Political Punch

I am sick and tired of hearing people complain about Obama's "elitism", however you want to define the word. You are NOT going to go out for beers with the president. The president doesn't need to be someone you want to kick back and watch the Super Bowl with. The president of the United States DOES need to be intelligent, informed, and articulate, however. Would it really be so bad to have a president who isn't a complete embarrassment? It is that kind of reasoning, that fear of a president who might (you imagine) think he's better than you that has caused us to elect complete morons to lead our country. Wise up, folks. You're not voting for a new best friend, you're choosing a LEADER.

Watching McCain speak is like watching a stroke in slow-motion.

And of course the greatest irony of all: who was the beneficiary of affirmative action? The bottom-of-his-class legacy boy, that's who. Just what we need, another GOP C-Plus Augustus.

Corrected version:
"And since when is having legitimately *married into* money a crime in America?"

Fixed it for you. And by the way, have a look at *how* he married into it. Your boy gingriched his first wife to trade up to the Paris Hilton model.

Thanks Jake. Hopefully the rest of the media will wake up from their John McCain fantasies enough to start pointing these things out.

McCain just lost - to Paris Hilton...

Are you talking about the guy who wears $560 a pair shoes, bought and paid for by his wife's trust fund?

Being a celebrity seems like a better qualification for President than having been a POW. Especially when you're a celebrity for inspiring people with a new agenda for America...It's a shame McCain's constant tv and movie appearances didn't actually lead to real celebrity.

A few comments: It's become standard practice to accept McCain's flaws as making him more genuine, While Obama's are some kind of fatal greek tragedy waiting to happen. I think the Republicans need to wake up and realize that the more they try to rationalize people like McCain, the less they'll be able to contain their excesses, which reflect poorly on them and their politics.

Second, let me speak to something: McCain's not the smartest, nor the most decent candidate in the world. He has problems. But the Forrestal fire was not his responsibility.

The fire was started because

a) a safety pin had been removed from another jet's Zuni rocket pod,

b)the plug that powered the pod, which is supposed to be left out until it is put on the runway (where the rocket will safely go out to sea if accidentally fired) was plugged in, and

c)a problem with the electrical system sent a surge through the circuit going to the rockets when the pilot switched to internal power from the outside generator. This caused the firing.

It was McCain's jet that was hit, resulting in a fuel fire and the dropping of two WWII bombs. McCain barely got out alive from that.

I don't like him much, but I like the truth just fine, and can live with him not being responsible for every disaster he was involved in.

At last this gets some notice.

John and Cindy McCain have a $100+ million dollar fortune, houses all over the place, private jets, and John McCain has so many appearances in movies and on tv shows.

Distorting facts like John McCain's campaign is doing is disheartening, and represents a deep lack of character.

Furthermore, even as he complains about getting less news coverage than Barack Obama, John McCain shmoozes the media to avoid focusing on these areas.

Why can't we get the facts out and let people make up their own minds when they see the enormous McCain wealth and celebrity?

And of course, Cindy McCain was able to elude prosecution for her drug crimes. How many are sitting in prison for the same thing Cindy McCain did? Does John McCain support leniency for all them too? Is anyone asking?

This is like the San Francisco mayoral race a couple of years back. Gavin Newsom, whose mom worked three jobs to support him and who went to college on a partial scholarship and student loans, was painted as the blueblood elitist, while his opponent Matt Gonzalez, whose dad was an executive at B&W tobacco and who went to Columbia and Stanford Law, was made out to be the true populist. Newsom won.

Thank you, Jake! You're one of few in the media who has bothered to point this fact of 'celebrity' out. Nice work.

You left out a big one...

Which Senator announced his candidacy on Letterman?

Which presidential candidate has reporters gushing and fawning over him, bringing him coffee and donuts just how he likes them?

Which presidential candidate holds BBQ at one of his several homes with reporters and journalists flocking to get in line, so they can kiss up to him?

If that isn't celebrity treatment, I don't know what is.

McCain's The Daily Show's most-frequent guest - 13 times!

John McCain has been sucking at the government's teat all his life. His birth was paid for by taxpayers, and thnaks to preferential action he received a fully paid for college education at the taxpayer's expense. He then received a coveted slot as a pilot in the Military, and after he was released from captivity, a life time disaiblity pension was approved for him even though he was capable enough to be elected to one of the highest government positions.

