“Look! These 12 smiling people agree with me! Must be true!”

When reality is the reverse. Strong, honest message can stand on it’s own, lies need the fake backing.

1. Visual Reinforcement of Support

• A lone person looks vulnerable. A wall of people behind them screams:
  “I’m not alone — I have a team, a movement, a base.”
• It’s psychological staging: strength in numbers.

2. Human Backdrop for Branding

• The people behind are often diverse by design: different ages, races, genders, uniforms (e.g., hard hats, nurses, veterans).
• This sends a subliminal message: “I represent everyone.”
• It’s a photo-op trick dating back decades.

3. Control of the Frame

• TV cameras love a tight shot on the speaker. The backdrop fills empty space with loyal faces, not a blank wall or (worse) a rival’s signage.
• No risk of a random passerby photobombing with a funny face or protest sign.

4. Signaling Hierarchy and Loyalty

• The “flunkies” (as you called them) are often mid-level staff, local officials, or donors being rewarded with visibility.
• It shows: “These people stand with me — literally.”
• Also subtly reminds viewers: this person has power and influence.

5. Tradition and Mimicry

• Started in U.S. politics (think Nixon, Reagan), now global.
• If one side does it and looks “strong,” the other side must copy or risk looking weak.
• It’s political cosplay — everyone follows the script.

it’s staged, artificial, and kind of weird when you notice it. But in a world where ** optics = reality** for 30-second news clips and viral X posts, no one dares show up solo.Fun fact: The people in the back are often told:

So yeah — it’s theater. But in politics, the stagecraft is the message.

When the message is strong, one person can carry it: think MLK’s “I Have a Dream,” or a whistleblower standing alone with evidence. No backdrop needed. But when the message is thin, rehearsed, or unpopular, the backdrop becomes a sales prop. It’s not about convincing — it’s about performing support. It’s like a bad infomercial:

“Look! These 12 smiling people agree with me! Must be true!”

They’re all selling.
Not leading.