So: What do we do about the fact that small-town and rural Americans are so out of touch

[Squinch]

232. Except that NONE of that was anywhere in his statement. You are reading something into

it that isn't there. No one said anything about ignorance or dumb or shit kickers or contempt. YOU are the only ones bringing them into the conversation.

The OP was simply stating that it is erroneous to consider that any minority of people, including rural people, should be considered or should consider themselves the "real America" in a way that suggests that the rest of the country is not the "real America."

It was making the point that instead of beating ourselves for not being in touch with the rural voter, it is perfectly legitimate to ask why the rural voter was so out of touch that it fell for Trump who lied to them and promised them unicorn farts and generally treated them like idiots.

That is a legitimate question.

You guys have gone all Freudian and hung your insecurities onto that. That's on you, not on the OP, because it simply isn't in the OP.