John Miller did a short story in today’s Post Register in Idaho Falls on BYU prof, Rick Davis. Here are a few highlights.

“An eastern Idaho history professor who appears to link what he described as his region’s low welfare recipient rate with the fact that ‘we don’t have blacks in this area to speak of’ is drawing irate reactions . . .

‘Rexburg Mormons’–‘so red that you bleed,’ Davis said – ‘aren’t to be confused with Boston Mormons,’ his description of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members from outside the Rocky Mountain West who may be more liberal. Rexburg’s population has ‘a very high education level . . . a very high income level,’ Davis told salon.com.

‘That equates with being conservatives,’ he said. ‘We’re fiscally aware of where the money comes from, and that it is doesn’t grow on the great tree in Washington. We don’t have any welfare state in this area at all. We don’t have blacks in this area to speak of. We’ve had them, and they’ve come and gone. Not to say they were driven out; they’ve just felt uncomfortable because there aren’t enough of them — like you and me moving to Montgomery, Ala.’ ”

Now, guys, I love Rexburg. Do you know where I took my wife on our last wedding anniversary? We stayed overnight in Rexburg, Idaho at one of the new motels! Had some good food in a new restaurant. And I like going to BYU-Idaho concerts. (I know, some of you Boston Mormons are thinking this guy is really lame.) But how am I suppose to get my black buddies over here to Eastern Idaho and do some skiing at Targhee (of all things) when Rick is cracking comments like this?