Reply #33: An old trick but

[PATRICK]

LBJ tryed this same chestnut by having a photographer snap photos of himself shaking hands informally with labor leaders. Dad threatened them not to use the picture as an "endorsement". Labor was going for kennedy and did.

I think the real issue is that the GOP firmly places itself in the eye of cognitive dissonance every time. In order to deal with the emotional effect and prejudice you have to somehow undo the lie or get to the truth- an extremely touchy and difficult thing to do. They co-opt every just flaw and criticsm of themselves for inappropriate if not absurd counterattacks against the other side- even IF the other side did not or never intended to use the right fitting shoe to tar them. The public wants reason and reassurance and goes along with the Big Lie because the alternative of opposing this bold fakery is too jarring.

Two instances. Googling things like "fifth columnists"(fascist insiders betraying their country)in America you get instead overwhelming numbers of rants about commies and pinkos in the 50's. Even cognitive dissonance itself is a theory employed by the Far Out There Right to attack us for plotting to brainwash America for some liberal "Third Reich"!

It's not just a tactic. It is baldly instinctive that they turn their weakness into a weapon for, not against, themselves without blinking an eye and no concern for the facts. They have little substance or imagination for anything else so this becomes a win/win defense/offense the public only gets to see one side of. Done with gusto and covering rage and incredible exagerration. It might be getting sicker and sicker but it has been remarkably consistent.