When did "elite" become a bad word?

Americans are a funny bunch. We like to claim that we are the best, richest and most powerful country in the world. We say that our form of government is the best and that our way of life is second to none.

That is the textbook definition of the word "elite." Don't believe me? Here you go:

From the American Heritage Dictionary:

elite (ĭ-lēt', ā-lēt')
n. pl. elite or elites

1. a. A group or class of persons or a member of such a group or class, enjoying superior intellectual, social, or economic status.

b. The best or most skilled members of a group.

A US Army Ranger is an elite soldier. Special Forces units are considered elite.

So, we Americans seem to like the term "elite" . . . as long as it doesn't apply to our President. For our President, we seem to want the "average Joe," or the guy we can "have a beer with."

Am I the only one here who seems to have a problem with this? Our president is the Commander In Chief of our armed forces, speaks for our interests around the world, meets and negotiates with foreign leaders, leads our country in times of war and conflict, directs economic and social policies, influences world affairs, and is the embodiment of America as seen by nations around the world.

For this we want "Joe President?" We want an "average" guy? What happened to the best of the best? Why does the "best" apply to our soldiers, athletes and businesspeople but not our President?

The American Heritage Dictionary defines "elitism" as: "The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources."

So, when Barack Obama says something that speaks to his education and experience, people will say that he's being "elitist." And your problem with this is. . .what exactly? Do we NOT want our President to be the MOST educated, have the BEST judgment, have the SMARTEST ideas, be the MOST brilliant and creative, and have the SHARPEST mind? And isn't this person, this "elite" the BEST choice to lead the nation?

Does Donald Trump pick the most modest, the most humble, the most self deprecating person to be his "Apprentice?" HELL NO, he doesn't! He picks the sharpest, strongest, smartest, most driven, most resourceful person of the group.

Oh, so your problem is that he actually DEMONSTRATES how smart he is? You're all afraid that his head will get too big? That by educating himself he is somehow "out of touch" with the needs of "real" Americans? So the schools, colleges and universities in America, some of which are considered the best in the world, somehow brainwash their students to forget their humble beginnings, forget where they came from and take on a new "elitist" persona, right? All that book learnin' done gone and made him one of them thar ee-lee-tists.

I blame all of this on this recent fad of what I call "new averageism." It started in the schools when we celebrated EVERYONE for being "special." Everyone gets a gold star! We don't keep score in our games anymore - we do it for fun! There are no "losers" and "winners" because EVERYONE is special in their own way! No goals to reach, no people to look up to, no competition.

Whoever came up with this dreck needs to be shot through the head. Shot through the head by one of our elite military sharp shooters.

I want the best of the best - the elite - to be the president. "Next Door Joe" can fix my car.

Barack Obama For President

I used to like John McCain. I used to like him a lot. In fact, if John McCain were the Republican nominee back in 2000, there was a very good chance I would have voted for him.

Unfortunately, he didn't become the nominee. George W. Bush did. Republicans decided that it was more important to have a president that they could "have a beer with" than a straight talking no-nonsense "maverick."

John McCain called it like he saw it, whether it was popular or not, whether it was in the interest of the party or not. He was an independent conservative who wasn't afraid to vote with the Democrats when the need arose. He was a man that I could have easily supported.

Eight years later, John McCain is again running for president, only this time, he's not the same John McCain. The independent conservative? Gone. The "maverick?" Gone. The man I used to support? Gone.

John McCain took one giant step to the right and lost my support. Instead of calling it like he sees it, he started speaking the party line. Instead of telling the truth, he started telling falsehoods and outright lies. John McCain became the very politician that he used to speak out against. "Straight talk" morphed into Republican Party propaganda - the same old fear-based politics that Republicans turn to when things get tough. They've got nothing else, so they try to scare people into voting for them.

You hear it every four years: Democrats will raise your taxes, wimp out on defense, inflate government, spend money on pork, un-balance the budget, steal your babies, destroy the moral fabric of society and basically bring the world to an end. This fear is so pervasive that I've actually witnessed Republicans openly weeping when Bill Clinton was elected - terrified that their way of life was about to become Hell on earth. It's a mindset that doesn't allow for in-between, shades of grey, or "maybe." It's "yes or no," "black or white," " good or evil," "us or them," etc. And while there ARE certain things in life that follow that pattern, MOST things do not.

The nail in the coffin for my support for John McCain was his pick for VP. It was a blatant grab for the base of ultra-conservative voters who really don't care who is running for president, as long as they're Republican. Issues? They don't care. Who tells the truth? They don't care. As long a she's "one of us," they'll support her.

I'm registered as "Independent," and I honestly try to look at both points of view when it comes election time. I also believe that this country would completely fall apart if it were run by just Democrats or just Republicans. Each party needs the other. America needs to be able to stand firm and unwavering when necessary, and America also needs to bend and be flexible and understanding when necessary.

I used to see both of those qualities in John McCain. At times steadfast, at times flexible. Now I've seen him throw his hat in the ring with the completely inflexible, unwavering, unchanging and unapologetic crowd. I've seen him tell outright lies. I've seen him come out against legislation THAT HE WROTE. I've seen him do a complete 180 on his own positions on everything from the war in Iraq to offshore drilling.

I've seen the hypocritical nature of his party and the dirty underhanded tactics they will use to get their nominee elected. They view it as nothing less than a war for the future of the country. I've seen preachers broadcasting their sermons on the Internet saying that Barack Obama is the Anti Christ and will bring about the destruction of the world. Seriously.

I'm sorry, Mr. McCain, but you are not a man that I can support, and frankly, your party frightens me.

Instead of fear from John McCain and the Republicans, I hear a message of hope, peace and prosperity from Barack Obama. I hear of energy independence, clean air and water, economic prosperity, affordable healthcare for everyone and world leadership through cooperation and trust instead of intimidation. After 8 years of trying to either intimidate or just plain ignore hostile governments, the Bush administration is doing exactly what Barack Obama said we should be doing: talking to them. Funny how Barack Obama was viewed as a traitor for even suggesting the very thing that George Bush is now doing.

Instead of outright lies, I hear reasoned debate. Instead of pandering, I see a reasoned and thoughtful choice for running mate. Instead of the same old dreck, I see a real chance for progress in America.

Go Barack.