Do "Coastal Elites" sneer openly at "Rural Folks?" Well, of course they do, just as they sneer at us. I'm amazed sometimes when I travel to hear the caricature that some people out there have of everyone who lives in or near my area code. It's about as accurate as the caricature of Southerners as folks who have missing teeth, live in trailer parks and marry within the family.
If you're interested in this discussion, read East Coast Elite Paul Krugman and then read West Coast Elite Kevin Drum. And then we can move on to the topic of how so many people of one religion sneer at those who are so foolish as to not be of that faith.