That Democrat guy sounds too intelligent, I'll vote for Bush!

[Sandpiper]

Is it just me, or does this seem to be the mindset of a lot of Americans these days?

When did ignorance and stupidity become virtues?

[dflprincess]

1. When Stevenson ran in 52 and 56 one of the big criticisms of him

was that he was an "egghead". Americans have never had a lot of respect for intelligence. If Clinton had been a Rhodes Scholar from New York or Massachusetts it would have been used against him.

[underpants]

4. "Mr.Stevenson I am sure that every intelligent American....

will vote for you"

Adlai:"That's great but I need a majority"

[Silverhair]

10. And that expression of contempt for the average American

was part of why he lost. People don't vote for those candidates that hold them in contempt.

[rbnyc]

12. What kind of person...

...is offended by that remark, and what kind of person thinks it's funny?

It still boils down to the same problem. Intelligent people are outnumbered.

[Silverhair]

17. A joke can be funny and insulting at the same time.

That is why racial jokes are in such bad taste, because they are demeaning. Adlai's joke depended on the assumption that the average American is not intelligent. That's an insult. People don't vote for candidate who insult them.

[rbnyc]

19. I'm not insulted by that.

All I'm saying is that it's only insulting to people who think the average American is not unintelligent and most intelligent Americans don't think that.

I'm not saying it's a good campaign strategy to insult people, but I'm saying that personally, I think you have to be somewhat unintelligent, or at least unobservant to be insulted by that.

I agree, Stevenson endeared himself to the elite and alienated the general public. The difference in our points of view is that I blame the general public.

[thebigidea]

32. yeah, but it isn't TRUE?

I'd love to see some data indicating Americans are on the whole, of above average intelligence.

[Silverhair]

39. Impossible. By defination, average means average.

But average doesn't mean stupid, and a candidate does a stupid thing if he insults the average voter.

[alarimer]

43. I guarantee

that 50% are above average.

[TrogL]

35. People who understand irony get it.

[Silverhair]

40. So, was his purpose to get votes, or to show his great ability to

use irony?

[Blitz]

42. Intelligent people may be outnumbered

depending on where the bar is set for defining :"intelligent." However, there can be little doubt that elitist, patronizing snobs are outnumbered and win very few elections.

[tom_paine]

13. Not true, the Emperor holds the people in contempt

He just has a propaganda infrastructure second to none to make sure no one can tell.

I am forced to remind people of the contempt Hitler had for the common German citizens, and the propaganda infrastructure which made the citizenry not only believe that Der Fuhrer loved them, but helped them to love a monster.

There's another analogue of Bush to Hitler, not to mention that the propaganda infrassturcture of each amde it their primary mission to convince the citizenry that their Leader was a "Man of God" or "God Sent".

Though I'm sure it's just a coincidence.

The current Bushevik Propaganda Strcuture, that I like to call Goebbels v2.0, benefits from 60 years of research and progress in the psychomanipulative scienecs, such as advertising, marketing, and PR.

It was EASY for them to sell the image of the God-Sent Leader, humble and honorable.

Just as it was easy 70 years ago. Some things never change.

[Military Brat]

22. bush holds most Americans in contempt; they just don't realize it

And that makes it all the more insidious

[RobinA]

27. Yes...

People don't understand the utter contempt this whole regime has for the average American. The contempt is an undercurrent, and it is for someone else, never the listener. Bush seems to share his supporters' contempts, while holding the supporter up as the good guy. His policies always show contempt for just about everybody except his corporate friends, but supporters don't see it. And when they do they slough it off because they can't deal with the dissonance.

[Nay]

44. Yeah, I'm amazed at the # of people here who think the DEMS

act like the "elitist snobs." Good heavens, the Repubs hold all of humanity, except their little rich evil bunch, in utter and complete contempt, and it is totally visible in their actions in the past 3 years. But who gets slammed for being elitist? Someone who uses the words "sheeple" in a post after being frustrated and baffled by the inability of people to see that they are getting f***ed up the ass SIDEWAYS by the Bush bunch.

Here's a word for all the "sh****" who are reading DU and might get their little panties in a twist at the thought that some of us here might get a little frustrated at their self-imposed ignorance:

WISE UP! If you want to go down the toilet, at least don't flush the rest of us down with you! Stop believing every adman's lie, whether it's for a product or a politician! Quit falling for the guy who pretends to 'love Jesus' and watch what he really does to his fellow humans!

