Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has caused another stir by suggesting that the millions of Trump supporters may require a “formal deprogramming” in a CNN interview. It was a moment clearly enjoyed by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, who previously suggested that the FBI should have stopped Trump from making certain campaign statements. Even former FBI Director James Comey balked at Amanpour’s suggested censorship. Now, Amanpour has clearly found a kindred spirit.
My concern over the comment is less whether Hillary Clinton is serious. (I really do not know). I am more concerned by the continued reckless rhetoric from national leaders. I previously objected to other comments by Trump. Yet, the media rarely applies the same level of scrutiny to such comments or personal attacks from figures on the left.
Discussing the recent vacating of the position of the Speaker by all of the Democrats and eight Republicans, Clinton said that Democrats had to groom selected Republicans while treating the rest as sick cultists:
“[S]adly, so many of those extremists, those MAGA extremists take their marching orders from Donald Trump, who has no credibility left by any measure. He’s only in it for himself. He’s now defending himself in civil actions and criminal actions. And when do they break with him? Because at some point, you know, maybe there needs to be a formal deprogramming of the cult members, but something needs to happen.”
It appears that the “basket of deplorables” are now a cabal of cultists due to “emotional, psychological needs and desires.”
Amanpour was clearly bemused by the suggestion, but the combination of the two is chilling for those of us concerned about free speech in this age of rage. Many countries have historically treated dissenters as mentally ill or requiring reeducation.
The media has long embraced the need to educate the public to accept its views. Former President Barack Obama joined a number of journalists in discussing how to reeducate the public. Obama denounced “anger-based journalism” while promoting an advocacy-journalism model in which the media shape the news for citizens who supposedly need help to properly frame ideas.
The fact that Amanpour elicited these comments only magnified the unease over the underlying intolerance for opposing viewpoints. In an interview with James Comey, Amanpour pressed Comey on why the FBI did not “shut down” President Donald Trump’s “hate speech” during the 2016 presidential election.
Comey correctly pushed back on Amanpour by noting that she was suggesting something grossly improper and unconstitutional: “That’s not a role for government to play. The beauty of this country is people can say what they want even if it’s misleading and it’s demagoguery.”
Neither CNN nor Amanpour ever addressed a CNN host suggesting the use of the FBI to shutdown political debate.
Now, however, Amanpour has found a leader who is willing to treat political opponents as sick cultists. The sense of smug superiority is precisely why Hillary remains one of the least popular political figures in America. What is ironic is to watch Amanpour and Clinton denounce the right for reckless rhetoric and anti-democratic sentiments as they voice intolerant and inflammatory views.
Hillary Clinton is an angry bitter ugly old woman who will carry the defeat to Donald Trump to her grave. Instead of moving on with her life, she continues to stew away with bitter resentment. So now she attacks those who supported and voted for Trump. This is truly remarkable. Nowhere in history past has anyone said as much as has been said about those who dare oppose the leftist regime that is now in power. We are living in dangerous times as never before. The opposition to freedom and liberty are right in our faces and daring us to do anything about it.
All we need is to observe to how the mainstream media reacts to this latest outrage.
Let’s see who goes to prison!
The conservative need for violence.
That is hilarious.
The need for Soviet Democrat apparatchiks to claim it was conservatives that actually carried out the summer of Mostly Peaceful Rioting, Pillaging, Looting, Arson, and Murder.
Most of them probably still have the all black man jammies their mommies made them and a few unused Molotov Cocktails under their beds.
I am sure it must continue to drive Hillary crazy to know that she lost to someone she despises as much as she does Donald Trump. I don’t know about ugly, but there is no doubt she is bitter and angry. In my view, she probably could benefit from a few sessions with a good therapist,
Napolean has said the quiet part out loud. So go ahead Squealer, get up on those hind legs and talk like a human. Dont be shy and say “there was some truth”. Admit it, you agree wholeheartedly.
It would be less costly and more effective if hilary was just jailed so we did not have to hear the stupid things she says.
I posted a comment about HRC. Maybe I went over the top. It wasn’t very complimentary. It didn’t make it past the sensors. My appologies. But I still think she is a terrible human being. Again, my appologies. Independent Bob.
