I believe they have a psychological need to believe things that Hillary says and disbelieve what Trump says. Believing as they do supports their need to be “special snowflakes” who are “more moral” than the rest of us.
Being liberal is, in their minds, a sign of selflessness(!!!!) and altruism (sorry - forgot the barf alert).
So when they come face to face with the truth, many are so threatened by not being right, pure, etc. that they cover their ears and start screaming “LIAR!” and “RACIST!” etc. Sometimes you see them wake up and if so, they walk around depressed because information seems to point to them being a (moral) legend in their own mind. SOme come out of that depression by rationalizing “Well ok, she lied about that but only because the repubs made her do it” or “Okay but Trump is WORSE!”
I have a hard time thinking about all that has been released vi Wikileaks and there’s still a “race” on? ALl that she did and they don’t care? Ah, but it’s themselves they care about. They are going to “lie for the team” so they can pretend they were never on the wrong team to begin with.
Completely correct. Remember those kids we all used to play with who always had to be “right” or they would take their ball and go home? Those kids grow up and don’t change a bit.
Another perfect description.
Nice analysis on a crucial topic. As I think about my three brothers who are strident liberals, your explanation may partially explain their disgust of all things Trump.
Because they are from the Boston area, I tell them that Tom Brady is voting for Trump. And because they love the Patriots -- and Brady is the Archangel of the Patriots -- this knowledge upsets them greatly. They don't quite know how to compute that knowledge, I think.
If we can understand the psychological forces that get people idolizing a particular sports team, it will help explain the idolatry for a political party or position.
A Bostonian from another era, Ralph Waldo Emerson, had some wise things to say on the subject:
But why should you keep your head over your shoulder? Why drag about this corpse of your memory, lest you contradict somewhat you have stated in this or that public place? Suppose you should contradict yourself; what then?
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day.
Self-Reliance
Mencken studied political persuasion in an article called Vox Populi. And I wrote a vanity that condensed, lightly edited and rearranged that article for FReepers: H. L. Mencken Predicted Donald Trump, the Enlightened Rabble-Rouser.
In any case, you've tapped into a very important subject, so I look forward to your and others' comment.
You hit on the absolute truth of how liberals see themselves. I said this yesterday on FR but you said it better,
Believing in liberalism makes them better people, in their minds. Always wanting to “give back” I hear them say. Republicans are evil, according to them.