PDF Summary:The Longest Con, by Joe Conason

For decades, a culture of dishonesty and lack of accountability has proliferated within conservative political circles. In The Longest Con, Joe Conason explores the disturbing rise of fraudulent tactics and falsehoods adopted by many leaders on the American Right. He details how figures like Roy Cohn mentored young opportunists like Donald Trump in the ways of deceit and unethical behavior. Through numerous case studies, Conason shows how conspiracy theorists profited from exploiting their supporters' fears, and mega-influencers like televangelists misled followers to enrich themselves.

The story culminates in Trump's presidency, where Conason argues that the decline of integrity reached unprecedented heights. He traces Trump's decades-long pattern of manipulative business dealings and his presidency's ethical violations, self-dealing, and willful disregard for democratic norms. Conason contends that Trump's "Big Lie" about election fraud served primarily to raise funds from his misguided supporters, reflecting a movement that has abandoned moral guidelines in its insatiable quest for power.

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The author emphasizes the troubling inclination of Republican leaders to elevate the influence and authority of these spiritual leaders, despite evident signs of moral misconduct and fiscal irregularities. He underscores the inconsistency in George W. Bush's enthusiastic support for Parsley and Hagee, even though he claims to adhere to the values of compassionate conservatism. Republican political figures, amid inquiries into their motives and authenticity, eagerly sought to leverage the extensive influence of the clergy over a broad and susceptible electorate. As time passed, the faction of skeptics expanded, culminating in the Republican Party's complete acceptance of Donald Trump.

Conservative factions' widespread lack of accountability originates from the ethical decline associated with the NRA.

In this section, the story transitions to the decline of a once-respected institution, now notorious for its provocative rhetoric, unfounded anxieties, and the vigorous solicitation of contributions that have coalesced into a significant political entity. Conason reveals how leading individuals within the NRA, including CEO Wayne LaPierre, exploited their supporters' fears and weaknesses to boost their financial gains and political influence. He argues that the decline of the NRA into deceptive behavior reflects a broader trend among right-wing organizations, marked by an absence of accountability that perpetuates a continuous cycle of rejection, deceit, and personal gain.

The leadership of the NRA encountered several cases of fiscal misconduct, with notable instances involving Wayne LaPierre using the group's money for his own lavish expenditures.

Conason provides a detailed analysis of the financial irregularities within the NRA, highlighting LaPierre's lavish lifestyle and the evident misallocation of funds donated by backers. Drawing on evidence from legal actions initiated by the Attorney General of New York, Letitia James, as well as internal documents and investigative reporting, he reveals how LaPierre made use of NRA resources to arrange for private flights, enjoy opulent holidays to exotic beaches and African wildlife tours, acquire costly attire, cover the costs of exclusive golf club memberships, and even incur a $15,000 expense for a flight to move a babysitter. Conason also details the methods by which members of the organization, predominantly from the working class and gun owners, funded the lavish expenditures of his family, friends, and associates.

Despite the significant influence that the NRA held within political circles, Republican legislators frequently hesitated to challenge the organization's dubious behavior.

Conason argues that widespread misconduct in the National Rifle Association exemplifies a profound moral decline within the Republican Party, showing how the organization's significant financial and political influence has distorted the priorities of a party filled with officials who prioritize loyalty to the gun lobby over commitment to public welfare or basic ethical standards. The writer highlights their silent compliance even as evidence mounts of LaPierre's self-gain, their continuous capitulation to the detrimental political goals pursued by the NRA, and their unabashed acceptance of significant campaign contributions from this group.

The broader repercussions arise from the conservative movement's hesitancy to implement regulatory controls on its bodies, along with the National Rifle Association's descent into unscrupulous behavior.

Conason argues that the story of the NRA is indicative of a wider, more damaging trend within conservative groups, where dishonest strategies are celebrated for securing affluence, power, and electoral victories, even at the expense of ethical and lawful boundaries. Joe Conason emphasizes the steadfast resistance of the movement to implement regulatory measures on its elements and its consistent pattern of reacting with denial and deception when confronted with evidence of wrongdoing. The author argues that there is a significant moral decline apparent among the conservative elements in the United States, characterized by their consistent disregard for deep-seated corruption.

