"The Democrat Party." It's my go-to litmus test for Republicans about to spew outright lies and divisive b*llsh*t.

[Miles Archer]

We've all known people who were several slices shy of a loaf. They have a favorite "joke," and repeat it every time an occasion presents itself, and if there's no occasion, they just repeat it anyway, because they're morons.

In all fairness, I guess, I never refer to "Trump Supporters" or "Trump Voters." 100% of the time, I refer to them as MAGAts, because I see them as maggots. Losers. Racist. Gullible bottom feeders who send Trump $400 for a pair of sneakers.

But "The Democrat Party" is that old-school bully shit where they either get your name wrong or over-pronounce it with sarcasm and venom.

I don't remember it happening BEFORE Trump, but AFTER Trump, they're all in lock-step.

I'd actually listen to or read the remarks of a Republican who referred to it as "THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY." I might not LIKE what they say or AGREE with it, but the simple act of breaking ranks with rotten schoolyard bullies and trolls means I'll let them speak, and decide how I feel about it afterwards.

It's so frigging tiresome, especially whrn it's coming from Karoline "I Have Daddy Issues" Leavitt.

[sl8]

1. Stumbled across the web page for "Democrat Women of Mercer County" yesterday.

It struck me as odd.

https://democratwomenmc.org/index.html

[CincyDem]

2. IIRC, this was a linguistic innovation from Rush.

It was my litmus test for a Rush listener for years before it went mainstream. He had some bs rationale I forget but that’s gotten lost. Not that it was ever complimentary but it’s become a slur through usage, that’s for sure.

[ananda]

4. It goes as far back as the early Federalists..

It came back into use in the mid-20th century and
really gained traction whenever Republicans needed
a platform to use it.

It did not start with Rush.

[themaguffin]

3. I often reply to people who say that with...

What is the "democrat" party? We have two major parties and that's not one of them. Are you referring to a third party?

They start to flail. They refuse to admit their juvenile behavior.

[Diamond_Dog]

5. It's the way it's used, like a pejorative.

Or like the in-law who refuses to pronounce your name right even when they know better. It’s juvenile and petty and I’m sick of it, too.

Any time I hear someone say “Democrat party” my mind immediately goes to “that person is a partisan hack whose mind is closed.”

[durablend]

6. Hey, that's fine.

"The Rapist Party"

See, two can play that game.

[Bettie]

7. I call them

MAGAts too. It suits them.

[2na fisherman]

8. Word Association

They overpronounce the last syllable to say the word, RAT, so they can link the party to vermin which Trump has frequently called many members of the opposing party.

[PatSeg]

9. Of course, some people are just ignorant

and may not know better, but when I hear highly educated politicians use "Democrat" as an adjective, it is so obvious that it is intentional, not to mention very immature. It is not only insulting, it is terrible grammar.

[AverageOldGuy]

10. Dates directly to Newt Gingrich, 1990, "Language A Key Mechanism of Control"

1990, Newt Gingrich, "Language A Key Mechanism of Control"

As head of GOPAC, Newt Gingrich encouraged GOP candidates to use combative language that drew a stark contrast between Republicans and Democrats as a means of attracting media attention. It was so effective that within 15 years, the red-blue divide had become the narrative framework for discussing American politics.

Gingrich’s rise to the GOPAC chairmanship and later, to Speaker of the House, was propelled by his recognition that media attention is equal to political power, and that political conflict and controversy is what the media thrived on. Through GOPAC, he made sure others in the party followed his lead.

Language: A Key Mechanism of Control


Text of Newt's message to Republicans.
https://www.uh.edu/~englin/rephandout.html