Daily Kos

I'm NOT A Member of the DEMOCRAT Party

by Philosopher

Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 06:59:19 PM PDT

... and neither are you.  We're members of the DemocratIC Party.  But that's not what the Republicans call us.  If you listen closely to a Republican speak--anyone from George W. Bush to Tom DeLay to the RNC--they call us the Democrat Party.  Why?

The same reason why the "estate tax" has become the "death tax," or why the war on terrorISM is called "the war on terror."  Republicans ran some focus groups, figured out that "Democrat Party" sounds harsher than "Democratic Party," and renamed us.  The SCLM hasn't caved in on this one yet, but I'm just waiting for the day when Faux News starts reporting from the "Democrat National Convention."

(more in extended entry)

It's time for us to take a page out of the Republican's playbook and start renaming things ourselves.  Here's my idea--let's come up with suggestions on here, then we'll pick a few of the good ones (in another thread or a poll) and then we actively start using the new terms throughout dKos and other blogs.  We've seen the party take our ideas and run with them before ... how about changing the language from the ground up?

Here are a few ideas, to get us started:

  • It's not immigration or amnesty, it's about the "freedom to travel."
  • It's not the "partial birth abortion" bill, it's the "women's health bill."  Are you voting for or against women's health?
  • It's not gun control, it's "gun safety."

    I just came up with these off the top of my head--we can do better.  So let's come up with more ideas ... I think if we pick a few and starting using them, over time the party could start using them and we might be able to beat the Republicans at their own game.

    • Tags: (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

    Permalink | 22 comments

    •  Good idea? (none / 1)

      Once I realized what the Repugs were doing with our name, it really got me upset.  It's time to turn the tables on 'em.

      by Philosopher on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 06:59:43 PM PDT

    •  Young folks (none / 1)

      A young person who was working for the Party during the election was overheard saying that they thought the Democrat Party had the answers on the economy.  I asked this person why they called it the Democrat party.  After looking at me funny they said because that was what they'd heard it called since they were a child.  I politely reminder this person that we are the Democratic Party.  
      Yikes, from our own people!  I hate it, I hate it, I hate it that the republics have such an effect.  Take Frist's comments today
      Story
      Frist said filibustering judicial nominees is ``radical. It is dangerous and it must be overcome. The Senate must be allowed to confirm judges who fairly, justly and independently interpret the law.'

      There's the meme, it's radical to oppose us.  Bullshit Bill, it's radical not to.
      Shake and repeat and the noise machine will present it as gospel and the masses will buy it. Damn I hate these people!

      McCain ultimately corrected himself after Sen. Joe Lieberman whispered in his ear.

      by Lahdee on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 07:12:53 PM PDT

    •  Willing Use (none / 1)

      You guys must not be from the rural south.  Many of the local party groups down here call themselves the Democrat Party, including my home county.  I have tried to get them to change it, but they tell me that is the "real" name of the party.  I wish there was a more detailed history of this name issue, but I have been unable to find it.

      by vagabond on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 07:14:51 PM PDT

      •  Interesting Point (none / 0)

        When I worked in Texas for a year, all the GOP down there called us the "Democrat Party" ... I thought it was just a southern thing until I heard it on TV and saw it on the web.

        I had no idea that Democrats in the south bought into that name.  Amazing.

        by Philosopher on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 07:33:36 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  The Democratic-Republican Party (none / 0)

        Was the official name of the party founded by Jefferson.  Throughout the 19th century, it was known popularly as "The Democracy".  

        MA-02

        by Dancing Larry on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 07:36:02 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Hmmmm (none / 0)

          I like "the Democracy" more than "the Democrats."

          Seems like a good thing to rename, to me.

          by Philosopher on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 07:38:24 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

        •  I pointed that out... (none / 0)

          However, I have an interesting theory.  I was told by someone locally that we were the Democratic party until the early 50's, where the pro-segregationist local Democratic orgs became the Democrat Party to seperate themselves from national Democrats supporting civil rights.  It would explain why there are NO black members of the local party.  While almost every black person of voting age is regeistered Democratic (which btw is what it says on the state registration form) they never attend meetings or otherwise volunteer.  We also have a black voter turnout of under 45% in most elections.  Since I am the only active member of the party under 50, I can see that the story might be true.

          by vagabond on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 07:44:04 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  Gun safety is definitely the way to frame that one (none / 1)

      and you'll note that is how it was always stated by the Kerry campaign (e.g., on their website).  I think the reality is we basically won the war -- America is in favor of common-sense gun laws, while still believing in the 2nd Amendment.  But there will always be ongoing battles.

      by Feanor on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 07:17:19 PM PDT

    •  I always figured... (none / 0)

      ...it was because four-syllable words were too difficult.

      by Jonathan on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 07:19:06 PM PDT

    •  On a semi-related note (none / 1)

      some wingnuts out there argue passionately that we are a "republic," not a "democracy."  The idea is that a "republic" is a state with elected leaders who make laws, whereas a "democracy," according to the definition that they've contrived, is a state where the people control laws directly through majority rule.  They say that the former is good, and the latter is bad.  Of course, this is inconsistent with the common usage of "democracy" in favorable contexts, even by wingnuts--for example, when describing what we want to bring to Iraq.  I have a feeling that the real motive behind these semantic arguments is to alter people's perceptions of the "Republican" and "Democrat" labels, even though this motive isn't often directly stated.

      by dtj on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 07:29:06 PM PDT

      •  Actually... (none / 1)

        ...in a political science sense this is literally correct: democracy is direct rule by the people and a republic is rule by representatives. Further, in classical political terms, a republic is a "good" regime and democracy is a "bad" one.

