Three Troubling Levels of the Ron Paul Cult
An Observation Based on Personal Experience
COMMENTARY| While discussions of politics are well known to insight some heated discourse between those with divergent perspectives, never in my life have I seen a more vicious response to an opposing opinion than those displayed by the most extremely devoted and near cult-like followers of Texas Rep. Ron Paul.
Among the Characteristics Associated with Cult Groups posted by the Christian Science Journal, Janja Lalich, Ph.D. and Michael D. Langone, Ph.D. describe cult members as "elitists" with an "us-versus-them mentality, which causes conflict with the wider society." Additionally, "questioning, doubt, and dissent" regarding the group's ideology is "discouraged or even punished."
Rick Ross, a cult intervention specialist and expert consultant says that the cult mentality has "no tolerance for questions or critical inquiry" and "whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as persecution."
A review of the comment threads on any article that is critical of Ron Paul, like the one written by Joseph McQuaid of the Union Leader, provides a conclusive display of the cult mentality.
"I do not know Ron Paul," Kling explained in his piece called Politics and Cults. "He may be wise. He may be decent. But to dismiss all doubts about his judgment and his character would be to succumb to a cult."
In my own observations as a featured political contributor for Yahoo! News -- and having experienced first hand what happens when you say anything unflattering about Ron PauI -- I have come to the conclusion that there are essentially three types of Ron Paul supporters.
Harmless
Take "BenKramer" from Ohio for example. In the comment thread to my article, Ron Paul Is a Dangerous Tin Man Who Has No Heart, "Ben" wrote, "Hey Patricia You are a lying #$%$ take your ideas on Ron Paul and shove them up your #$%$ Ron Paul has the best ideas for the people and the wordt [Ben's spelling] for big government and the New World Order!"
While the title of the article is certainly provocative it hardly warrants such a vulgar display of insult and profanity.
Disturbing
As if that were not ridiculous enough "Pammi" concluded in her post from an alternate universe that -- once I was financially destroyed -- I became a "prostitute."
Clearly "Pammi" was lying. Her post had but one purpose, to punish me for daring to question what she considers to be the faultless brilliance of Ron Paul. However, as stated in the Community Guidelines for Yahoo! News, respondents who "make false statements" intended to defame someone else risk termination of their Yahoo! account -- including email -- for their violation.
Pammi's post was subsequently removed by Yahoo! from the comment thread.Psychotic
This is the more militant level of membership in Paul's cult-like following. While the harmless and even the disturbing variety of Paul's supporters primarily confine themselves to using words in an effort to intimidate detractors into silence, his more unbalanced members are willing to engage in a concerted effort to actually seek you out with threats of bodily harm.
On Monday -- in response to the same article that rubbed "Pammi's" backside like a sheet of industrial grade sandpaper -- my husband came across a query posted by someone who used the screen name of "John" on Yahoo Answers. The question "John" asked was: "What is Patricia Campion of the YCN's Home Address?"
In his fit of rage after having read my article "John" was most eager to know whether there was "anyone out there" who had "more experience" with computer hacking. He further implored others to help him locate my e-mail address, phone number and home address and to post all of the information they uncovered in response to his post in order that he and the rest of his friends could pay me a visit and essentially teach me the error of my ways.
"BTW, in case it helps," "John" added from the information he gleaned from my Yahoo Contributor profile, "she lives in or around Spring Hill."
As indicated in the Community Guidelines for Yahoo! Answers, efforts to "threaten, harass" to "hurt others" or to "invade other people's privacy" qualifies as "Violating the Law."
My husband reported "John" and the post was subsequently removed. But typing the title of his post still reveals its cyber vapor trail.
Those who know me will tell you that I don't care if someone disagrees with my opinions. As I have often said, where some ascribe to the theory that "great minds think alike," I am more inclined to believe that the greater minds are those that have the courage to think for themselves. In the face of threats it is the stronger mind that rejects conformity and -- where some insist that "resistance" to submit to the agenda of a group that has such violent intolerance of those who disagree with them "is futile" -- I say resistance of such an odious mentality is absolutely necessary.
Sources:
Janja Lalich, Ph.D. and Michael D. Langone, Ph.D., "Characteristics Associated with Cult Groups", Christian Science Journal
Rick Ross, "Warning Signs", Rick Ross.com
Arnold Kling, "Politics and Cults", TCS Daily
Published by Patricia Campion - Featured Contributor in Politics
Patricia Campion is a Featured Contributor in politics for Yahoo Voices and Yahoo US News. In less than four months she became the first contributor in Yahoo! history to be honored simultaneously with a Risi... View profile
- Ron Paul Supporters Organizing News Corp. Stock Sell-offAmidst Fox News' recent exclusion of Ron Paul from the New Hampshire forum, supporters of the GOP candidate are dumping News Corp. stock and showing the empire who really has the upper hand in politics.
