Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a nationally syndicated columnist and a member of the editorial board of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Read his column here 

Ruben Navarrette says Sarah Palin's critics challenged her because of prejudices about small-town values. 

SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- During the presidential election, some Democrats demanded to know how I could defend Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. 

Simply put, Palin is my people. She's small-town folk who wound up in the big leagues. 

Because I grew up in a small town with a population of less than 15,000 people, I was disgusted by the insults and condescension coming from those who think of themselves as the enlightened elite. Meanwhile, in small towns, I detected great affection for Palin. People talked about how she was "a real person" who "reflected their values." 

The most significant divide in America isn't Red State vs. Blue State, it's rural vs. urban. The country mouse and the city mouse are still slugging it out. 

In 1982, New York Mayor Ed Koch ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York. Some say the deciding factor was when Koch described life in upstate New York as "sterile" and said he dreaded living in the "small town" of Albany, if elected. That didn't play well in rural areas. 

Now comes Colin Powell. During a recent appearance on CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS," Powell attempted an autopsy on the Republican Party's failed presidential bid. He went after Palin, accusing her of pushing the party so far to the right that it went over a cliff. 
Who is Ruben navarette?
for what publication?
How can he defend Palin?
How many people were in his home town?
Do small town folks like her?
what show did Colin Powell appear on?
Did he feel the GOP needed to go more conservative?
Is rural vs urban a big divide in the US?
do small town folk feel Palin represented their values?
does he posit that her values played a part in her treatment by critics?"
did he call them prejudiced?
Does his column have a large readership?
What was her previous role in government?
how does he feel about elites?
do they make him sick?
When did Ed Koch lose the Governor's race?
Did he say he wanted to move to Albany?
Was the city too big?
Did he say flattering things about the rural parts of the state?
How did he describe rural life?
columnist
 columnist 
San Diego Union-Tribune
San Diego Union-Tribune
small-town folk like him
 small-town folk
less than 15,000
less than 15,000
yes some
small-town values
Fareed Zakaria GPS
Fareed Zakaria GPS
no
party so far 
yes
 rural vs. urban
yes
great affection
yes
reflected their values
yes
enlightened elite
yes
nationally syndicated
Alaska Gov.
Alaska Gov.
condescending
condescension
yes disgusted
 disgusted
1982
1982
no he hated
dreaded living
no, not at all
small town
no
"sterile"
sterile
sterile