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Being perceived as an intellectual of any type (nerd or otherwise) still mostly excludes one from public office above a certain level (in the USA, at least). Un
by calvins 12y ago
Being perceived as an intellectual of any type (nerd or otherwise) still mostly excludes one from public office above a certain level (in the USA, at least). Until that changes, it's difficult to take the idea seriously.
- jacalata 12y agoYou don't think constitutional law professors are perceived as intellectuals?
- calvins 12y agoObama was elected despite being an intellectual. And I did think of Obama and carefully phrase my statement to account for him. The point stands that intellectual is a dirty word in politics, just like nerd, which wouldn't be the case if we were all becoming nerds.
- ihnorton 12y agoAs jacalata pointed out, President Obama could be cited as a counter-example, and under the same criteria I would add at least Wilson to the list. Being perceived as an intellectual is not strictly exclusionary, but opponents will certainly try to hold it against a candidate - much like any other characteristic that can be played up for factionalism.