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While at the Skagit County Fair last week, I did a double take when I walked by a booth staffed by Skagit County Republicans. Two over-sized signs dominated their red, white and blue themed booth; you couldn’t miss them if you tried.

The first read: “Rural Americans Against Communism.” What? Just rural Americans? What about suburban Americans? Urban Americans? All Americans? It’s inarguable that Americans of every political stripe, race, gender, ethnicity and religious affiliation stand against communism; this is not a partisan issue in a democratic republic. So why this message?

My takeaway i...