Read the following passage from Senator Smith's "Declaration of Conscience":
Today our country is being psychologically divided by the confusion and the suspicions that are bred in the United States Senate to spread like cancerous tentacles of "know nothing, suspect everything" attitudes.

How does this simile support Smith's purpose?
A. It puts McCarthy and the Republican Party in a positive light.
B. It conveys technical information that Smith uncovered in her research.
C. It illustrates the extent of the damage that McCarthy's accusations have caused.
D. It casts a negative air on Smith's message.​