Why does GOP say Democrat instead of Democratic?

[Armstead]

You know how the Repugs have lately started avoiding the use of the word "Democratic" and instead shorten it to "Democrat"?

Saying "the Democrat candidate" instead of "the Democratic candidate," for example.

But why? I always figured it was just some sly nose tweaking by the Repugs. It's a term of derision, without being derisive. (I sometimes use it myself, when I'm mad at something Democratic.)

There's also a slight hint of menace to it. Like saying "We can change your name if we want, heh-heh-heh."

But the otehr day it struck me why they may have really started this.:think:

If my theory is correct, its a bit of Orwellian cleverness on their part.

Because it seperates the concept of the Democratic Party from "small d" democratic. As in "The Democratic candidate..." sounds like "the democratic candidate..." which associates the candidate with democracy. Likewise calling it "the Democrat Party" seperates it from the notion of "the democratic Party."

Anyone know if this is why? Or how it came about?

Even if it is not correct, I guess I will cease using it. I don't want to do anything to aid the GOP's Orwellian drive to create NewSpeak.

[Walt Starr]

1. Because they lose the submliminal RAT message

when they say "Democratic" instead of "Democrat".

[poskonig]

13. It also sounds a lot like bureaucrat and other negative words

While Democratic has a positive connotation, sounding like liberty and freedom.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

2. interesting observation

:shrug:

[TheUnionDemocrat]

3. Only assholes do it.

It's just disrespect...Nothing else.

It has made me wonder...

Why do they go by "The Republican Party"? Isn't that the same as "The Democrat Party"? Shouldn't they go by "The Republic Party" since we're "The Democratic Party"? Or would that more in line with us if we went by "The Democracy Party"?

Who's the English Major here?

[nannygoat]

32. I'm telling you, the Dems missed a great opportunity

when they didn't refer to the top repukes as *'s REPUBLICAN Guard. And what about that Irish REPUBLICAN Army? Seems like they're all a bunch of terrorists....

[kainah]

4. It was part of Newt-speak

He said that the party was not "democratic" and so he began calling it the "Democrat party" instead. I think the observation that it is closer to the subliminal "rat" is probably dead on. But basically it was NewtSpeak.

[KC21304]

6. You took the words right out of my fingers. n/t

[Armstead]

8. So I guess my hunch was correct

But jeeze, if I'm thinking like Newt I'm in big trouble.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

5. An old, clever, nuisance

When I first heard I think it was Tom DeLay say Democrat Party instead of Democratic Party, I thought it was a slip up, but its all the time now. I've even heard repugs actually "correct" themselves, meaning they'd say Democratic, and then change it to Democrat. It's a nuisance, but I'm used to it, and it only shows their childish nature. I like Paul Begala's idea. Instead of calling them the Republican Party, let's call them the Republican Guard. Or, instead of conservatives, just cons.

[starroute]

7. The first use I recall was John Connally, c. 1973

He was part of the Nixon administration at that time, and officially became a Republican after LBJ died in January 1973. If it wasn't Connally's idea, he was certainly the one who gave it wide currency.

The reasons were the same that have been offered here, though -- part annoyance at any implication that the Democrats are democratic and the Republicans aren't, part dominance games.

[TheBigGuy]

9. because they're idiots.

no one does this except hard core GOP/conservo partisans.

[berry]

16. Probably more and more people will say it as it is heard more and more

and I've seen it used even here at DU. I used to email TV stations when I heard newspeople saying it, but it's gotten awfully widespread. (Maybe I should start doing it again--but there's so much else to be writing in about...)

But much as I hate the usage, it IS a handy marker--I grow very alert when I hear someone use "Democrat" as an adjective--I figure they're up to no good and are following Newt's PR guidelines. Simply, I don't trust people who say this.

[TheBigGuy]

19. Me neither.

Growing up acceptable usage was the Democratic Party.

I would assume the major networks, NYT, etc...reputable news sources...still use this.

Anyone who doesnt, well, you are right...im suspicious as to where they're getting their info from...

[Redleg]

10. Arrogant assholes. I'm sure if you scout around the R.W.

sites long enough you will find the talking points memo from the RNC that says "always call the Democratic party the 'democrat' party."

[DieboldMustDie]

11. It's not just lately...

they've been doing that going back at least to the 80s.

[Armstead]

15. Maybe it's just gotten more noticable

because there are so many RW jerks around

[Cascadian]

12. Bush-speak?

Just like he calls Greeks Grecians?

John

[KoKo]

14. Because the GOP are Jerks!!!

What else can I say???? :-)'s

[markbark]

17. Perhaps...

Us 'lefties' (mainstream really, but since politics in the US has been jerked so far to the right, even a centrist is tagged with the epithet "liberal" these days) should engage in the same tactics. We should call a spade a spade. Instead of "conservative" we should say "radical" (or even "brownshirt")

The phrase "radical republican" should become as ubiquitous as "liberal democrat". Take campaign 2K and reverse the charges.

Think of it!

"My radical republican opponent doesn't trust you with your money. He wants to give your tax dollars to the wealthiest 1% of americans as payback for their generous campaign contributions while cutting the vital government services that our most vulnerable citizens depend on. Say no to radical republicans! After all, it's YOUR money"

--MAB

[snippy]

18. Because they would be truthful and accurate if they said "democratic."

Plus, the republican party has learned that people can be indoctrinated and manipulated through language. As far as I know, it began to be a part of the formal strategy of the RNC through GOPAC.

