There was minor embarrassment in political circles this week when the Yesh Atid election committee announced that party chairman Yair Lapid would serve another term as leader after no one applied to run against him.
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Naturally, there was no celebration, and there was a strange feeling surrounding Lapid's "election" and win.
But given the electoral victory, one might ask, why aren't the supporters of Lapid known as "Lapidists," the same way that supporters of Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu are called "Bibists"?
If we look at how the "Bibists" are portrayed in politics and in the media, we'll find a group of people that supposedly worship a leader regardless of his conduct, who are ready to forgive him any trespass as long as he remains in power, who will ignore lies, tyrannical conduct, and steps to "purge" the leaders' opponents from the party ranks.
Could there be a politician, a party, or supporters who better fit that description than Yesh Atid and its voters? Lapid's control of the party, as proved this week, is unquestioned and lacking any marks of democracy. Criticism of the Yesh Atid supreme leader is rarer than snow in Tel Aviv, and even if you look really hard, you won't find a word against him from any party members or supporters. The few who dared think differently than they were expected to, much less say so publicly – like former No. 2 Ofer Shelah or former MK Adi Kol – were cast out into the political wilderness.
There is also total silence about Lapid's behavior. Appointing relatives to coveted positions? Totally natural. Going back on every possible election promise? Nothing to see here. Zigzagging and contradictory remarks on a weekly basis? The natural result of wonderful leadership. Lapid cannot err, and if he does, there's usually a reason. And if you say anything different, the leader will take care to show you the door.
"Lapidism" is everything that the "Bibi herd" is supposed to be, and much more so. But while the latter are targeted by contempt and mockery as if they were blind and stupid, the insult "Lapidists" has never been voiced. It doesn't exist, and there's a simple reason for that.
The term "Bibism" is actually a euphemism that says one thing but means something else – sometimes it refers to Mizrahi voters, sometimes to settlers, and sometimes to the Haredim, but it will always mean someone who thinks wrongly, who is unenlightened, unsophisticated, and very herd-like.
But Lapid supporters? They can't be like that. "Lapidism" is a reasonable, individual, and progressive movement. There aren't any "Lapidists," because the choice to support him is natural and desirable. It's for our own good, and represents a sane future for us all. And if you decide to think otherwise? It's probably just because you support Bibi.
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