Kellyanne Conway appeared on Fox News Sunday to begin what an authoritarian expert called a campaign of anti-Kamala Harris "propaganda."
“She does not speak well, she does not work hard, she should not be the standard bearer for the party,” said Donald Trump's adviser.
Posting to X on Monday morning, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a renowned expert on authoritarianism, wrote, "Propaganda narratives that will consolidate in next days."
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"Propagandists know you should build on existing prejudices when introducing a new hate object or theme," she continued. "Here Conway invokes racist stereotypes already familiar to many in MAGA."
She wasn't the only one who accused Conway of playing on racism.
"Kellyanne sounds like a jealous, racist, mean girl," agreed PR strategist and Ex-Republican Cheri Jacobus.
Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson noted, "You can smell the sour desperation."
Vanity Fair correspondent Joe Hagan said that Conway's comment was more than a mere dog whistle. "You don't even have to read between the lines to hear the racism. We're gonna watch the Kamala Harris candidacy just *leach* the racism and sexism out of MAGA. Will be something to behold."
Writer David Lytle pointed out, "Two racist tropes in one take: she’s lazy and I can’t understand a word she says. Keep that bulls--t coming and she how many swing voters move to the D column."
Retired military member Reginald Edwards posted that Conway's "role is to issue the next talking point in a more socially acceptable way than the coarse, ignorant masses that make up the base. Won't surprise me if this is all we hear over the next few days."
Combat veteran and podcast host Fred Wellman cracked up at Conway's "desperation."
"You can taste it oozing out from the screen. It tastes like sulphur and Chanel Number 666," he said.
Daily Beast writer Wajahat Ali posted, "I love this line of attack. Just put up clips of Trump's speeches. Garbled words, nonsense rants, Hannibal Lecter, sharks, confusing people's names.
