Reply #11: Betting on stupid

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

Betting on stupid

Betty Cracker

Everyone knows the gas tax holiday is a stupid idea. Anti-Obama, pro-Clinton economist and NYT columnist Paul Krugman admits it's a bad idea, along with just about every other reputable economist with an opinion on the issue.

Hillary Clinton is smart enough to know it's a dumb idea too, so why is she pushing it? Because she's betting on stupid. She knows the idea sounds good to low-information voters, i.e., those who "go with their gut," the kind of voters who choose candidates based on whether or not they'd be fun to have a beer with. In other words, the type of voters who almost elected George W. Bush twice.

The anti-intellectual tone of the Clinton campaign would be funny if it weren't so potentially damaging. The "just us folks" vs. "nancy-pants intellectuals" strategy has long been the GOP standard. It's all they've got since the rich people they actually serve aren't numerous enough to elect them if they ran on their real agenda -- creating more wealth and power for the wealthy and powerful.

As the GOP has demonstrated repeatedly -- most recently in 2004 -- betting on stupid isn't a sucker's bet. As noted intellectual Albert Einstein said, "Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidy, and I'm not sure about the former."

...As if the Bush administration's problems stem from an infestation of intellectuals in the White House. Still, it's a tried and true populist line.
But a decidedly non-elitist at the town hall meeting failed to reliably join in the anti-intellectual torch and pitchfork mob Senator Clinton was attempting to rouse:

....An ordinary voter begged to differ, however. Stephanopoulos turned the mike over to a woman who said she supported Obama and said she makes less than $25,000 a year.

"I do feel pandered to when you talk about suspending the gas tax," the woman said, adding: "Call me crazy but I actually listen to economists because I think they know what they've studied."