If you're problem is everybody thinks you're a east coast elitist....

Then keep your fucking mouth shut about the fact they send the poor to die. That's unspoken on both sides for a reason. It's certainly true, that if you're broke and uneducated you have a good chance of winding up with a gun in your hand in some shithole part of the world. That's why the war mongers don't say it, it makes them seem like the users they are. If they opened up their mouths they could foment revolution.
But if you are not a member of the proletariat you keep your mouth shut about it because nobody likes to be called stupid. It opens up the defensive contrarian reflex that runs through people who know they are broke as fuck. It allows your opponent to put on his southern drawl and pretend they are the blue collar mans buddy and protector.
You never start a dialogue by questioning the worth of the other party. First you have to earn their trust, make them understand their worth and validity. Then you can bring up difficult facts about their role in society and how they might better that role. It's like Don says, Willie Nelson understands how to get the farmers to accept Farm Aid because he first builds up their confidence and lets them know they matter and that he is their guy. Nobody want's to hear it from the Senator from Massachusetts.