From a reader:
Jonah,
It just goes to show how split people who identify with the blue states and those who identify with the red states are. If Shales thinks the message of the Simple Life is that the rich are doing great in Republican administrations, he’s nuts.
In my opinion, the show is a gift-wrapped Christmas present to the RNC. Here we have a perfectly functional, hard-working farm family in a red state. Their house is covered in American flags. And then two completely ditsy heiresses drop in, fresh from a Page Six worthy party. Paris Hilton is the exact type of person that limousine liberals fawn over at Bill Clinton-hosted fundraisers at Lotus, along with Ian Klause, Nane Annan, and Laurie David. This show will only make the Red States hate NY and LA more.