The highly educated, richer professionals of the Democratic Party "are aware they are building barriers around who succeeds and who doesn’t," says Jeffrey Stonecash, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science. "A lot of people disparage all of this, but a lot of white guilt is built around the fact that the world can be unfair."

"My sense is that he's relying on some stock phrases that he pulls out again and again, especially when he's called on to make a statement about an issue that perhaps he hasn't done a lot of research on or doesn't have a lot of information on," says Emily Thorson, assistant professor of political science.