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'''Demonization''' is when a [[demagogue]], or group of demagogues, paints their ideological enemies or [[scapegoats]] in terms intended to render them as irredeemably evil and fit only for destruction, which is usually presented as 'self-defense'.  Possibly the best-known example of demonization in the 20th century was the [[Nazi]]s' demonization of [[Jews]], which played off of existing [[antisemitism]] for political gain and eventually led to the [[Holocaust]].

'''Demonization''' is when a [[demagogue]], or group of demagogues, paints their [[ideological]] enemies or [[scapegoat]]s in terms intended to render them as irredeemably [[evil]] and fit only for destruction, which is usually presented as 'self-defense'.  Possibly the best-known example of demonization in the 20th century was the [[Nazi]]s' demonization of [[Jews]], which played off of existing [[antisemitism]] for [[political]] gain and eventually led to the [[Holocaust]].

== Advantages of demonization for an unscrupulous politician ==

== Advantages of demonization for an unscrupulous politician ==

==Recent examples==

==Recent examples==

*A reviewer of [[Barbara Olson]]'s, ''Hell to Pay : The Unfolding Story of [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]]'' Regnery Publishing (1999) wrote,

*A reviewer of [[Barbara Olson]]'s, ''Hell to Pay : The Unfolding Story of [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]]'' Regnery Publishing (1999) wrote,

{{Cquote|Olson discusses the Clintons' method of dealing with enemies, which is straight out of the writings of [[left-wing]] [[crank]] [[Saul Alinsky]]: demonize, polarize, and destroy. Witness [[Ken Starr]], [[Newt Gingrich]], [[Paula Jones]], ''et al''. Olson, a former Senate counsel who investigated the Clinton Administration's FBI file caper and Travel Office fiasco <ref>[http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/msg34192.html ''Hell to Pay : The Unfolding Story of Hillary Rodham Clinton'',] Reviews, retrieved 05/21/07.</ref>}}

{{Cquote|Olson discusses the Clintons' method of dealing with enemies, which is straight out of the writings of [[left-wing]] [[crank]] [[Saul Alinsky]]: demonize, polarize, and destroy. Witness [[Ken Starr]], [[Newt Gingrich]], [[Paula Jones]], ''et al''. Olson, a former Senate counsel who investigated the Clinton Administration's FBI file caper and Travel Office fiasco <ref>[https://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/msg34192.html ''Hell to Pay : The Unfolding Story of Hillary Rodham Clinton'',] Reviews, retrieved 05/21/07.</ref>}}

*A literal example of the politics of personal destruction from the Sual Alinsky field manual was uttered by [[Democratic]] [[2008_Presidential_Election#Declared_Democratic_Party_Candidates|Presidential hopeful]] [[John Edwards]] in 2007 about social commentator [[Ann Coulter]].  Edwards spoke of "that she-devil Ann Coulter" and in same breath said "people like Ann Coulter, they engage in [[hate speech|hateful language]]." <ref>[http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/08/edwards-calls-c.html Edwards Calls Coulter 'She-Devil'], ''ABC News'', August 17, 2007.</ref>

*A literal example of the politics of personal destruction from the Sual Alinsky field manual was uttered by [[Democratic]] [[2008 Presidential Election#Declared Democratic Party Candidates|Presidential hopeful]] [[John Edwards]] in 2007 about social commentator [[Ann Coulter]].  Edwards spoke of "that she-devil Ann Coulter" and in same breath said "people like Ann Coulter, they engage in [[hate speech|hateful language]]." <ref>[http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/08/edwards-calls-c.html Edwards Calls Coulter 'She-Devil'], ''ABC News'', August 17, 2007.</ref>

==See also==

==See also==

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

*[http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-hayward032703.asp Old Liberalism, R.I.P.,]Steven F. Hayward, ''National Review Online'', March 27, 2003

*[https://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-hayward032703.asp Old Liberalism, R.I.P.,] Steven F. Hayward, ''National Review Online'', March 27, 2003

*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904228-4,00.html Radical Saul Alinsky: Prophet of Power to the People,] ''TIME'', Mar. 02, 1970.

*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904228-4,00.html Radical Saul Alinsky: Prophet of Power to the People,] ''TIME'', Mar. 02, 1970.

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