Todo Tiene Su Como-Se-Llama

Elitism:
1.
The belief that certain persons or members of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue of their perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financial resources.
2.
1. The sense of entitlement enjoyed by such a group or class.
2. Control, rule, or domination by such a group or class.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/elitism

I dunno. That's not very positive. It sounds like someone out of touch with people in general, and only in touch with a select few. Not what I want in a President. Sure, they don't need to listen to every single person, and my views probably are actually, at this point, not over the 50% majority mark. But frankly, a President who thinks I'm a dunce, unworthy of his attention? Yeah, not so much. Sure, it's a great comedy line...but it's not something I want to be true.

Too bad none of the current candidates aren't elitist.

I agree with KD to a great extent -- clearly, there is a difference between being "elite" and being "elitist" in the sense under discussion here.

However, I also think that Stewart recognizes the distinction. That's why he adds that he wants his president not only to be better than he is, but to think that he or she is better. Otherwise, why is this person presuming to run for president? It takes a lot of presumption to say, "You should vote for me because I'm just like the next guy." What kind of leadership is that? It's the job of leaders to persuade us that they're corect, not to flatter us that we are. That's demagoguery.

With regard to what Obama said: He didn't say that all religious people are like that, or even all people with guns. (Indeed, that would have been absurd, for it's quite clear that Christianity is a crucial part of his own life.) He said only that some are, and expressed sympathy with them even while indicating his disagreement. And he said this in front of a private audience to deal with that audience's own biases -- basically, he was saying "yes, but" to them.

This is sort of like when one group of Republicans complains that black Christians keep voting for pro-choice Democrats, and another Republican responds, "Yes, but remember what they've gone through. They're clinging to the hope that the Democrats are claiming to offer them." That's not elitism, even if it's incorrect. It's an attempt to understand, respect, and sympathize with people who disagree with us. Obama could have been a working-class Pennsylvania Christian voter himself and said exactly the same thing he did.