Barack Obama 's rivals have accused him of having an elitist attitude . Presidential candidates are elite by definition , says author Drew Westen . Charge of elitism is not new in politics . In the 19th century it was used to describe people who were too wealthy or powerful for ordinary Americans to understand their motives and actions.
Barack Obama 's rivals have accused him of having an elitist attitude . Presidential candidates are elite by definition , says author Drew Westen . Charge of elitism is not new in politics . The toxicity of the charge depends on how it 's handled , Westen says .