Conservatives treat their constituents like suckers (9): The snake oil salesmen

I think I'll start writing more about conservative culture. It's something I know a heck of a lot [1] about - too much, surely - and whenever I tell people my favorite stories, their jaws unhinge in shock. I forget how much I take this stuff for granted - and I forgot how irresponsible the mainstream media is in treating barking loons and straight-up grifters as if they were legitimate and respect-worthy participants in our national conversation.

Take Human Events, the sixty year old conservative magazine whose representatives are frequent on cable news (Ann Coulter started her "journalistic" ascent at Human Events). People are always laughing about those grubby, sub-literate Nigerian scam emails they get in their inboxes. I've been getting something similar in mine for months, only with fancy graphics and the Human Events logo attached, because, those public-spirited souls tell us, "From time to time, we receive opportunities we believe you as a valued customer may want to know about."

It concerns the "23-Cent Heart Miracle."

The testimonials:

"Heart surgery may be a thing of the past!"

"I was scheduled for open heart surgery when I read about your product. I started taking it and now six months have passed and I haven't had open-heart surgery."

Don't know what the product is. I've never clicked on "MUST-READING if you or someone you know has heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or circulatory problems of any kind!"

I do know this: "Washington, the medical industry and drug companies REFUSE to tell you about it!"

I love the government-conspiracy angle. It's a frequent touch. They're just so lovable, these beyond-embarrassment conservatives. What other movement would run an article called, say, "Ideas Will Drive Conservatives' Revival" [2] - and run a box two inches beneath the headline with the following "Health News":

Reverse Crippling Arthritis in 2 Days...

Clear Clogged Arteries Safely & Easily - without drugs, without surgery, and without a radical diet.

High Blood Pressure Cured in 3 Minutes...Drop Measurement 60 Points

"From time to time, we receive opportunities we believe you as a valued customer may want to know about" - did I mention that they let these people on CNN?

UPDATE: Just got an email from Human Events:

Retire This Year!

Read the whole thing. [3] Your financial future may depend on it.