Reply #27: I'm still not understanding what the problem is

[eyesroll]

The Republicans are calling it pre-emptive.

REGARDLESS of what the right word is, that is the word that the public keeps hearing. Pre-emption. Pre-emption.

They are not hearing preventative. They are hearing pre-emptive.

So, Dean, when addressing the public, is using the terminology that same public has been hearing.

I think if he used the term "preventative," to respond specifically to what the Republicans have been branding as "pre-emptive," would be even more confusing.

Let's just assume the Republicans are calling it the "Fluffy Bunny Doctrine." We know that's flat-out bizarre. But that's what they're doing. That's how they're branding the war.

If Dean wanted to criticize the PNAC/Bush point of view, would he ignore what they're calling it, or would he just dive in and use their language?

Or, would he just say, "I oppose the Fluffy Bunny Doctrine"?

(I know Dean points out that "partial birth abortion" is incorrect terminology. But you know what the headline of his press release is? "Dean Blasts Bush For Signing Partial Birth Abortion Ban.")

To argue with someone in the press, you need to speak the language the public recognizes. (Pre-emptive and preventative have nearly identical dictionary definitions, anyway. Do you have a source for these radically different political definitions you offer?)