Viewpoint: Do Democrats hate the maps, or the people in rural Oklahoma?

If you want to see how out of touch the left is with rural America, look no further than the recent elections in Virginia. The left ignored and marginalized most Virginians, and Republicans experienced huge wins. That same tone deaf rhetoric is now being heard in regards to the urban/rural proposed boundaries of Oklahoma's 3rd Congressional District.

Here in Oklahoma, we just experienced the most fair and transparent redistricting process in the history of our state. Over the past year, thousands of Oklahomans got to express their views and provide their input at town halls held in all corners of the state. This transparent process resulted in the creation of a fair and proportionate congressional district map.

Big-city Democrats have decried the map as "racist" and the residents of rural Oklahoma as "uneducated" and "uncultured." They have said that the "most vibrant parts of Oklahoma City's urban core are being marginalized" and that big-city voices are "being drowned out by rural interests." These reactions beg the question, do Democrats hate the maps, or do they really just hate the people of rural America?

Lately, it seems like every time the left loses something, they blame the reason for their loss on "racism." People are starting to get wise to this tactic, and it is showing come election time. Continued disdain and disrespect for rural Americans, as well as calling anyone who disagrees with them racist, is partly why the left lost so badly in Virginia. This disdain is a sentiment we have seen for years from coastal liberal elitists toward middle America, but now middle America's big-city Democrats think they are too good to share congressional districts with rural residents.

It seems that they only want diversity, equity and inclusion when it is on their terms or to further their political goals.

The policies of the left are bad for rural Americans, particularly rural Oklahomans, but the left's attitudes toward these Americans is worse. Democrats should welcome the diversity an urban/rural district brings instead of throwing a tantrum. Where do they think all of their organic, farm-to-table food comes from?

Rather than continuing to criticize rural Americans for what they see as "antiquated or outdated ways of life," the left should look internally and figure out why their message is failing to reach our rural communities.

T.W. Shannon served as co-chair of Black Voices for Trump and is a former speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Opinion: Do Democrats hate the maps, or the people in rural Oklahoma?