        However, and it's a big however, virtually no one uses the terms that way outside of political science wonkville.

        It's basically just folderal that conservative academics like to throw out occasionally to show how overeducated they are. In any case, the United States is technically a democratic republic: we have a representative government, and the representatives are chosen by popular election. There are historical examples of other types of republics, which were not democratic, the most obvious being the Roman Republic.

        The short of this is that our government is both democratic and republican, in theory at least.

        by YankeeClipper on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 08:35:39 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  This has annoyed me for years! (none / 1)

      And what annoys me even more is that Democrats don't stand up and insist that they be called by their proper name.   In fact, I just today posted a comment on another thread about the need to seize control of the language and I mentioned the exact same thing about "the Democrat (sic) party!"

      Here's what I said:
      ......" Another example is the use of "Democrat" as an adjective, as in "the Democrat party."  For several years the Republicans have systematically used  this term in a derogatory sense.  Now it seems to have seeped into the general language.  God help me, but I have even heard Democrats refer to "the Democrat party!".........." 

      We must demand that Democrats insist on the respect that comes with being addressed by your correct name.  

      It's the Supreme Court, Stupid!

      by Radiowalla on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 07:33:11 PM PDT

      •  Right! (4.00 / 3)

        I agree absolutely.  This Democrat thing was focus group tested by the Gingrich gang years ago and spread in strategy memos to the Repugs and their media mouthpieces.  It sounds pejorative, and that's why they do it.

        I've said on these blogs more than once that Dems on talking-head shows who sit there and let this go by need instead to stop it dead in its tracks.  ("Excuse me, Senator, I'd like to correct you on something that the rest of us learned in grammar school, and that's the appropriate use of a proper adjective.  It's 'Democratic,' not 'Democrat,' and I think you know that.  So please afford me the same level of respect that you expect to be shown yourself."

        Or: "Knock it the fuck off before I smack your teeth down your evil throat."

        by Chilly Willy on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 08:03:43 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Email John Zogby and let him know (4.00 / 2)


        His interactive polls use "Democrat" as the option for answering the party ID question. I emailed him each time I received a poll. Finally I got this amazing response:

        "We are damned either way. We hear from both sides. It is the Democratic Party, but the other side hates that. So we go back and forth -- trying to piss off both sides.

        The real name of the party at its conception was "The Democracy".

        Please lighten up. With thousands of emails I get, you got me to respond. I do believe -- as you probably do -- that our Republic has a lot more serious issues.

        John Zogby"

        Yep, he spent more effort givng an absurd defense of the error than he would have spent correcting it.

        Send him your thoughts: john@zogby.com

        by Ottnott on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 09:31:06 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  So Zogby says (none / 0)

          "It's the Democratic Party, but the other side hates that!"

          Excuse me, but WTF?

          The other side is the opposition, dear idiot Zogby, and they want to  call us by their made-up name as a sign of disrespect!   What is so hard to understand about that?!

          It isn't up to them to tell us what our name is!  

          If this doesn't stop we need to start calling the Republican party, the "Repuglican party" at every occasion.   Perhaps then they will back off.

          It's the Supreme Court, Stupid!

          by Radiowalla on Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 07:18:45 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  Then lets just change the freaking name (4.00 / 5)

      change it to the American Party.  lets see the repukes twist that.  can you hear them now:

      "The Americans are lying to you.  The Americans want you to believe we are going to steal your Social Security.  Well the Americans are wrong as usual"

      "She has the name recognition, the money, the glitz, she's got it all." Terry McAuliffe

      by naufragus on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 07:37:54 PM PDT

    •  This diary is written by a smart person! (none / 0)

      I imagine good old Bertrand Russell might toss off something like this in about 20 seconds. All good stuff. Let's have more!

      by Timaeus on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 07:43:33 PM PDT

    •  Let's get personal personal (none / 1)

      FUX Network
      Sick and Unbalanced

      O'Reilly Harasses, You Deride

      Rush Limpballs

      Newty Doody

      Sick Dick Cheney

      Bush Flu

      Silly Billy O'Reilly

      HotFlashReport - Opinionated liberal views of the wrongs of the right focusing on abortion and reproductive rights.

      by annrose on Thu Nov 11, 2004 at 08:00:36 PM PDT

    Permalink | 22 comments