"Elitism" in politics

This post was written by 21st Century Fellow Ellen Austin

The theme of elitism has been contested throughout the presidential campaign, most notably with allegations by the McCain-Palin campaign that Senator Obama is an elitist who can’t relate to the American people, and thus, won’t be able to address their problems. While the term elitist does suggest a disconnect with the average person, Senator McCain is in no position to accuse Senator Obama of economic elitism, as his seven houses demonstrate.

Intellectual elitism, however, is another matter. Senator Obama is an intellectual elite, with a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, a J.D. from Harvard Law School magna cum laude, and having been the first African-American editor of the Harvard Law Review. His resume is impressive. I’m just not sure when or how this became a liability rather than an advantage in the political arena.

In contrast, Senator McCain graduated very close to the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy. Governor Palin attended five different institutions before receiving her bachelor’s degree. For the past eight years, we have had a president that many Americans would like to have a beer with, but surely did not sit in the front row of his classes. Clearly, if they are able to frame academic achievement as a negative, the intellectual elitist argument works to the Republican’s advantage. However, the nation certainly has not benefited from the lack of intellectual prowess in the White House, and it is difficult to see how that would be any different under a McCain-Palin administration.

The next president will need to confront a myriad challenges that demand a nuanced understanding of a large number of issues and the ability to thoughtfully consider options and ideas. Governor Palin has come under attack from the “liberal elite” for a general lack of understanding of any of the issues that our nation is currently facing, but many people have been quoted as saying they are enthusiastic supporters because they can closely relate to her, because they believe “she is just like me.”

I think we all want to feel as though our elected officials have an understanding of our concerns and the issues that are important in the lives of ordinary Americans, but I do not want an ordinary American in the White House. The office of the president is not designed to be occupied by someone who has no more than a superficial understanding of the issues and ideas that our nation faces. I want a president that knows more than I do, and possesses the greatest possible qualifications for the most difficult job in the country, even if that does mean being an elitist.