McCarthy nails it with this one. It will be the epithet of the Obama presidency.
I’d use the term ‘refusing to defend’. In my mind, the word ‘failing’ implies both an intention and an attempt. (Another possibility is ‘pretending to defend’.)
Members of a cult will believe anything. “Two plus two equals five” - no problem. Many cult members are highly educated. Many members of the national media are cult members. They can be identified by the fact that they will defend their leader no matter how absurd the defense appears. This in Jonestown on a national scale. What will happen if the cult leader feels threatened with removal?