A reader says I’m too cynical:

I read that article in the Washington Post. I expected some high flying
snark about poor taste and cluelessness. In fact, the article was
sympathetic to the Alitos. In my reading, the Alitos are authentic people
who dress without pretense and manipulation. I point to the paragraph that
describes the women in NY, LA, and Washington. Those women embody the
liberal elitism and they are described in negative terms as being shallow,
pretentious, vain, and false. Mrs. Alito comes across as the opposite in a
positive way.

ME: I reflex-responded to that piece, but it’s because I’ve seen the inside of Wal-Mart and it doesn’t scare me. A lot of the folks who do real important work in D.C. don’t wear Prada and Coach and Brooks Brothers. Some actually shop at Sears. You can certainly be clear-headed and non-elitist and wear Chanel, but to be shocked to see a “cable-knit cardigan” is elitist.