What is the liberal elite?

Politics International Politics
1

Being a Canadian, I am still confused by some of the terminology being used in the US elections. recently, on another post, I had patterns of voting explained by a concept described as ‘the liberal elite’. In particular, I had the fact that members of identified professional groups, such as lawyers, investment bankers, professors (regardless of what they teach), etc. identified as ‘liberal elites’. this occurred in a discussion of their overwhelming and increasing support for the Democratic Party.

Who are the ‘liberal elite’? And how can I identify an occupation as belonging to this group? Can I only identify such a group after I know they vote Democrat? Could I be a ‘liberal elite’ and not even know it?

2

What’s the liberal elite frequent flyer miles program like? Can I get into airport lounges with a liberal elite card?

I think they mean the Kennedys.

HG

3

Just a term of derision used for those who:

a. don’t believe in granting blanket authority to the Commander in Chief to wage war on any nation that he sees fit, regardless of the reasons for launching such invasions (ie., the liberal elite would deign to question the judgment of the CIC during a time of war, giving support to our enemies), and/or

b. believe there are times when reasonable limitations should be imposed on the raping and pillaging of the environment in order to conserve resources, protect endangered species, and/or save the planet from imminent destruction, and/or

c. believe the U.S. Constitution is a sacred document that should not be desecrated by a bunch of yahoos who would amend it to ban flag-burning and the like, and/or

d. believe the framers of the Constitution meant it when they included provisions banning unlawful searches and seizures and the like and the U.S. is better off if those protections remain intact and are not eroded by short-sighted, overreaching acts by Congress and the President, and/or

e. believe in other faggy notions other than those subscribed to by god-fearing, church-going, truck-driving, Bud-drinking, terrorist-hating, troop supporting, pro-life (except when it comes to the death penalty) blue-collar, hard-working, born in the U.S.A. Americans.

God bless America :America: and may He protect us from the pansy liberal elites.

4

Is this for real? I can’t tell if it’s real or someone making fun Republicans.

But assuming it is real, I am still confused. I don’t mean a description of the stereotype of any given ‘liberal elite’. I mean how would I identify members of this elite? I doubt there many groups whose entire membership believes this. I suspect there might be anarchist groups or religious fundamentalist who hold these views collectively. Would that make them members of this elite just because they hold these views collectively? I suspect there are very large numbers of Americans, perhaps a majority, who believe one or one of these points without endorsing all of them. But it would hardly make sense to call such a large number an elite.

Is this term a synonym for educated, urban people? As I’ve mentioned, it’s a well-known fact that higher income predisposes one to vote Republican. Could one vote Republican and still be a liberal elite? Does this term refer to Democrats who are slightly better educated than you and me (or at least you)?

What I want is a description of how I would know that either (a) all lawyers are members of the liberal elite, or (b) or which lawyers - and not blue-collar workers with the same beliefs - are members of this elite.

5
  • Favors tighter gun control laws
  • Favors diplomacy over big-stick, pre-emptive strikes
  • Believes in a woman’s right to choose
  • Believes in preserving the constitutional protections against unlawful searches and seizures
  • Believes in reasonable laws to protect the environment, based on real science
  • Believes drill-baby-drill won’t solve the world’s energy problems

Presumably the type of person who harbors such radical beliefs is likely to be a spoiled, sheltered, pointy-headed wus who attended an ivy league school, reads the NY Times, wears dockers and penny loafers, inherited millions from mummy and daddy and has never performed manual labor in his life. Or so the cliche goes.

Is that about right TC?

6

If you’ve ever lost a passenger while crossing a bridge on the Chappaquiddick, or indeed any member of your extended family has, you probably qualify.

Actually, MT did a good job for you. Here’s what wiki has to say:

[quote]In the United States the term liberal elite is used to describe affluent, politically left-leaning people. It is commonly used with the pejorative implication that members of the liberal elite adopt lifestyles and opinions out of step with the leftist views that they advocate.
[/quote]

HG

7

That’s right, HG.
It’s just a way to appeal to the unwashed masses. It’s not a term that can be defined explicitly. It’s a way to say, “They are not one of us. We are regular folks. They are not.”

8

Thanks. All this makes it so much more clear to me.

It’s just that there is vast amount of data showing rich people vote Republican. How do I know that if it’s the (minority) Democrat-voting rich or the (majority) Republican-voting rich who are out-of-step with the majority who are non-rich Democrat-voting?

9

This is Mitt Romney’s take, with some commentary:

[quote]“For decades, the Washington sun has been rising in the East - Washington has been looking to the eastern elites, to the editorial pages of the Times and the Post, and to the broadcasters from the coast,” Mitt Romney said Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention. “If America really wants change, it’s time to look for the sun in the west, cause it’s about to rise and shine from Arizona and Alaska!”

This would Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, as Eastern a state as they come, cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School.

He flung the “L word,” that would be liberal as an invective.
He painted a picture of fear, of a nation besieged by liberal influences including, if you believe it, the Supreme Court.
What Washington is Mitt Romney talking about here?

