Adam Schiff says Republican Party has "become essentially a cult"

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Twoweekswithpay · 2021-02-05T02:04:54+00:00

"Sadly, it has already become essentially a cult, not just of QAnon, but a whole range of conspiracy theories orbiting around Donald Trump," Schiff said in an interview with CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett for this week's episode of "The Takeout" podcast. "Which of course is a disaster not only for the Republican Party, but is a disaster for the country. We really rely on two functional parties for our system to work, and right now we don't have that."

We may have lost many generations due to this madness perpetuated by Facebook, Fox News, and all the other media disinformation outlets! 🤨😡

Husky3832 · 2021-02-05T02:32:18+00:00

I feel like the “cult” metaphor isn’t taken seriously enough.

This is absolutely a cult. And the sooner we start realizing that, and addressing the problem from that angle, the better.

I’d highly recommend that you check out the work of Dr. Robert J. Lifton on the psychology of thought reform. He spent decades studying Korean POWs and Chinese “re-education” camps, and developed a theoretical framework for how the “brainwashing” process works. And it’s spot on for Trump, and especially “Q”.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_Reform_and_the_Psychology_of_Totalism#Main_points

He also recently published a book that looks at Trump from the perspective of a guru or cult leader. I haven’t finished yet, but it’s really interesting.

ranchoparksteve · 2021-02-05T02:17:42+00:00

The Republican Party advances no agenda and has no positive platform. It’s merely a reaction to whatever the Democrats choose to do. Republicans are like a little contrary sister.

Scarlettail · 2021-02-05T02:17:10+00:00

This is what happens when you combined a deeply religious population with some racism and misinformation.

BuffaloWilliamses · 2021-02-05T02:18:14+00:00

The problem is that cults are normally smaller groups. 74 million people is a large ass cult

angelojc44 · 2021-02-05T01:58:40+00:00

Hell yes it is. It’s the conspiracy quanon party. They are all batshit insane.

NlightenedSelfIntrst · 2021-02-05T02:03:51+00:00

Qult45

supes1 · 2021-02-05T02:27:12+00:00

There's three groups of Republicans in the federal government right now... (1) the true believers (about 30%, the real "cult"), (2) the conservatives, more traditional Republicans that publicly don't like Trump (about 10%), and (3) the cowards, members that privately don't like Trump but publicly won't vote that way out of fear of his base (about 60%).

bubbygups · 2021-02-05T02:10:47+00:00

Of course. And it's not a controversial statement. Former Representatives from the GOP are saying the same thing. It's this ideological damage that we will have to live with for decades to come, if not generations.

TheDirtyFuture · 2021-02-05T06:31:40+00:00

This is great. Seems like the Dems are done giving the GOP the benefit of the doubt. There’s no turning back for the GOP. I’d the capitol riots didn’t knock sense into them, nothing will. There’s no more time to beat around the bush. They don’t deserve any kind of professional courtesy. They want to act like a cult, call them a fucking cult.

Fortunoxious · 2021-02-05T02:15:19+00:00

They’ve always been a cult but now they’re an outwardly batshit cult

mewehesheflee · 2021-02-05T02:15:09+00:00

I have former Repulican in-laws that have said the same thing for 2 years. On the one hand I'm happy we don't have any political disagreements. On the other hand, I'm sad for them. Being 80 years-old and to see this party become a right-wing cult.

TakeCareOfYourM0ther · 2021-02-05T02:24:53+00:00

I strongly believe the GOP is blackmailing and threatening people in the party who oppose them. Think death threats to family members or releasing embarrassing info. Remember Russia and other crazy mofos are behind these efforts to break down the US by dividing and radicalizing people apart from each other. This is all on purpose and while we fight each other, the rich keep plundering us and our planet.

lefty_sockpuppet · 2021-02-05T02:01:27+00:00

Republican Party has become ~~essentially~~ a cult

2021-02-05T06:29:41+00:00

[removed]

Untitled-Original · 2021-02-05T02:00:30+00:00

There are some that defend a woman who believes in space lasers, but cry when Biden has a stutter. However, let us not generalize because there are still many good people just not getting attention.

trumpisaloser2020 · 2021-02-05T03:17:41+00:00

The GOP always had oldish crazy white dudes who believed in all sorts of garbage like Obama not being born in the US. Now the party has just been completely taken over by them and any decent pol has basically left the party. What remains is spineless power tripping fuckturds like Cruz, Rubio, McCarthy. It's sad for the country but it's actually not that surprising when you are honest about how paranoid, stupid, and racist lots of this country has always been, even before Trump

Dont_touch_my_elbows · 2021-02-05T06:25:05+00:00

This is the first time in my life I've seen friends/family members have their entire personality revolve around their preferred presidential candidate.

