Great American Hypocrites: Toppling the Big Myths of

Great American Hypocrites: Toppling the Big Myths of Republican Politics

A takedown of the GOPâ€™s deceitful propaganda machine from the hugely popular blogger of Salon.comâ€™s Unclaimed Territory and the author of the New York Times bestsellers How Would a Patriot Act? and A Tragic Legacy

Long since Americans were wooed by images of Ronald Reagan astride a horse, complete with cowboy hat and rugged good looks, the Republican Party has used a John Wayne mythology to build up its candidates and win elections. Their marketing scheme of evoking brave, courageous, heroic warriors has been so persuasive and strikes such a patriotic nerve, that many citizens have voted based on this manipulative imagery even when theyâ€™ve flat out disagreed with the GOPâ€™s positions on key issues.

Glenn Greenwald puts this bogus GOP mythology under microscopic critique and successfully argues that none of these men is, in fact, a brave, strong moral warriorâ€”far from it. Rather, most have dodged military duty, have strings of broken marriages and affairs, and live decadent, elitist lives, which they so ruthlessly condemn Democrats for doing. Such false archetypesâ€”that GOP leaders are exclusively ï¬t to command the military, represent traditional family values, and are fiscally restrained and responsible because theyâ€™re just regular folk like usâ€”are so firmly entrenched in our culture as to allow the GOP to sit back and let their time-tested marketing ploy spin itself silly while avoiding debate on real issues. When they actually do voice opinions, itâ€™s nothing more than a smear campaign of the supposed weakness and elitism of the Democrats.
To prevent this tired marketing scheme from succeeding again, Greenwald takes off the gloves and knocks down the hoaxes and myths, exposing the tactics the right-wing machine uses to drown out both reality and consideration of real issues. But he also calls on Democrats to shake off the defensive posture (â€œWe love America too,â€ â€œWe support the troops too,â€ â€œWe also believe in Godâ€) and start attacking the Republican candidates for the hypocrites they, in truth, are.

The ï¬rst book to dissect the Republican Cult of Personality and leave it openly exposed in its unabashed, shameful depravity, Great American Hypocrites is a deeply necessary call-out to Democrats to attack the GOP with their competitorâ€™s very own weapons.

Ever since the cowboy image of Ronald Reagan was sold to Americans, the Republican Party has used the same John Wayne imagery to support its candidates and take elections. We all know how they govern, but
the right-wing propaganda machine is very adept at hijacking debate
and marketing their candidates as effectively as the Marlboro Man.
For example:

Myth: The Republican nominee is an upstanding, regular guy who shares the values of the common man.
Reality: He divorced his first wife in order to marry a young multimillionaire heiress whose family then funded his political career.

Myth: Republicans are brave and courageous.
Reality: Itâ€™s a party filled with chicken hawks and draft dodgers.

Myth: Republicans are strong on defense and will keep us safe.
Reality: They prey on fears, and their endless wars make America far less secure.

Myth: The Republicans are the party of fiscal restraint and small, limited
government.
Reality: Soaring deficits, unchecked presidential power, and an increasingly invasive surveillance state are par for their course.
Country USA
Manufacturer Crown
Binding Hardcover
ReleaseDate 2008-04-15
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780307408020

Country	USA
Manufacturer	Crown
Binding	Hardcover
ReleaseDate	2008-04-15
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780307408020

Great American Hypocrites: Toppling the Big Myths of Republican Politics

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