Other Perspectives

• Religious figures and political groups may form alliances based on shared values and goals, not merely for financial gain.
• The collaboration between Jerry Falwell and Richard Viguerie could be seen as a legitimate effort to integrate faith-based values into public policy.
• Falwell's political involvement may have been motivated by a genuine concern for the direction of the country rather than personal gain.
• The financial issues at the Moral Majority and Liberty University could be attributed to mismanagement or lack of experience rather than intentional deceit.
• The prosperity gospel movement has defenders who argue that it encourages a positive outlook on faith and financial responsibility.
• Televangelists may believe that their wealth is a sign of divine favor and that they are using their resources to further their ministry's reach.
• Republican politicians might support religious leaders because they share common policy goals, not necessarily because they condone unethical behavior.
• The NRA's leadership could argue that their spending is necessary for the protection and promotion of Second Amendment rights.
• Republican legislators' hesitance to challenge the NRA could stem from a principled stance on gun rights rather than a disregard for ethical concerns.
• The conservative movement's resistance to regulatory controls might be based on a belief in limited government and individual freedom rather than an acceptance of unethical behavior.

Experienced swindlers exploited and steered authentic grassroots movements rooted in conservative values, which, along with the rapid expansion of conservative fundraising, media, and lobbying initiatives, led to the creation of vast empires.

This section of the book delves into the cunning exploitation of conservative grassroots groups by fraudsters for their own monetary benefit, highlighting the crucial role that fundraising, the utilization of various communication channels, and the involvement of advocacy groups had in the growth and exploitation of their dishonest schemes. Conason delves into how certain individuals have strategically altered principles that were traditionally associated with conservatism—such as limited government, personal freedom, and traditional values—to gain financial support and influence from their backers.

Richard Viguerie pioneered a method of employing postal correspondence as a means of raising funds, which was instrumental in creating a lucrative structure for securing financial backing from conservative supporters.

This excerpt highlights the way in which Richard Viguerie, a shrewd businessman, revolutionized the fundraising strategies for conservative initiatives, using techniques that are still extensively utilized today. Conason emphasizes the way in which forceful tactics, characterized by emotional provocation, exaggerated claims, and impassioned appeals, allowed the most extreme conservative groups to advance an agenda often at odds with the values and issues important to their supporters.

Viguerie leveraged his access to conservative mailing lists, transforming this into a personal revenue stream by tapping into the network of donors affiliated with the Republican Party.

Conason's meticulous examination uncovers the strategies Viguerie used to accumulate wealth, particularly through the creation of databases containing contributors to the Republican cause and covertly channeling significant amounts of money for his own benefit. Conason emphasizes how the individual capitalized on the donor data from the 1964 Goldwater campaign, which allowed him to become a prominent figure in conservative direct-mail fundraising for an extended period. He delves deeply into Viguerie's contracts with different organizations, revealing how he leveraged direct mail campaigns to obtain a significantly large share of the fundraising proceeds, often exceeding what the charities received for their actual causes.

The methods employed by Viguerie created an environment that not only encouraged extreme ideological beliefs but also intensified the spread of baseless conjectures to increase financial donations.

Joe Conason contends that Viguerie crafted his marketing approaches to capitalize on intense emotions such as fear, anger, and resentment, leading conservative organizations to adopt increasingly divisive and radical rhetoric to boost their financial gains. He underscores how Viguerie's fundraising tactics effectively encouraged the proliferation of unfounded conspiracy theories, unjustified attacks on political opponents, and dire predictions about the decline of American societal values. Conason suggests that despite Viguerie's claims of championing conservative principles, his true aim was to accumulate personal wealth and strengthen the most egocentric and dishonest elements among conservatives.

Under the leadership of Terry Dolan, the National Conservative Political Action Committee emerged, skillfully manipulating concerns and resentment to deceive donors with conservative leanings.

