McCain Disses New York City As Elitist, Daily Show Visits Wasilla Alaska In Search of Small Town Values
You Tube Video of McCain/Palin discussing Elitism with Brian Williams
During John McCain and Sarah Palin's joint interview with NBC's Brian Williams, one of the Republican party candidates demonstrated great disdain for urban America, particularly our home here in New York City. Surprisingly, this time it was not Governor Sarah Palin, but Senator Maverick, John McCain.
Ben Smith of Politic0 has the transcript of this exchange:
WILLIAMS: Who is a member of the elite?I am sick and tired of hearing that living in New York City or any urban area somehow makes you less Pro American than those who live in the so-called heartland. or that small town values are superior to big city values. I agree with Craigslist founder and customer service representative Craig Newmark when he writes:
PALIN: Oh, I guess just people who think that they're better than anyone else. And-- John McCain and I are so committed to serving every American. Hard-working, middle-class Americans who are so desiring of this economy getting put back on the right track. And winning these wars. And America's starting to reach her potential. And that is opportunity and hope provided everyone equally. So anyone who thinks that they are-- I guess-- better than anyone else, that's-- that's my definition of elitism.
WILLIAMS: So it's not education? It's not income-based? It's--
PALIN: Anyone who thinks that they're better than someone else.
WILLIAMS: --a state of mind? It's not geography?
PALIN: 'Course not.
WILLIAMS: Senator?
MCCAIN: I-- I know where a lot of 'em live. (LAUGH)
WILLIAMS: Where's that?
MCCAIN: Well, in our nation's capital and New York City. I've seen it. I've lived there. I know the town. I know-- I know what a lot of these elitists are. The ones that she never went to a cocktail party with in Georgetown. I'll be very frank with you. Who think that they can dictate what they believe to America rather than let Americans decide for themselves.
From my personal experience, I can tell you that pretty much all Americans have a common set of values, mostly derived from the same shared value. It's the notion that you should treat other people like you want to be treated. If you feel that, you feel that people should treat others fairly. We should all compete on a level playing field, and play by the same rule; that's how to get ahead.Jason Jones of Jon Stewart's Daily show visits Sarah Palin's hometown of Wasilla Alaska to find out how small town values differ from those in the big city and asks Sarah Palin's successor as Wasilla's Mayor to describe an average day.
Beyond that, people generally feel that once they've provided for themselves, they should give someone else a break. That's the basis for all philanthropy.
Sure, people make other decisions about values for lots of other reasons. However, our shared values unite us; we have more in common than that which separates us.