What other than being a prisoner-of war has McCain accomplished in his life?

Who wears $520 italian shoes?

For the intelligent ones, For those that can rise above party affiliation, be the judge - whose is elitist between Obama and Mccain? Who has lived the life of an elite all his life?

McCain had NOTHING to do with the disaster on the aircraft carrier.He was an
innocent bystander,whom happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
OBAMA is fraud, a fake and a dangerous individual.I would gladly have accepted Hillary as President and I despise her husband.

This is too easy --- you forgot the $500 Italian loafers -- Great Job!!
Could it be that this is be nice to McCain week -- even when he falls on his face, pick him up and tell him his great!!

Jake,

great piece. I think you should also write about McCain's temper problem. 3 of his GOP Senate colleagues (Domenici, Smith and Cochran) have already gone on record saying that he is unfit to be President.

This is hte paradox of this campaign. The self made man, who did it entirely on his own, who wrote his own books without a ghostwriter, who chose grass roots community service over a prestigious clerkship or Wall Street law firm job, who was the president of the Harvard law review when he was a student, and whose parents died when he was a child is characterized as the elitist, and the guy who was a son and a grandson of Admirals, who screwed and drank and partied his way through the Naval Academy (just like a certain President whose middle name begins with a Dubya, except he did it in college -- he wasn't Naval Academy material, and his daddy wasn't an admiral) and never would have gotten into the Academy had he not been an Admiral's son, who wrecked several jets and quite possibly caused a major aircraft carrier accident during Vietnam, who committed serial adultery and then abandoned his invalid wife to marry into one of hte richest families in Arizona, and who wears $510 Italian shoes, is hte ordinary Joe.

The Corporate Media in this Country is a disgrace. Go serve your corporate masters. They pay your salaries, they fund your corporate dividends and you don't care how many lies you tell, as long as the advertisers are happy, you're happy. There is no line between news and opinion, serious and entertainment . . . . just a few days ago, the an Inspector General's report consluded that Monica Goodling had committed crimes in politicizing the hiring of career attorneys at DoJ, and Wolf Blitzer's story was that an Inspector General's report "suggested" that crimes "may have been" committed. It didn't "suggest" that crime "may have" been committed. It concluded that they had.

When does this coverrup of GOP crimes end? When will you people start doing your jobs? It's supposed to be the fourth estate, not for the state. Sheesh.

Bravo! This is what I call real journalism and real analysis.

QUOTE
It is about a lack of humility--acting as if you are smarter, richer, better than other people. Sticking your nose in the air, acting smug, thinking you know it all, unwilling to admit mistakes.

I don't see that in McCain or his wife even though they are rich.

QUOTE

You my friend are obviously NOY from Arizona where the McCains are seen as far from the average person.

And just an FYI...Obama is very good at admitting his mistakes...go look up his quotes on the gas tax holiday he voted for in Illionois...it was a mistake which he readily admits now and refuses to let happen again

Who wears $500+ Italian shoes? And Obama is an elitist?

I bet everyone will be blaming Obama when we all have to live with the consequences of what our last president did to our country over the last eight years; won't you?

What's done is done and now we get to try to pick up all the pieces and try to make things better.

I'd like to have someone pick up the pieces who has been where I am instead of someone who has been living the high life and bought his way into politics in the first place.

Nice :) Now just take on this tired "arrogant" meme and we'll have some balance.

Well done, Jake Tapper. Thanks for being honest and cutting through the clutter with this simple refutation to a tired, tired anti-Obama talking point. Republicans need to wake up from 8+ years of Faux News delusion.

That's 1%

Keep up the good work.

Jake,

Much appreciated. Keep up the good work. The truth shall set us free...

And who supports further tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% of the nation?

Gummo-

So who doesn't want to make the Bush tax cuts permanent? It ain't Bush and it ain't the Republicans. It is?

Bill M-

I agree, but don't forget BHO SAID just in the past few days that he would like to see "reparations" (not just words, but DEEDS too). Add that to the bill we'll get in the mail if BHO is POTUS.

