Republicans vs. research

Andrew Ferguson's Weekly Standard hit piece on "psychopundit" Chris Mooney's book The Republican Brain snarkily summarizes Mooney's thesis this way:

Mooney's wide-eyed acceptance of this social science, no matter how sloppy or ideologically motivated, is the kind of mistake we're all likely to make once in a while, though seldom with his particular self-confidence and élan. [...] Mooney shuts off his skepticism when he is confronted with what other people tell him is Science. He thinks of his intellectual servility as an unshakable devotion to reason, which pleasingly places him at odds with his irrational political opposites. [...]

On the one hand, conservatives won't like the scientific fact that they tend to deny reality and treat their errors as dogma. On the other hand, liberals won't like the scientific fact that all their well-meaning attempts to reason with conservatives are doomed

Mooney responds here and here, pointing out that "what's particularly interesting is how Ferguson handles the overwhelming evidence of modern day conservative science denial. The basic answer is that he trivializes it."

He attacks a book about how conservatives blithely dismiss science by....blithely dismissing science! [...] Ignoring the weight of the evidence is certainly objectionable, but Ferguson's tone is still more revealing.

Mooney lists several of Ferguson's ad hominem attacks and emotionally-loaded phrases, and concludes:

All of which demonstrates why conservatives should really read and take seriously the research I'm reporting on. If they did, they would know that when you emote like this, you're just tipping your hand and showing that you're engaged in motivated reasoning.

But, it is good to see that The Republican Brain is having its expected effect.