This is an intelligent essay with an erudite theme that frames the ceremony of McCain’s passing as the bereavement of an ideology. Nevertheless, I struggle with the association of elitism and ideology. Elitism devours ideology as it emphasizes status over principle.
In more simplistic terms, imagine the Washington establishment as lifetime members of the most exclusive country club in America. It retains this standing because the dues owed for the status and lavish perks that accompany membership are paid for by others; the American taxpayer. To preserve their good standing in this most elite club, members engage in venal rituals that prioritize the interests of the club over all other interests, including ideological beliefs.
That was not a funeral on Saturday. It was a social gathering of the club’s membership to honor one of their own. That President Trump and his wife were not welcome to attend is, in my view, a welcome circumstance.
