They Think You Are Stupid

In a recent Canada Free Press article, I tried to outline the precise dynamic the Republican Party Establishment has created during the primary campaign, the methods it has used to manipulate voters, and the resemblance of this year’s effort to shepherd Americans in their preferred direction to similar efforts in all modern Republican primaries. The template is being played out to predictable perfection, right down to the final moments of pre-Iowa campaigning, even as we speak. The one new twist, perhaps, is the extent to which the so-called “new media,” which many conservatives hoped for years would be a counter-Establishment force, has at last begun to be co-opted into the machinery.

At about 2:30pm on December 31st, the Drudge Report’s main page featured the following banner headline: “Final Poll.” As I have argued many times that the dishonest and essentially misrepresentative nature of political polling is one of the Establishment’s main weapons in its war against the citizenry, i.e. against rational consideration of candidates and issues, the headline itself was no surprise. Clicking on the headline, however, took me to a new level of amusement at the Establishment’s presumption of voter stupidity. The so-called “final poll” had not actually been released yet; in fact, it was not due to be released for another several hours. Thus, Drudge was not just reporting someone else’s advertising gimmick (which is what a poll is). He was actually advertising his own upcoming report of someone else’s advertising gimmick. And this was the top headline. The “final poll” he was promising to make his final major headline of 2011 was, of all things, the Des Moines Register’s poll. The Des Moines Register has officially endorsed Mitt Romney. Thus, Drudge was trying to create breathless anticipation for what, in effect, will be a press release on behalf of the Romney campaign. Gee, I wonder what the poll results will show!

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Above the big “Final Poll” headline, in smaller print, is this headline: “Obama readies Iowa machine for Romney.” Get it? (Of course, you don’t: I forgot—you’re stupid.) Obama—Republicans’ enemy number one—is gunning for Romney. So we have to rally behind him! In addition, the headline implies that the White House has accepted that Romney will be the nominee. A quick look down the Drudge Report to scan the other headlines related to the primaries: “Santorum Drinks a Beer… Evangelicals flock to him.” “Ron Paul finishes with whistle stop tour… Could benefit from Democratic defectors.” Next comes a little Newt crying about his mom, then, “Rick Perry Campaign Plays Blame Game.” There’s even a Huntsman headline in there. Notice anyone missing? (No you don’t. I forgot—you’re stupid.) So the optics machine remains true to form in the final days before Iowa. Romney is an unstoppable machine. Gingrich is hanging in there. The mild, low-risk Santorum is consolidating the conservative vote. Perry is in give-up mode. And someone who shall remain nameless no longer even exists. So whom do you think the Establishment is plugging for? And whom do you think they want to bury at all costs? It was only a matter of time before segments of the “new media” were drawn into the Establishment; the appeal of such voices is too strong to be ignored by the established powers for long. Of course, you haven’t noticed it happening; you’re stupid.