For the record, Jews are treated with respect in Kansas, just like everyone else.
The woman who said that has probably never been to Kansas in her life.
“Kansas” was likely the first state name in flyover country to pop into her mind. In her mind, any place not California is an unspeakable backwater, filled with ignorant peasants. She wasn’t just talking about Kansas, she was talking about every state outside of the wonderful enlightened fairy tale land of California (well, except maybe for New York and Massachusetts).
If I were given the choice to move to either California or Kansas, I’d choose Kansas in an instant!