Over the years, Arkansas has taken a lot of ribbing about being well, a bit “rural” is probably the most polite term we can find to describe what people who presume themselves to be sophisticated think of the Natural State.

Similarly, Arkansans, whether native or transplanted, have endured much in the way of scorn for being hillbillies, red-necks and just about every other derisive term available to describe a person living in a rural setting. Even after Bill Clinton took office as the 42nd president of the United States, the jokes and gags continued, even to the extent he got linked to the Beverly Hillbillies in the movie of the same name.

But to those who look down their noses at Arkansas and Arkansans, we have only two things to say:

(a) Hillary Clinton

(b) Mike Huckabee

Mrs. Clinton, the wife of the former president and now a New York senator, has made a very strong showing in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination outside the state where she was First Lady for 12 years, winning the New Hampshire primary election and taking third in the Iowa caucuses. Huckabee, the former governor of the state for 10-1/2 years through the end of 2006, took what is deemed a strong third place in New Hampshire while winning the Iowa caucuses in pursuit of the Republican nomination for president.

And if both win, then there will be another president from Arkansas next January.

So we presume all the jokes from what passes in some circles for sophisticated people about that hick state of Arkansas will now cease.

The Paragould (Ark.) Daily Press

On the Net: http://www.paragoulddailypress.com/opinion