On Elitism

One of the things that drives me crazy about politics is the way politicians use words that are perfectly acceptable in other contexts to try to demean the opponent. It is no secret that I could correctly be labeled as liberal. Liberal in my world means one is well-educated and prefers to consider more broadly topics, themes and ideas than would those of opposing instincts. I find nothing demeaning in such a definition and proudly display my liberal preference. Then there is the the term elitist. In its current derrogatory use it is meant to denote out-of-touch with the common person. I find this attempt to use this term in this manner puzzling. An executive is supposed to be a leader, who by definition needs to go beyond the level of the common person. I think historically in the US, Andrew Jackson was considered by the populace to be the person with the most demonstrable links to the common person, yet even he has been demonstrated by the judgment of history to be a person of rather great accomplishment, much moreso than so many thousands of Americans alive in his day. And if an elitist only understands the people at the top, then why is it that the liberal elitists are the most socialist in their thinking? Isn't the American dream one of elitist achievement - fine house, fine material goods, fine education, fine aspects of all social contracts, and a fine old Yankee can-do attitude?
Actually, I wonder if we have ever elected a president who had not achieved some degree of elitism. And who made the rule that having achieved any degree of elitism pre-emptively divorces one from the experience of the common person? Besides, in the context that started this thought process, I bet one could list item for item elements that could constitute elitism from either side. In the wisdom of the ages from the idiomatic lexicon of the common person, isn't this a case of the pot calling the kettle black? "Yeah, I'm just like you" is the intended message. I hope no one I know is going to vote for a president who is very much like himself or herself. Apparently, I don't know enough elite people.