The official apology for slavery and Jim Crow is just the beginning of setting the stage for a reparations handout. It is just a Dem ploy to get African-Americans to vote for BHO hoping they will get a reparation check in the mail.

They forget that affirmative action was their reparation.

Thank you, Jake, for telling this one straight.

I'm hoping to see more of this kind of honest insight from you in the future.

Gummo-

I know you are referring to the Iraq war when you say Bush has spent money like a drunken sailor. The war has cost $500 billion, not a small sum, but Congress just voted for a $300 billion dollar mortgage bailout that Bush did not want to sign but did anyway. I'm sure that didn't bother you. Let's focus on the war monger instead who by the way cannot legally spend any money himself. It is Congress who approves all this. If you are unhappy, write your Congressman - don't blame Bush.

Flame on!

Hilarious. The four or five people who keep posting the "I'm an independent Hilary supporter who has just naturally gravitated to McCain" meme under different names are hilarious. how much do the McCain people pay you?

McCain is a corrupt hothead who has called his wife an obscene name in front of reporters and used a racial epithet repeatedly in an interview. He can't control his own behavior and speech. How can we expect him to run a nation as great as ours?

Just wanted to say thank you, Jake.

Good journalism is appreciated.

OK, you're right. you forgot the $520 loafers.

But now - who has the best tax policy?
Who has the best health care policy?
Who has the greatest integrity and consistency on national security?
Who has the most fundamentally sound energy policy?

(Obviously it's Obama, since he's not under the control of lobbbyists. But those are the things we should be talkign about)

GUMMO,

BHO already SAID he will raise taxes push for socialized medicine and won't allow drilling. What do you think that will do to the economy? Ethanol is increasing the price of food worldwide. There are no low cost replacements for oil, yet. So his projections are based on continuing inflation that BHO wil only make worse. BHO is Jimmy Carter with a nicer smile and a bigger Socialist agenda.

As far as I know, it wasn't John McCain who complained about the cost of arugula at Whole Foods or Cindy McCain who bemoaned the cost of ballet and music lessons before an audience of working class Iowans.

It's an attitude not the size of your bank account.

By the way, I'm impressed at how wealthy people who could just loaf and spend their millions seem to be so committed to lives that contribute something to society. In fact, John McCain's maverick streak might be related to the fact that he's not beholden to anyone else in how he makes his living.

I started out as a committed Clinton supporter who respected McCain. Now, in a race between an elitist wannabe and the real deal, I'm voting McCain.

What's wrong with being elite! I want the President of my country to be "the best or most skilled members of the group."

What people are really concerned about is not being "elite," but being "out-of-touch."

John McCain is the very definition of out-of-touch.

After running an ad that titled him "President McCain" he doesn't get to call anyone "presumptuous" or "arrogant"

He's also said "I know how to win wars"

Oh really? What wars has John McCain won? Eisenhower and Truman could say that, McCain saying so is pure hubris.

Money doesn't make an elitist - attitude does. Obama is an elitist, plain and simple.

My head is spinning from all the Republican hypocrisy.....

John and Teresa Kerry have $$$$$ she is an elitist
John Edwards has $$$$$ he is an elitist

John McCain and wife worth well over $100 Million Dollars he is NOT an elitist
Barack has no $$$ he is an elitist

McCain raised by dynastic military family with all the advantages NOT an elitist
Obama raised by single mom and grandparents with modest income he is an elitist

John Kerry serves in the military he hates his country
McCain serves in the military he loves his country

Bush pulls strings to get out of overseas service he loves his country
Clinton pulls strings to get out of service he hates his country

Republicans could make their case a lot stronger if they weren’t so blinded by pure partisanship and political opportunism. But then we wouldn’t be able to call them CONS now would we.

Magoo --

And you're basing your assumption on what, exactly?

Oh, that's right, nothing.

In the last 8 years, the size of the government has grown more than at any time in our history. George W. Bush has spent OUR money like a drunkard with a stolen credit card. Your children and your children's children will still be paying back his witless spending sprees, all of which went to enrich his already bloated buddies in the military industrial complex (mercenaries like Blackwater have seen their government contracts go from less than a billion 8 years ago to hundreds of billions today).

The old "Democrats will take all your money" canard is dead. Only someone who's been asleep for 8 years could believe it.

