Don't you get it? Authoritarian followers don't care about Gingrich's hypocrisy

[TrogL]

The Authoritarians

First off, authoritarians don't do Cognitive dissonance.

Anne: I'm not a violent person.
Anne: *throws tantrum ending with chair through window*
Bob: Wasn't that a violent action?
Anne: Yes, but that doesn't make me a violent person.
Bob: OK, define "violent person".
Anne: "Violent people perform violent actions".
Bob: You just performed a violent action.
Anne: So?

That would make a reality-based person's head hurt. They seem to be immune.

Authoritarian followers believe that their authoritarian leaders may do anything it takes to become a more powerful leader, even (and especially) if it violates the exact principals they are espousing. Hence they will see Newt dumping a wife because "she's not pretty enough to be a President's wife" as a good thing. In fact, it's probably a dog whistle to the Republican base that he's got the ambition/greed/whatever to pursue American imperialism/dominionism to its bitter end.

Also, authoritarian followers will support anyone who spouts the right rhetoric/dog whistles even if neither one of them follows those values. Everything in the authoritarian world is about appearances, not actual values or reality. I grew up with this in the 50's. You could be starving your kids, beating your wife and cheating on your taxes, but as long as your white picket fence was painted, you were good to go.

I'm betting on Gingrich as the Republican candidate. The Evangelicals will never vote for a Mormon. Santorum is too wimpy and Kennedy already broke the Catholic barrier.

[rhett o rick]

1. Great post. I like Altemeyer's book.

I like to call authoritarians, bullies, with leader and follower bullies.

I disagree with your prediction of Gingrich. I do agree with your assessment of the Evangelicals. But I dont think The Newt is a team player with the master bullies. After Rove gets done with him he wont get a single voter other than the Evangelicals and I dont think that will be enough for him to win.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

2. "authoritarian followers will support anyone who spouts the right rhetoric/dog whistles" Too true.

Authoritarian followers are the worst. Without them, Gingrich (R) could not be in the position that he is in. Without them, there would be no Rmoney (R). And the same is true of other agents of the super-rich with (R)s behind their names.

I wonder whether there are any authorian followers would allow the Constitition to be trashed while enthusiastically following and cheerleading for a person who had a (D) after their name? Would they excuse a person who had a (D) after his name while claiming that those with (R)s after their names are worse?

Nah. That couldn't be.

[cliffordu]

3. Excellent post.

I painted the white fence after the beatings. Part of my punishment.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

4. You are, of course, correct. Repukes are by their very nature amoral. They pretend to be moral.

And so they attend churches and wear flag lapel pins, when in reality they are utterly amoral about humans, emotions, feelings, and don't care a rat's ass for Americans.

[Jack Sprat]

5. Gingrich is the unlikeable to me.

All he has ever done is stand in front of an obliged audience (students) and command deference to his viewpoints. It is sickening to watch him cut his eyes and judge reactions to his claims. It's none of my business who the teabaggers choose, but I think Gingrich is the most loathsome politician of my lifetime. He is the ultimate authoritarian with a smirk and a disrespectful disdain for anyone disagreeing with him. I personally feel sorrow for everyone who has had the misfortune of coming in contact with him. If I found that I had taken a history course and he was the instructor, I'd drop that class before the day was out.

The repugs will get behind whomever their candidate is anyway, so I pray it's not Newt the Puke even if he was the easier to defeat. And we don't know that for certain anyway. Deep Pockets Romney might prove the easymeat when all is said and done. He sure can't stir a crowd of his own constituency.

[backscatter712]

6. Very good points!

Altemeyer's book should be required reading here!

Right now, I'm reading Political Ponerology, which also has some great psychological insights.

[ThoughtCriminal]

7. They Don't Care. Except they can't explain it

without sounding really stupid. I'm all for authoritarians making public fools of themselves.

[demgrrrll]

8. Great post and combine that with the daily drinking of Fox Hateraid.

[snagglepuss]

9. Nail meet hammer. Authoritians place on obscene value on keeping up appearance.

As long as anyone with that mindset is willing to play the part to the dying end he or she won't lose favor among the like-minded. It's really dawning on me how in that world appearance is everything.


Illuminating post.