2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumGOP Leaders: Sociopaths, Compulsive Liars, Nazi Propagandists or Political Cult Leaders?
It is obvious that the Republican party has had issues with telling the truth for some time now. Swift Boats, Death Panels, Obama was born in Kenya, and the list goes on.
At the same time, they routinely call others liars. In fact this is done often and loudly. For those of you that dont know, this is a Psychology 101 technique. If you are guilty of something, scream at the top of your lungs that your opponent is guilty of the same thing. By the time the dust settles, either people will believe your lie or the will think that you are both guilty (which means it is a wash).
What is the best way to describe the leaders of the modern GOP? When I say leaders, I am not talking traditional party bosses. The true leaders of the GOP are the Billionaires that pull the strings, the shock-jocks that spread their noise and the network bosses that run the propaganda machines. What is the best word to describe these people?
Below are definitions of the different types of liars and some people I see as examples. Do you agree?
Sociopaths
A sociopath is typically defined as someone who lies incessantly to get their way and does so with little concern for others. A sociopath is often goal-oriented (i.e., lying is focused it is done to get ones way). Sociopaths have little regard or respect for the rights and feelings of others. Sociopaths are often charming and charismatic, but they use their talented social skills in manipulative and self-centered ways.
Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump, Rush Limbaugh
Compulsive Liars
A compulsive liar is defined as someone who lies out of habit. Lying is their normal and reflexive way of responding to questions. Compulsive liars bend the truth about everything, large and small. For a compulsive liar, telling the truth is very awkward and uncomfortable while lying feels right. Compulsive lying is usually thought to develop in early childhood, due to being placed in an environment where lying was necessary. For the most part, compulsive liars are not overly manipulative and cunning (unlike sociopaths), rather they simply lie out of habit an automatic response which is hard to break and one that takes its toll on a relationship.
Bill OReilly, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, Matt Drudge, Michelle Malkin
Political Cult Leaders
Political cult is a term used to describe some groups that are generally considered to be on the political fringe. Although the majority of groups to which the term cult (currently often used as a pejorative term according to some comparative religion scholars) is sometimes applied are religious in nature, some are non-religious and focus either on secular self-improvement or on political action and ideology.
Political cult members are very susceptible to suggestion and will believe almost anything told to them by what they consider a trusted source. In face of indisputable facts, members can reject the obvious and delude themselves into believing what a casual observer would consider extreme conspiracy theories.
Glenn Beck, Michelle Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Sarah Palin
Nazi Propagandists
The Nazis didnt mince words when it came to lies. In fact they published their views on them even before they employed them. How is that for confidence.
Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it. Adolf Hitler
The size of the lie is a definite factor in causing it to be believed, for the vast masses of the nation are in the depths of their hearts more easily deceived than they are consciously and intentionally bad. The primitive simplicity of their minds renders them a more easy prey to a big lie than a small one, for they themselves often tell little lies but would be ashamed to tell a big one. Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf
Karl Rove, Koch Brothers, Rupert Murdoch, Roger Ailes
Original post ---> http://thecentristword.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/gop-leader-sociopaths-compulsive-liars-nazi-propagandists-or-political-cult-leaders/
global1
(25,270 posts)these liars as you described them. I just don't understand how they are not
embarrassed to admit they do.
Hydra
(14,459 posts)And from that, all else is swallowed easily.
The big lie is: "It's too complicated to understand, we need 'great' people to lead us."
It would actually be stupidly simple to run our country sanely. It takes 'great' leaders to lead us so far astray from the dull peace and prosperity we could be having.
villager
(26,001 posts)n/t
marasinghe
(1,253 posts)thecentristword
(187 posts)...but you cannot really tell that from behavior alone. However that is not to say I don't think some might fall into this category - i am looking at you Michelle.
But on a more serious note - this is an unprecedented epidemic of dishonesty. The press has actually become so conditioned to bold-faced lies from the GOP, they just ignore them. But when Obama calls a pig a pig (and remains within the bounds of being truthful) the press goes nuts.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)marasinghe
(1,253 posts)i would say the syndrome is not so much illness, as reversion to antediluvian reptilian type.
Cosmocat
(14,574 posts)and the WORST part is that republicans now are supremely confident that they can just flat lie and make shiite up and never suffer the consequences for it.
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)Zoeisright
(8,339 posts)chalky
(3,297 posts)Shouldn't that be "and"?
SmittynMo
(3,544 posts)40% of Americans support this type of behavior. Are they that stupid? No, probably not. They just want to put the black man out of office. Forget all his accomplishments. And of the 40% that support this crap, I'm guessing 39% are racist, and will do anything to get him out of office.
Hydra
(14,459 posts)And luckily it's not 40%, it's more like 20% + the top 5%. The problem is that only about half the people in this country vote.
Although that may not really be a problem- after all, the Republicans haven't won an election since Nixon(and was that a clean race?), but that hasn't stopped Repubs from holding office.
"If Voting Changed Anything, They'd Make It Illegal."
Emma Goldman