The modern GOP is engaged in questionable practices, both overt and covert, aimed at altering the terms and social context of political communication that push the envelope of both ethics and law in the direction of compliance gaining strategies: propaganda, indoctrination and thought reform. They paid propagandists and used government funds to covertly propagandize the public. They systematically suppress criticism and critical inquiry in the media. They work to eliminate open protest or alternative views from the President's 'media zone,' including even rallies to promote Social Security 'reform.' This administration stubbornly maintains its membership even in the face of grave ethical and legal violations by its members and widespread criticism. These, and many other instances, are all very disturbing indicators that the nature of the GOP's public communications goals have changed from that of a political party which aggregates the views of their constituents, to one of a cadre of insiders seeking to shape and direct the views of their 'base' and pre-empt and discredit the view of the 'enemy'. In short, they are communicating and responding to the 'outside' world just like a cult does.

Information control, thought control, and emotional control are major components of the neo-con GOP's strategy. Conservatives are trending toward only listening to sources of information that reinforce the GOP's current views and beliefs. Neo-con GOP insiders are strongly supporting that trend by creating channels of indoctrination such as Fox News, MSNBC, and the raft of 'movement' aligned periodicals, newspapers, journals, newsletters, and websites, upon which party members are encouraged to rely for news and opinion.

The classic technique of compartmentalization of information has exploded in recent years by the use of state secrecy laws. The GOP has even enabled corporate interests to use the security state as a means of inoculating itself against liability, and the administration has pursued a battle in the courts to destroy congressional oversight of the Executive. It's hard to find an example of an administration or a ruling clique more obsessed with withholding information from the public.

The GOP often claims that its doctrines are the only truth and encourages members to develop a black vs. white, right vs. wrong mindset. They adopt loaded language, such as clichés and slogans, which are used by adherents to shut down and deny rational thought. GOP propagandists and leaders reject rational analysis, critical thinking or constructive criticism as effete, foreign, wrong-headed, or plain obstructionism ("The Party of No" campaign for instance). Certainly, no critical questions about any leader, doctrine. or policy are seen as legitimate. All such questioning is either partisan, or if coming from the Republican, treacherously disloyal.