A writer based in Washington, D.C., raises some interesting questions about Iowa's caucuses in American Prospect, a magazine dedicated to "effective liberal politics." The article, "The Myth of the Rational Iowa Voter," and related comments are available online at www.prospect.org. Search for the author's name, Paul Waldman.

Like any good argument, valid points exist on both sides of any hotly contested question. In this case, Waldman wonders aloud whether Iowans should be the ones to speak first in picking a president.

The writer correctly portrays Iowans' opportunity to meet every candidate face-to-face as an "extraordinary privilege." It is. He also notes turnout on caucus night is typically low. Voter apathy has long been an issue in the United States, and - sadly - Iowans are no different in that regard than citizens of any other state.

But Waldman's clouds what might be a legitimate concern with attacks on this state and the people who live here.

"No small group of Americans deserves this power, but if any does, it sure isn't the citizens of Iowa," Waldman wrote.

He is only half right. No small group of people should get to pick the president. That's a job for all of us. No argument. But to suggest Iowans are less worthy than others goes too far. Who would you prefer, Mr. Waldman? Californians? New Yorkers? Texans? Or perhaps residents of his own city, Washington, D.C.?

And nowhere in the article does he suggest a solution. A national primary? A rotating system among the 50 states? Or just any place but Iowa? Waldman offers no hints of what might be better.

He doesn't like the process, but Waldman has particular disdain for where it unfolds.

"As you read this, some of the most important and powerful people in America are crawling through the Hawkeye State on their knees, pretending to know more than they do about corn, pretending that the deep fried Twinkie they had back at the state fair was just dee-licious, pretending that ethanol is the key to our energy future, and pretending that every precinct captain and PTA chair they meet is the very heart and soul of our nation, whose opinions the candidate is just dying to hear."

The excerpt betrays Waldman's conceits.

He apparently believes meeting regular folks - you know, the ones who pay the taxes to keep those marbled halls in Washington, D.C., so brightly polished - is beneath these golden people. How disgraceful they be forced to know something about agriculture and eat Twinkies, common sustenance for common folk.

Also note it is the disingenuous candidates who come to Iowa professing their love for ethanol, John Deere tractors, sweet corn and pork chops. It's not Iowans demanding the falsehoods, in fact most of us would find it refreshing to hear the truth once in a while on the campaign trail.

Waldman also apparently values the powerful more than people who take active roles in elections, party politics and schools on local levels. Volunteers serving their communities are "the very heart and soul of our nation," not the pampered elite fortunate enough to win high public office.

Adapting a line from Jimmy Stewart's character in "It's a Wonderful Life" - "Just remember this, Mr. Waldman, that this rabble you're talking about … they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community."

Waldman's disdain for average citizens is telling and troubling but not entirely unexpected. Those of us in fly-over country are used to such slights from the East Coast.

Toward the end of his diatribe, Waldman comes to the crux of his complaint: the national media. Once Iowa and New Hampshire rank the candidates, reporters ignore other political hopefuls running anywhere below second place, he claims.

"The press corps will invest those results with titanic meaning and import," Waldman wrote, "and we voters will select from our remaining pre-approved choices … "

Sounds like Waldman's problem has more to do with the New York Times, Washington Post and network television news.

We should not expect less of national candidates in Iowa. Other states should expect more.