In periods of Ancient China, members of any class could become public servants by passing a series of tests based on academic skills and religious knowledge (different depending on the period but mostly Confucianism). Then, once within the ranks, one could advance in a series of grades; the nine most senior grades were known as the Mandarin.
These non-democratic but senior and long-lived positions have inspired the use of Mandarin to describe Western public servants with similar mystique. Although our politicians are elected, many of our top officials are appointed, often living out their appointer's term in office. They get there by being both good at what they do and having the right connections.
Taken to its logical extreme, Cancer Man could be described as a Mandarin.