Skip Navigation

The Daily Dish - 2006-2011 archives for The Daily Dish, featuring Andrew Sullivan

The Core Of Palin's Appeal

By The Daily Dish
Jul 1 2009, 6:22 AM ET

A reader writes:

Part of Sarah Palin's irresistible appeal to her fundamentalist base is her ability to look at the camera with utter conviction and declare black to be white.

The ability to lie well is a valuable part of the fundamentalist psychology. My son isn't gay, he just hasn't found the right woman! Those rocks aren't 50 million years old, they just look like it as a test of our faith! My sexless marriage isn't foundering, it is filled with God's spirit! The minister isn't molesting little Maria, they're just very close! It isn't torture, it is being tough on terrorists!

Fundamentalists can recognize a truly audacious and talented liar from miles away. Instead of running the other way, as you might expect, they gather around the powerful liar, for they know that their own lies will be respected and protected by a leader who understands the paramount importance of preserving their whole system of denial.


Presented by

More at The Atlantic

If not Orwell, Then Huxley: The Battle for Control of the Internet Battle for Control of the Internet
The Amazing Swing State Recovery and Why It (Probably) Doesn't Matter The Amazing Swing State Recovery May Not Change Votes
What Do Republican Voters See in Rick Santorum? What Do GOP Voters See in Rick Santorum?
Here's What Humbert Humbert Looks Like (as a Police Composite Sketch) Is this What Humbert Humbert Really Looks Like?
How Do You Say 'Badonkadonk' in Chinese? How to Say 'Chillax' in Chinese
Special Report
Submit Your Photos of America at Work AP Submit Your Photos of America at Work
Send us your images of friends, family, and neighbors on the job. We'll publish the best. Read more ›

Just In

View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

The Civil War, Part 3: The Stereographs

Feb 10, 2012

Subscribe Now

SAVE 59%! 10 issues JUST $2.45 PER COPY

Facebook

Newsletters

Sign up to receive our free newsletters

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)