The original idea behind GOPAC was to recruit candidates for local offices who could run for and win higher office down the road. GOPAC began recruiting and training candidates for all offices but especially local offices back in 1979. Its current mission statement says:

What We Do

Train Republican candidates, campaign staff and activists nationwide.
Provide financial support to Republican candidates for state and local offices.
Provide strategic advice and tactical support to Republican candidates.
Serve as a Republican resource for news and information.
Promote a Republican viewpoint on public policy issues.
Provide commentary on political developments.

http://www.gopac.org/static/about_gopac.adp

Newt Gingrich became the head of GOPAC in the 1980's and began emphasizing the actual words republican candidates and pundits should use whenever they opened their mouths. The most well known example of this is a GOPAC training seminar which teaches republicans to use certain words when referring to themselves or the republican party and certain other words when referring to their opponent or the democratic party.

A GOPAC memo describes the use of these words as follows:

Language: A Key Mechanism of Control

As you know, one of the key points in the GOPAC tapes is that "language matters." In the video "We are a Majority," Language is listed as a key mechanism of control used by a majority party . . . . As the tapes have been used in training sessions across the country and mailed to candidates we have heard a plaintive plea: "I wish I could speak like Newt."

That takes years of practice. But, we believe that you could have a significant impact on your campaign and the way you communicate if we help a little. That is why we have created this list of words and phrases.

This list is prepared . . . to use in writing literature and mail, in preparing speeches, and in producing electronic media. The words and phrases are powerful. Read them. Memorize as many as possible. And remember that like any tool, these words will not help if they are not used.

. . . The list is divided into two sections: Optimistic Positive Governing words and phrases to help describe your vision for the future of your community (your message) and Contrasting words to help you clearly define the policies and record of your opponent and the Democratic party.

http://web.utk.edu/%7Eglenn/GopacMemo.html

The list of Contrasting words to describe the democratic party includes the following:

abuse of power
anti- (issue): flag, family, child, jobs
betray
bizarre
cheat
consequences
corrupt
corruption
criminal rights
decay
destroy
destructive
devour
disgrace
endanger
failure (fail)
greed
hypocrisy
incompetent
intolerant
liberal
lie
pathetic
radical
red tape
selfish
sick
steal
taxes
they/them
threaten
traitors
welfare

It is easy to recognize GOPAC trained republicans by their incessant use of these words. I think GOPAC and the RNC have been very successful at indoctrinnating and manipulating the general public, especially the independent voters.

[Iverson]

20. It could be a cognitive thing.

Three syllables strains comfort. Four is polysyllabic hell for politicos who get a cramp every time they have to think.

[mitchum]

21. they also have been avoiding "democratic" and "democracy"

when they talk about their plans for empire. They no longer are "bringing democracy" "or "democratic reforms" to "opressed people", but instead, vague, feel-good "freedom" I have noticed this deliberate avoidance for awhile now.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

23. Two things

One of the Republican talking points is that the U.S. isn't a democracy but a republic. That's a downrigth stupid statement, because 1) a republic is merely an independent country without a monarchy, so it's not real impressive to be in the same category as Myanmar, and 2) the speakers don't know the difference between a direct democracy (everyone votes on every question) and a representative democracy (voters elect representatives who vote on every question).

If they've taken our "-ic," we should insist that they use it and call them the Republicanic Party.

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

22. I don't know if it's Orwellian (in the classic sense)

But it is smarmy. We've always officially been the Democratic party. A "democrat" is just a shortened version of our party affiliation here. The first use of the Democratic party, fittingly so I might add, go back to the 1790s and the French Revolution. Those who opposed the aristocrats during the revolution called themselves a democrat. To make us into the Democrat party is to make us into a cult of personality (why the right loves to align us with the Clintons, Robert Byrd, Ted Kennedy--fill in the Democrat villain). Democratic is a matter of principle, ideals.

[alaine]

24. Haven't you heard, we're all Demoncrats!!

I like that. Yeah, either it's because it's an adjective with connotations they don't want to connote, or they are trying to dumb themselves down. Dumb is in. Bring it on!! Woohoo!!

I'm a Demoncrat!!
I'm a Demoncrat!!
I'm a Demoncrat!!
I'm a Demoncrat!!
I'm a Demoncrat!!

Sorry, I just love the sound of that. It's the most sinister thing I
have ever been called. That's right, bub, no more mr. nice girl,
I'm a Demoncrat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Armstead]

25. Or DemonRat

That's anotehr popular variation

[alaine]

26. Nope, don't like me no rats.

I'm a schemin' demon DEMONCRAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JackSwift]

27. They've been doing it off and on for over half a century

They think it is especially clever. It is the cleverest thing they have ever done that wasn't illegal or immoral.

[Frances]

28. Cons

I think that's the word I'll use for Republicans from now on.
It seems very appropriate since so many are crooks (think Enron) and crooked (think WMDs). One other thing, the conservatives have done their best to incarcerate as many people as possible. I think they will hate being called CONS. That's worse than a rat to them.

[alaine]

29. Not just cons, Republi-cons.

The republi-con party. yeah, thats the ticket.

[lstrether]

30. oldest use of "democrat" vs "democratic"

This was started by Senator Joe McCarthy in the early 50s.

Revived by the McCarthy acolite Gingrich.

[BlueCollar]

31. it's official policy

All memo's/e-mails etc. authored by the Republican party are using the term in official correspondence.

On the one hand I view it as insulting and mean-spirited, but then it reveals the real ignorance of the right wing.

You might as well get used to it...

Just like Hitler used the big lie and repeated it over and over, republicans have taken to doing the same thing

[roberthall10]

33. Why Republicans Use "Democrat"

This is the way you tell a Republican is a real Neanderthal. Bob Dole, for example, liked this useage, talking about "Democrat wars", etc.