"But let me ask you, what do you think Washington is right now, liberal or conservative? Is a Supreme Court liberal or conservative that awards Guantanamo terrorists with constitution rights? It’s liberal! Is a government liberal or conservative that puts the interests of the teachers union ahead of the needs of our children? It’s liberal!
"Is a Congress liberal or conservative that stops nuclear power plants and off-shore drilling, making us more and more dependent on Middle East tyrants? – It’s liberal!

"Is government spending - excluding inflation - liberal or conservative if it doubles since 1980? – It’s liberal!
“We need change all right, change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington, throw out the big government liberals and elect John McCain!”

This goes down as the wiftiest convention speech of recent memory, a staunch Republican painting George Bush’s Washington and the John Roberts-Sam Alito-Antonin Scalia court as liberal.
Now, former presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckbee is attacking the “elite,” something the wealthy Romney is in no postition to do.[/quote]
philly.com/philly/blogs/popu … emory.html

Truly bizarre for the Republicans who have dominated US politics in recent years (including the Presidency for the last 8 years, and 20 of the last 28 years) to be talking about this “liberal elite” that apparently controls Washington. Romney mentions government spending has doubled since 1980 as evidence of a liberal Washington! Were Reagan, Bush senior, and Bush junior also a part of this “liberal elite” then?

And for a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School, a multimillionaire businessman, and former Governor of Massachusetts to talk about a US “elite” that he is somehow outside of is no less bizarre. The only thing I don’t understand is how he was ever elected as Governor of such a liberal state, given his apparent disdain for liberals.

10

I’ve always been puzzled by this term. Traditionally, the “elite” are the rich, upper-class members of society: the wealthy and powerful business magnates and politicos who tend to vote (or be) Republican.

I see it as another example of projection. Projection (ascribing to others the traits that exemplify oneself) is a common trait among those on the far right.

11

An elitist is someone who is richer or smarter or better-looking than you.

OK, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad. Can everybody starting addressing me as an elitist?

12

They know what it is to Mau Mau the Flack-Catchers

They subscribe the The New Yorker and have an account at Sherry Lehman

13

And quite possibly spent a portion of their youth in French sailor outfits. :laughing:

HG

14

I believe that should read “if you’ve ever lost a pregnant passenger while crossing a bridge on the Chappaquiddick, called a family member to try and get them to cover your ass, not reported the incident for hours and hours afterwards, and then used your family connections to avoid responsibility” :smiling_imp:

15

Alternatively, you know you’re neither liberal or elite if the very mention of a fatal traffic accident that occurred more than forty years ago and to people you didn’t know still causes you to rant about it it in public. :laughing:

HG

16

Rich media connected socialites who vote Democratic, or even worse…

17

[quote=“Huang Guang Chen”]Alternatively, you know you’re neither liberal or elite if the very mention of a fatal traffic accident that occurred more than forty years ago and to people you didn’t know still causes you to rant about it it in public. :laughing:

HG[/quote]

Member of the elite? Hell no and proud of it. :laughing: More elite than you? Hell yes. Being born in Perth and attending the second-rate ANU. Now, compared to that, I’m in the stratosphere looking down. :wink:

18

Hey! I was not born in West Oz. I was born in the east in a place I dare not mention and treated like a wog by the West Oz locals because of it. And the ANU is ranked number 16 among the world’s universities, dude. Although, I can’t claim that has anything to do with me. I wouldn’t know or care about this fact other than I happened to read it this morning.

I prefer Chardonnay socialist, as I believe this better describes my political goal for the unwashed lumpen proletariat to at least have decent wine on their grubby little dinner tables.

HG

19

[quote=“Huang Guang Chen”]Hey! I was not born in West Oz. I was born in the east in a place I dare not mention and treated like a wog by the West Oz locals because of it. And the ANU is ranked number 16 among the world’s universities, dude. Although, I can’t claim that has anything to do with me. I wouldn’t know or care about this fact other than I happened to read it this morning.

I prefer Chardonnay socialist, as I believe this better describes my political goal for the unwashed lumpen proletariat to at least have decent wine on their grubby little dinner tables.

HG[/quote]

Mine’s number one in the world for social sciences. What’s next? Comparing penis sizes or the number of ladies we’ve slept with? :laughing: Where were you born? South Australia? I lived in Magill for two years growing up. You’re an Alexander Downer type of Oz then with a fancy “ponce” accent? :smiling_imp: Why the self loathing then?

20

One senses you must have been quite a disappointment to their otherwise notable reputation. It never ceases to amaze me how often those granted such seemingly grand opportunities can squander them with such banality in their later lives. :laughing:

No competition from me. It was you that raised the university thing. I consider university time as mostly irrelevant. What really matters is what you get up to after your official period of schooling, no matter how long or short that may be. Indeed I must confess to the great pleasure it brings me ramming this point home to job seeking graduates of the world’s supposed top universities. I like to see the flash of hurt and “this isn’t fair” flash across their often pampered little eyes.

Nope, further east than Downer (the man’s hometown, not the electorate). It was an accident. I’ve spent all of two days there in my life, indeed only the first two days, and yet I’ve had to write the fucking place name down on a zillion forms ever since as if it meant something.

HG