Great post Jake. John McCain grew up the son of an Admiral, admittedly he wasn't wealthy, but needless to say, he grew up quite comfortably. Then John McCain married a millionaire heiress, so for Mary Lou to say he has legitimately accrued wealth is patently false. Obama, to contrast, grew up poor with no advantages at all. He worked his way up from the bottom, that's how legitimate wealth is accrued.

dl-
Listen to what he is really saying. Obama will take away all your freedoms, raise your taxes, and move this country hard left to socialism.

Remember he is a Democrat and regardless of what he currently says, the Democratic goal is to keep us all relying on the government. I dodn't think you really want that.

Who hosts barbeques for the press at his ranch in Arizona?

I can relate much more with the Obamas than with the McCains. Both Barack and Michelle come from working-class backgrounds, like me. I think they can better relate to the many Americans who are suffering right now.

I can actually go out and buy a dress that Michelle wears. That says a lot.

Gummo -
Don't forget to repost in four years if your man gets in the WH and let us know how things are going:

when your taxes are higher,

gas is $10 a gallon,

alternative fuels are still "just around the corner",

the military budget is gutted,

your health care choices are gone and you have to wait a year for your bypass surgery,

Ludicrous is still a millionaire while you wait in line to pay $6 for a loaf of bread, a

nd Islamic extermists still want to kill us.

our best Presidents were not the "experience" nominees.

go take a look...
having said that we have gotten way off track by saying change for changes sake trumps experience or that they are mutually exclusive...

or that experience is somehow negative...

that is stupid

Obama is the better choice because hehas positions that are oblviously correct...he is not promising to keep us on the same road that we are on...which mcCain is.

It is not just about "change" as it should not be about experience being bad...

It is about promises, platforms, and yes judgement ... Mccain has a military battlefield tactical choice that got us less violence with the surge...but it is NOT successful yet and the ramifications ofthe surge on a political and financial level may not be good...(it is too similar to some tactics we used in Afghanistan that 15- 20 years after GOT us al qaeda and the Taliban in the first place to say that)

....Obama was right when it counted ...

that we should not have gone.

and I agree Obama has good judgement but his judgement should be informed by experienced people around him.

and I think his judgement will be seen in that when he picks a VP.

If he picks a change for change's sake candidate with no knowledge base to speak of or no foreign policy experience etc...then we know his judgement may not be what we had hoped.

It would be SOOOO nice if y'all would not let yourself be guided and coaxed by questions of character and he-said, she-said, but by the ISSUES, the problems, and the solutions the candidates have on offer.

Remember: focusing on character and he-said, she-said put this country up with Dubya...

riley --

We've had almost 8 years of a fake "Average Joe" president.

He's destroyed the American economy, the American military, the American judiciary system, and our standing in the world.

I don't know what you want, but MY country deserves the best possible leader -- that means the smartest, sharpest guy around.

And that guy ain't John McCain.

And as for humility -- let's not forget that John McCain surrounds himself with people who consider hard-working average Americans "whiners." It's hard not to think that reflects his view, too.

"It is about a lack of humility--acting as if you are smarter, richer, better than other people. Sticking your nose in the air, acting smug, thinking you know it all, unwilling to admit mistakes.

I don't see that in McCain or his wife even though they are rich."--Riley
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's funny what we see through our individual filters. You see what you want to see. You don't like Obama, and as a consequence, you see him as arrogant, prideful, etc.

I don't see Obama that way (yes, I support Obama). I view him as confident and comfortable in his skin. He understands the issues, and can speak to them intelligibly. I look forward to someone who doesn't trip over words to be President of the United States.

Question is which is expecting to be elected Preident because of CELEBRITY STATUS, not experience....

That would be Barry Obama.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

name a president that ever got elected BASED on "experience" of being a president??? the last one would be nixon or HW bush (by default)....

NOBODY has experience of being president unless you was at least a vice president once upon a time....the job of POTUS is different from ANY position in the U.S.

people vote for who they believe has the best judgement...who they feel is the best to move this country in a positive direction....you can argue that mccain has better judgement, but neither of them has experience of being president....

"But would Obama ever go on saturday night live and poke fun at himself? Making fun of ones self goes completely opposite of elitism."

Psychologists have a term for this, it's called "overcompensation". The RNC calls it something else: marketing.

