538.com: GOP's continued use of "Democrat Party" foretells a LONG time in the wildnerness for them.

[BurtWorm]

This is a brilliant, well-written, well-thought-out piece by Sean Quinn from FiveThirtyEight.com, which continues to put out extremely intelligent analysis of American politics. Read the whole thing:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/03/democrat-party-decrier-rips-admin-for.html

...

Again, objectively, there’s nothing wrong with Republicans methodically doing this – refusing the basic respect of allowing the Democratic Party its own name. They can elect their own behavior all they want; it’s a free country. Democrats may choose a reflexive reaction, but nobody "makes" you react, you have responsibility for how you react.

On the flip side of the coin, denying another person or group basic respect means that once the epithet escapes a Republican’s lips, he or she can’t complain when no respect is returned. Some Democrats aren’t bothered. Their perspective is that the very nature of such a tiny, repetitive jab, like a sibling flicking you on the shoulder, is that it pales in comparison with the constellation of behaviors that create actual wounds.

However, some Democrats find it to be a threshold issue in a conversation. It's irrelevant whether it wounds; it's a communication signal. If your behavior choice is a playground tactic, why should my behavior choice be to listen to what you say in whatever else is coming out of your mouth? You won’t agree to my name. I am supposed to take anything you say seriously? Couples therapists know a thing or two about this one. Respect is a threshold condition for listening.

If Republicans genuinely want Democrats to listen to their policy ideas, they shouldn't use the term because it's counterproductive. For example, when I hear the term, nothing else matters that comes out of that person's mouth. That Republican has failed the threshold bad faith test, and who cares what they say?

By the same token, if Republicans don't care if Democrats listen to them, which may indeed be the case for many, they don't have to care about this sort of symbolic signal-sending. In last summer's Republican National Convention party platform meeting, Republicans changed "Democrat Party" (ensconced in the official platform in 1996) to "Democratic Party." Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour grudgingly admitted that probably they shouldn't act like kids and instead use the real term, "at least in writing."

While the terminology is trivial in some ways, the same way that emphasis of Obama's middle name is trivial (it is his name), there is a serious policy extension of the tactic. This threshold issue of withholding basic respect underlies historical Republican demonization of gays, blacks, immigrants, and other groups. Republicans may protest that conclusion, but think of Limbaugh's "Halfrican," or try talking to an Arab-American while saying everything normally and rationally except always calling Barack Obama: Barack Hussein Obama. Do you think the rest of whatever else you say will be heard? When Sean Hannity uses "Hussein," over and over, he is not trying to convince an undecided to adopt his viewpoint, and certainly not persuade an Obama supporter to come around to his way of thinking. He's speaking to the home crowd, his intent is to use the word as a weapon.

One of the reasons the "childish" party of Fleischer and Limbaugh is having such a tough time in the wilderness is they've done a too-clever-by-half job figuring out how to systematically weaponize language. There's no referee. It's their right. It's also no great parlor trick, and you can go to any grade-school playground and find the same. The day Republicans work to signal good faith by policing their own house on basic respect in language will probably run parallel with the day we'll see the party reborn as an ideologically grownup force.

[burythehatchet]

1. That is a great analysis. Perfectly logical.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Using "Democrat Party" to my mind

is showing ignorance of English grammar. I hadn't thought of the lack of respect, but that really rings true to me--along with the childishness. I think Americans are tired of Republican policies--and the party will have to grow up and act right before they get people flocking back to them. I predict another 20 years in the political wilderness, matching the time span from 1932-1952.

[roguevalley]

9. newt gingrich is responsible for this language use.

[BurtWorm]

10. It might be older, actually.

But he's responsible for semi-legitimizing it--i.e., getting the media to use it.

[onlinesavant]

65. All we have to do is tell the truth about them.

We don't have to try to create a perjorative in regards to them, or subvert the meaning of their ideology. All we have to do is tell the truth about them. Call them "REGRESSIVES", as that is exactly what they are. They would be perfectly happy with a monarchy or dictatorship.

[tangent90]

13. Probably wouldn't hurt to keep that in mind when some of our folks call them 'republics.'

But maybe that's ...uh, different.

[AlbertCat]

29. I have never heard or seen written "republics"...

... in the context you mean. Who the hell says "Madam Chairman, I disagree with my opponent from the Republic party....."? Or "Those moronic Republics! They want Obama to fail!".

Anyway, just correct the "Democrat Party" utterance and in a way that makes it look like the "Republic" can't speak English correctly. "Sir, "democrat" is a noun. You mean the adjective form, "Democratic". It's a Democratic bill and the Democratic party....because we believe in Democracy and can speak the language you would have made "official"."

I know! Elitism!

