Heepism vs. Elitism

Voters today demand empathy from candidates in a way that voters never did from austere George Washington or crusty John Adams.

By George F. Will | NEWSWEEK

Published Aug 30, 2008

From the magazine issue dated Sep 8, 2008

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Discuss

Posted By: jfennerlaw@bellsouth.net @ 10/05/2008 5:40:24 PM

Comment: In spite of the difference in ages, Sen. Obama seems to be more of a "grown-up", than Sen. McCain.
We will need a great deal of steadiness, and willingness to learn new things, in the next eight years.

A little-mentioned fact about this campaign, is that former Bush aides, were the ones tutoring Gov. Palin.
They say that "God looks after little children and the United States of America," but we voters have some responsibility to end the current Administration--not to extend it through Gov. Palin.
Posted By: jofle @ 10/04/2008 3:51:04 PM

Comment: Beware the replacement of today's "elite" by the new "anti-intellectualist" elite.
Posted By: joeguide@yahoo.com @ 09/14/2008 1:19:14 AM

Comment: Reading this column and the previous column about Palin, it seems that Mr. Will does not necessarily endorse Sarah Palin. But how could he? She is a shrewd politician but is provincial, has little experience, and has even little education that qualifies her for the post of Vice President. The notion of conservative competence is thrown down in the heap of expediency. The fact that there is a realistic chance that she may actually become President must draw a dew of desperation to his conservative brow, much the way the President Bush did. The conservative cause has already been damaged by the former. It could be destroyed by the later, at least for several generations. I empathize with you.
Posted By: bammer @ 09/09/2008 6:30:20 PM

Comment: TO: NBC, MSNBC, CBS, CNN, NYT, CT, WP, Newsweek, Atlantic Weekly, LAT---

WHAT MAKES YOU WORTHY OF TELLING US WHAT YOU THINK?

The Main Stream Media should be ASHAMED AS HELL OF ITSELF; but, we know, it has NO SHAME!!! It NOW thinks it should get involved in the vetting of a VP, while it GAVE A SHAMELESS PASS to OBAMA for the PRESIDENTIAL SLOT.

So you think giving SOFTBALL questions to OBAMA in the debates proves anything. Do you think not tracking down his associations, record, accomplishments or lack thereof proves anything? Do you think that attacking a 17 YEAR OLD GIRL of a candidate AND THE CANDIDATE HERSELF MAKES YOU WORTHY OF TELLING US WHAT YOU THINK?

It proves that the MSM is trying as hard as we have ever seen to CONTROL an election like a Chicago Party Machine, or a government controled, Banana Repubic press.

The MSM press has been disgraceful and there has been and will continue to be a decline of the MSM into tabloid, celebrity, and sexism journalism.

With some MSM outlets like NBC, MSNBC, CBS, CNN, NYT, CT, WP, Newsweek, Atlantic Weekly, LAT, and others becoming tabloids following DailyKos, MoveOn.org, and HuffingtonPost, the vast majority of normal, middle class, independent/moderate WILL BE SICK OF YOU.

ANSWER THIS QUESTION:

WHAT MAKES YOU WORTHY OF TELLING US WHAT YOU THINK?
- Posted By: jarcher1 @ 09/12/2008 11:11:23 AM
  
  Comment: Gee, Mr Hammer, you sure have worked yourself up to a fine froth here. If it has escaped your attention, Mr. Will here is widely acknowledged to be a conservative pundit with a capital C. BTW, excellent article, Mr. Will, you are truly at your best when simply analyzing historical trends, rather than trying to justify a political philosophy that is clearly insufficient for the modern industrial society we find ourselves in.
Posted By: odette1208 @ 09/07/2008 4:28:02 PM

