken from this last week.

Biden Claims Son Beau 'Lost His Life in Iraq




Beau Biden died in 2015 from brain cancer. I remember it very well. I read the news, looked up and told my sister and she later went to his funeral. (Delaware's a small state.)

Trump misspoke often, according to his supporters. And let's remember, Biden has a verified speech impediment and has never claimed to be the greatest at anything. Unlike Trump. Shall we enumerate Trump's numerous gaffes, mistakes and folksy errors?

Also, what does this have to do with the charges of democratic elitism?

I think it matters who you are, and where you are, and who you're talking with.

I recently met a high school friend of my SO. Turns out, friend is married to a girl my SO dated (super briefly) in HS. In other words, they all grew up together, in a town, that isn't considered a "good town" in our state. We live a few towns over now. In fact, often, in a dive bar, it's considered a badge of honor. Well, we were having a beautiful dinner in a restaurant that not one person in my entire extended family would have ever gone to, on a random Saturday night. They were reminiscing, and the phrase, "We grew up on the other side of the tracks" came up. I couldn't help myself. I said, hah- you guys had tracks somewhere in your town, we had no tracks. Still don't.

To this day, my SO has only been to my hometown (where my family still resides) one time, several years ago. I felt the need to prep him, and he was still absolutely surprised, and I don't think he's digested it yet. I haven't pushed for him to go back, and honestly, I'd prefer he didn't. I don't live close to my hometown, at all, and my kids haven't been in quite a while. (Quite a while best defined by them and their cousin are no longer defined by the kid table type holiday setting.) I took my son and daughter back to visit last spring, and it was completely different for them than they remembered. Funny thing, it was the same. Not different. They are just old enough to see alot of lines and unspoken truths.

The last few years, I avoid these subjects, alot, around here. I'm sure I don't have to describe why lol

I've lived in some very charmed places after I left my hometown. Great college towns, liberal states, not liberal states, not college towns. I drive past (one) of Elizabeth Warren's homes regularly. I know where she comes from. And, these days, I travel in the outskirts of her circle. I've been to a wedding and a Christmas party she came to. I promise you. My SO grew up about an hour from there, in a place people still look down on. He thought he knew what it meant to be getting by as a kid. To "come from nothing", and he was absolutely blown away by what poor means when he saw it where I'm from and with my own family. And, when he visited, everyone had power and water. Everyone had groceries. There were several appliances not working, but they are crafty and get by.

To me? Democrat Elitism isn't a phrase I would use. But I have strong feelings of what it would tell me. It would be similar to a politician that styles himself as Scranton Joe. Who left when he was 10. My kids only visited my home town til they were about 17 and 14 regularly, and had a couple short, "curated" visits after they'd gotten older. What they saw on this last visit was completely different.

I am also "from" Western PA. Somewhat. My family is there, I went to HS there, but left right after. Scranton had very nice tracks. Wilmington, Delaware even nicer. But it is styled that he identifies as a "Scranton guy." Elizabeth Warren understands the needs of people outside her world. It's these social problems and perspective that they pretend (honestly, that they likely prepped) they understand by talking to one or two people struggling "blessed enough" to be in their presence, somewhere.

Let me tell you. I had to drag it out of my sister that their water had been shut off. The things they were doing to get by would break your heart. The only reason I found out is she was worried I'd come for Thanksgiving and it's hard to hide the water is shut off with jugs from the laundromat when prep and dinner dishes need done.

Democrat elitism is what makes it so short term solutions to generational problems get a band aid and it's considered a victory (student loans looking at YOU!!!) Democrat elitism is platitudes and pretending that they want everyone to have a "fair shake" and perpetuating the myth that they understand and actually care. Meanwhile, their net-worth is sky rocketing, while the rest of their constituents (and neighbors) are drowning in rising rents and being unable to afford to live and work in the same community. Pointing across the aisle, or at anyone else, really, and claiming that they are unfairly benefitting, from something- anything, to keep the spotlight off their own turkey in the handbag at Thanksgiving.

It's pretending that their education is any different that the education of conservatives (source: upthread.) Pretending that they (the majority) would give up one minute of their country club membership and benefits any less than any Republican to benefit someone else. The condescension and superiority over people -exactly like them- but with a different letter after their name, is what really gets me.

And educated people believe it. Just as much as "uneducated" (but also educated (?)) people believe they are the real deal. You know, different than those dirty R's... because, well, they aren't as honest about it.

So, to take this full circle, many of the "Democrat Elites" that I personally have no R or D behind their name. They have lots of other titles, but it seems to be a sense of superiority is what it boils down to.

YMMV

Covfefe

Elizabeth Warren did actually come from the working class. She gets it. The fact that she's wealthy now isn't as relevant. She grew up with very little and was a single, working mom. One of the many reasons I preferred her as a candidate to Biden.

I'm curious why you would label anyone "Democrat(ic) Elites" when they don't - as you say - have an R or D behind their name. Aren't those just snobby, entitled people who look down on others? Doesn't it cross political lines? Why give it a political name, then?

I hear what you're saying about NIMBY Democrats who don't want the poor/working class in their communities (it's more nuanced than that, talking about views and property values, but that's the upshot). That frustrates me, too. I guess I just wonder if you respect the Republicans more because they're upfront about it? Ted Cruz lives in a big house in the fanciest part of Houston. His kids go to the most expensive private school in the city. I guarantee you he doesn't want the poor and working class moving into his neighborhood or his kids' school. But he's not "elitist" because he doesn't even pretend to be otherwise, I guess? Doesn't make sense to me.

I think the big difference between Biden and TWITLER is that Biden will admit he messed up while TWITLER would double down and add more lies to whatever the current lie he got caught saying.