Losing My Lunch:Caribou Barbie's McCarthylicious New Chapter to the Campaign

"We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, D.C. We believe... We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation. This is where we find the kindness and the goodness and the courage of everyday Americans. Those who are running our factories and teaching our kids and growing our food and are fighting our wars for us. Those who are protecting us in uniform. Those who are protecting the virtues of freedom." - Sarah Palin

Weeks ago, the Washington Post's Anne Applebaum poked holes in Palin's provincial logic. But this is that same idea taken to a ridiculous extreme. I doubt Palin would think I'm from a very Pro-America place. I've always lived in big cities, from Austin to Dallas to Ft. Worth, to D.C., to Baltimore. I'm a child of the suburbs and have little to no connection with what Palin would call the "real America". But, last time I checked, they still have factories, police, and teachers even in the big city. Last time I looked they still recruited people from cities to fight wars. Just because the community is larger doesn't mean that we do nothing to serve that community or our country. In fact, often the sacrifices are far greater. We would do well to honor the service of every person who donates their time to improving the lives of those who live around them rather than their bottom line.

Barack Obama is such a person. He was editor of the Harvard Law Review and could have his pick of all the high powered law firms in the land. Instead he and Michelle gave back to their community. And for that Palin et. al. ridiculed him.

Now it has gone even farther than that. Michelle Bachman (aptly called the bats#$t crazy congresswoman from Minnesota by Stephanie Miller) has decided that there might be some people in the US Congress who are anti-american. Chris Matthews does a wonderful job of pinning her down and making her commit to her insane claims. He does nail her down to being suspicious of Barack Obama's patriotism.

I have a question for Bachman and the anyone else who shares her viewpoint: If Barack Obama and city policemen and firefighters and teachers and soldiers all dedicated their life to service of their community, for what reason did they do it than for LOVE OF THEIR COUNTRY? Actions speak louder than words, and the actions of Barack and Michelle Obama as well as the actions of public servants, yes even the ones in cities, are deafening compared to any words or assosciations warped by pseudo-populist politicians praying they can engender a cultural divide.

Not everyone small town person is Jefferson Smith or Longfellow Deeds. Sometimes you get a Bob Ewell or a Jerry Lundegaard. Being provincial does not make you superior, nor does it make you inferior. There are good folks and bad folks; nice folks and mean folks; honest and crooked; hopeful and bitter, everywhere, in every city, small town, hamlet, and dry county. You cannot parcel out patriotism by geography. And to do so only seeks to divide this nations citizens against each other and hurt our national unity. Now THAT's Un-American.