Liberal elite

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Liberal elite and liberal elitist are terms used by some ideological opponents of American liberalism to refer pejoratively to affluent liberals, who, their opponents claim, are elitist and disconnected from the rest of society (cf. limousine liberal, latte liberal). The feelings stem from the populist movement of the late 19th century.

The term is most often applied to residents of the U.S. Northeast, especially New England, and to those who are highly educated (see Boston Brahmin). An ad by the supply-side organization Club for Growth sums up many of the stereotypes: "Howard Dean should take his tax-hiking, government-expanding, latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Volvo-driving, New York Times-reading, Hollywood-loving, left-wing freak show back to Vermont, where it belongs."

The term is also often applied to those who have an affinity for European cultures, especially the culture of France. French cheeses (especially brie), French wines, ultra-expensive coffee, and foreign films are often associated with the liberal elite — as is, paradoxically, Hollywood). Speaking French or even "looking French," a charge leveled against John Kerry, can be a sign of elitism to the Francophobic.

Many liberals argue that the Republican Party contains a much larger percentage of the American upper class than does the Democratic Party, and that Republican economic policies benefit the wealthy more than do Democratic economic policies; thus it is the Republican Party that should be called elitist. Most wealthy counties are significantly likelier to vote Republican than Democratic, but in the American legislature, Democratic representatives have an average personal wealth greater than the Republicans. Also, a higher percentage of the Republican Party is college educated than the Democratic Party, though more Democrats hold advanced Graduate-level degrees than Republicans do.

Charges of liberal elitism are often countered with charges of anti-intellectualism.

See also: Champagne socialist, Culture Wars, Left-wing politics, The New Yorker

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External links

  • Liberal Elite -- UK political site. Satirical and sarcastic.
  • Latte -- The Blog for the Liberal "Elite"
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