I read the new york times column in question. It was yet another in a long line of "if you live in a city, you aren't a real American" faux-thinkpiece.
Kinda like when they asked "where is the heartland" as if everywhere else were like the sphincterland or the assland or the toeland or something.
This sentiment got me booed off the stage at my local caucus in the 2008 campaign... and out of the republican party. The experience helped me realize that fiscal conservatism and other things I believe in politically have nothing to do with the republican party anymore... or maybe never really did.