Nothing Was Given to Us

by Karen Topakian

I recently read this quote about someone’s childhood, “We were raised the right way – like, nothing was given to us?” Implying that others had life’s bounty handed to them in an undeserving manner.

This quote was reported in the NYT as said by Todd Kreisher, who runs corporate security for BMW in the Americas region, about the Republican candidate for Senate in PA, David McCormick.

But Mr. McCormick attended West Point, which meant people in high places gave him letters of recommendation.

And Mr. McCormick’s father, James H. McCormick, was a college president who raised his children in the president’s on-campus residence, another gift.

Mr. David McCormick claimed in 2022 that he had “started with nothing” and that he “didn’t have anything.” The facts belie his statements.

This would-be senator, a former hedge fund executive, wants everyone to believe he grew up in a bootstrap-pulling-up family but he didn’t. His family had wealth, power and influence. And they still do.

I find these platitudes about how “our family did it right by making us work for what we had” in this case, inaccurate, insulting to those who really did start out life with nothing and blind to the privilege of birth (into money), race (white) and gender (male).

Why not just be honest about your non-humble beginnings? By saying, “My family had money and resources to help me succeed in life and I want to make sure others have the same opportunities and access.” Because maybe you don’t want to help others succeed? Or because a rags-to-riches story in America buys more votes?