- The Propaganda of the Anti Ron Paul SupportersThere are many obstacles for Ron Paul in his quest for the presidency. The three main obstacles are the Pious Pimps of Power and The Dubious Dupes of Demagogue and the media controlled by a industrial corporate compl...
- Presidential Hopeful Ron Paul: Raising the Roof in Iowa If crowd approval is any indication of votes in the Iowa Straw Poll, Ron Paul is a contender.
2008 Presidential Election: Ron Paul May be a Voting Option in Many Repu...Many Ron Paul supporters do not realize that there is an extra step that have to take if they are going to try to vote in the Republican Primaries.
Ron Paul Internet Success May Reflect Deeper Trend, Study Results SuggestPew Research Center Study shows that more and more voters are getting their political information from the internet, which would not be a surprise to Ron Paul supporters
- Is Ron Paul the Subject of a Google Bomb?
- Ron Paul Supporters Toeing the Line Between Enthusiasm and Fanaticism
- The CNN Utube Debates in Wichita, Kansas - Ron Paul Grass Roots Meeting
- Analysis: Canadian Company Leads in Ron Paul Coverage
- Ron Paul and His "Paulbots"
- Top 3 Holiday Gift Ideas for Ron Paul Supporters
- DailyPaul.Com: a Website for Ron Paul Supporters
39 Comments
Post a CommentOh boy....Patricia is pontificating again. Gotta take a dump now...
"Every thing that he says he can back up with document able proof."
Then where is it, Fred?
Again... I do my research for my articles and I include links to my sources.
If you want to contest my facts and sources, do your own research and supply your OWN facts and sources.
Your denial of the truth is not a valid argument.
"Why not give us some examples of these pork bills?"
If you really want to find out... do your own research, Fred.
I am frankly tired of having to do you homework for you.
Why not give us some examples of these pork bills? I keep hearing about them, but have seen 0 proof. Nothing at all to back it up.
Why not look at the fact that he has turned down the benefits package that is offered to elected officials. Why not talk about the fact that he will only take a $39,000 salary as president if he is elected? Or is that just more grandstanding and proof that he is crazy? I just don't understand why the need to attack him through his supporters. Yes I agree there are many people on the fringe who support Ron Paul, but they have been seeing the truth for way too long and they are trying to stop it from becoming reality. Our governments hands are not clean. No matter who is making the decisions. It is time to bring some real honesty back to the table in politics and Ron Paul is the only one telling the truth and the only one with a plan on getting us back on the right track. Even if it is going to be a painful situation.
Patricia Campion You are putting words in his mouth. Every thing that he says he can back up with document able proof. Instead of trying to make him sound like crazy uncle Paul why not do the research yourself? Find out why he is making these statements and tell me that you can prove without a reasonable doubt anything that he has said.
He never said that our government committed 9/11. He said that after it happened they used it as an excuse to invade Iraq. That and the made up stories of WMD. There are plenty of other people out there (who might happen to be Ron Paul supporters) who say that the US Government is behind 9/11. That doesn't mean Ron Paul said it or believes it.
How can the CIA, CFR and Trilateral Commission all be running everything? The real truth is that they have more power and influence on our policies than most other organizations. The real truth is that the American people have 0% influence over our policy at this time.
AIDS was patented in 1920s.
"I enjoy reading obviously fabricated stories which try to bash anyone wanting to find truth. It only make the author look desperate....and cult-like"
As if someone with the spelling and grammar skills of a 5th grader will impress me.
I enjoy reading obviously fabricated stories which try to bash anyone wanting to find truth. It only make the author look desperate....and cult-like
"A real cult is cultivated by main stream news..."
Do you mean like the cults of Jim Jones, Marshal Applewhite, Charles Manson and David Koresh... which the mainstream media didn't hear about or mention until after the mass suicide or mass murder committed by the cult members?
"Patricia says that Ron Paul claims that the US government was involved with the plotting of 9-11 as a ploy to invade Iraq. Oh really....? I always thought he said that our highly interventionist foreign policy is what motivated 9-11 -- that it resulted in blowback -- and people retaliated against having their countries occupied and controlled by the USA"
Well, (aptly named) "conspiracy girl"... that shows how selective you are when it comes to the truth about Ron Paul, now doesn't it?.
ROFL.
Has the Republican Party become a religion -- so that all the "cult-watchers" are coming out to deprogram anyone who has apostatized from the One True Church...?
Patricia says that Ron Paul claims that the US government was involved with the plotting of 9-11 as a ploy to invade Iraq. Oh really....? I always thought he said that our highly interventionist foreign policy is what motivated 9-11 -- that it resulted in blowback -- and people retaliated against having their countries occupied and controlled by the USA.
She says PAUL supporters are militant...??? (!!!) I guess that makes the neocon war-mongers who are foaming and frothing at the mouth to start a war with Iran are all sweetly wearing flowers in their hair.....