[Ilsa]

34. It's been suggested on DU for ages that we do it in retaliation. nt

[mamameow]

40. huh?

i never call them republics, i call them repubics. a democrat is a noun, a republican is a noun. democrat is an adjective to the word party. republican is also an adjective to the word party. to me they are lost in the hinterlands and have no idea how to come in from the cold. they simply resort to their childish behavior. thank god there is now an adult running the show.

[tangent90]

60. 1-800-ABCDEFG

:eyes:

[TankLV]

43. You REPUKES started this fucking thing - when YOU stop, I will stop...

and not a second before...

It's entirely in RETALITATION for the YOU REPUKES doing this shit, and I'm sick and tired of it...

Your fucking AWOL Coke Head asshole pResident did this ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the time ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS!!!!

But YOU didn't find the time or place to complain THEN, did you!!!

We know WHAT you are...and you're not fooling anybody by your lame remarks...

[tangent90]

61. Are you calling ME a "repuke"? Jeezus, talk about a juvenile response.

:eyes:
What are you, twelve?

[Ikonoklast]

63. You are transparent as all get out.

Nice comeback, Skippy.

[ElboRuum]

59. Not that I ever use it...

...it's kind of... well... dumb sounding. Just like saying the "Democrat Party" sounds like the person uttering it has had the speech centers of their brains damaged a little.

Nevertheless.

It is a common practice among those of us with a temperate manner to turn the other cheek when asparagus is cast upon us by morans. I, however, wouldn't be surprised if many have run out of cheeks. So. I guess it is a little different.

[PM Martin]

14. But even then, what kind of Republican was Eisenhower by most standards.

He was a fairly moderate Democrat/Liberal by today's standards.
It seems that the right wing will be dead soon. :bounce: :party:

[Alcibiades]

18. Good page on wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(United_States)

[BurtWorm]

20. Very interesting.

Thanks!

[PatSeg]

57. That is the part that bothers me first

Even if I wasn't a Democrat, it offends me because it sounds ignorant and coming from educated government officials, it is even more offensive.

Of course, I know the improper usage is intentional, but that makes it even worse. This little tactic does not make the "Democrat Party" look bad, it makes the republicans look illiterate.

I yell at the TV every time one of them says it. They need to get a clue.

[Cant trust em]

3. It's just petty.

Who do they think they're going to win over with this. How can this be part of their communication strategy.

[ginnyinWI]

4. more and more often, I'm reminded of playground tactics.

If you listen to one of them and squint your eyes a little, you can see the rotten little kid that they used to be. The kid who would stick out his tongue at you whenever he saw you, or laugh at your bicycle or your clothes. The kind of kid who was a pestilence but didn't get caught, because he knew how to suck up to the teachers whenever they were around. You can hear that same whiny voice as they complain and make a plea for sympathy.

And blame--the playground is where they learned that they can blame anything on someone else and escape, at least temporarily, the consequences due them. And some of the underlings of that group nursed a lot of grudges and just couldn't wait to exact their revenge on the kids who were more socially, academically or sports-successful than they were.

It wasn't the nerd who got pounded who became a conservative. It was the annoying brat--the dysfunctional outcast who just didn't fit in somehow. LOL--I'm married to one of those nerds who got pounded and he's a Democrat today.

[tblue37]

15. They are Draco Malvoy. nt

[alterfurz]

28. "RNC meeting = Slitherin 50th Class Reunion"

[Cassandra]

36. This is why authoritarianism is psychological...

rather than ideological. It is an impulse based on decisions about the world from childhood that leads those to seek out security in authority, which is why their ideology can be so internally contradicting. Logic isn't the point.

[Winterblues]

5. Right Spot On

We already see how this effects our foreign policy. We treat other countries with basic Respect and they at least will listen to what we have to say. Republicans showed absolute disdain and total disrespect for all other countries other than England and the world grew to hate us. The times are different now and our Leaders will be respectful and humble and I am quite convinced successful in their endeavors. Republicans are indeed very childish in their behavior.

[DUlover2909]

26. Don't forget Israel and China. We've kissed their asses for a long time.

It's not just England.

[Richardo]

6. This is precisely why I can't take those who use these childish names seriously

...and that includes those here who use 'Bushitler', KKKarl, Bushit, etc.

The use of the playground term demonstrates that they are not speaking in good faith, and the liklihood of being persuaded by their arguments is low.

[Merlot]

7. I think there is a big difference in people posting on a message board

and elected officials making childish names a part of their platform.

[Richardo]

8. Not to me.

I've always found it childish and shallow.

[Hippo_Tron]

67. I agree, I would use nicknames on a message board but not in a letter to the editor

[ginnyinWI]

19. I agree--with one exception.

Since I loathed the former president so much, typing his name was too painful. So I called him the chimp. Does that count?

