You fear a painted devil -- Any idea what that means and is it applicable to today's society?

You could aptly use it to describe the lies opponents use to paint the party with opposing views as devils. They think that fear alone will turn off people's brains and sometimes it works as it did when the elderly were protesting government programs while saying "Don't touch my Medicare". Now they oppose the Ryan plan which will gut Medicare. Eventually the truth will emerge and fear tactics alone won't work.