Wow, that sounds pretty bad all right! It’s too bad about her vicious greedy family. At first I wondered why this was titled “Why America Hates Democrats,” since it seems to be more about why Jane Smiley hates the image of midwestern Christians that she has created in her overheated imagination. But then I realized that this is, in fact, a perfect reason why America would hate Democrats if it did, which it doesn’t. True Americans hate all forms of prejudice, hatred, lies, insane historical revisionism, and scapegoating, including this. But since this little essay paints an equally accurate picture of what Republicans and Democrats are actually like, I think it’s time to retire the term “hate” and just calm the *^&$% down.
I was all prepared to read the article and make a “take it with a grain of salt, and don’t throw the baby out with the bath water” defense, but you’re right. That article is pretty darn condescending.
I do believe that fear and hate were the tipping point in the recent election, brilliantly played, but to paint everyone who cast a “red” vote as ignorant beyond redemption? That’s waaaaaaaaaay over the top.
michele
Oops, I realized that my comment re. Reps & Dems above is kind of ambiguous. I meant that Reps aren’t ignorant & evil as this essay claims, and neither are Dems raving lunatics such as Jane Smiley appears to be judging by her words here. Also, I shouldn’t fake-swear.
by 
Wow, that sounds pretty bad all right! It’s too bad about her vicious greedy family. At first I wondered why this was titled “Why America Hates Democrats,” since it seems to be more about why Jane Smiley hates the image of midwestern Christians that she has created in her overheated imagination. But then I realized that this is, in fact, a perfect reason why America would hate Democrats if it did, which it doesn’t. True Americans hate all forms of prejudice, hatred, lies, insane historical revisionism, and scapegoating, including this. But since this little essay paints an equally accurate picture of what Republicans and Democrats are actually like, I think it’s time to retire the term “hate” and just calm the *^&$% down.
I was all prepared to read the article and make a “take it with a grain of salt, and don’t throw the baby out with the bath water” defense, but you’re right. That article is pretty darn condescending.
I do believe that fear and hate were the tipping point in the recent election, brilliantly played, but to paint everyone who cast a “red” vote as ignorant beyond redemption? That’s waaaaaaaaaay over the top.
Oops, I realized that my comment re. Reps & Dems above is kind of ambiguous. I meant that Reps aren’t ignorant & evil as this essay claims, and neither are Dems raving lunatics such as Jane Smiley appears to be judging by her words here. Also, I shouldn’t fake-swear.
that article reminds me of too many people I know. wow.
You know, I don’t know what that person was talking about… I voted for Bush because I hate poor people.
Poor people suck. Hear that, Kenny?