Dangers of sophistry in local GOP

"When a person supposes that he knows, and does not know; this appears to be the great source of all the errors of the intellect." — Plato

Sophistry, derived from the ancient Greek word sophistēs, meaning "wisdom," is the practice of employing seemingly sound reasoning in defense of a conclusion that is inherently false or subjective by nature.

In Plato's time, sophists were secular atheists, relativists and pragmatists trusting in whatever worked to bring about the desired end at whatever cost. They were cynical about religious beliefs and traditions. Sophists used rhetoric to their advantage, building half-baked arguments to construct false realities.

Sophistry connotes the willingness to utilize any argument to prove a point in today's world. Pseudo-intellectuals commonly use it, particularly on heavily politicized social media platforms. Sadly, it appears to be the common practice of Kootenai County Republican Central Committee chairman Brent Regan.

Regan's recent attempts to publicly debunk and project onto others the unethical and possibly illegal behavior conspicuously plotted by KCRCC leaders, are a glaring example. This dastardly plot was exposed through a recorded telephone conversation between Republican conservative John Grimm and KCRCC executive committee member and Young Republicans leader Dan Bell.

During that conversation, which was made public by our local newspaper and multiple television stations, specific names were dropped and the plot exposed. Consequently, the possibility of a lawsuit is being explored and, if successful, may devour the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee's publicly trumpeted financial coffer.

In 2019, when I attended my first KCRCC meeting, I immediately spotted the practice of sophistry. I have since witnessed it repeatedly, both verbally and in writing, and recently in a written exchange in which Regan uses sophistry on a 15-year-old high school student to defend the KCRCC's support of self-exposed “anti-semite troll" David Reilly.

In that exchange, Regan attempted to lead the youngster to question if Reilly's posts were real or photoshopped, followed by an assertion that "if you met and talked to Dave, you wouldn't believe the accusations." Which begs the question: What is Brent Regan's actual relationship with Reilly?

I find it interesting that Reilly has registered as a Democrat, is now running for governor as a write-in candidate, and publicly claims he got the idea from the “Democrats.” This begs another question: Is this a new plot which could provide a degree of shielding to both Regan and Reilly from the potential liability exposed in the recorded telephone conversation?

In 2020 I attended a Lincoln Day event at The Coeur d'Alene Resort. I was inadvertently subjected to unjustified harassment by a far-right Three Percenter who was part of the security team hired by the KCRCC.

A longtime conservative precinct committeeman appeared to be specifically targeted in a verbally and physically aggressive attempt to deny entry to the event. The issue recently surfaced again on Facebook, during which Regan (who was not aware I was personally involved) used sophistry to deliver a false story. Thankfully, Regan was challenged and exposed.

This year, prior to the start of a KCRCC meeting, I was approached by a Republican precinct committeeman. He asked if I would be willing to register as a Democrat for the purpose of infiltrating the Kootenai County Democratic Central Committee. I was taken aback and declined.

Shortly thereafter, the recorded telephone conversation between John Grimm and Dan Bell was publicly exposed, revealing a highly unethical and possibly illegal plot. The precinct committeeman who attempted to recruit me has publicly claimed he does not recall our conversation.

Those willing to turn a blind eye to questionable character may regard sophistry as a cunning political strategy. The deluded may see it as the tool of a "brilliant strategist," often referring to the sophist as the "smartest man in the room."

Others, easily identified as sycophants, take advantage of this practice by falsely flattering the sophist, thus creating a self-serving avenue to political stardom. Neutral conservatives not involved in politics or not knowledgeable on a subject are easily influenced. Those who recognize and spurn this nefarious practice know that it exposes the sophist's deep void of convictions or the capricious nature of any beliefs that may appear to exist.

After many years of dismantling opposing legal arguments, mendacious propaganda is easy for me to identify. My political experience at state, national and international levels led to mentorship by well-known conservative leaders who helped me hone my skills. While I can attest that high-level politics are beyond pernicious, I have now been exposed to the extreme low-character destructiveness of small-town politics in Kootenai County. It is a complete embarrassment.

In my personal and political opinion, based upon what I have experienced and observed, the flagrant harm caused by the practice of sophistry within the KCRCC has transformed the North Idaho Republican Party into a deleterious Frankenstein monster, discrediting all that honorable Republicans have built. Fellow Republicans not in lockstep with the ideology of the KCRCC leadership are immediately called RINOs and worse.

False rumors specifically crafted to disparage and undermine fellow Republicans, including fellow committee members who dare to refute these beliefs, run rampant. Some Republican candidates not "recommended" by the KCRCC have been verbally harassed, and lies are routinely projected onto others by the liars themselves.

It is important to note that the respectable, hard-working conservatives within the KCRCC are good-hearted, intelligent people whom I admire and support. Thus, it is heartbreaking that the Republican Party in North Idaho has now been self-decimated. A complete recalibration is necessary to resurrect it.

But is it already too late? Are decent North Idaho conservatives willing to abandon truth for only the appearance of such? What can we strive toward as a party if we consistently strike against our own foundation? Time will definitely tell.

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Penelope Harries-Morris is a Coeur d'Alene resident.