Comment: I recognize that this column was written before the Republican convention, but since I was "humbly' entertaining houseguests, I was uanable to turn to it until today. I have hear Mr. Will on Sunday mornings, and reas his comments in Newsweek, repeatedly attempting to reinforce the notion that Sen. Obama is an "elitist" . Although acknowledging ( appropriately) that Sen. McCain was born to a family of power and affluence, he attributes the SAME "elitism" to Obama, because of his degrees from Ivy League Universities. It would be useful for Mr. Will to acknowledge the "journey" to the end result of educations between the two candidates. In fact, Mr. Mcain, like Mr. Bush before him,went to his post high school education as a "legacy", i.e. as the son ( and/or grandson) of prior grads who also were well known. Neither gentleman was noted for his outstanding scholarship while at their daddy's schools. Mr. Obama, on the other hand, went through undergraduate and law school on the basis of scholarships and loans. And had a distinguished career at each institution.

I wonder why George Will would fail to note the difference in EARNING your way into an institution of higher learning and getting there because of your folks' connections. The resulting degrees may all be from "elite" schools, but the manner of getting there, the nature of the tenure while there, and the resulting educational experience are likely quite different.
Posted By: Newsweek Devotee @ 09/07/2008 1:22:49 PM

Comment: "Architectural determinism" is such a great term. I really enjoyed this essay and this term made me giggle. IfI wonder if my roots in a Brooklyn cold water flat, and a meager existence in a small town in PA would give me a better chance of holding public office. I also have a Bachelor's, and Master's degree, and now I'sure that I own two houses. This being said, I think I could put my hat in the ring. Oh, yes, my father was an alcoholic, too. Am I common enough? With 21 years of teaching on my resume, I think I have as much persuasive, collaborative experience as any other candidate. I loved the essay, Thanks for the giggle.
Posted By: Newsweek Devotee @ 09/07/2008 1:16:54 PM

Comment: "Architectural determinism". what a great phrase. I now wish I was born in a 'log' cabin, or looked over the Hudson at sunset. Could be with my degrees and experience the land I lived on or the houses I now own might just qualify me to run for public office. Funny thought, but I'd hate to think that these play strongly in ones choice for President. I oved the essay, though. Thanks for the new slant.
Posted By: Bruce53 @ 09/05/2008 8:02:00 PM

Comment: Great article, but George, I believe it must be written "...the politics of Uriah Heep" which would result in "heepism".
Cheers.....
Posted By: Pampibon @ 09/05/2008 11:47:42 AM

Comment: We've become too idealist and lost some of our common sense - we now NEED to brand our politicians as heros. Can we instead think of them as professionals just as secretaries and engineers? They are the elites of the political field - in spite of their economic wealth. I like the idea of us, common people, electing an un-common person wih the expectation that they have a good understanding, academically and in practice, of the nation's problems and the best solutions available.
I have no problem that some think conservative thinking is the best approach for our nation's problems - I wholeheartedly disagree. But DON'T discredit Obama's qualities, preparation, experience, and leadership potential over Palin's....now you just make yourself look like a fool.
Posted By: popplsa @ 09/03/2008 5:57:28 PM

Comment: SilkMaye, I think you should visit THIS website to get your facts straight: http://www.akip.org/
There are too many vicious rumors and lies being told, and you are guilty of helping to spread them. Shame on you and the others.
Posted By: SilkMaye @ 09/03/2008 6:44:45 AM

Comment: I think that Obama and his runningmate is office worthy. However, I am not even considering McCain and palin after the stunt they just pulled. There is a great blog on this stunt on www.urbanthoughtcollective.com
Posted By: timrogers @ 09/03/2008 12:38:50 AM

Comment: We have always been fooled as voters by the idea that the rich will sacrifice to serve the common man. Somehow they persuade us they are on our side. From their seven or several houses they share our pain as we are forced out of our own. They are ready to help the common man by giving their servants half a day off on holidays. What more do we commoners expect? Presidents should always be from rich families, otherwise the work ethic that has made America great will be lost forever.Sen. McCain is rich enough to be President. He earned his place the old fashioned way; he married into money. Long live the meritocricy as long as the merit is removed in an appropriate way.
Posted By: olderwiser @ 09/02/2008 3:19:02 PM

