Don't underestimate these people, they did not get where they are by being stupid. Those comments were meant to convince their hoards of followers there is a good reason for what they are doing. There of course isn't but the folks in his district lap it up and don't need to think or act...bunch of damned zombies.
There are the well intentioned mindless idiots and the truly evil who direct them. Never attribute to incompetence what can be attributed to genuine evil.