I never call any other politician any nicknames. Not even the former VP, who deserved one.

[BurtWorm]

30. I always put scare quotes around 'president' if anywhere near that asshole's name

The simple fact is, I don't respect Bush and Bushists. I don't call them names like Bushitler or Bushit or Bushitters. That's not my style.

I also tend not to refer to Republicans by schoolyard epithets unless they've done something to push my disrespect button (which, admittedly, they do a lot). But when I used to engage them directly mano a mano in battle on usenet and they were referring to DEMONcraps, LIEberals and other idiotic, juvenile names like that, I had no problem dishing it back. My favorite name for them was constiPERVative.

[Laelth]

11. Insightful. k&r n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[PM Martin]

12. True.

[myrna minx]

16. Excellent observations. K&R n/t

[SoCalDem]

17. It's a classic passive-aggressive technique

They like to grin and "pretend" that "aaaw shucks, they're just funnin' with ya"..or they "mis-spoke". and by the way, why so touchy about it.. wink-wink-nudge-nudge..

I have always wished that democrats would either call them the republic party or deliberately mispronounce their own names, repeatedly.,.like calling the guy BONER, instead of Bay-ner...or nicknaming Mitch MCConnell, "Bert"...or calling him McCulsky or Mickey..anything but his name..

[shimmergal]

22. And I thought we should

call "Mitt" Romney by his real first name -- Willard.

Maybe if he runs again . . .

[Bette Noir]

21. Exactly.

[lamp_shade]

23. These two statements say it all:

"If republicans genuinely want Democrats to listen, they shouldn't use the term because it's counterproductive. For example, when I hear the term, nothing else matters that comes out of that person's mouth."

"It's also no great parlor trick, and you can go to any grade-school playground and find the same."

This is EXACTLY how I feel. That our party refrains from "jabbing" back says a lot. I pray they continue to be the grown-ups.

[DFW]

24. Frank Luntz has been involved with this tactic for over 15 years

When his Republicans were in power, he was so disgustingly smug, you wanted to tear his hairpiece off
and replace it with steel wool soaked in battery acid. Now, he is suddenly for civility and reconciliation,
i.e. concessions he and his buddies wouldn't have granted us ten years ago with a gun to their heads. I would
not put money on his having nothing to do with all this childish Republican behavior today. These people are
not creative. They get their marching orders from somewhere.

[burythehatchet]

66. the godfather of this tactic is Newt Gingrich. I witnessed his rise in Georgia

and the way he did it. He is the most important catalyst of he debasing of our national dialogue.

[BuyingThyme]

25. They're disco dancing in the mosh pit.

[certainot]

27. the iceberg under limbaugh made it possible- another example of

why americans/dems/progressives/liberals need to quit ignoring the talk radio monopoly-

that language manipulation could not have been effected without the coordinated uncontested repetition that only the talk radio monopoly can provide. you can't do that shit on scale enough to be acceptable in the trad media just by saying it on fox and writing it in the wash post and drudge

i'm just waiting for the part where they start accusing the intolerant dems of being PC cops again

[Alcibiades]

33. There's good news on that score.

Clear Channel lost $5 billion. The stock of their parent, CCMO, is trading at $1.50 a share, down from $18.50 last July.

A lot of folks are no longer buying what they are selling.

[certainot]

42. great news

[SpiralHawk]

58. Rupert Mudoch's right-wing propaganda outlets are also tanking financially

People have had enuf republicon propaganda to stuff an elephant...don't want no more steenkin republicon propaganda.

[madrchsod]

31. "typing with your forehead" best comment i`ve read in years...

i can come up with interesting pet names for those i dislike because no one really pays attention. i`m not on the national media spouting off my favorite-limpballs. i have the luxury of being a dumb ass but the people who want to move the republican party back into the mainstream do not.

[Cassandra]

32. I rather liked...

"the single-celled amoeba of verbal harassment". So basic.

"the Rushbuttlickin' party", from the comments, was fun, too.

[spamlet2002]

35. well, they're all in

for these dingdongs, if they ever go back to using the correct name--even for the sake of polite conversation--they open themselves up to even more ridicule, given all the video demonstrating their 'former' pettiness. outflanked all the way, and no reason not to run them into the ground even if they do suddenly show contrition, lol

[Ilsa]

37. "It's the single-celled amoeba of verbal harassment." And

"You won’t agree to my name. I am supposed to take anything you say seriously? Couples therapists know a thing or two about this one. Respect is a threshold condition for listening." (emphasis added)

[BurtWorm]

38. That dope Limbaugh doesn't know why women are repulsed by him.

He's exactly like every woman's first husband, the absent slug who complains about how the kids are being raised and about dinner never being on the table when he gets home from his after-work cocktails at the club. The whole Republican Party is like that.

