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It’s a state where Blacks own 0.2% of all businesses. Hispanics own 2.6%. The population is 84% White. But that’s not really news, we’d expect these demographics from a state where Larry Craig once graced the U.S. Senate with his presence. It’s a state where taxes are “bad” but farm subsidies are fine. This is predictable rhetoric from Idaho. But really, what’s it like to live there?

It’s common to see controversial religious proclamations like this as mainstream

Sts Peter and Paul Catholic School

This is at this Catholic school where subtlety is certainly not their strong suit

But don’t worry. They’re on Facebook and the banner does say “all are welcome.” They must be pretty tolerant and have a modern perspective, right?

Hardly. The Central Idaho Post, a free paper in Grangeville, Idaho has “In God We Trust” right at the top of their front page, so we’ve already eliminated all those pesky atheists. Phew. Their right-wing views are presented as fact. The Post’s political position is made very clear by the use of the terms “constitution-hating liberals,” Sharia Law or the assertion unions have outlived their usefulness (see below.) With the Sharia Law comments, I suppose anyone affiliated with Islam isn’t welcome either. Occupy Wall Street is clearly a Communist Movement. Grangeville is the Tea Party version of heaven on Earth. Here’s a page two “editorial” from one of the paper’s freelance journalists:

Central Idaho Post

That’s a small sample of the newspaper my father-in-law must look at to get his local news. He is an outdoorsman, a lover of nature and a hunter, like most rural Idahoans. He was once a prominent businessman and leader in town. However, he’s not a Teabagger, a hate-monger or a Republican. He’s a rare breed. He’s incredibly well-read and a LIBERAL! (gasp!!) As a resident of Grangeville for over 20 years, he’s gradually become accustomed to keeping his distance from local narrow-minded political affairs. The crazy in Grangeville has gotten worse by the year. Liberals are obviously a minority in a state where only 22.6% of its residents are college graduates. (Traditionally, education is not the strong suit of most suspicious, hate-mongering Republicans.) He knows there’s no point engaging in any sort of meaningful dialogue. Their minds are made up. That damned Socialist Muslim in the White House is ruining our America! It’s as if they are living in the early nineteenth century, a time when women knew their place and slavery was the law of the land.

A common editorial figure in the Central Idaho Post is Douglas V. Gibbs, self-proclaimed “Constitutional Defender.” Here’s an excerpt from his writings: Leftists refuse to accept the true nature of Islamism, which is more like Nazism or Communism, than a religion of peace. The enemy will not be content to beat us down on our own soil, and take over a certain amount of turf. The Islamists will come after us with vengeance as they have pledged time and time again….As the liberal left spreads its politically correct doctrine to the detriment of this nation, we are bending over backwards to accommodate our enemy’s counterparts here in the United States. He uses the term “Democrat Congress” as often as possible. That’s apparently a Teabagger insult towards anyone who’s to the left of their corporate fascist way of thinking. He also fails to mention that President Obama took down Osama Bin Laden, not George W. Bush.

It’s no wonder my father-in-law is looking to move to another state, preferably Oregon, a far more Blue state. Idaho has some of the most beautiful scenery and enjoys natural serenity unparalleled anywhere in the nation. However, the vitriolic rhetoric spewed by the mainstream in its most rural areas is far from peaceful. It’s downright terrifying.

Post election 2012: One Idaho lawmaker is vying for states to disregard the electoral college and as of November 27th is still pulling for a Romney victory. Idaho has much evolving to do!

Tags: Birtherism, Douglas Gibbs, GOP, Idaho, Racism, Teaparty