In Defense of Elitism

It's pretty obvious that the dirty word of this political season is "Elitist". As in "elitist candidate", "elitist media"and so on.....
Well the definition of elite is to be the best. So being the best is now not politically correct?? Fears of being an elitist should make us all into Budweiser swigging, TV watching, chip chomping couch potatoes?? I don't get this new form of quasi-socialism perpetuated by the Republican party. (The former elitists)
Eating an interesting veggie, say arugula, instead of iceberg lettuce makes you elitist. Why- because it has more vitamins?? Then a friend of mine called me elitist in reference to my opinion that a political candidate should go to a top notch university. Again, a better education is somehow snobby. We should all be drop outs then.
I'm certain that one of the reasons the Europeans don't understand Americans is this strange cultural socialism. That we all want to be Joe six-pack, and our kids want to be "bad-asses" not nerds.
When I think of a few examples of items considered "elitist", what comes to mind is-- classical music, literature, fine wine, art museums, ethnic foods, exotic greens. Of course one could say fine wine is expensive--but greens at the farmers market are usually the same price in Alaska, museums are cheaper than sporting events, libraries and classical music on NPR are free!! So what are we really talking about???? Besides, so many "elitist" foods are healthier--so good health is now wrong too??
Lastly, I speculate that some folks just associate snob with elitist. As elitist technically means the best--does that also mean that people who win awards, medals, contests, etc...are all snobs too?? That we can no longer "be all we can be" ?? In my opinion that is what is most un-American about this debate. If we all continue to embrace the opposite of the best we will simply wind up collectively driving our country downward--in a spiral of unhealthy eating, lackluster education and a loss of interest in classical pursuits. If we don't have the elite to look up to, we can only look down.