[kskiska]

29. I remember

They called him an "egghead."

There was a little jingle all the kids sang at the time:

Whistle while you work
Stevenson's a jerk
Eisenhower's got the power
Whistle while you work.

[Toots]

31. The one I learned was a little different

Whistle while you work
Hitler was a Jerk
Mussolini hit his weenie
Now it doesn't work
;-)

[rbnyc]

6. You got it. (nt)

[RobinA]

26. Clinton's Intelligence

was well-hidden by his Elvis accent and manner. You've got to be smart to even SEE Clinton's intelligence, he doesn't ooze egghead like some other recent candidates I could name.

[lovedems]

2. I disagree, I think to the chimps disadvantage, more people are

opening their eyes to the evils of this administration. Crap, look at all the damage they have done. I think people are realizing having an idiot for a president is the wrong path.

God, I hope I am right.

[bryant69]

3. It's not about inteligence, and its not recent

It's about a connection with the American people. We've had some famously smart guys as president; and some guys who were supposed to be dopes; but the most successful Presidents (from a political point of view) were those who connected to the people. Who the people could believe had their best interests in heart. At least that's my theory. And it goes back to Andrew Jackson, if not before.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Bertha Venation]

5. When they got disguised as faith

"When did ignorance and stupidity become virtues?"

When they got disguised as "faith."

It's why so many right-wingers are willing to swallow whatever they're told. They already believe the bible is God talking to the earth in literal words, that every word is "inspired by God" and that we're meant to take every bit of it literally. It's not really that much of a stretch to believe anything else.

[mac56]

11. Bertha, you summed it up perfectly.

Somewhere along the way, being "too smart" (whatever that means) acquired the taint of being arrogant. By extension: ignorance may not be a good thing, but at least you're "staying in your place" as God dictates. Such bullshit.

:hi:

[elfwitch]

7. when people became more stupid

People are scared of things they don't understand. The "not the sharpest knife in the drawer" folks like GW because he is dumb like them. They feel pretty safe with a guy that doesn't use big words and doesn't like to read. Smart people make them feel dumber.

[NewJeffCT]

8. already hearing criticisms of Kerry

That he is too intellectual and long-winded for the average voter.

[elfwitch]

9. In a way they all are...

Your average Joe American needs things put really simply for them. When Dems get up and start spelling out programs with numbers and stats, Joe tunes out. Al Joe wants to know is how it will effect him. Joe American you need to vote us in so you don't have to take your kids to the free clinic. Joe American you need to vote us in so you can send your kids to college so they can have a better life that you have. Joe American you need to vote us in so your sons don't get sent off to die in a sandbox for the interests of greedy rich people.

That is what Dems need to do. Frame the policies in simple terms. Make them personal and east to understand.

[Cat Atomic]

14. I think the root of what's called "anti-intellectualism" is actually

just a healthy distrust of "approved" thought. People that call themselves "intellectuals" are often just people that have proven their ability to think in approved ways by going through some course work.

Is some guy who runs a hospital really any more intellectual than a guy filling pot holes? Not really.

I grew up in a thoroughly blue collar environment, and worked my way through college. I've seen both sides. I've worked for years with people who have doctorates and masters and all sorts of impressive initials. They're no more perceptive than anyone else.

Some of the smartest, most well read critical thinkers I've ever known were blue collar workers. The most doctrinaire, unthinking, spouters of conventional wisdom I've ever known were PhD's.

Anyway, I know I'm off topic, but I just feel that needs to be said sometimes.

[Sandpiper]

18. I disagree

"I think the root of what's called "anti-intellectualism" is actually just a healthy distrust of "approved" thought

Fundamentalist christians are some of the most admantly anti intellectual people on the planet, and their biggest reason for being so is that "intellectuals" advocate ideas that are outside the bounds of "approved thought" that Pastor Bob teaches them every Sunday.

[Toots]

33. Fundamentalism destroys a thinking mind

:shrug:

[sable302]

36. I swear this is true

I once heard a man called 'pastor Buddy' say in his sermon 'We might not be smart .... but we love Jesus, and that's what really matters.'

The thing is, 'pastor Buddy' was very smart. He just knew the right way to work the crowd.

[Skittles]

15. that is the freeper/dittohead mindset

intelligence and logic just overwhelm their tiny pinheads

[ACK]

16. Anti-intellectualism is an American institution

Its no fun having someone with intelligence leading you.

