“Obama and the hoi aristoi”
By SusanUnPC on July 3, 2008 at 9:10 AM in Barack Obama, Electability, Elitism, Hillary Clinton, Qualifications
Victor Davis Hanson offers up another quote-rich piece, “Obama and the hoi aristoi” at The Corner. Here are a few (it’s such a fun read, I wish I could just reprint it in full):
[...]
One paradox about the Obama campaign is that in terms of aggregate cash, most of his total donations are of the larger sort, and they tend to come from the informational, investment, and financial class that has done so well by globalization. … [W]hy such lop-sided support from these elites?
[...]
Many enjoying the good life worry that their own privilege in some sort of way comes at the expense of someone else, or they fret that their present lifestyle in ecological terms is hardly sustainable. That concern does not translate into much concrete action. SUVs (Mercedes rather than Yukons) are no rarer in Palo Alto than in Fresno, while such progressives are just as likely, or more so, to abandon the public schools, to keep their children out of East Palo Alto or away from the Redwood City ho polloi, and sent off to and on their way at elite prep and public schools. To sum up, Obama offers a reassuring sense of self-image: one can still maintain all the current mechanisms one is accustomed to in ensuring privilege, but visible support for Obama offers a sense of atonement and alleviation of guilt at rather modest cost. …
Somehow an Obama sticker, sign on the lawn, or a lapel button has become the equivalent of a crucifix around the neck of a prosperous 16th-century burgher: easy fides of inner good and a valuable totem in reconciling the apparent irreconcilable.
Ah yes, the allure of the pride that comes from feeling morally superior.
I vividly remember my early support for Hlillary Clinton.
Let’s just say it wasn’t the “fashionable” choice.
It should have been a “valuable totem”: Here I was supporting a rare female candidate for president and the first woman in U.S. history to win a primary contest.
I “tried on” the other candidates. Bill Richardson has quite a resume but, after I heard him stick his foot in his mouth a few times, he concerned me. Biden and Dodd remained possible choices.
I “tried on” John Edwards and liked what I heard, but was a bit concerned about the number of years in elected office, although I could visualize him having what it takes to sit in the Oval Office and make the hard choices.
I glanced at Barack Obama, but it was a no-brainer not to choose him. He didn’t have the experience or the qualifications, yet. And there was something about him that told me he didn’t have the guts to make the tough decisions a president must make.
So I stuck by my oddly unfashionable choice of Hillary Clinton.
For the first time I can remember, I had chosen to support a candidate for whom my admiration grew daily — and who didn’t end up embarrassing me.
Her knowledge blew me away. Her abilities to debate circles around the other candidates impressed me. And, the longer she ran, the more at ease she became with her audiences and the more clear it became that she truly, deeply cares about the people of this country, and the future of this country.
I’m so glad that Pagan Power posted the $20.08 Fourth of July pledge.
Hillary Clinton has helped more people in this country — in real ways.
Ask Alegre, who wrote a moving story here, “She Changes People’s Lives,” about how Hillary’s efforts paved the way for care for Alegre’s special little boy.
Ask MarkJay, whose powerful story I shared with you here, “Four Reasons, By a Father I’ve Come to Know.”
She’s earned our commitment through real deeds that have made a real difference.
She’s also earned our nomination as the Democratic party’s candidate for president.
I’ll grant you it’s not Rolling Stone-cool to support Hillary.
But it sure makes a lot more sense.
And I’m so relieved Hillary didn’t say that “Jay-Z and Ludacris were “great talents and great businessmen.” (Wait ’til you see Uppity Woman’s story this afternoon!)


















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