an orator who appeals to the passions and prejudices of his audience

a leader who gains power and rules by appealing to emotions and prejudices

a leader who obtains power by appealing to the gut feelings of the public, usually by powerful use of rhetoric and propaganda

a popular leader who enjoys the support of many people, but when we examine what it is he does to obtain his support, we find that he is in fact a very unsavory character

a rabble-rouser, a leader who tries to stir up others by playing on their emotions, rather than appealing to their reason, someone who uses people's prejudices and fears to move them to action

A leader whose impassioned rhetoric appeals to greed, fear, and hatred, and who often spreads lies. Former U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy (see McCarthyism) is often cited as a classic demagogue.