Conason illustrates how a fresh wave of political strategists emerged, building upon and extending Viguerie's tactics, and how they exhibited a blatant indifference to ethical standards as they propelled conservative discourse to ever more toxic heights. Joe Conason's book examines the tactics of Terry Dolan and NCPAC, highlighting their aggressive political maneuvers, their habit of making unsubstantiated claims, and their willful dissemination of misinformation, all while ignoring regulatory scrutiny. Conason conducts a thorough examination of their monetary transactions, revealing the cunning strategies they employed to siphon funds from conservative contributors, thereby augmenting their own wealth.

The firm known as Black, Manafort, Stone, and Kelly engaged in actions driven by self-interest and lacking in ethical integrity.

Joe Conason's scrutiny of lobbying organizations uncovers their evolution from entities predominantly guided by legal professionals to a sector characterized by a broader mix of participants and less transparency, as demonstrated by the operations of Black, Manafort, Stone, and Kelly. He argues that the strategic architects from the conservative movement, keenly seizing upon available chances, transformed the lobbying industry into a thinly disguised hub of wrongdoing, using their political connections to advance the interests of their corporate clients, including individuals of dubious character and ethically suspect foreign governments.

BMSK capitalized on their political connections to secure lucrative contracts and continuous remuneration from several commercial organizations.

Conason demonstrates how BMSK capitalized on its robust ties to influential Republicans, including Ronald Reagan, to secure lucrative lobbying contracts that served major corporate clients and, less overtly, unscrupulous foreign governments. The author details the eagerness of BMSK to inform their commercial clients of their integration with the governmental team under Reagan, even though this frequently resulted in modest achievements. He subsequently exposes the corporation's efforts to form alliances with an even more infamous group, highlighting their commercial dealings with Zaire's Mobutu Sese Seko, Nigeria's Sani Abacha, and Angola's leader of the UNITA rebels, Jonas Savimbi, all of whom invested substantially to enhance their images and preserve their ties to the riches of American business and government.

The company's influence extended to Republican representatives, whose elections it had supported, while disregarding potential conflicts of interest.

Conason emphasizes the significant moral degradation that occurred as Republican politicians were manipulated by BMSK, gaining advantages from the campaign support provided by NCPAC. The conduct of these advocates for small government, reduced taxes, and limited influence of lobbyists, who simultaneously benefited financially from their roles, exemplified the hypocrisy that was a hallmark of the period during Trump's presidency. He argues that BMSK set a standard that led to a markedly increased scrutiny of advocacy activities in the nation's capital.

The broader ramifications of the spread of these networks that trade in influence and their harmful impact on the integrity and dependability of the political framework.

The rise of these influence-peddling businesses, as noted by Conason, has compromised the political system's integrity, reducing public trust and obscuring the distinction between political beliefs and financial self-interest, while simultaneously setting a consistent pattern of deceit that was notably evident throughout Trump's time in office. He argues that by securing favorable outcomes for deplorable regimes overseas and accumulating vast fortunes through questionable fees, they have tarnished the reputation of the United States, a nation identified with democracy and human rights.

The Tea Party has become a breeding ground for those who capitalize on its platform and for the spread of various conspiracy theories.

Conason suggests that organizations with conservative and corporate agendas quickly began to sway the Tea Party movement. He demonstrates how entities like Americans for Prosperity, funded by the Koch brothers and other wealthy patrons, allocated their resources to bolster certain Tea Party leaders while concurrently directing the movement's goals in a more extreme direction. He emphasizes the hypocrisy of individuals who claim to advocate for 'limited government' yet are, in fact, experienced operatives deeply embedded in Washington's power structure. Conason also unveils the manner in which a select group of tacticians garnered substantial gains from the extensive manipulation and fiscal strategies employed within a range of grassroots conservative movements, taking advantage of the intense commitment of their supporters.

Organizations such as Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Works effectively channeled the inherent grassroots energy of the Tea Party movement.