2021-02-05T02:16:42+00:00

They are fascists.

Sadiebb · 2021-02-05T04:41:30+00:00

Heaven’s Gate, the Branch Davidians, Jonestown.

When cults finally end it’s not pretty.

RPDRNick · 2021-02-05T02:21:14+00:00

Dracula has become, essentially, a vampire.

War and Peace has become, essentially, a novel.

The sun has become, essentially, a source of light and heat.

The heart has become, essentially, a vital organ.

Water has become, essentially, wet.

GoldenFalcon · 2021-02-05T07:30:19+00:00

Sweet. Now make it easier for 3rd parties to become viable and let them abandon ship. Weaken the two party system.

tonydiethelm · 2021-02-05T07:52:17+00:00

10 signs you're in a cult.

The leader is the ultimate authority. Trump. Check.
The group suppresses skepticism. Media is bad. Check.
The group delegitimizes former members. Hang Mike Pence. Check.
The group is paranoid about the outside world. Democrats are out to destroy America. Check.
The group relies on shame cycles. Not sure about this one?
The leader is above the law. Trump. Check.
The group uses “thought reform” methods. Not sure about this one?
The group is elitist. They know what's up, everyone else is a "sheeple". Check.
There is no financial transparency. HA! Check....
The group performs secret rites. Don't know about this one.

7/10 for Trump supporters....

Halyomorphahalys · 2021-02-05T02:11:11+00:00

Completely True!

Sadly, cults also have high levels of unity and ability to mobilize their adherents. This could help maga primary-purge a a lot of sane Republicans each election cycle until every rightwing seat in Congress is GQP.

Infidel8 · 2021-02-05T02:21:36+00:00

What happens when Donald Trump eventually passes away? Will bigotry and disinformation alone still be enough to bind them together?

SullenTerror · 2021-02-05T07:33:12+00:00

ITT upset conservative who can only make fun of Schiff's eyes and not make a solid argument against his statement

BigZ911 · 2021-02-05T05:06:19+00:00

Yeah I think we realized that 40 fucking years ago when ole Ronnie Trickle Down solidified the southern strategy and brought about a wave of bigoted evangelical Christianity to this god forsaken nation

Skyboss1996 · 2021-02-05T06:05:17+00:00

In other news; water’s wet, the earth is round, and there’s no air in space.

itsdesignedthatway · 2021-02-05T07:24:29+00:00

It’s not a cult, it’s a kult.

Don’t let the conservative press lead you astray. This is all pent up racism, disguised as conservatism. They hate people of color, and non-Christians, and non-straight. But they really hate white liberals, because white liberals support the groups they hate, they also believe that the white liberals are race traitors.

This is nothing more than the Klu Klux Klan in a different uniform.

PeterrrrSmith · 2021-02-05T08:51:55+00:00

Their organized religion they love so much is basically a cult, so it only makes sense that their political party would be one too.

PlayingtheDrums · 2021-02-05T02:08:00+00:00

Not essentially, actually.

SardiaFalls · 2021-02-05T02:13:40+00:00

Yeah Adam, everyone not in the cult already knew this

ImNotReallyANerd · 2021-02-05T02:15:38+00:00

They always were 🙂🔫

sezit · 2021-02-05T03:24:26+00:00

The Republican Party has been a cult for a long time. Its been years since I could hold a calm, substantive discussion with any Republican without them either getting furious at me and going off on personal attacks, or saying nothing and pretending the subject never came up.

It's no longer just a cult. Now it's a DEATH cult. Is Trump any different than Jim Jones? Habits of style and sphere of influence. But I have no doubt he would do anything to get that power back.

sgt-sunglasses · 2021-02-05T05:33:58+00:00

Canada just added the Proud Boys to their list of known terrorists. Maybe they should have also included the GOP.

MBAMBA3 · 2021-02-05T05:55:12+00:00

No negotiating with terrorists

rc_12 · 2021-02-05T06:29:36+00:00

If you don't acknowledge that genuine brainwashing exists, then you will never understand the Republican party.


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