Blue Expeditionary Force

In last Sunday's Washington Post, Red State America is the focus of a brave expedition, conducted by a reporter to the hick hinterlands, to poke and prod at the political motivations of it's rural denizens.

He discovers to his surprise that these folks do not fit keenly into one monolithic demographic of gay-bashing, bible-thumping, Iraqi-baby-stompers. Instead they vary widely in their values, religious and otherwise. Many are lukewarm to Bush but trusted John Kerry even less. The writer also seems aghast that people actually live in such rustic locales, and sneaks in some deft sarcasm as he interacts with the natives.

But the red-staters are cautious, and know how they will be portrayed. After all, no expeditions are necessary from Nebraska to Manhattan to learn about the media's values, when movies and network TV are available in the most remote hamlet of the U.S.

Misperceptions, no doubt, ultimately go in both directions. But the media firehose is one way. The article creeps up to the point of condescension, and finally (reluctantly) concludes that Democrats are going to have to do something to connect with these people.

No kidding.

UPDATE: Email from the author: Well, thanks for reading. I don't know where you got "to his surprise," and "hick hinterland" is yours not mine. I prefer to call it "home." But it's a free country, so twist and spin as you see fit. - David Von Drehle

To be fair, you don't actually express surprise. But there was a coyness and subtlety to the way you describe "the Big Empty" and its residents. When one man talks about his pets you say he is offering an explanation for his vote. You drop asides about "sameness" and "conformity”, and the cover photograph is a masterpiece.

The fact that the Midwest was once home would appear to be a foil, when you speak so openly about how all of your peers in D.C. were stunned or weeping over the election. Many people move away from places like Nebraska and never look back unless they hope to trade on that ersatz authenticity when speaking for "the folks".

Hmm. How hard it would be to track down the people interviewed, and see how they feel about their portrayal in the article?