Conason depicts the emergence of the Tea Party as an opportunity that established conservative factions saw as perfect for advancing their goals and securing a steady stream of funding. He illustrates how entities like Americans for Prosperity and FreedomWorks, under the guidance of expert political tacticians and advocates for business interests, utilized their financial resources and powerful connections to create an illusion of widespread public support for policies that predominantly benefited their wealthy sponsors. Conason delivers an in-depth analysis of their marketing tactics, demonstrating how they crafted societal stories, coordinated onslaughts in the media, and arranged events to influence the public's view of the Tea Party, channeling its energy toward specific political objectives.

Internal conflicts within the Tea Party revealed the hidden agendas of many self-proclaimed leaders of the movement.

As the movement expanded and attracted increased media scrutiny, Conason argues that numerous factions professing loyalty to the Tea Party were ultimately revealed to be driven by their own agendas and deceitfulness. He underscores the economic maneuvers of Judson Phillips, who managed the National Tea Party Convention with a profit motive, and the fierce rivalry between Tea Party Patriots' Jenny Beth Martin and Mark Meckler, as well as Amy Kremer's involvement with a different Tea Party faction. The deterioration of the Tea Party was accelerated by internal conflicts, including legal disputes, defamatory comments, and accusations of violence and financial impropriety, which further tarnished its standing.

The waning influence of the movement that eventually transformed into what is known as MAGA, spearheaded by figures like Donald Trump,

The Tea Party's original energy and purpose waned as time passed, eventually being subsumed by the same figures it initially opposed, a process Joe Conason elaborates on. He portrays how this movement became intricately integrated with Trump's pursuit of prominence, showing how a cunning individual exploited widespread dissatisfaction by utilizing a mix of unfounded conspiracies, racial tensions, and personal grievances to acquire and maintain power.

Other Perspectives

• While some individuals may have exploited conservative grassroots movements, it's important to recognize that not all organizers or participants were swindlers; many were genuinely committed to their causes and operated with integrity.
• The use of postal correspondence for fundraising, while pioneered by Viguerie, is a common practice across the political spectrum and not inherently exploitative.
• Viguerie's leveraging of mailing lists could be seen as an innovative business practice rather than purely exploitative, contributing to the political process by enabling communication between like-minded individuals and organizations.
• The claim that Viguerie's methods encouraged extreme beliefs could be countered by the argument that he was simply tapping into pre-existing sentiments and providing a platform for those voices to be heard.
• The effectiveness of NCPAC's strategies could be interpreted as a reflection of savvy marketing and a deep understanding of their donor base rather than manipulation.
• The actions of Black, Manafort, Stone, and Kelly could be defended as part of the lobbying industry's standard practices, which are legal and regulated, even if they raise ethical questions.
• The influence of BMSK on Republican representatives could be seen as a legitimate part of the political process where advocacy and support for policies align with their clients' interests.
• The spread of influence-peddling networks could be argued as a natural evolution of the political system where various stakeholders seek representation and the ability to influence policy.
• The Tea Party's susceptibility to conspiracy theories is not unique to it; such vulnerabilities can be found in various political movements and are more indicative of broader societal issues.
• Organizations like Americans for Prosperity could argue that their involvement with the Tea Party was to provide support and resources to a movement that aligned with their philosophical beliefs.
• Internal conflicts within the Tea Party could be viewed as a natural occurrence in any growing political movement as it struggles to define its identity and leadership.
• The transformation of the Tea Party into MAGA could be seen as an organic political evolution rather than a hostile takeover, reflecting the changing priorities and attitudes of its base.

Donald Trump's long history of deceit and his tendency to inflate his own importance serve as a stark illustration of the broader decline in moral principles among conservatives and how they sway their supporters.

This segment of the narrative intertwines different themes, particularly focusing on the development of Donald Trump's political endeavors. In his depiction, Conason characterizes Trump as someone who has consistently pursued self-interest through deception, showing a clear disregard for ethical and legal norms. He suggests that while Trump exhibits characteristics often seen in conservative fraudsters, he maintains a unique personal identity. Conason suggests that the assertion about Trump exceeding the accomplishments of past leaders is somewhat misleading, given that his tactics primarily involve intensifying and expanding upon their methods. The decline in moral direction, essential to conservative principles, has been greatly intensified by the uncertainty arising from the behavior of Trump.