Comment: Correction. She is Jane Blow.
- Posted By: Jose52 @ 09/02/2008 3:43:20 PM
  
  Comment: To olderbutnowiser, Now you're getting nasty! A governor who runs a state that provides 25% of your energy needs, strong armed the oil companies to rework contracts to benefit the people of Alaska, and stopped the bridge to nowhere, took on her own party, and finally crossed over to the Alaska Dems when it benefited the state. She has solid experience and has accomplishment. It is a shame Barack has nothing comparable , but promises and promises of spending your tax money.
  
  She will destroy Abortion Joe in the debates!
  - Posted By: icstars @ 09/05/2008 5:58:14 PM
    
    Comment: How much of my energy needs did Alaska fulfil 20 months ago, before she became governor? You cite this 25% statistic as if she has something to do with it. Okay, she hasn't destroyed the state in less than two years. Not a huge accomplishment to lean on. She would need other meaningful examples of leadership and judgment to even begin to be considered for a national office. Fewer scandals would be nice, too. But her main problem is related to your most offensive (nasty, as you might say) quip: "Abortion Joe." She's got the money and means to handle any problem the way she thinks correct for her family, but a vast majority of Americans don't. And her policies would only limit the care and choices that the young, poor, old and yes even disabled have. Democratic leaders have a long history of taking care of those in need in our country in a responsible way.
    
    Incidentally, I was impressed with McCain years ago when he was first billed a 'maverick' and I imagined what a dual-ticket would be like for our country. Today, I don't think of him as a maverick and don't want him making economic, international policy or Supreme Court decisions. And certainly not Palin!
  - Posted By: olderwiser @ 09/02/2008 9:08:55 PM
    
    Comment: Joe Blow is a term for an anonymous male person. Jane Blow is a term for an anonymous female person. It is not a nasty term. It refers to the process of appointing a person about whom 99.99999% of our nation's people, or more, know absolutely nothing about her and have almost no time to know what her credentials are. She is literally a nobody thrust into the bright lights. You were an avid Hillary supporter during the primaries. This lady couldn't clean Hillary's commode. Now, that's nasty! We deserve better.
    I can tell that you at least know what the Republican party is saying about Palin in their attempt to shine her up a bit, but none of what you have related qualify her to be in line for the presidency behind a 72 year old man for four or less years.
    As far as Barack spending money goes, it would take him twenty years to throw away what George Bush has squandered in a mere eight years.
Posted By: Jose52 @ 09/02/2008 1:06:48 PM

Comment: Great story. George Will's story of the Taft's not being a common man fits Sarah Palin life perfectly. She is not a common woman. She is a mother. She is a Governor. She has a geart story to tell about her pro-life values and corruption-fighter. She is a doer. She has more management experience that Barak and Abortion Joe.

The lib left will fight Palin on the values she stands for and the American public hopefully will see the bankruptcy of the Left morals. Barack supported the infantcide laws, Pelosi rewrote catholic doctrine, and Abortion Joe can't show his face in church. McCain/Palin!
- Posted By: olderwiser @ 09/02/2008 2:00:26 PM
  
  Comment: Well, Jose, the constitution was originally set up for only property owners to vote for a president, who was originally meant to be uncommon. Some of that was still left in the common mind of the common voter when Taft made his run. Even FDR was wealthy, elite, old family, and uncommon, as well as John F. Kennedy, both Democrats. But, I have to say that Palin is no Taft, no FDR, no John F. Kennedy, and presidentially, nobody. That doesn't mean that she couldn't be good in the office, but the problem for voters both right and left, is that we really don't have enough information to count on her to know much. It is hard to distinguish her from millions of our citizens who also have family values. It is now known that the Mc Cain campaign didn't even check the local newspapers where she has "mayored" and "governed". She is Joe Blow.