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COLUMNISTS
TODAY'S STORIES
18.08.2008
Lady de Rothschild: Obama is a Cosmopolitan Snob

 

The Times of London has a great article today about Clinton dead ender Lynn Forester, aka Lady de Rothschild, who seems to be one of the least self-aware people on the planet. Forester, a longtime Clinton fundraiser, complains of Obama:

"He has a huge problem connecting with ordinary Americans, who think, ‘He doesn’t understand me.’ He is not modest; he is arrogant. He radiates elitism. ...

“Barack Obama can use the words ‘the American dream’, but they don’t resonate,” she said. “He magnified the problem by going to Berlin and calling himself a citizen of the world.”

Forester is indentified in the article as "one of Britain’s most influential political hostesses" -- she retains her American citzenship -- and a millionaire business owner who became a billionaire after marrying into the Rothschild banking fortune.

She also complains about Obama's ambition:

“It is not disloyal to raise legitimate questions about Barack Obama,” she said. “He started running for president before he even set foot in the US Senate."

As opposed to Hillary Clinton, who never contemplated the presidency until she had served several Senate terms, right?

--Jonathan Chait

Posted: Monday, August 18, 2008 10:49 AM with 15 comment(s)

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ChanRobt said:

If the aristocrats think he's an arrogant snob, what are normal people going to think?

August 18, 2008 11:25 AM

robertg69 said:

Lady de R looks and sounds like a high priestess of Cosmopolitan snobs. So why should bother about what she thinks or says about Obama or anything?

The willingness to drag down is so strong. That's one of the biggest strengths of Republicans. They support their own and don't often tear them down, except whenever a Bush is running against a McCain in a primary that the Bush seems to be losing!

August 18, 2008 11:30 AM

icarusr said:

That string of pearls - and a name like "Lady de Rothschild" - it's like John "I own 8 houses" McCain complaining about Obama's being connected to Middle America.

August 18, 2008 11:35 AM

mpatrickhendri said:

Dunno, maybe they'll think he was a guy who grew up in a broken family, didn't have a pot to piss in and spent the better part of his adult life repaying student loans - as opposed to the guy with eight houses, a jet and a sugar momma.

Mrs. Rothschild, Mr. McCain meet kettle, etc.

August 18, 2008 11:36 AM

Robert Powell said:

Really, the Dems should have nominated Edwards. No, wait...

Really, the Dems should have nominated Hillary...uh, see the campaign memos at theatlantic.com.

Really, the Dems should have nominated,,,,,Mike Gravel?

August 18, 2008 11:45 AM

icarusr said:

RP: I think you're on to something.  The soi-disant Democrats' self-hate is really palpable at times.  It's like the guy who keeps japping himself in the eye with an icepick, and then complains about the headaches he's got.

But then, from a campaign - Hillary's - so good at circular firing, why would you expect something dfferent?

August 18, 2008 11:53 AM

wildboy said:

Vanity Fair should sponsor a debate between this woman and Arianna Huffington, preferably moderated by Rev. Thomas Stiers at Riverside Church.  Perhaps televised live on Bravo.

August 18, 2008 12:20 PM

Wandreycer1 said:

What a raving bigot. Check out that photo, who is the smarmy effete snob?  Typical Clinton asswipe

August 18, 2008 12:27 PM

blackton said:

Channy, her reciting Republican talking points is not evidence of anything. My 4 year old repeats things ad nauseum that his 6 year old brother says, that doesn't mean he has any real understanding.

August 18, 2008 12:47 PM

alexmh said:

I recently overheard these two guy complaining about Obama's elitism also.

assets.espn.go.com/.../nhl_pp_dukes_275.jpg

August 18, 2008 12:57 PM

psantillana said:

I think she might be a performance artist, like Stephen Colbert.

August 18, 2008 1:10 PM

michael said:

I like the lead, "At the Democratic national convention next week, Lynn Forester, Lady de Rothschild, one of Britain’s most influential political hostesses, will be contemplating treachery."

Uh-oh, another Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt and John Cairncross? All wrapped in the guise of one of Hillaryland's upscale residents. They chose a stealthy operator. I don't think many Hoosiers will be on the lookout for her.

But I can see her goon squad marching in Denver. They'll have a Barbara Cartland nestled w/a dog & dog eared copy of 'Loose Change' in their Vera Bradley (Coach, Prada, Birkin) chanting “I cannot imagine America electing a president during a time of war who is not at his centre fundamentally American in his thinking and in his values,” [from the Penn e-mail]

Some of my friends are snobs but when I read "The Rothschilds spent the night of their wedding dinner in the Lincoln bedroom." it struck me as eldritch even for am enlarged ego.

"Necessity is the mother of taking chances."

 Twain

August 18, 2008 1:12 PM

teplukhin2you said:

No pearls of wisdom here but those are some very impressive pearls.

August 18, 2008 1:18 PM

williamyard said:

This is no more than an ad hominem attack against Forester.

She could be Satan's handmaiden. No matter. Are her words correct? Attacking the speaker rather than his or her argument sometimes indicates an inability to counter the argument.

Is that the case here? In reading her claims I'd say I agree with about a third, disagree with another third, and am unsure of the remaining third. But as this thread is about a personal attack, which I have no interest in joining, I'll leave discussion of her opinions to elsewhere.

(I enjoy piling on as much as the next dilettante, but I'll pass this time around.)

August 18, 2008 2:36 PM

GSpinks said:

I understand your point, Will. I think the biggest problem is that there is no there there to debunk. Its more like an echo of a long gone meme that a real talking point or well thought notion. The natural result is people progressing from the (apparently) vapid musings to the (apparently) vapid muser.

Not impressed by the perls

Definitely think that picture lends itself to some pot/kettle analogies

August 19, 2008 12:44 AM