I dunno, I think it's a pretty coherent image. I mean, I don't per se approve of stereotyping, but the "rich ex-hippie boomers and their trust-fund yuppie children" is... definitely an image I'm familiar with, and definitely a recognizable part of Obama's core. I mean, I don't think there's anything *wrong* with any of those things, but I'm pretty sure it's an image that any Machinists union member will grok.
I agree that it's a coherent image. I just think that it's a label a lot easier to pin on the Deaniacs than on the Obama supporters,if nothing else than because of the racial angle. It's hard for them both to be wearing Birkenstocks and playing inner-city basketball. Also, boomers are a key part of Clinton's constituency, especially boomer women, who would tend to fit into the above stereotypes.
"Trained thespian" did strike me as code, as I suggest, along with the recent descriptions of Obama as a "pussy." (I don't actually think Obama ever did any theatre, though I could be wrong.)
I would disagree. Like I say, I think the "rich ex-hippie boomers and their trust-fund yuppie children" is a very easy label to pin on Obama supporters; The "wine-track candidate" label is one he's had since the beginning, and that's what this is evoking. Yeah, for obvious reasons he pulls a lot of the black vote as well, but that hasn't really been the defining story of his campaign and its appeal.
Whether the image will significantly hurt him is another matter; it hasn't so far, so it probably won't this time either. But I don't think that's because of dissonance.
Re: boomers & Clinton: yes, but her boomers are the poor boomers, by and large, not the Prius-drivers and latte-drinkers.
There's definitely a strong criticism/fear that Obama is the candidate of the rich/over-educated, ultra-liberal wing of the party, which is not entirely inaccurate given the voting demographics (the black community aside) in the earlier races, and for that matter, the lot of us.
That said, I think this is an increasingly inaccurate criticism given Obama's more recent performances, especially in Wisconsin, where he picked up votes among the working class.
Of course, how he'll deal with the Republican attack machine is anyone's guess. One of the major concerns many people had about an Obamam candidacy (and one I share) is his lack of time in front of the klieg-lights. But we'll see how it goes.
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"Trained thespian" did strike me as code, as I suggest, along with the recent descriptions of Obama as a "pussy." (I don't actually think Obama ever did any theatre, though I could be wrong.)
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Whether the image will significantly hurt him is another matter; it hasn't so far, so it probably won't this time either. But I don't think that's because of dissonance.
Re: boomers & Clinton: yes, but her boomers are the poor boomers, by and large, not the Prius-drivers and latte-drinkers.
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That said, I think this is an increasingly inaccurate criticism given Obama's more recent performances, especially in Wisconsin, where he picked up votes among the working class.
Of course, how he'll deal with the Republican attack machine is anyone's guess. One of the major concerns many people had about an Obamam candidacy (and one I share) is his lack of time in front of the klieg-lights. But we'll see how it goes.
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I suspect the label will also be less effective after the endorsement of the Teamsters today. Nothing says Birkenstocks like cement overshoes?