Politicians spout nonsense all the time. Republicans have been more brazen lately because as you pointed out, their base doesn't care as long as the bullshit confirms what they want to believe. Democrats prefer a more plausible veneer to their biases, a bit more anchoring in fact, but Democrats are just as prone to believe bullshit as Republicans are. Democrats prefer the righteous high ground of reason and objectivity while Republicans prefer the righteous high ground of their conservative principles. Both parties are full of shit, resorting to tribal affiliations and decrying the terrible nature of the other side.