John McCain recognizes that he needs to seem humble and self deprecating to appeal to the broadest swath of voters. So, these staged displays of "humility" fit the bill.

I wouldn't read too much into it. McCain is doing what he thinks he needs to do to appeal to voters, as is Obama.

The problem I have with McCain's latest attacks is that he himself is elitist, out of touch. It's a simple consequence of being sequestered behind the walls of power for 25 years. He probably was shocked, SHOCKED to see milk at $4.00 a gallon. The last time he went to buy milk at a store it probably was 50 cents a gallon.

"And since when is having legitimately earned money a crime in America? Some of Obama's backers are so jealous with class-envy they can taste it. Wise up, people. Obama is a multi-millionaire too."

Since Goopers far and wide condemned John Edwards for earning his millions the old fashioned way.

ummm...no, obama's NOT a multi-millionaire...he BARELY reached millionaire status and that's only because of his two books...

we can argue who's more "out of touch" with the people, and personally i think both are in some respects, but mccain moreso because of the elite lifestyle he's been living thru his wife's money as well as his age gap...whereas obama only 4 YEARS ago was just like most american people..thinking about the bills, thinking about his family and paying off loans....has his celebrity bolstered up his status? obviously, but keep in mind he was just like the rest of us ONLY 4 years ago...mccain NEVER been attached with "regular people" he grew up with a famous admiral, gain heroric brand due to his POW status, and re-married a daughter whom inherited a multi-million dollar business....

that's why there's NOTHING positive mccain speaks for of himself, and ONLY attacks obama, because he has nothing else going for him

To me it isn't about money.

It is about a lack of humility--acting as if you are smarter, richer, better than other people. Sticking your nose in the air, acting smug, thinking you know it all, unwilling to admit mistakes.

I don't see that in McCain or his wife even though they are rich.

This is how I see Obama. He has bought into all the worshipping. Fate has a way of taking care of pride and arrogance. I just hope our country doesn't go down with Obama.

Would you prefer a president who is smart, thoughtful and reaching out to a broad spectrum of Americans to determine the issues important to the next Presidency?

Or a president who has personal wealth, a large group of lobbyist advisers, and makes top-down policy?

Would you prefer a president who will get us out of Iraq? Or one who wants to "stay there until we 'win'"?

Why is it "arrogant" if Barack Obama attracts thousands to campaign speeches because they want to hear what he has to say? But "straight talk" if John McCain's complains that Obama is popular just like Brittany Spears?

Why is it "arrogant" if Barack Obama considers policy questions and says we will have to work hard if Democrats are to win this election? But "straight talk" if John McCain complains that he does not get sufficient press attention (after having enjoyed positive press coverage for most of this campaign)?

Why is it "elitist" if Barack Obama likes orange juice for breakfast. But "everyman" if John McCain wears $500 shoes?

Which candidates wife likes $3000 German dresses, and told Vogue that she "might" switch to an American designer if her husband wins?

You left out the 500 dollar loafers.

I wonder what Barak thinks the UN should do about McCain's excessive wealth? Appropriate it by force and redistribute it? That seems inline with his rhetoric about "economic justice".

The answers to your quiz is McCain!

What did I win? And when will I get my prize?

Oh, and BTW ... WRT McCain's ads?

Pitiful, simply pitiful.

It's deja vu, all over again! And it's driving me crazy!

This new McCain strategy is not just a replay of the Bush/Rove attacks on Kerry for being elitist, unmanly, French and arrogant, it's also a replay of the arrogant, robotic, condescending, "he says he invented the internet" attacks on Gore. The $400 Edwards haircut/Breck Girl meme would have played out the same way if he had won. They did vary the attacks against Hillary Clinton by portraying her as a "bi**h" and castrating but it was all in the same playbook of making the election about phony cartoon characters that they created.

The GOP apparatchiks learned the lesson that P.T. Barnum was right, there's a sucker born every minute and they've made a living selling the same snake oil over and over.

The Bush/Rove/McCain GOP team is just a one-trick pony and if you liked 2000 and 2004, you'll love 2008!

MaryLou -

Which of the McCains "legitimately earned money"? Cindy inherited it from her Daddy. John lives off of it. His Senate salary does not pay for $520 Ferragamo loafers.

