[Agema]

It's not quite that. It's not that Republicans are idiots or that their leaders don't enact a nuanced view of the world and embrace intellectual endeavour.

Politics can thrive on black and white. Present a simple picture of the world, and it can be very comforting as it's both easy to understand and can readily tie in with people's belief systems. On the other hand, if you present things as grey area, that there are many conflicting views, nuances and complexities it starts being much harder for people to grasp what is being advocated, and furthermore by accepting both sides it challenges belief systems.

I'd suggest many Republican voters like the world expressed in black in white, whereas intellectuals pretty much must be thinkers who dwell in grey areas. Consequently, there's a clash of attitudes, and it is worth Republican politicians playing up to their electorate.

All political groups tend to demonise certain sectors of the population when they perceive it will win them more support, the Democrats do it too.