Political rhetoric matters. Words communicate and careful selection of the word which are used can frame an issue and give it power in the mind of those who hear it. Republicans use this constantly with great success. Democrats need to wise up.
In the recent controversy about Romney's comment regarding the moocher class, the 47% who are dependent on government handouts, Democratic commentators, pundits, and the press, are all using the word "disdain" as the primary description of the attitude underlying the comments. I suggest that we have the courage to use the synonym CONTEMPT when discussing what is revealed. And obviously, the Republican contempt for the poor, for women, for muslims, for gays is very real. There is no reason for us to make our objection more polite by calling it disdain.