[Clemenza]

The contemporary right has stupidly been pushing the "anti-elitist" line since the Nixon days. Nixon used it as a political ploy, but many more dense individuals (including a certain conservative female radio host) actually believe it.

To be elite is to be the top of one's profession. Elitism used to be DEFENDED by the right, as an alternative to coarsness and incompetance of the masses.

The problem is that many of those folks the Right-populists identify as "elite" are, well, not "elite" at all. They are merely newsreaders, creative types, and barristers who while well educated, are not qualified to run a PTA meeting, let alone a country.

I think the issue is more resentment of snobbery. Let's not let the left hijack HIGH STANDARDS and RECOGNITION of superiority in performance and intellect just to satisfy some silly populist mythology.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> I think the issue is more resentment of snobbery. Let’s not let the left hijack HIGH STANDARDS and RECOGNITION of superiority in performance and intellect just to satisfy some silly populist mythology.

Impossible to argue against that, mate. Sometimes you say it brilliantly, and this is one of those times.

[cherry]

no....being an elitist simply means that you FEEL like you are superior, not that you actually are....

rich does not equal superior.....

[rlmorel]

I think you are mistaken. The author is using “elite” more along the lines of privilege and snobbery as you allude, and is not referring to high performance or achievement.

Among the Right (of which I consider myself) the adjective “elite” has two distinct and separate meanings depending on context, one pejorative, one praise.

This one was pejorative.