Reply #36: Agreed, as should the Wikipedia entry on this phrase [View All]

[wicket]

Democrat Party (sic) -

Democrat Party is a political epithet<1> used by some conservative commentators (as on talk radio) and in speeches and press releases by some Republican Party members to refer to the opposition Democratic Party. The term places an emphasis on the sound "rat" at the end of the word to imply a general criticism of the Democratic Party.<2> The term is meant to suggest that the Democratic Party is not "democratic" in its policies.<3> As a noun, "Democrat" describes a member of the Democratic party. <4> Many Democrats strongly dislike the term, and see it as a sign of disrespect.<5>

Much more at the link.