[marew]

50. Doesn't look in the mirror or what?

When someone is that completely ugly on the inside it shows on the outside. No amount of superficial 'beauty' or 'handsomeness' can substitute for a kind and loving heart. Unfortunately he has no clue what is important or what really attractive qualities are.

[TygrBright]

39. I think it's very useful: Use of 'Democrat Party' = Ignorant yob speaking.

So, yeah. As long as the GOPpies allow ignorant yobs to be their major public spokespersons, and don't even try to hide it, an electorate newly awakened to the dangers of having ignorant yobs in charge of government will continue to avoid the GOP.

Makes sense to me.

affirmatively,
Bright

[Terry in Austin]

46. Tweety smacked down Darrell Issa about this the other night

When Issa uses the phrase, Chris Matthews tells him: "It calls itself the 'Democratic Party,' not the 'Democrat Party.' Do we have to do this every night? Why do people talk like this? Is this just fighting words to get their name on? They call themselves the 'Democratic Party.' Let's just call people what they call themselves and stop the Mickey-Mouse here -- save that for the stump. Seriously, let's get to the issue here."

It was a minor moment, but a telling one. It felt like a moment where we might look back and say There's where it started to turn, that maybe, just maybe, the tide is finally turning on this playground-level taunt-fest that the RW bullies have been passing off as public dialog for the past twenty years. Call me optimistic...

[drm604]

41. I disagree with the statement that there's nothing objectively wrong with them doing it.

Again, objectively, there’s nothing wrong with Republicans methodically doing this – refusing the basic respect of allowing the Democratic Party its own name. They can elect their own behavior all they want; it’s a free country. Democrats may choose a reflexive reaction, but nobody "makes" you react, you have responsibility for how you react.

It's true that it's a free country and they can do what they want, but I disagree with the idea that no action is wrong as long as it's legal.

[nyc 4 Biden]

44. This term can be useful for us too.

As soon as we hear someone us "Democrat Party" we instantly know they are a neocon and can dismiss them accordingly.

ETA: It's like they are wearing this...

[AlexDeLarge]

45. Beautifully articulated!

"If your behavior choice is a playground tactic, why should my behavior choice be to listen to what you say in whatever else is coming out of your mouth?" EXACTLY. As soon as I hear the term, I completely tune out. It's just like starting a conversation with "Hey, butthead" (substitute your choice of pejorative).

And this is what the "Party of Adults" has come up with? It is truly a reflection of not just their childishness but their depth. They can't offer any solutions, so they simply provide criticism; the lazy man's way out of any difficult situation.

[Dollface]

47. Well said. The short version... It is like Endora never using Darin's correct name.

[marew]

48. Excellent post!

Exactly right. Spoiled, ungracious losers. And, yes, once I hear them speak like that nothing else matters because their whole purpose is to be disrespectful and they cannot be trusted let alone respected.

[BlueIdaho]

49. Perfectly framed!

republicans understand full well the grammatical error they are making - they just don't care. They use this tactic to signal their contempt for our party and our beliefs. This author has it right. Until they are willing to show some basic respect for the Democratic party and Democratic ideals - they deserve to be ignored.

Its time for these assholes to act like grown-ups again.

[lutefisk]

51. It was always a jolt when I'd hear President Bush say "Democrat Party"

I mean, I knew he was an asshole, but apparently I underestimated how big of an asshole.

[suede1]

52. Great! K&R

[ddeclue]

53. Hey if they want to call me a member of the "Democrat Party" I'll say "damn straight"..

I'd much rather be a member of the "Democrat Party" than be a dumbass borrow and spend lie, cheat and steal Republican.

:P

[BanTheGOP]

54. REPUBLICANS NEED TO BE DESTROYED!!

Pure and simple. Call EVERY office of EVERY republicanist scum still in office and demand they stop their child abusing, elderly bashing, economy destroying obstructionist activities NOW!!!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

64. That kind of take-no-prisoners attitude is what put the Republicans out of office.

BanTheGOP wrote:

Pure and simple. Call EVERY office of EVERY republicanist scum still in office and demand they stop their child abusing, elderly bashing, economy destroying obstructionist activities NOW!!!

That kind of take-no-prisoners attitude is what put the Republicans out of office.

[Mudoria]

55. Ranks right up there with "Tweety" instead of Chris Matthews..

"It's also no great parlor trick, and you can go to any grade-school playground and find the same."

[CLANG]

56. Now that was a mouth full!

[BrklynLiberal]

62. I am sorry I am too late to rec....but I can still kick.