A week or two ago I caught wind of a quote that was making the rounds, a completely unfounded, naïve dismissal of middle america: “They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or antitrade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

Those of you who have been following the war over the Democratic nomination don’t need to be informed that this quote came from Barack Obama.
Mr. Obama has of course since admitted that he “chose [words] badly.” And lord knows I’ve been known to shoot my mouth off without thinking, so I sympathize with the dude if it’s as simple as that.

I’ve been to middle America. And I’ve seen some insane shit there. Kids with guns. Pregnant 16 year olds with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Religious zealots screaming savage profanities at homosexuals. All the hippies and liberals have heard plenty of stories about how fucked up the rednecks are. But I’ve been there, and while lord knows I’ve never been known for tact, I would never make such a broad generalization. Even if I was rapping with a bunch of San Francisco libs as Mr. Obama was.

You know what’s worse than not understanding the people you’re employed to serve? Thinking you understand them and being totally dead fucking wrong.