There are millions of his base that are victims of bad associations. People who would be more decent, if it weren’t for the natural pressure to conform to social groups for belonging. Most of these people don’t go to church to find the “truth” of the universe, but rather to socialize. They want human connection like everyone. In many rural areas, there are no secrets, so others know if you’re not “clicking” with them. Now take this tight-knit group who shares many identity traits, and mix in propaganda that plays the field well. Now you have a captive group. Anyone within the group will be ostracized if they’re not in lockstep. We must understand the gravity of it. They lose their complete social world, and are left alone in the boonies. I’m not sure how the situation can be helped, other than stopping the flow of lies showered onto them. How, at this point? I don’t know.
Bernie Sanders was a figure to unite us at a pivotal point in our history. There are many rural reds who supported Bernie. We missed that opportunity. Too many “white moderate” types were too dense/selfish to recognize the moment. Instead, we went for the status quo, who eventually revealed herself as a genocide denier type. Next chance to go for change, we install the status quo again, and he was incompetent in dealing with reality. He couldn’t make out the writing on wall.
I haven’t observed, or maybe recognized, what you mean by us pulling down rising leaders; who and how?