Comments on: How the Alger Hiss Case Explains the Tea Party

By: Toddy Cat

Toddy Cat — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 20:22:00 +0000

So according to Sunstein, liberals were either A) Superficial nitwits who supported a traitor just because he had a good haircut, or B) Traitors themselves. That’s some “cognitive infiltration” there, Cass, keep up the good work.

By: Space Nookie

Space Nookie — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 21:07:12 +0000

I think his argument is that the Tea Party operates on a conspiracy theory that libs are socialists originating from accusations Chambers made during the Hiss case, when in fact (according to Sunstein) libs favored Hiss because he was handsome and well-educated and Chambers was just a bit too schlubby. I think this ties in with Sunstein's previous paper described here, in which he advocates "cognitive infiltration" of on-line forums to fight "false conspiracy theories", which if you add 2+2 equals covert government action against the Tea Party and other domestic political opponents.

By: Anomaly UK

Anomaly UK — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 19:20:53 +0000

I also noted the resemblance between 50s anti-communism and the Tea Party, here. Possibly with a slightly different perspective than Sunstein's.

By: Erik

Erik — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 17:48:09 +0000

I’m not seeing the explanation.

By: Tschafer

Tschafer — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 17:11:00 +0000

Short version of Sunstein’s screed: “Liberals are outraged at being accused of being crypto-socialists who made excuses for Communism, just because they are crypto-socialists who made excuses for Communism!”

The Hiss case does help to explain the Tea Party, but not in the way Sunstein thinks…