Since the Global Initiative, AKA The Clinton Foundation, foreign money is rolling in. Many foreigners are placing a bet on her democrat party doing just as she said. After all, that is what they do in their own country with dissidents.
Like Trump echoing Hitler and claiming that illegal immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country”?
GOP Congressman Bucshon, when asked if: Trump should apologize for using this language. “I think he probably should.” “I think those words are outrageous to describe human beings. … That type of language is not appropriate, and we shouldn’t be using it.”
Will others in the GOP join him in calling Trump out?
Maybe Joy Reid can help you with your research!
Idiot.
Trump was correct, the Beast will rue the day it tries what it suggested.
“[T]here needs to be a formal deprogramming of the cult members . . .” (Clinton)
Suppose you want to rationalize a desire to commit atrocities. The first thing you do is dehumanize your targets. You make them not fully human, not fully real, not individuals. You collectivize them, then smear the group. That way, you can deprive those individuals of rights, sympathy, defense.
You call Jews, Jews as such, “dirty, deceitful, and dangerous.” You call kulaks “bloodsuckers, vampires, plunderers of the people and profiteers, who fatten themselves during famines.” (Lenin) Or you call your political opposition, as a group, “cult members.”
Hillary has learned well from her fellow collectivists who seek total control.
Just remember, whatever the LEFT accuses the RIGHT of doing, the LEFT is doing 100,1,000, 1,000,000, 1,000,000,000, 1,000,000,000,000, times more, and getting away with it because of the completely CORRUPT MEDIA!!!
Some Trump supporters may not be so easily “Formally Deprogrammed” by the Regime. The fact that new guns sales to Citizens of the US have been over 1 million guns per month, for the last 50 straight months, suggests a righteous armed resistance to such tyranny. What is next?, a sign declaring ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ over every City Hall in the Nation? Clintons open declaration of Fascism is stunning, even for the likes of her.
She should put on one of her Motel Six shower curtain mu-mus and get tossed back into the Scooby Mobile.
It’s important to consider the source. Clinton is one of the foulest individuals ever to reach such heights in American politics. She’s a sore loser and remains bitter. If the left that supports her finds this acceptable then they are admitting that this “formal deprogramming” is acceptable. Should this be suggested for them, they should not be surprised. They’re setting precedents everywhere. Amanpore and her ilk should be cautious. She’s an example of these self proclaimed elite. She’s been given this platform not earned it. If “populism” prevails, she’ll be jobless.
They’re scared to death of another Trump victory. I’m sure he’ll be as measured with them as they have been with him. They erased the boundaries of political discourse and action.
Regarding moderates in our state legislature, they were identified, targeted and replaced by well funded, out of state organizations. Gone. Replaced with those who would tow the party line even against reason.
The idea of “by the people, for the people” has been badly wounded. Now, it is by the party leaders, for the agenda and be damned the individual rights of the people.
The result? Especially in the post pandemic era is nothing short of insanity—mass insanity. Gone is the attempt of reasonable cooperation and representative government and at least an attempt to solve domestic problems.
Hillary is harkening back to the Salem witch trials for her inspiration, I fear.
hrc is more like Indira Gandhi than Jiang Qing…debate.
In April 2014, a Kazakhstani Oligarch Wired the Exact Price of Biden’s Sportscar to a Bank Account Used by Archer and Biden
Better deprogram Lewinski, Hill
Turley needs to write a column explaining his legal theory of his own liability and the liability of his trashy webmaster as PUBLISHERS and/or EDITORS of wild, unreasoned defamation of REAL people posting comments under their REAL names at this garbage site by people hiding behind the fake screen name “Anonymous.”
This has happened to ME before, which is why I stopped posting comments at Turley’s trash site for several years and decided to use a pseudonym when I returned. And now I see it’s happening again to others who are posting comments under their REAL names and being defamed by “Anonymous” posters whom Turley assists in their defamation by inviting them to post their libelous trash while hiding behind the “Anonymous” screen name.
