When did being or striving to be ELITE become a BAD thing??

e·lite

From Dictionary.com

-noun

1.	(often used with a plural verb) the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons.

2.	(used with a plural verb) persons of the highest class: Only the elite were there.

3.	a group of persons exercising the major share of authority or influence within a larger group: the power elite of a major political party.

4.	a type, approximately 10-point in printing-type size, widely used in typewriters and having 12 characters to the inch.

–adjective

5.

representing the most choice or select; best: an elite group of authors. From American Heritage Dictionary: A group or class of persons or a member of such a group or class, enjoying superior intellectual, social, or economic status: "In addition to notions of social equality there was much emphasis on the role of elites and of heroes within them" (Times Literary Supplement). The best or most skilled members of a group: the football team's elite. Why the negative connotation these days????. "The Washington Elite" "The Elite Media" I had no idea that liking Arugula, made me an Elitist..I mean anyone can buy it these days. You can even grow it in your garden, if you like. Are we not encouraged to strive to be the BEST we can be in this country? If we use ELITE as a negative, then are we supposed to dumb down? America...DON'T raise the bar too high...or else, god forbid, someone will think we are Elite...and actually have some class Isn't that silly?