Popeye is simply utilizing Demagoguery.... Whats sad is... He's not even original enough to come up with his own demagogy, he's pirating the demagogy of others.
In this particular post, he has chosen "Demonization" from the list of demagoguery tactics:
Demonization —
identifying others as a mortal threat. Often this involves scapegoating — blaming others for one's own problems.
This is often advanced by using vague terms to identify the opposition group and then stereotyping that group. This allows the demagogue to exaggerate this group's influence and ascribe any trait to them by identifying that trait in any individual in the group. This method can be aided by constructing a false dilemma that portrays opposition groups as having a value system that is the polar opposite of one's own, as opposed to simply having different priorities. This method was incorporated by the Nazi regime to gain the general support of the public when it began to initiate its anti-Semitic policies.
Popeye claims significance in this "point":
Cartwright was interested in militia groups and weapons training.
Such "interests" are not specific to "right wingers" and can apply to almost any religion, ideology, or preference.... Even Cartwrights apparent hatred of Obama is not indicative of a political party or leaning, as there are Democrats, Republicans and Anarchists who could fit in this category. However, his interest is not in being fair, or even accurate, he seeks to perpetuate the stereotype of "Right wing cop killing extremists", in order to demonize anyone not part of his group. This in itself is fallacy known as appeal to ridicule: "Unless you want to be considered part of this crazy cop killers group, you should join my group or at least not speak out against my group."
If the Demagoguery is successful in going unchallenged, the
Bandwagon effect and the
spiral of silence can appear to further buttress the false premise without actually adding anything of substance as support.
Additionally, Popeye's personal attack against Glenn Beck is a lie predicated on a fallacy. He's relying on the readers ignorance of Glenn Beck in order to deceive his readers. Beck does not support any violence against fellow Americans and he refers to crazys like Cartwright as "idiots" and further states they are enemies to both liberty and the Republic. So, its a lie that he supports, or eggs on, such behavior and its a common fallacy known as an Ad Hominem attack, an attack against the man rather than his message.
Finally, Popeye's post is a type of communal reinforcement that is typical of groupthinkers. First, allow me to explain what Communal Reinforcement is:
Now, lets look at a post from the Daily KOS:
Another Obama-hating wingnut cop murderer
by kos
Share this on Twitter - Another Obama-hating wingnut cop murderer
Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 10:20:04 AM PDT
This time, in Okaloosa County, Florida.
"On Sunday, lawmen still were investigating why Joshua Cartwright, a 28-year-old U.S. Army Reserve soldier with a history of violence, killed Okaloosa County sheriff's deputies Burt Lopez and Warren "Skip" York at a gun range in Crestview.
A few minutes after he killed the deputies, Cartwright was himself killed in a shootout with lawmen in DeFuniak Springs [...]
An offense report filed against Cartwright the day he died outlines an angry husband who threatened his wife, kept guns and knives on hand, was "severely disturbed" that Barack Obama had been elected president, and believed the U.S. government was conspiring against him."
As more details trickle out, it'll be interesting to see whether he was a Glenn Beck-style winger, thinking the government was conspiring to take away his guns.
Right off the bat you may notice that Popeye and Kos have quoted the exact same lines from the story and used the same link to the actual story but Popeye did include the line about Clearasil. Way to go the extra mile!
Lets compare some of the groupthink, starting with the title:
Kosser: Another Obama-hating wingnut cop murderer
Popeye: Right wing extremist kills two cops
But wait, theres more!
Now lets look at the following lines:
Kosser: As more details trickle out, it'll be interesting to see whether he was a Glenn Beck-style winger, thinking the government was conspiring to take away his guns.
Look familiar? Take a look at what Popeye wrote:
Popeye: They're all coming out of the woodwork now, right wing nuts... armed with guns and fueled by conspiracy theories put forth by irresponsible idiots like Glenn Beck.
Leave it to Popeye to make a Kosser sound reasonably objective in comparison.
This is the groupthink echo chamber at work. Stereotypes are born, bred and disseminated by demagogs using communal reinforcement techniques to draw others into the groupthink mentality. Another Petty, Pirate, Propagandist PWND.
Please hold your applause...