Donald Trump embraced the philosophies of Roy Cohn and similarly disregarded ethical and legal limits.

Conason suggests that Roy Cohn, a person whom Trump frequently praises for his aggressive tenacity and tendency to ignore legal limits, has played a substantial role in shaping the path of Trump's business and political pursuits. He emphasizes that their approach, characterized by cunning tactics, forceful persuasion, and outright denial, was successfully employed by Trump over many years to dodge accountability for questionable business dealings, bankruptcies, and legal disputes, as well as claims of illegal activity.

Donald Trump consistently used methods of pressure, sway, and his well-established connections in politics to evade repercussions for his misleading commercial activities.

Conason thoroughly details a consistent history of deceptive practices linked to Trump, spanning at least four decades. Conason depicts Trump as an individual who crafted his own success in the property sector, while also pointing out the discrepancies in his claims about his wealth, business ventures, and charitable donations. The writer elaborates on the process by which Trump converted the modest residential properties inherited from his ancestors in Brooklyn and Queens into lavish hotels and casinos, in addition to his multiple business failures and bankruptcies (amounting to six), his extensive legal conflicts with critics and partners in business, and his relentless efforts to evade paying taxes (resulting in investigations by the IRS and New York State, which resulted in financial penalties and punitive fines).

Trump's entrepreneurial activities, including his educational programs and marketing enterprises, systematically took advantage of and deceived his followers in their functioning.

Conason details Trump's use of his heightened celebrity status, particularly from his role in The Apprentice, to adeptly sway the trust and admiration of his followers, who could easily be deceived, for financial gain. He meticulously documents a business initiative that conducted property investment seminars, leading many aspiring learners to pursue misguided paths, and his endorsement of network marketing ventures such as ACN, which lured people with misleading assurances, culminating in their realization of being misled by untrue claims.

The Trump family's narrative is marked by a persistent pattern of nepotism, self-serving transactions, and the misappropriation of public resources for personal gain.

Joe Conason argues that the Trump administration set new standards for nepotism, self-interest, and corruption, reaching heights never before seen in the history of American politics. The Trump family persistently ignored ethical standards, exploited public assets for personal enrichment, and flagrantly breached constitutional tenets in their vigorous pursuit of financial gain. Conason depicts how these actions, backed by the Republican Party, undermined the bedrock of democratic principles in the United States and lessened the trust of the citizenry in the institutions governing them.

During Trump's presidency, the intertwining of his private business ventures with governmental responsibilities, particularly noticeable in the controversies surrounding the Trump International Hotel, and the diversion of money meant for inaugural events, signaled widespread breaches of ethical standards and conflicts of interest.

This part of the book reveals the blatant disregard for ethical standards by the Trump administration and its typical involvement in circumstances where private gain might clash with public responsibility, emphasizing the stark contrast with the conduct of past governments and noting the financial gains accrued by his family. He details the lavish spending of public funds for extravagant events at properties belonging to Trump, the persistent promotion of these locations in the course of carrying out official duties, and his acceptance of multiple illegal monetary gains from foreign governments and assorted organizations for his hospitality enterprises—actions that clearly violate the constitutional prohibition against accepting advantages from foreign states. Conason illuminates the controversial issue of the financial support provided by the Saudi faction for Trump's hotel in Washington, D.C., the disputed selection of the Doral resort for the G7 summit, and the strategies employed by the Trump family to channel significant amounts of money into their commercial ventures—all allegedly in the interest of his most ardent advocates, the "forgotten Americans" he professed to champion.

Even following his exit from a position of power, the progeny continued their relentless quest for endeavors motivated by monetary profit.

Conason emphasizes how the deceptive strategies of the Trump family persisted even after they left the White House on January 20, 2021, with his offspring engaging in similar behavior. He depicts how Trump chose to extend the government-financed protection for his relatives at a time when his children were using their family fame to endorse inferior products from China, participate in dubious financial schemes, and gain from lucrative partnerships with oil-rich countries seeking to curry favor with their father.

During Trump's presidency, financial incentives and conspiracy theories became increasingly interwoven with the activities of conservative political factions.

