Kool-Aid drinker = dupe of propagandists, publicists, etc.

[Lesa Dill]

I may be stating the obvious about this discussion, but I have been
fascinated by the use of the Kool-Aid reference for quite some time
now.  Bill O'Reilly coined it as it is used in many of the references
mentioned.  He explained the reference as being to those people who are
like Jim Jones' followers and would drink any Kool-Aid anyone would give
them without questioning what might be in it.  Therefore it is a person
who is a dupe.  To O'Reilly it usually is a political dupe, but I think
the expression could be extended to other types.

Mullins, Bill wrote:

>>Somebody phoned _Fox & Friends_ just now to ask,
>>
>>"Is Cindy Sheehan the perfect example of a Kool-Aid drinker,
>>or what ?"
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>>>From Newsbank:
>
>PSL HOTLINE: CALLERS WANT TO DUMP 'EM, JUMP 'EM, PUMP 'EM
>St. Louis Post-Dispatch
>October 1, 1996
>Author: By Bernie Miklasz
>Edition: FIVE STAR LIFT
>Section: SPORTS
>Page: 3C
>" "Don't sell. You need to hang in there. Fight through. I'm not a
>Kool-Aid drinker, but there's hope." "
>
>
>Jolly Roger Ailes Hoists O'Reilly Flag, Declares News Victory
>New York Observer, The (NY)
>April 28, 2003
>Author: Jason Gay
>Section: TheFrontPage
>Page: 1
>Column: Front Page 5
>"Mr. O'Reilly likes Mr. Ailes and is grateful for making him what he is,
>but he cuts his own path in the newsroom. "He's not a Kool-Aid drinker,"
>said Mr. Shine."
>
>"Drink the kool-aid" has been discussed earlier in ADS-L, and carried
>back to 9/1985.
>http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0303B&L=ADS-L&P=R2988&
>I=-3
>
>Although it isn't entirely clear from context if this cite has the same
>connotation (they make be talking about drinking Kool-aid literally, or
>electric Kool-aid (laced with LSD, a la Tom Wolfe and Ken Kesey), here's
>a slight antedate:
>
>GRATEFUL DEAD SHOW QUITE A TRIP
>Akron Beacon Journal (OH)
>June 26, 1985
>Author: Mark Faris, Beacon Journal staff writer
>Edition: 1 STAR
>Section: ENTERTAIN
>Page: B5
>"Even if you don't drink the Kool-Aid, a Grateful Dead show is a trip."
>
>