The FACT that Turley has been perviously alerted to this defamation and KNOWS that this is happening and has been happening for YEARS only increases the ridiculous, wanton, and egregious nature of Turley’s recklessness.
Ralph, you’re squealing like a pig!
Do you personally know all these ‘people’?
One wouldn’t think you would.
So why would you presume they’re all legitimate commenters?
You don’t make sense.
Turley’s webmaster is censoring my reply.
No leftist scumbag makes sense. 😉
I tend to find his comments, uh, what’s the word?… oh right, it’s two words, actually… de minimis.
You need to be censored
I don’t believe you.
Section 230 protects him from liability for the content of comments, despite the fact that he blocks or deletes some of them.
READERS:
Look at the Ukraine comments near the top of the last page. Is a Russian troll replying? It certainly reads that way!
Do we honestly want Russian trolls invading the comment threads of American blogs? That could be the reality here. Which makes us wonder about all these puppets and ‘who’ is actually fielding them.
How do you know it’s a Russian troll? Maybe you’re a Ukrainian troll?
No, Marie, he’s just a troll.
LOL. In your mind anyone who isn’t wholeheartedly behind the most corrupt nation on Earth, one “led” (ahem) by a shrimpy tyrant (who has eliminated all opposition in his miserable country, who spends OUR money with gleeful abandon, who drains our coffers and our military equipment with no tangible results, and who shows no proclivity to do anything differently), is a Russian troll. As always, lefties insist you droolingly accept their insane illogic or you’re the enemy.
Call me a Russian troll. I couldn’t care less. I hope Russia trounces the ungrateful grifters of Ukraine. Maybe they can get to the bottom of the odd relationship vis-a-vis the Bidens and Burisma. Our incurious media nor our criminal-loving Left never will.
For someone who wants to “deprogram” “regular folks”, whose desires are so-called normal unlike her directions. She should not be doing that with her proclivities and her friends who cruise in certain areas which that lifestyle could lead to trouble. I heard she now lives with a “partner” maybe both need a little deprogramming. I am suspicious of the clothes she wears.
Partner?? Who, Huma?
Well Hil, babe, I think your deprogramming is on the way.
In my opinion, the left constant tries to enrage the right as a means to deflect attention from their illegalities. Do they really believe what they are spouting? I don’t think so. The only thing you can take to the bank as 100% is the level of corruption in almost every politician, left, right or in the center. They are all corrupt. All of them infected by the insider trading and the lobbyists payoffs to keep quiet on this vote and vote yes or no on that vote. They’ve sold their souls for personal wealth. Everyone is part of the grift. They’ve all got dirt on each other. So, whenever one hears what may constitute as an attack on the first amendment or some other crazy utterance in the form of a statement that might more properly belong in an autocracy or communist society, one might want to look at the person spouting the nonsense to see what exactly they are doing at that moment in time (which more than likely has nothing to do with what they are regurgitating for the population’s angst). There is truth in the saying, “Follow the money.” Exhibit A: Hillary Clinton … The White House just sent 25 billion to the World Bank for aid for Ukraine. The World bank is turning around and sending the money to the corrupt Clinton Global Initiative who will not tolerate disinformation should you dare ask how that money is being spent. That’s right – your taxpayer dollars but don’t ask any questions. So, back to the Clinton statement about deprogramming the deplorables … as long as you are twisted up in angst about how outrageous the right hand is behaving, no one is asking any questions about the left hand collecting monies. What is she planning to do with all that money? What is 25 billion in the Clinton coffers going to pay for – I wonder.
We’ll said!!!
Speaker Trump! Independent Bob.
Thanks to Professor Turley, like Diogenes, finally an honest law professor. It is sad thing that almost all the “classical liberals” I know are Conservative Republicans. It is going to take more Democrats, such as the Professor and Bill Maher, to bring bring the Democratic Party back towards the center. I am shocked at the intemperance I see in intelligent, smart Democrats and liberals. It’s almost as if the Democrat leadership wants to create a revolution. What ever happened to the political parties bringing in the dissaffected and mollifying them by satisfying at least some of their desires, not necessarily their most radical wishes, but enough to calm the storm. Instead, the pols seem to relish in division.