"I thought the Northwest was home to the tolerant people"
I would be willing to bet that Washington has more anti-war protest at the gate of military bases than any other state. I have joined support-the-troops groups that have showed up at some of these protest to stand up to these creeps face to face, and I can tell you they are full of hate. Much bolder than the protesters of the 1960's and in much greater numbers.
I have run into some very hateful people here in the Midwest. The other night I was given the finger by a total stranger on my way home from work. She looked normal, mid 20s, but had so much hatred for my bumper stickers that she was forced to role down her window and flip me off.
I feel sorry for people like that.