Verified answer

Yes and true.

I want an "elite" doctor working on me when I have surgery.

It wasn't "suddenly" anything. It's been that way a long time.

Social class is often determined by money. That money provided expensive educational opportunities. The elite were educated, and due to that education, unfortunately many would look down upon those who were uneducated & less fortunate. They deemed the uneducated to be a lower class of people because they didn't have money.

To the uneducated folks that "social class" attitude toward them was snobbery. Thus the consistent actions (better than you are attitude) of a class of people (elite) has given us the meaning by joining their status with their actions = elitist.

Obama is an elitist because of his education background PLUS his actions of thinking he is better than everybody else, i.e. "gun owners clinging to their religion" is an elitist statement implying that people who believe in the Second amendment & the Bible are ignorant. That's why folks don't like Obama. He's an elitist and narcissist.

Defintion of elite directly from dictionary:

"(used with a plural verb) persons of the highest class: Only the elite were there."

Snob:

A person who believes himself or herself an expert or connoisseur in a given field and is condescending toward or disdainful of those who hold other opinions or have different tastes regarding this field: a musical snob.

Funny Apple Soda - most people here call Republicans uneducated and stupid. Now you think they are "elite." Can't go both ways.

elitists believe themselves better than others, and when you have a Congress or President that portray themselves as elitists, it does not set well with the American people. To give you an example the Senate has still not voted on extending unemployment, yet they had the time to vote themselves a 6.5 increase and buy millions in new jets and transportation. In the middle of a recession even 300 bucks unemployment can mean the difference of eating, paying rent, or buying medicine. Yet the Senate spends millions on comfort items and raises.

I suppose it's because ruling classes have long justified their dominance in terms of being superior to the masses. Aristocracy means rule by the best or something like that.

I think when a lot of people refer to the elite in politics it usually means "these wealthy people who consider themselves superior" rather than "the best". That's the sense in which people use it against Obama, I suppose.

Actually, it's a bit more complicated than that...with Obama I think many people are intimidated by his intelligence and learning and label him "elite" in the "snobby" sense as a sort of defensive strategy - as a way of avoiding the fact that he is basically smarter than them. i.e. of avoiding the fact that he is "elite" in the "best" sense.

The word "elite" does mean snobby. Whenever someone speaks of an elite person that usually isn't the kind of person that is going to want to associate with you or me. Thus, snobby is correct. They are elite and feel they are smarter, richer, and better that everyone else.

The liberal left are elitists. That means they think they are better than anyone else and therefore do not have to follow the rules. They are not really elite. They just think they are. For example, Michael Moore is filthy rich and has made millions off of his hatred for capitalism. Or Gore preaches about greenhouse gases and has been known to fly in his private jet to go 50miles. Obama, Pelosi, Gore, and both Clinton's are elitists. They live by one saying "Do as I say, not as I do."

The reason it is used for Obama is not because he is "elite". It is the way he defends himself from attack that is kind of snobby. It isn't, oh here are the facts line for line. It's more of a, "I'm the popular guy in school, let's all point and make fun of the weak nerdy guys because we're cooler", way he reacts when people attack him and he hasn't had time to write a speech full of rhetoric to counter with.

You've never played on xbox live... if you see someone on there that says "1337" then you know why elite became such a snobby word.

there is a difference in meaning between someone being elite, and someone being an elitist.

e⋅lite

  /ɪˈlit, eɪˈlit/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [i-leet, ey-leet]

–noun

1. (often used with a plural verb) the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons.

2. (used with a plural verb) persons of the highest class: Only the elite were there.

e⋅lit⋅ism

  /ɪˈlitɪzəm, eɪˈli-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [i-lee-tiz-uhm, ey-lee-]

–noun

1. practice of or belief in rule by an elite.

2. consciousness of or pride in belonging to a select or favored group.

Origin:

1950–55; elite + -ism

Related forms:

e⋅lit⋅ist, noun, adjective

The elite in America is much different, they aren't near as snobby as the elite in Europe. Seriously....