Ireton Is Not Delusional, He Is Simply and Skillfully Deceitful

Those who listened to Mr. Ireton's recent spiel, aided and abetted by Don Rush of "Public Radio Delmarva," might jump to the conclusion that Ireton is non compos mentis. In his attack on the effort to bring about an elected school board in Wicomico County he pointed his finger at two persons that he named – "G. A. Harrison and Joe Albero” – whom Ireton portrays as having drawn the County’s council districts. He offered no evidence to support that claim, and there is none.

Ireton also attributed the legislation pending in the General Assembly to what he sees as the "far right wing" that – according to him – controls the County after last year's election and to the right wing portion of the county voters who elected the Council members and County executive. Given the magnitude of the victories of Bob Culver and the council members who faced an opponent (two ran unopposed) it is preposterous that the far right "won" the election. Then, look at the council members: four of the seven members are moderate Republicans or RINO’s, and another is a Democrat.

Mr. Ireton is not ignorant or misinformed, and he is not crazy. Like his idol, Obama, he knows that if you vilify your opponents by distortion and outright falsehood – and do it enough and with a straight face – the low information residents will accept what you say as fact. Obama has mastered that technique, but he did not create it. Past masters have included Hitler among others. Like them, Ireton knows that it works best by pointing to a group that is portrayed as the "enemy among us." For that purpose, Obama uses the wealthy and business owners; Hitler used the Jews; and Ireton castigates the "far right" and "tea party." Often, the masters portray themselves as community organizers or watchdogs, and there is a racial or nationalistic aspect to the baiting and fomenting. Sound familiar?

But to pull it off, you must be an accomplished liar and agitator in public speaking, like Obama and Hitler, and Ireton has honed that skill for many years. And it helps, and may even be essential, to have an accommodating mainstream media. Again, Obama and Hitler are examples, and in Wicomico there’s the Daily Times as well as Don Rush, who sat mute while Ireton spouted his vitriol at those currently at the top of his enemies list. The Daily Times, which gave major coverage to Ireton’s recent and similar performance in Annapolis, has afforded him extensive free and flattering publicity for many years.

Without suggesting that their respective goals are equally evil, there is a remarkable similarity in the manner in which Ireton, Obama and Hitler have used the "big lie" propaganda technique in public statements and the mainstream media. We weren't around to counter Hitler, but we have not been silent in regard to the other two. It’s interesting that so many comments now refer to Ireton by a term that’s a word-play on his name and suggests his propensity for deliberate distortion and fabrication of fact.