The GOP has been deploying Psychological Operations against the Democrats all year, and it works.
The trick is to play on tendencies that are near the surface and enhance them, just like you cannot hypnotize someone and get them to kill their best friend but you can get them to do something they would almost have considered doing anyway. I'm not even going to use the Democratic Primaries as an example of how this works - because that is the prime purpose of the GOP PsyOps, to get us having these conversations - but rather the GOP primaries:
Mormons Dismissed by McCain and the GOP
The McCain camp has again chosen to ignore the needs of the Mormon community by failing to reach out to the supporters of Mitt Romney. Mormons throughout American history have been persecuted by the established powers of the government, and the Republican party led by John McCain is fine with that. The Governor of Missouri issued the infamous "Extermination Order" in the 1800s in which he declared "the Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State", resulting in the slaughter by US soldiers of Mormon men and young boys.
Even in withdrawing to Utah under the leadership of Brigham Young to seek refuge the Mormons were hunted by the established powers in Washington. Despite this relentless persecution, the generosity of the Mormon people continued to be demonstrated again and again, including the selfless action of bringing food to the very soldiers who were sent to kill them as they lay trapped and freezing at Guardsmen's Pass.
Washington is again duping the gentle Mormon people of this country, assuming they will meekly follow John McCain and cast their votes for him despite the vile lies used against one of their most respected leaders during the Republican primaries. Has John McCain and the Republican party even acknowledged the concerns of the Mormon population? Has he done anything to earn the votes of these patriotic Americans, or does he - like all past Republican politicians - assume they will blindly continue to give him their votes?
Mitt Romney is a dedicated father, a loyal American and a faithful representative of the Mormon people and their way of life. His treatment at the hands of the party that so blithely takes the support of these hardworking people should not be forgotten come November.
This narrative is not being pushed in the media, but if it was I would expect to be able to find plenty of conversations among my Mormon friends. It taps an underlying discontent, and any efforts by McCain to reach out to the Mormon population would be less effective and easily questioned as being cynical, opportunistic and lacking.
Sound familiar?
It's child's play, and we're being played like children.
-chris