Can anyone tell me

[mothra1orbit]

when the Republicans started using the noun "democrat" when they need the adjective "democratic?" As in "the democrat primary?"

And is it supposed to be insulting to us?

What's the matter with them, anyway? <-- rhetorical question

[saltpoint]

1. I can't date the phenomenon, but

it's apparently the GOP's way of denigrating the Democratic Party.

As to your last question, there isn't time to even begin.

[dhol82]

2. Don't remember when but...

They started writing it the democRat party.

[lapfog_1]

3. yes

because it ends in "rat".

And it started 30 years ago with Ronnie Raygun and Lee Atwater ( I think ).

[FSogol]

5. Yes, Lee Atwater encouraged it for the "rat" sound. n/t

[Control-Z]

8. Wasn't it Limbaugh who started it? (n/t)

[lapfog_1]

9. Pretty sure it predated Limbaugh.

but I don't have a specific reference.

[CentralMass]

6. The second that I hear someone using the term that way I ignore them.

[LanternWaste]

7. I remember becoming aware of it just after the 2000 election by Bush II and DeLay

I remember becoming aware of its use after the 2000 election by Bush II and DeLay, then into wider use shortly thereafter.

At this point in time, when I'm feeling petulant and someone in my presence uses it as such, I simply ask "do you blame your public education for poor grammar skills?"

[TonyPDX]

10. Actually, the slur originated with Joe McCarthy:

http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/01/31/mccarthyism-useage-of-democrat-party-was-popularized-by-joe-mccarthy/

[mothra1orbit]

11. Thank you

for the information and for this:

Republican politicans use this mangled syntax to express solidarity with their toothless, knuckledragging base.

[SunSeeker]

14. Thanks for posting that link.

It figures that it was McCarthy.

[PoiBoy]

12. That's why I call them RepubliCons...

...their whole ideology is a con job, IMO...

[moondust]

13. I first saw it on the early Internet

written like this: DemocRAT. Always assumed it was that insulting visual that they wanted to convey. Don't know why Democrats in Congress, to my knowledge, have never filed a complaint to stop its use on the floor of the House and Senate.

I sometimes even hear it on France24 TV news based in Paris despite sending them an explanation on their website feedback several months ago.