2016 Postmortem

MineralMan

(146,350 posts) Wed Oct 26, 2016, 01:52 PM Oct 2016

256

Please do not use "Democrat" as an adjective on DU. [View all]

That usage was promoted by Newt Gingrich as a minimizing agitprop strategy back in the 1990s.

Democrat is a noun. Democratic is an adjective.

Democrats vote. Democratic voters vote. Democrat voters do not exist.

There is no Democrat Party. Democrat is a noun. The correct form is Democratic Party.

There are no Democrat legislators. There are Democratic legislators, Congress members and Senators. Democrat is a noun, not an adjective.

There has never been a Democrat President. There have been several Democratic Presidents.

This rule should be strictly followed by Democrats when referring to other Democrats. We need to get it right, each time and every time. Otherwise Newt Gingrich wins.

Democrat is a noun. Democratic is an adjective.

179 replies

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Please do not use "Democrat" as an adjective on DU. [View all] MineralMan Oct 2016 OP

Very well written. I'be been fighting this for long time. Agnosticsherbet Oct 2016 #1

So have I -- IndianaDave Oct 2016 #108

Thank you Hekate Oct 2016 #2

Yeah when I see Republicans or somebody talking about the Democrat Party Dem2 Oct 2016 #3

I agree Ccarmona Oct 2016 #45

Those are not actually "Republicans" ... nikto Oct 2016 #132

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Thank you!!! Far too often I see that mistake. RKP5637 Oct 2016 #4

Don't assume it's a mistake. nt msanthrope Oct 2016 #9

Good point, now I get it! Thanks! n/t RKP5637 Oct 2016 #29

and sometimes trolls are such idiots they use the term on liberal blogs certainot Oct 2016 #166

That is correct, because if you correct them, some will say ... SFnomad Oct 2016 #90

Dubya delighted in doing it. tavernier Oct 2016 #96

Not a mistake. This is MSM compliance to GOP re-labeling. First instance I saw of this... Eleanors38 Oct 2016 #102

Thanks! n/t RKP5637 Oct 2016 #117

Yup, Newt. Nothing like demeaning someone's worth by mispronouncing their name. misterhighwasted Oct 2016 #5

oops Ardoewaan Oct 2016 #6

Thank you, MM! eom BlueCaliDem Oct 2016 #7

Well freemay20 Oct 2016 #8

Grammar matters. It truly does. MineralMan Oct 2016 #12

While I agree with you about the use of "Democrat" vs. "Democratic" as a way of tblue37 Oct 2016 #68

I try and point out their poor grasp on the English language when I see someone purposely do this Maraya1969 Oct 2016 #83

unfortunately it will be used by half the country and many in the media certainot Oct 2016 #170

I'm not sure I agree that it's a tell... Blanks Oct 2016 #183

...and it's "their" not "they're" Ligyron Oct 2016 #35

I think the poster was making a funny... Lochloosa Oct 2016 #39

Yes, because if you'll notice, the poster got all three of their/there/they're wong. n/t SFnomad Oct 2016 #91

"There's revolution in th'air." Eleanors38 Oct 2016 #104

And it's grammar, not grammer. Funneeee! nt Still Blue in PDX Oct 2016 #167

There you go again... Lochloosa Oct 2016 #37

Their heads... maddiemom Oct 2016 #59

Such an easy reminder for all Doitnow Oct 2016 #129

Amazing freemay20 Oct 2016 #160

+1000 ProudProgressiveNow Oct 2016 #11

Yup! sheshe2 Oct 2016 #16

And the (so called liberal) media is guilty of it too. progressoid Oct 2016 #20

Rachel Maddow often says "Democrat Voter" & I want to scream stuffmatters Oct 2016 #50

In all seriousness... thejoker123 Oct 2016 #58

It matters because the party name "Democratic" refers to our democratic ideals. pnwmom Oct 2016 #75

Point taken thejoker123 Oct 2016 #128

I agree...this is the least thing that I care about or is on my mind. Cakes488 Oct 2016 #78

Usually when I read "Democrat Party" jcgoldie Oct 2016 #21

When I read it... awoke_in_2003 Oct 2016 #140

^^ Winner ^^ Coyotl Oct 2016 #162

Every once in a while, I screw that up. It's so easy to do, and then fall into that rut. Thanks. TheBlackAdder Oct 2016 #22

This is the result of Conservative Think Tanks.... Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2016 #23

It could be. You hear that shit so often, that it becomes part of the normal vernacular. TheBlackAdder Oct 2016 #26

