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12 May 2008 01:43 pm

In Defense Of Kentucky

A reader writes:

I'm a graduate student at a prestigious university, with considerable international experience, (most recently working to revitalize the Afghan university system). Like it or not, I'm a member of an elite. I am a hard core Obama supporter.

I'm also a proud Kentuckian, who grew up with, and worked in tobacco fields alongside, people who, to this day, I consider to be as honest and decent people as one could ever be privileged to know.

They were serious about religion, and law and order, for whom  a trip to the Cracker Barrel was a big deal. Their kids longed to drive Camaros, and idolized WWF.  Many of these folks were born Democrats, and most of them have experienced serious economic hardship for a good while. Maybe a good bunch of them think Obama is 'not American enough' or even think he is a secret Muslim, at which I cringe and almost automatically think, "stupid redneck". Well, for all the hair-splitting about Hillary's "hard-working white Americans" comment, let me point out, that while the folks I grew up around may not be a traditionally oppressed group, these days, no one bats an eye if you call someone a 'redneck' or a 'country-bumpkin' - they are fair game for all kinds of derision.  And while one might not be able to control some of their crazy notions about the likes of Obama, one can certainly control the rather facile urge to pile on and proclaim these people some particularly despicable species of moron.  If for no other reason than because in a tough year, the Republicans are salivating at the thought of exploiting such a rift.

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