"particularly disgusting set of sycophants"

Yes but it's typical.

sycophant seems to be the norm for the comments at avc.com On this particular post I wouldn't call them particularly disgusting though. I've seen much worse. And in general any disagreement with his thoughts are very nicely said. You rarely see anything snarky or mean spirited.

People are hoping to get some of the pixie dust. I don't think this is really different than the halo that surrounds any successful person.

In the movie "Born Rich" by Jamie Johnson, Ivana Trump was interviewed (it took place 2003). She was surprised by all the people that wanted to be friends with her and treated her nicely. She said something like "I mean I don't have any money my parents do". That's the halo.