This section of the narrative illustrates the transformation of the already compromised domain of conservative politics into a highly profitable illicit enterprise by Donald Trump, which continued even after his tenure as president concluded. Joe Conason suggests that Trump saw his role among conservative circles as an opportunity to secure unlimited financial benefits, exploiting the gullibility of his followers by transforming their resentment and discontent into a profitable venture whenever possible. The concept of an immense deception indicates a significant moral decline at the heart of the American Right, highlighting their bold dishonesty.

Trump exploited baseless allegations associated with the 2020 presidential election, harnessing his supporters' anger and skepticism to fuel a donation drive that gathered millions in contributions.

Conason depicts Trump's relentless propagation of the falsehood that the 2020 election was fraudulent as a startlingly disingenuous attempt to preserve his political influence and, primarily, to deceptively garner substantial financial backing from his followers. Joe Conason delves into the origins of this tactic, examining Trump's pre-election declarations, his exploitation of the gradual counting of mail-in ballots, his creation of a so-called election defense fund, and his steadfast assertion that failing to back this cause amounted to national treachery. Conason details the process by which a collaborative fundraising entity, which was referred to by a different internal designation and established in conjunction with the Republican National Committee, directed significant financial resources into his political action committee, dubbed Save America. Drawing on sworn statements from those associated with Trump's electoral efforts, as well as internal communications and records from the election supervisory authority, Conason uncovers that Trump was completely aware of his defeat but continued to disseminate unfounded claims, while at the same time redirecting his supporters' donations to different avenues.

Enterprises that capitalize on the gullibility of conservative audiences have grown remarkably, including those founded by individuals like Dinesh D'Souza and Catherine Engelbrecht.

Joe Conason reveals how a number of conservative opportunists took advantage of Trump's deceptions and his followers' vulnerability to misinformation. The author sheds light on the way Dinesh D’Souza, the filmmaker behind "2000 Mules," and Catherine Engelbrecht, the founder of True the Vote, leveraged baseless claims of voting irregularities and conjectural stories to gain fame and financial advantage. Conason sheds light on the manipulative tactics of the operators, highlighting their exploitation of contributors and audiences, all while openly pursuing their monetary objectives.

The broader repercussions originate from the gradual descent of the conservative movement into a realm where the quest for authority and financial gain frequently results in a persistent lack of respect for ethical and legal boundaries.

In his book's final chapters, Conason reflects on the outcomes of the intricate fraud he has detailed, emphasizing the danger posed by a movement devoid of integrity, repentance, and shared ethical principles. He concludes his work with tales that serve as warnings, underscoring the pervasive nature of dishonesty within the current political landscape, significantly shaped by the digital world. Even in the face of mounting evidence showing the depravity and destructive recklessness of his choices, Conason argues that the Republican base—captured by a cult that has discarded facts, logic, and any sense of civic responsibility—continues to be easily influenced and taken advantage of by Trump's demagogic tactics.

Other Perspectives

• Trump's actions can be seen as a reflection of broader societal issues rather than a decline in conservative moral principles alone.
• Some argue that Trump's disregard for traditional political rules and norms resonated with voters who felt ignored by the establishment.
• The use of aggressive business tactics is not unique to Trump and can be found across the political and business spectrum.
• Trump's entrepreneurial activities, while controversial, did provide jobs and entertainment to many people.
• Nepotism is a historical and bipartisan issue, not exclusive to the Trump administration.
• The intertwining of business and government is a complex issue, and some argue that Trump's businesses were unfairly targeted due to his political position.
• The pursuit of profit after leaving office is common among former politicians and their families, not just the Trumps.
• The rise of conspiracy theories and their intertwinement with politics predates Trump and is a phenomenon observed globally.
• Fundraising based on political positions or ongoing disputes is a standard practice in American politics.
• Individuals like Dinesh D'Souza and Catherine Engelbrecht have supporters who believe in the validity of their work and see it as a contribution to political discourse.
• The conservative movement is diverse, and many within it uphold ethical and legal standards, working to promote integrity in politics.