The only grammar mistake that drives me bonkers is when someone uses women NoGoodNamesLeft Oct 2016 #24

my personal pet peeve: barbtries Oct 2016 #41

That would be "chafes my bum" geardaddy Oct 2016 #77

lol...I missed a typo! NoGoodNamesLeft Oct 2016 #106

LOL geardaddy Oct 2016 #124

I hate that one, too! moose65 Oct 2016 #92

Worst possible punctuation gaffe, forget the comma, "I'm sorry I love you" Coyotl Oct 2016 #163

Should of, instead of should've... Blanks Oct 2016 #178

I always call out rightwing assholes, who use this term, on their bad grammar. MoonRiver Oct 2016 #25

My dad, who is rabidly right wing, SalviaBlue Oct 2016 #171

That's a good one! MoonRiver Oct 2016 #190

It drives me nuts PatSeg Oct 2016 #27

Not only have right wingers been using democrat as an adjective, they have been using it as a Augiedog Oct 2016 #30

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! calimary Oct 2016 #31

K & R SunSeeker Oct 2016 #32

I bet that many of the instances of "Democrat" here on DU central scrutinizer Oct 2016 #33

Or EVER! It just sounds ignant. ffr Oct 2016 #34

why does it seem as if the right always manages to insert this kind of shit barbtries Oct 2016 #36

The "liberal" media....... WcoastO Oct 2016 #38

Thank you very much for this post Mira Oct 2016 #40

K&R! DemonGoddess Oct 2016 #43

I like proper grammar. nt retrowire Oct 2016 #44

The Great Keith Olbermann to GWB 90-percent Oct 2016 #46

when i used to watch tweety, i did hear him call rethugs out on this n/t luvmybluestate Oct 2016 #53

Yes PatSeg Oct 2016 #176

Gingrich is an obscenity bucolic_frolic Oct 2016 #47

Thank you mcar Oct 2016 #48

I Fixed It. stonecutter357 Oct 2016 #49

Actually, from what I read the adjective term "Democrat" first surfaced in the 1930s.... George II Oct 2016 #51

You are correct: TonyPDX Oct 2016 #86

That's a good article, thank you. I've seen several write ups of it over the years, and they all... George II Oct 2016 #112

democrat, intended to rhyme with "rat." they were well aware. luvmybluestate Oct 2016 #52

I hate it when some GWC58 Oct 2016 #54

When used here on DU, it's a 'tell'... FailureToCommunicate Oct 2016 #55

I joined DU in 2004 iwillalwayswonderwhy Oct 2016 #56

Thank you, MineralMan! maddiemom Oct 2016 #57

I have called it out here too frazzled Oct 2016 #126

Whenever I see that, I automatically assume that it's a troll or disruptor... NurseJackie Oct 2016 #60

It drives me crazy when republicans call us the "Democrat Party". Initech Oct 2016 #61

thx so much ellennelle Oct 2016 #62

Stupid democratics bluegopher Oct 2016 #63

Yes! Thank you, MM NastyRiffraff Oct 2016 #64

I get what you're saying. I don't see it as a problem. David__77 Oct 2016 #65

Gingrich did this because he doesn't want our party, and not his, pnwmom Oct 2016 #76

it is promoted by ignorant, rightwing hacks Skittles Oct 2016 #87

YESSSSS! lillypaddle Oct 2016 #66

Thank you! ColesCountyDem Oct 2016 #67

Thank you,Mineral Man gademocrat7 Oct 2016 #69

And PHOTOSHOP is not a verb Auggie Oct 2016 #70

It is too! So. There! CaliforniaPeggy Oct 2016 #72

My Dear CaliforniaPeggy ... Auggie Oct 2016 #93

My dear Auggie... CaliforniaPeggy Oct 2016 #121

Any noun can be verbed in English. Odin2005 Oct 2016 #159

Today it is. Usage dictates. I use it a lot as a verb. Coyotl Oct 2016 #165

Wrong! Auggie Oct 2016 #168

With the help of Frank Luntz as a wordplay strategy JDC Oct 2016 #71

Didn't the use of the word 'Democrat', Chicago1980 Oct 2016 #73

I am glad you made this post. Lunabell Oct 2016 #74

K & R geardaddy Oct 2016 #79

I couldn't agree more wysi Oct 2016 #80

This is one of my pet peeves also Gothmog Oct 2016 #81

Nailed it! Helen Borg Oct 2016 #84

I sure hope you don't mind but I copy and arthritisR_US Oct 2016 #85

Thanks. Everyone is welcome to copy MineralMan Oct 2016 #134

This chap is continuously disrespectful and carries on as if it arthritisR_US Oct 2016 #136

Agreed. This sort of shitty Newt tactic enrages me. When I hear acquaintances use it, Nay Oct 2016 #88

