[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

@ Jono

I wouldn't necessarily say that Obama "pulled himself up by his bootstraps." He went to an elite private high school, and, while his family life wasn't perfect, he was raised by highly-intelligent middle to upper-middle class parents and grandparents. He deserves credit for making the most of his opportunities, but he's not some rags-to-riches story.

Additionally, any time I've heard about the "American Dream," one of the components that is often mentioned is owning a home. Now, I don't have any specific cites for this, but I would imagine it evolved from an earlier component of the dream, being owning one's own piece of land.

McCain wasn't defining the "American Dream," he was talking about his own impression of what it is.

The American Dream is a tragic falsehood and ungodly idol. With that said, homeownership is one of the most accessible ways to begin building wealth. It is part of the American Dream.