I’m going to use my inaugural post on this blog to make some political observations. Bryan and I just spent a wonderful weekend in Charlottesville, VA. As part of the weekend, we visited Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s estate. Every room on the tour was filled with reminders that Jefferson was curious, intelligent, inquisitive, educated. Maps of Africa and Europe in the foyer. Hundreds of books in his study. Sketches of architectural designs on his desk. Portraits and busts of historical figures in the sitting room. Not to mention scores of innovations and inventions that are part of the house itself. The tour guide talked about how many of Jefferson’s visitors were Virginia farmers, most of whom would never travel further than 25 miles from home during their lifetime. Jefferson was well read, well traveled, and was completely intellectually superior to his Virginia neighbors and the average 18th Century American.
Among the portraits in the sitting room at Monticello were those of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams, who, along with Jefferson, share so much of the responsibility for founding our country. These men were not representative of the average American. They were educated, they were successful, and all were extraordinary.
Reflecting on who and what those men were, I found myself feeling very frustrated with the current political discourse among Republicans and conservatives, and their staunch insistence that being educated and intelligent makes a person “elite” and not a “real American.” That contention makes absolutely no sense to me. The Founding Fathers were all exceptional leaders who were well educated – far more educated than the average American at the time. I have to wonder what Sean Hannity and Glen Beck would say about a modern Thomas Jefferson. Actually, I don’t have to wonder at all – sadly, I’m pretty sure I already know.
I hate to dive into the Sarah Palin fray, but I have to, because Sarah Palin has come to exemplify what is wrong with those who are perpetuating the “elite educated = un-American” argument. I will just come out and say it: Sarah Palin is not qualified to be President. I agree with many of her policy positions. I appreciate what she has been able to accomplish, and I admire her success. I think she is attractive and charismatic. And I agree that the media was ridiculously unfair to her during the 2008 campaign. However, none of those things mean that she’s qualified to be President. If – heaven forbid – some day I need brain surgery, I think we’d all agree that I should find the best doctor in the field. A doctor who has had years and years of training and experience. Someone who understands the body and how it works, and someone who has a track record of success. Someone who has sound judgment and can make difficult choices.
I recognize that the doctor analogy isn’t a perfect comparison, but think about it. The President of the United States is responsible for steering the most complicated country in the world. The President has to deal with issues that range from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the struggling economy and the sky-high unemployment rate to our soaring national debt. And that’s usually before lunch on the average day. Why wouldn’t I want a President who is smarter than the average American, and certainly smarter than me? Fellow conservatives, it’s time to stop defending conservatives like Sarah Palin. If Republicans are going to be the party of better solutions, we have to embrace and celebrate intelligence, experience, and wisdom in our leaders.
Among the portraits in the sitting room at Monticello were those of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams, who, along with Jefferson, share so much of the responsibility for founding our country. These men were not representative of the average American. They were educated, they were successful, and all were extraordinary.
Reflecting on who and what those men were, I found myself feeling very frustrated with the current political discourse among Republicans and conservatives, and their staunch insistence that being educated and intelligent makes a person “elite” and not a “real American.” That contention makes absolutely no sense to me. The Founding Fathers were all exceptional leaders who were well educated – far more educated than the average American at the time. I have to wonder what Sean Hannity and Glen Beck would say about a modern Thomas Jefferson. Actually, I don’t have to wonder at all – sadly, I’m pretty sure I already know.
I hate to dive into the Sarah Palin fray, but I have to, because Sarah Palin has come to exemplify what is wrong with those who are perpetuating the “elite educated = un-American” argument. I will just come out and say it: Sarah Palin is not qualified to be President. I agree with many of her policy positions. I appreciate what she has been able to accomplish, and I admire her success. I think she is attractive and charismatic. And I agree that the media was ridiculously unfair to her during the 2008 campaign. However, none of those things mean that she’s qualified to be President. If – heaven forbid – some day I need brain surgery, I think we’d all agree that I should find the best doctor in the field. A doctor who has had years and years of training and experience. Someone who understands the body and how it works, and someone who has a track record of success. Someone who has sound judgment and can make difficult choices.
I recognize that the doctor analogy isn’t a perfect comparison, but think about it. The President of the United States is responsible for steering the most complicated country in the world. The President has to deal with issues that range from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the struggling economy and the sky-high unemployment rate to our soaring national debt. And that’s usually before lunch on the average day. Why wouldn’t I want a President who is smarter than the average American, and certainly smarter than me? Fellow conservatives, it’s time to stop defending conservatives like Sarah Palin. If Republicans are going to be the party of better solutions, we have to embrace and celebrate intelligence, experience, and wisdom in our leaders.
3 comments:
Yay! Comments are fixed and I get to be the first one to say anything. Not that what I have to say is as eloquent as you, Chels.
I agree. I'm no hater, but I'm not a lover of Sarah Palin. I think she is overrated and I think the Republican party can find someone else better to back. Who? Well, I don't really know off the top of my head. That's where I rely on you to keep me abreast of current political forerunners. Anyone I find would be sooo last week. It all comes down to them wanting everyone to feel good about themselves. That's why EVERY KID gets a medal at the three-legged race now. We're all winners!
Sadly, the Republican bench is pretty sparse right now. Part of the reason for that is that the fanatical demand by tea party folks and other party purists for "real" Republicans keeps a lot of good people from wading into the fray. But I'll save that rant for another post. :)
Who among the Repubs is stating that being educated is un-American?
I do think that there is an elitist attitude at times among those who attend Ivy League schools. One would assume that the more competitive schools would likely generate the better students, but to think that they generate the only ones that matter is pretty pretentious. If I remember right, too, people bagged on Bush, even though he went to yale and Harvard. Frankly, I think it's not the school, but the individual themselves that ultimately makes them what they are. I think this is what these Repubs are referring to.
And as for the comment that, "If Republicans are going to be the party of better solutions, we have to embrace and celebrate intelligence, experience, and wisdom in our leaders," well, it didn't stop the Democrats from getting a 1 and 1/2 year junior senator with no executive experience from getting elected.
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