Kick & recommended. William769 Oct 2016 #89

yes! lakeguy Oct 2016 #94

It is one of the things that allows me to The Green Manalishi Oct 2016 #95

This is a silly battle to pick, Ms. Toad Oct 2016 #97

This is a hobby horse of OPer unfortunately. Great post btw. OnDoutside Oct 2016 #105

Respectfully, the GOP is in da bidness of re-labeling. They have succeeded with "Democrat" Party. Eleanors38 Oct 2016 #107

The origins are really irrelevant, what matters is that right-wingnuts have co-opted the word Tarc Oct 2016 #116

I agree... Zing Zing Zingbah Oct 2016 #145

yes, my one lil pushback on this good OP, is the fact that many people Divine Discontent Oct 2016 #153

If you peruse this thread, Ms. Toad Oct 2016 #154

If we listed all the characteristics the DU paranoids think are "troll-like," there'd be noone left MadDAsHell Oct 2016 #174

I agree, and I find it troubling Ms. Toad Oct 2016 #185

So Right! THANK YOU. /nt bitterross Oct 2016 #98

Why not? oberliner Oct 2016 #99

Hmmmmm rtracey Oct 2016 #100

Their never going to learn there lessons HAB911 Oct 2016 #101

That's how I spot trolls... tallahasseedem Oct 2016 #109

Well as someone who committed the mortal sin today, you'll kill a lot of innocents with that crude OnDoutside Oct 2016 #113

Outside, you sound like a typical American. Nitram Oct 2016 #179

No, all I'm saying is OnDoutside Oct 2016 #186

It is not intolerant to expect people to use the correct name for your party rather than... Nitram Oct 2016 #187

Exactly. I finally figured out the name-implies-Democrats-are-more-democratic thing betsuni Oct 2016 #188

Or people who just don't let Necons decide what language is unacceptable? MadDAsHell Oct 2016 #173

+1 Well said. OnDoutside Oct 2016 #184

Republicanists and the Democrat Party JackHughes Oct 2016 #111

Why not just call them Fascists ? OnDoutside Oct 2016 #114

100% agreement... Puzzler Oct 2016 #118

I also thought it stupid ... left-of-center2012 Oct 2016 #119

Goes back to the fifties The Wizard Oct 2016 #120

Gingrich is just an Ahole mdbl Oct 2016 #122

Amen!! nt cry baby Oct 2016 #123

Republicans . . . OldRedneck Oct 2016 #125

They sound ignorant. yortsed snacilbuper Oct 2016 #131

Thank you! Stand and Fight Oct 2016 #127

The NM Democratic party PasadenaTrudy Oct 2016 #130

This message was self-deleted by its author Starbuck2239 Oct 2016 #135

And Newt Gingrich is a skeevy, past-his-prime ASSHOLE... Raster Oct 2016 #137

Thank you. One of my biggest pet peeves. catbyte Oct 2016 #138

Abso-fucking-lutely. The team was designed by the right wing as an insult to the Democratic Party. Nitram Oct 2016 #139

Yes once Gingrich started doing it jimlup Oct 2016 #142

People get hypnotized. It's why trump repeats his lies at least 3 times per sound bite. SleeplessinSoCal Oct 2016 #143

MineralMan. You have earned my eternal appreciation. I have been on this since I first heard the The Wielding Truth Oct 2016 #144

K&R n/t lupinella Oct 2016 #146

DAMN Mineral Man.. Why warn them? That was a really really easy way annabanana Oct 2016 #147

Rushbo likes it... czarjak Oct 2016 #149

To those who say it doesn't matter... wncHillsupport Oct 2016 #151

I am lazy and just use Dem and Rep. However talking about it I always say Democratic. Rex Oct 2016 #152

This one drives me crazy... WiffenPoof Oct 2016 #156

K&R nt One of the 99 Oct 2016 #157

Michael Steele (former head of GOP) has got to be one of the largest culprits of this Esse Quam Videri Oct 2016 #158

Thanks, good post. harun Oct 2016 #161

Totally Agree DownriverDem Oct 2016 #164

I wish more host would do that PatSeg Oct 2016 #177

AMERICANS should not use "Democrat" as an adjective on DU meow2u3 Oct 2016 #169

So you're letting Newt Gingrich frame the terms? MadDAsHell Oct 2016 #172

Why not speak grammatically? Why settle for poor grammar? MineralMan Oct 2016 #175

Why not display some good manners and call the party by it's real name? Nitram Oct 2016 #180

Exactly. MineralMan Oct 2016 #182

K&R SalviaBlue Oct 2016 #181

K&R betsuni Oct 2016 #189

Dec 1969 #