Dissident Politics: Republican talking point: You're playing into their hands, don't do it even though we told you to

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Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Republican talking point: You're playing into their hands, don't do it even though we told you to

Angry Republicans

In the last couple of months a possibly new, Republican Party talking point has occasionally bubbled up in Republican extremist rhetoric. If real, this beast is ice cold, cynical and cruel. Crackpot and hateful comments from the Republican rank and file are being pushed back against as "You're playing into their hands," referring to the rhetorical value those comments give to Democrats.

Two examples make the cynicism and cruelty of this Republican propaganda tactic clear.

Republican opposition to COVID vaccines plays into their hands

This Tweet says it.

'You’re playing right into their hands' when you doubt the vaccine, President Trump says. pic.twitter.com/xJc7JTL0cR
— No Spin News (@NoSpinNews) December 20, 2021

The ex-president's propaganda advisors have convinced him (i) to reverse course and embrace COVID vaccines as his great idea, and (ii) tell people in crowds not to question, reject or attack the vaccines because 'You’re playing right into their hands.' Even while saying that, the ex-president still undercut the vaccines by opposing mandates: "You're playing right into their hands when you sort of like, 'Oh the vaccine.' If you don't want to take it, you shouldn't be forced to take it. No mandates," he said, as the crowd cheered."

One source comments: Federal research has found Trump’s views played a significant role in spreading misinformation and fomenting the response to vaccines he was fighting at Sunday’s event. While in office, he downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus early in the pandemic, repeatedly saying it would just “go away,” even as infections and deaths swelled. He flouted his own administration’s safety protocols by holding large rallies and packing the White House with unmasked guests. He and former first lady Melania Trump got vaccinated in private before leaving office, . . .

There is not one shred of Republican concern for anything other than propaganda value for Republicans. Human deaths, injuries and economic damage are not part of Republican thinking. Political concerns are relevant, not collateral damage.

Death threats play into their hands

Another example is when rank and file Republicans in public crowds raise the matter of when it is time to shoot evil, tyrant Democrats dead. One source comments about a Republican rally in Arizona from last October:

“At this point, we're living under corporate and medical fascism. This is tyranny. When do we get to use the guns?” the man asked, to applause from the crowd. “No, and I’m not – that’s not a joke. I’m not saying it like that. I mean, literally, where’s the line? How many elections are they going to steal before we kill these people?”

Kirk quickly denounced the man’s comments, .... “You’re playing into all their plans, and they’re trying to make you do this … ,” Kirk said. “They are trying to provoke you and everyone here. They are trying to make you do something that will be violent that will justify a takeover of your freedoms and liberties, the likes of which we have never seen.”

Sorry, Charlie, but “they” – whoever they are – aren’t responsible for the fact that your supporters are now asking when they should start shooting their fellow Americans.

You own this, pal. You and Donald Trump, who has staged a year-long temper tantrum, unable to accept the fact that he lost the election.

You and all of the Republican leaders and aspiring leaders across the country who have promoted the Big Lie or remained silent, declining to stand up to the wanna-be emperor and tell him to put some damn clothes on.

Dissident Politics analysis

Clearly, Republican politicians, propagandists and financial backers have come to realize that rank and file GOP folks should not publicly say any of the most cruel, violent and/or grossly idiotic things things the GOP and ex-president have been publicly preaching for years. All those nasty propaganda effort chickens are home roosting and it isn't setting well with elite Republican propagandists and strategists. Apparently they fear a backlash and loss of some votes.

In particular, neither the ex-president nor Mr. Kirk expressed any negative moral response about refusing vaccines or shooting evil tyrant Democratic socialists-communists dead. Their concern was only partisan political. Dead citizens and Democrats are just fine, but just don't say it in public.

Questions:

1. Is that analysis just over the top hyperbole or pure lies, or is it a plausible description of the hard core, radical right or fascist Republican ideologue mindset?

2. Is the 'you're playing into their hands' tactic to try to tamp down some of the savage rank and file rhetoric just a one-off sort of thing and not really representative of the mindset behind the Republican propaganda and talking points political war on political opposition, truth and democracy?