Hunting Heretics in 2023

John White: “The late political analyst Mark Shields was fond of classifying partisans into two types: those who seek converts and those who carry on crusades to root out heretics. Former President Trump is the ultimate heretic hunter. After Trump claimed the 2020 election was stolen, membership in the Republican Party required an oath of fealty to Trump’s ‘Big Lie,’ and anyone who believed otherwise was automatically labeled a RINO.”

“Among the excommunicated were former Reps. Liz Cheney (R-WY) Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), nearly all those who voted to impeach Trump and anyone who testified before the Jan. 6 committee. Today, 65 percent of Republicans say their leaders should accept the premise that the 2020 election was stolen, and any prospective presidential nominee who believes otherwise stands little chance with 2024 primary voters.”

“Several Republicans are emulating Trump’s strategy of hunting heretics.”