You talk about the value of an education but ...
You laugh at the class clown and worship Homer and Bart Simpson.

We must live to the stereotype.

We must embrace the blender we keep sticking our head into and keep wondering why it hurts so much.

After all, he looks like the common man, the average joe and we don't really want more.

The scientists are always wrong anyway look at any sci-fi movie or horror movie. They are all the real idiots.

The anti-hero is in son, didn't you get the email I just sent with the virus attached?

Its no fun getting straight A's and making it tops in college. Playing the fool and dropping out of school. That is the tops for me.

We wallow in self-defecation and convince ourselves it smells like roses in the spring.

The circles keep getting tighter like the spinning blades of the blender. We keep putting our hand in and staring at the stump.

Do you still want to know why it still hurts?

[mac56]

20. John Stuart Mill said it best:

"It is not true that all conservative people are stupid. It is true, however, that most stupid people are conservatives."

[KayLaw]

21. Bush is actually smarter

This is how it was explained to me on another board: Gore was more intelligent and Bush realized that he, himself, was not that bright. This knowledge prompted him to surround himself with brilliant advisers rather than try to do much thinking himself. Therefore, Bush is actually smarter. Got it?:eyes:

[spindoctor]

24. We can't win

Not when you're up against that mentality. lol

But seriously, if we are so smart then surely we can figure out a way to win the dumb croud over, don't you think?

[Toots]

34. Ahhh the fly in the ointment

Ain't life a bitch. How to outsmart someone who doesn't know how to think? What a dilema. I suppose we could offer them shiny things and some gratutious violence. :shrug: but what do I know?

[pscot]

37. DUH

I think they got shiny things and violence already. The Republicans seem to do just fine with Fear and Greed. We come along with "Let's all share now" and it doesn't seem to be working.

[spindoctor]

41. Focus, focus

The average American is too busy working multiple jobs or overtime to pay for vehicles, child support, second mortgages and a monstrous credit card debt to even have time to worry about political issues.

Our candidate will have to be recognizable, identifiable, and understandable to appeal to the masses.

So put him in a Nascar car, throw him in the mosh pit, have him appear on American Idol....then who cares what he even stands for.

That's why the real battle is done now during the primaries. This is when we have to cherry pick the best we have to offer. After that its all just fun and games.

[RandomKoolzip]

23. I thinkJello Biafra said it best when he said:

"I'd much rather have a dumb nazi in the white house than a smart one." However, he said this about Dan Quayle.

Really, what I think is so strange is that everybody views the presidency as probably the hardest, most demanding job possible, right? Sorta comprable to a doctor or a pilot; if you go into an ER, you want a smart person taking care of you, it's your life on the line! You don't want some wifebeater-wearin' good old boy with a 20 oz. Coors operating on you, do you? So why would you choose an obviously anti-intellectual dunderhead to RUN THE COUNTRY, to take care of the body politic?

Seriously, this whole "beer-buddy appeal" thing is horrendous. Too mamy people confuse intelligence with arrogance because it makes them feel inferior and resentful when they see someone on TV who has achieved their position in life through the use of his/her brain. I'm sorry, but I can't worry about hurting some dumb guy's feelings my whole life....choosing a president is a difficult decision, and the criteria should be SLIGHTLY deeper than, "man, I'd like to down a few brewtowskis with him and go fishin'."

[kskiska]

30. Mrs. Quayle dissed the Chimp

As Marilyn Quayle bitterly told The Arizona Republic, “the caricature they made of Dan in ‘88 is George W. It’s him. It wasn’t true about Dan. But it is him. ... A guy that never accomplished anything. ... Everything he got, Daddy took care of.”

[Minstrel Boy]

25. Read "Anti-Intellectualism in American Life" by Richard Hofstadler.

The book's almost 40 years old, but hardly dated. The exploitation of antagonism towards intellectuals by the American right is an old and effective ploy.

[YNGW]

28. Thank You

The majority of the comments made on this thread are both revealing and entertaining. I look forward to reading more comments are they are posted.

[Rich Hunt]

38. if you're a 'nerd'

...you can't 'kick ass'. People don't have confidence in someone who seems like they can't 'kick ass'.

And being able to kick ass is what America is all about.

Nevermind that a bunch of dweeby, cynical neocons are directing this administration.