I'm such an elitist for loving Hawaii and specifically Kauai too. Because, you know, that's where I went to high school (although we lived hand-to-mouth in a rental that had to be condemned after Hurricane Iniki, but whatevs). And when I went to college on the mainland, I had to pay out of state tuition because I was considered a resident of Hawaii even though the room I'd lived in had already been rented out, even if I could have afforded visits home. I had no financial support from either parent (mother's income was below $9,000 that year, if I recall correctly).

So I qualified for financial aid and everything, but even with that and two jobs I finally had to drop out in my senior year because it wasn't enough to cover basics; I was literally homeless the entire Fall 1991 quarter at Evergreen, borrowing rather than buying my books, and when Winter quarter came around I didn't bother to attempt to register, because it was hopeless.

Since 1988, when I left the state of Hawaii of which I was then considered a permanent legal resident for tuition purposes, total number of times I've been back "home": three. The last time being in 1993, after the hurricane but before the place was bulldozed.

And yeah, I'd go back if I could. But you wouldn't believe how many people assume I came from money (and was therefore elitist) because I lived, for four years, in Hawaii. Even while I was still in high school, as soon as I could work, I had to buy my own food.

Oh, and getting off on the wrong foot that way, economically? Not being able to finish my last two quarters at Evergreen? Set into motion a series of events that further entrenched me in the lower-workingclass caste; every effort I've made to go back to school has been sabotaged by financial constraints, and I have, at 37, finally resigned myself to the fact that I will never have a college degree (much less the doctorate I'd dreamed of when I first left that "elitist" haven I apparently inhabited), and I'll be goddamned lucky if my eldest daughter, who will graduate high school in four years, will be able to afford a college education.

Why am I so desperate for a Democrat in office? I want my girl to have what I couldn't. Adequate funding for education, so that she doesn't have to go through this crap, so she can be able to make a decent wage as an adult.

The RNC can kiss my "elitist" ass, too.

About the college degree, I feel and understand that pain. For different reasons, I also didn't finish college. At least I can blame myself instead of the economies of living where I lived.

The whole idea of framing Obama as an elitist for going home is absurd. It's just grasping for whatever someone can say, whether or not it makes sense.

Kauai...lovely! I've never been there, but seen photos. Green, green. Love it.

Let's see, you'll be going in time to celebrate Obama's victory with jubilant Hawaiians after he wins. Big, big fun, you elitist you.

I have my elitist holiday booked for Thanksgiving. Kauai. Can't wait. Still trying to scrape together the money for the flight. Because I'm an elitist, I'll be looking for the lowest airfare I can find for my family.

What a crock. I guess the RNC is just jealous that McCain-Rolled hasn't made the rounds.