heads of their class

by Sandra Kinne

Published: April 15, 2008

Oh good, we’re at the “out-of-touch,” elitist finger-pointing part of the presidential election. Are we right on track or ahead of schedule this year?

This year, instead of wind-sailing French speakers we’ve got an alleged gun-bashing, religion-knocking Barack Obama. “It’s not surprising then that (small town people) get bitter; they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations,” Obama said at a California fund-raiser last week as reported by blogger Mayhill Fowler.

With those remarks, Obama inadvertently raised the issue of class in our country. Rather than use this opening as an opportunity to discuss real issues of socio-economics, which are intrinsic to the realities of race, Hillary Clinton and John McCain have labeled Obama as elitist and out-of-touch with average Americans. Hillary’s used this as evidence that Obama can’t win in November, as though she can best identify with card-carrying union members who get dirt under their nails and calluses on their hand while pulling double shifts down at the mill.

Since leaving the White House, Bill and Hillary have made more than $109 million in speeches, book deals, stock options and consulting, along with her senator salary of $169,300. They’ve spent vacations on Martha’s Vineyard and in Hilton Head and own two homes, one in Washington, D.C., the other in Chappaqua. Those places aren’t exactly in Appalachia or the projects.

The family of John McCain’s wife, Cindy, owns a brewery distribution company, the value of which has helped McCain, a lifelong public servant, accumulate a net worth of $40 million. The McCains also own multiple homes in both Arizona and Arlington, Virginia, according to The Associated Press.

I’m not knocking McCain or the Clintons for their years of service to our country; it’s admirable and sets an example for Americans. I don’t criticize them for being successful; I’d love to have one of their book deals or paychecks. What I am dismissing, however, is their complete patronization of “average Americans.” It’s not as though either of them are working two jobs, worried about their mortgage, or wondering how they’re going to feed their children on minimum wage salaries.

Sure, Obama’s somewhat out of touch. Let’s be honest. He lives in a $1.6 million home, probably doesn’t honestly remember the last time he went grocery shopping for his family, and he likely hasn’t driven himself – and thus filled up the gas tank to take in the sticker shock first-hand – since he was elected to the U.S. Senate. But, he’s no different than McCain or Hillary in that regard. Obama may be in the upper-class now, but it wasn’t so long ago that he and his wife wrote their last check to pay off their student loans or wondered how to get by on a community organizer’s salary. (It’s called the non-profit sector for a reason.)

They’re all somewhat out of touch, which is detrimental. If our representatives can’t relate to those they represent, how will they ever do what’s in our best interest?. We need them to be in touch with us, to visit our grocery stores and neighborhoods, to have town halls and teas at the senior citizens’ homes. We need them to know the cost of a gallon of milk and a gallon of gas and that sometimes, when the paycheck’s a bit short, we have to choose which gallon we need more that week.

But, we also need them to be somewhat elite. We need them to be better than us because, by the very nature of the position of President of the United States, we expect them to be better than us. It’s not as though we want someone who’s ill-prepared, unqualified, or incompetent in the position. Really, eight years of George W. Bush is enough.

Mediocrity is an antonym for elitism, and after 8 years of sub-mediocrity, I’d like a president who’s articulate, intelligent and has cultural awareness. That’s not going to come from mediocrity. We’re going to get that from well-educated, well-read, well-traveled individuals. If that comes with a bit of elitism, so be it. I’d rather we admit to having a leader who’s a bit elitist than continue the mirage of a president who’s in touch with us because he clears brush and drives a pick-up truck on his ranch. I’ve had enough of an Ivy-league educated, multi-millionaire who thinks he’s an average American; it’s time for an Ivy-league educated millionaire who knows he (or she if it really comes down to that option) is not average.

All three presidential candidates are elitists, and all three are out of touch with the average American. The sooner they realize this, the sooner they can get to work on policies to help the rest of us afford million-dollar homes and vacations on Martha’s Vineyard.

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