Obama Wins the Nomination and thoughts on Preppy Politics
As you most likely already know, Barack Obama won the nomination for the Democratic party when he passed the required number of delegates last night. So the question is now what does this mean for preppy people?
Well first of all, I believe that people should make their own choices based purely on policy on whom they should vote for. But in terms of preppiness I can’t say that either candidate qualifies. Barack’s blue collar attitude, and McCain’s focus on the war really don’t convey anythign preppy. Some claim Hillary dresses preppy, but I guess I’m just not a fan of those women’s suit dress things or what ever theyre called that she is always wearing. John McCain could be a little bit preppy but I think that its just because he’s so gosh darn old, and conservative. I feel that some other candidates like Guiliani or perhaps mayor Bloomberg if he had run (which was rumored at one point) would have been considerably more preppy than the candidates now, who are trying there hardest to relate to blue collar people, despite pulling in around a million dollars a year. As far as the preppiest candidate goes, I would definitly have to choose Mitt Romney who dropped out early. Romney would have in my opinion been the preppiest candidate, since he has a few houses in New England and always dresses stylishly in mostly preppy attire. Plus he was the governor of Massachusetts, my home state and the heart of preppiness.
I was wondering though; Should preppies vote republican simply because it is their status quo? Is it still preppy to vote democrat or be liberal? The traditional preppy, that of the Tea Partay video would never vote anyone but the most conservative of candidates, one who would give tax cuts to the rich, allowing them to keep every penny of their fortune. However preppiness has changed, and now more and more middle and upper middle class people are living the preppy lifestyle, including those who support liberal things like fighting global warming, abortion, ending the war in Iraq etc.
So therefore I think that preppiness really doesn’t have to do with political affiliation. Look at the Kennedy’s for instant. They are like a royal family of preppiness (with a compound in Hyannis Port Cape Cod pictured above) and Ted Kennedy (unfortunatly not for long) is one of the biggest liberals out there. So while you may go to somewhere like the Hamptons, or Martha’s Vineyard and find a lot of older people staying conservative and living the preppy lifestyle there are also younger ones as well who have a broader political spectrum. I think this says something about being preppy in general. Looking at the Tea Partay video, it is easy to almost kind of want that life, inheriting money and going yachting. But in reality there are not a lot of people like this, and it really doesn’t show what being preppy is all about. While having money is required, upper middle class people can be just as preppy as those with millions; its all about the degree to which you choose to live your life. This relates back to politics, because there are a growing number of younger rich people who are choosing to be preppy, merging the two camps of the old money, and those with new money who still want to live the lifestyle.
So in conclusion, although neither Obama nor McCain is really preppy, choosing to live a preppy life, need not influence political decisions. I’m personally going to vote for Ron Paul if he gets on the ticket under another party, or at least as a write in. But that’s just me…
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4 Responses to “Obama Wins the Nomination and thoughts on Preppy Politics”
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Hey. I think your blog is fantastic, however, here I have to disagree. I’m from England, but I still thought I’d leave a comment. I don’t think a prep would vote for a candidate on their dress or how preppy they are. Surely, preps are educated enough to look at all the candidates and make up their own mind?
One persons opinion (:
I was going more for the fact that most preppies tend to be rich and the stereotype is that rich people vote rebuplican, but I see what you’re saying.
Ahh, I see where you’re coming from. Preps are all Upper-Middle class, and the stereotype is that they vote Repblican. I often travel to America, mostly New York and New England, and more preps that I expected are voting for Barack Obama. I think attitudes may have started to change, maybe George Bush really did do a bad job? Preps also feel free to vote for whoever they think have the best policies. Great insight, thanks.
Great blog, came across it on a Facebook group.
I agree, about the Bush comment. I think he did such a bad job in not improving our country that even conservatives are turning against him and the Republican party. I agree with a lot of conservative policies (except for their foreign ones like the war) but Obama really seems like he will turn our country for the better…