Money doesn't make an elitist - attitude does. Obama is an elitist, plain and simple.

don't forget the $520 (!!) shoes. who owns 'em? hint: it's not the candidate more americans would rather have bbq with, according to a recent poll. it's the one who the media loves to bbq with.

you forgot to ask:

which candidate wears a $520.00 shoe?

McCain has been in the elite class for decades. He's had special privileges and has made every decision to continue living the best life. Obama could have made millions a decade ago on wall street, but chose public service.

"And since when is having legitimately earned money a crime in America? Some of Obama's backers are so jealous with class-envy they can taste it. Wise up, people. Obama is a multi-millionaire too."

Since Goopers far and wide condemned John Edwards for earning his millions the old fashioned way.

(didn't McCain get rich by cheating on his first wife and marrying his current one?)

Question is which is expecting to be elected Preident because of CELEBRITY STATUS, not experience....

That would be Barry Obama.

Obama is in love with himself.

Thank you, Jake, funny & true!

The jealousy oozing out of McCain these days is just pathetic. He's been an unquestioned media pet for so long, he doesn't know how to handle legitimate scrutiny and criticism.

Whatever his past achievements, he's proving himself to be a vicious, bitter little man who has no vision for the country, no plan for our future, and only wants the presidency because he sees it as some kind of prize he's earned for past suffering.

Who wears $520 loafers? Who has appeared numerous times on the Daily Show? Who likes to go to Vegas and has spent as much as $100,000 in one night at the craps tables? Who wanted a craps table brought to his room in Vegas because his campaign staff thought it was unbecoming a presidential candidate to spend thousands of dollars in front of witnesses? Just asking.

Thank you!!!

I know from his ads that McCain doesn't like Obama, but that's about all they say.

What is your idea of a "media darling." McCain didn't take 3 top network reporters on his "numerous" visits to Iraq. I repeat my question, which candidate, would the average man/woman off the street, like to have a beer with?

Good one, Jake. Truth meet daylight.

McCain's nonsense is being exposed. His straight talk express has become a traveling carnival show.

"And since when is having legitimately earned money a crime in America? Some of Obama's backers are so jealous with class-envy they can taste it. Wise up, people. Obama is a multi-millionaire too."

Mary Lou, you've missed the point of Jake's post. McCain is now running campaign ads and doing a full strategic blitz smearing Obama as nothing more than a celebrity (in the mold of oversexed starlets) in a politician's clothing. His campaign is pillorying Obama as "elitist" and "out of touch", yet McCain himself qualifies as extremely privileged.

No one is arguing that accruing wealth is wrong, but living in a glass house while throwing stones is unseemly.

"This could be one of many Washington politicians."

Ain't that the truth Jeff! I recently watched "The Dark Knight" and Senator Leahy is in a scene where he stands up to The Joker.

Al D'Amato was in "The Devil's Advocate", and I'm sure there are other examples.

It seems to me that McCain is experiencing "celebrity envy", he wants what Obama's got, but unfortunately, it's not sold in bottles.

Excellent questions Jake.

It astonishes me that the GOP can run wealthy candidates, who have never known financial pains in their lives, and STILL come across as the "everyman", the "regular joe". The republican's are simply better at marketing their product than the democrats.

It is frankly puzzling that the candidate who grew up in a single parent household, who eschewed traditional paths to wealth and instead pursued a career path to help people is now being painted as "elitist", and "out of touch". Besides, when did green tea and protein bars and arugula become symbols of elitism? I make 26K a year and eat those things. Just because I live pay check to pay check doesn't mean I don't eat well. The republicans need to run a positive campaign and stop all the divisive crap.

Trying to paint McCain with the celebrity brush is laughable - since it's Obama and Michelle who put their two little daughters on Access Hollywood.

And since when is having legitimately earned money a crime in America? Some of Obama's backers are so jealous with class-envy they can taste it. Wise up, people. Obama is a multi-millionaire too.

lovemyusa
the point is McCain directly attacking Obama when he is famous for being a media darling "the MSM is my base"
when he has lived a most priveleged life since dumping his faithful injured wife for cindy

now comes the host of blind justification for elitist John McCain who owns 15 personal homes throughout the US and wears 800 dollar shoes.