MarcATL
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- Aug 12, 2009
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"How the GOP got hijacked by Right-Wing Authoritarians"
by Fred Gober
As we are witness the unfolding of a rather bizarre health care debate, one can't help but be amazed at the jaw dropping lunacy of the folks on the right who are amply represented by an assembly of "creationists" "birthers", "teabaggers", "screamers" and now "deathers"...
~snip~
... "Conservatives Without Conscience" by John W. Dean, prolific author and former Watergate figure. In a stunning tour de force, Dean's book answered all my questions regarding the apparent success of the right wing to mobilize the pathetic remnants of a once proud confederacy. In chapter two, Mr. Dean postulates that these new conservatives, both its leaders as well as its followers, fit into a distinct personality type described as "Right-Wing Authoritarianism".
In the book, Dean highlights the work of social psychologist and researcher Bob Altemeyer of the University of Manitoba. According to Altemeyer, Right-Wing Authoritarians are especially submissive to established authority and show a general aggressiveness toward others when such behavior is perceived to be sanctioned by established authorities.
At the end of Chapter Two appears a list of those traits that are typically found in Right-Wing Authoritarians. When reading this list, think GOP leaders Limbaugh, Gingrich, Cheney and Palin.
Right-Wing Authoritarian - Leaders:
* Typically men (Palin is the exception but think masculine phrases used to define her such as "hockey mom", "basketball point guard", and "field dress a moose")
* dominating
* opposes equality
* desirous of personal power
* amoral
* intimidating and bullying
* faintly hedonistic
* vengeful
* pitiless
* exploitive
* manipulative
* dishonest
* cheats to win
* highly prejudiced (racist, sexist, homophobic)
* mean-spirited
* militant
* nationalistic
* tells others what they want to hear
* takes advantage of "suckers"
* specializes in creating false images to sell self
* may or may not be religious
* usually politically and economically conservative/Republican
When reading the below list of follower traits, think of those angry white faces (actually more red than white) at your typical "teabagger" party and recent Town hall "screamer" secession.
Right-Wing Authoritarian - Followers:
* men and woman
* submissive to authority
* aggressive on behalf of authority
* conventional
* highly religious
* moderate to little education
* trust untrustworthy authorities
* prejudiced (particularly against homosexuals, woman, and followers of religions other than their own)
* mean-spirited
* narrow-minded
* intolerant
* bulling
* zealous
* dogmatic
* uncritical toward chosen authority
* hypocritical
* inconsistent and contradictory
* prone to panic easily
* highly self-righteous
* moralistic
* strict disciplinarian
* severely punitive
* demands loyalty and returns it
* little self-awareness
* usually politically and economically conservative/Republican
While reading this list you may have asked yourself why these current followers, who display a deference to authority, are not following the head guy; the President of the United States. The answer is a simple one. The glue that binds the current out of power leaders to their pathetic followers is clearly and unambiguously RACE...
LA Science and Tech News Examiner...
For those who have not read John W. Dean's "Conservatives Without Conscience" or Bob Altemeyer's "The Authoritarians," , I highly recommend both books in order to better understand Right Wing Authoritarianism. Dr. Altemeyer offers his on line for all of us to read in order to understand and learn to counter them. His advice?
From this link above (referring to the '08 elections, but it holds true for the present, as well):
