While the focus of this CNN article is on Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), it speaks in a general way about “how a whole generation of Trump acolytes view politics now,” and seeks to describe “a whole lot of [young] Republican politicians like Boebert in the pipeline” who are now “the rule, not the exception, in the modern Republican party.”
After mentioning Boebert’s recent Muslim-baiting, which is really a secondary point, the article says, “As ugly and unsavory as Boebert’s actions are, they do provide insight into just how radically the mission of serving in Congress has changed,” which is the article’s main point (although I think there’s a bigger point to be made).
The article continues, “Gone is the idea that politics is about making the country (and its people) better through compromise.” (We knew this.) “Or even that passing any sort of legislation … matters at all.” No, for this generation of GOP rising stars, it’s all about “appearances on Fox News.” In other words, politics is nothing more than performance art.
Does Boebert actually believe the crap she spews? “Of course she doesn’t. It’s just name-calling … to wink at a party base” hyped on intolerance and stereotypes.
Whether Boebert is preaching intolerance, or pandering to it, is immaterial. She’s helping it along. Why is this important?
To answer that question, let’s shift focus to Capitol rioter Daniel J. Rodriguez, who tased Capitol police officer Michael Fanone during the Capitol insurrection, and later told FBI investigators (between sobs) that “he felt prompted to take part in right-wing political rallies because of InfoWars, and because he was called by Trump to battle” (see story here).
And that is the bigger point.
These people don’t think. They’re told all sorts of improbable nonsense — by Trump, Boebert and Greene, Fox, InfoWars, Breitbart, and others — and they believe it. Tell them the election was stolen, they believe it. Tell them John F. Kennedy Jr. will reappear and reinstate Trump, they believe it. If Boebert tells them Rep. Ilhan Omar is a terrorist, they believe it, and then Omar gets death threats.
There’s no thinking going on, just following.
The reason it’s worrying is because we’ve seen this before.
