Why does the media seem to portray anyone who wants small government and extreme protection of rights as dumb?

It seems like anyone who wants small government, wants to protect the Constitution, and doesn't trust government is seen as stupid, uneducated, mean, a redneck, and racist. Why are they so patronizing of people who exemplify American values. I will agree that many of the Tea partiers are strange, but they never have anything to say about anyone who is not apologetic about keeping these values. What is going on?