carpetbagger

  1. Noun.  (politics, chiefly) An immigrant from the Northern to the Southern States after the American Civil War of 1861-5, especially one who went South to gain political influence; hence, someone intervening in the politics of an area with which they are thought to have no real connection.
  2. Noun.  (pejorative, by extension) One who comes to a place or organisation with which they have no previous connection with the sole or primary aim of personal gain, especially political or financial gain.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.