I'm afraid that the disdain of the video only makes Sarah Palin's point more applicable. New York elites (and other urban elites) just don't "get" regular people. Of course, the video is only funny BECAUSE Sarah Palin is running for VP. In other words, it depends on her political success to date for its effectiveness. And I dare say that similar -- or even more silly videos -- could be made about the hometowns of each of the candidates. Perhaps they should be. That might be an interesting comparison. Let's look at the worst aspects of everyone's background and make fun of them. That sounds productive. That sounds sensible. What a great way to participate in the democratic republic that we have. Actually, isn't this the sort of thing that outraged Democrats when Kerry or Gore was being skewered?

On a different topic, this week, I met my first "community organizer" here in the Cleveland Ohio area. She is focused on helping people who are losing their homes to the foreclosure process. I don't have time now, but I think you will be interested in what I discovered, particularly the things about which I agreed with her.

@Laserlawyer - 

But I think you're missing the point. The only reason the Daily Show went to the trouble of visiting Wasilla is because Governor Palin makes SUCH a big deal about how "patriotic" and "wonderful" people in small towns are. That's the only reason this is funny and ironic.

And just a word about "elites": I notice conservatives using it a lot, in an almost universally distainful way. But elitism is to be had on all sides; I mean, conservatives assume that they are "real America" or "patriotic America" and that the "elites don't get/understand us". But that, in itself, is also elitist, insofar as it assumes that the other 50% of America is by definition NOT "real America", and also in how it assumes that patriotism can only be real or authentic on their terms. On the same note, let me point out that for all the "liberal elite" in the northeast, there is an incredible amount of well-heeled "Conservative elite" in, especially, the Midwest and Sun Belt areas.

And who is a "regular person"? I mean, I assume most people think of themselves as "regular" or "normal" or even "moderate", so it's not surprising that conservatives tend to position themselves as the "regular" ones, but really, who is "normal" and who is "elite"? I mean, just for some personal comparisons, I am a struggling freelance web designer living in an urban center. I don't own a car or a house, and I earned less than $20,000 last year if you care to know. You are a lawyer living in a pretty nice suburb, and I would wager that you make substantially more than me. I'm not complaining, but I do really find it interesting that you would assume to know more than I do about what is "regular", especially since I arguably am more in touch, lifestyle-wise, with how most of the world's population lives.

Let me just close by wondering aloud whether, given your broad (and arguably inaccurate) stereotypes about who the "elite" are and what they believe, whether it is in fact yourself who is just as out-of-touch with certain segments of the population as the so-called "elites" that you lampoon.

"but really, who is "normal" and who is "elite"?"

@upsidedownkingdom - 

To put it in a nutshell, I would say that an "elite" person is someone whose standard of living is far above any pressure to pay the bills to survive. And for what it is worth, I am not there, at least not yet. As you know, I work for a Judge. That means that my salary is that of a county employee. True, it's more than your $20,000, but I still deal with pressure every month to pay the bills necessary for my family to survive, and I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

I know some folks who are living the life of the elite. And I know that my life is different from theirs. I don't have disdain for their position (in many ways I admire their accomplishments), but I do not like their disdain for people in this country who live in what they sometimes refer to as "flyover country."

@Laserlawyer - 

I definitely see and empathize with what you're saying, and being from Western PA, I also resent being seen as "flyover country". However, I still think you're guilty of gross generalization when it comes to stereotyping these "liberal elite". The thing is, I've heard "elite" used (and it's valid, I think) in two ways. One is in the economic sense that you mention, in which case a lot of people with "means" are conservative; maybe even more than are liberal. Then there's cultural elitism, or, used loosely, arrogance. And again, all sides are guilty of that; frankly, as I suggested earlier, anyone (Palin, for example) who claims to have the "corner on the market" on patriotism, or having "good values" or whatever else they claim to have, is elitist, arrogant, and probably also somewhat ignorant and of limited experience. To put it simply, I find it offensive and manipulative to hear conservatives stereotyping liberals as "elitist"-- especially those voting for men (McCain, Bush, Reagan) who have been very wealthy for many years.

I also still think you have to account for your generalization about what "normal" people look like. Frankly, America has always been a diverse country, and I don't think there's ever been such a thing as a "normal" American-- at least not in the sense that Governor Palin uses it. Arguably, the "small-town", "good values", "conservative", "patriotic" people (as Governor Palin defines each of those terms) probably make up no more than 20-30% of the American population; many of these small-town people are centrist or liberal (I was just in my parents' hometown--population 10,000--today, and at least half of the lawn signs were Obama). And then there's neighborhoods like mine, which are diverse (50% Jewish, the other 50% from literally all over the world), are working- to middle-class, and are quite liberal: are we less "American" than, say, "red-meat" Elkhart, Indiana where I used to live? Again, to put it simply, the idea (insinuated by Palin) that most Americans are "normal" (agan, as she defines the term) and that the rest are "elitist" does not stand up to serious criticism.

@Laserlawyer - 

Being "elite" means not worrying about being able to pay your bills? My gracious. I suppose after eight years of Bush, that's probably true.

Love it!