The comment made by the CNN guy (
You just lost most of the audience .... as regards the engineer's references to
F=ma, etc.) reveals two basic truths about these types: (1) letters, to them, are simply to be strung together to
deceive the masses (any other use of them even in elementary algebra is incomprehensible), and (2) they speak for all of us (their view of anything represents the view of
most of the audience).
The terms haughty, condescending, and arrogant come to mind. (Not to mention unjustifiably. :)