Why have we been unable to demonize the word 'conservative?'

[gavodotcom]

Particularly in respect of the way the word 'liberal' has been maligned?

There has to be a better way to seperate the idea of 'conservativism' from its present connotation of 'centrism.'

'Fascism' doesn't work with moderates;
'Fundies' performs no service to those we're trying to reach; and
'Neocon' is poorly understood as an ideology by the majority.

Yet 'liberal' plays in Peoria as 'hippie,' or even half-joking 'commie.'

And I live in Peoria, which, despite its working-class, industrial heritage--albeit with an agricultural hinterland--votes Republican more often than not (there remains, however, a modest Democratic presense).

How do we counteract this? How do we 'take the fight to the enemy?'

[George_S]

1. Good question...

And one I've been thinking about. One way to start might be with Newt's propaganda pamphlet, or at least the list at

http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/examples.newt.html

And completely debunk it and turn it right-side up.

They like to turn our laws and morals on their head and then turn them against us. Why not do the same?

[tech3149]

2. A true liberal

would not want to demonize anyone. It goes against the philosophy. The better approach would be an organized network to expose the manipulation and deception practiced by the current Republican party. I'd rather fight lies and deception with truth and logic.

[Skittles]

3. because we don't have the media on our side

nt

[MADem]

4. Because we are not immature, stupid, name calling

dickheads like the GOP. We recognize that people can differ. Our methodology, at least on the political stage, is to disagree without being disagreeable.

We are the ADULTS in politics--they are the shitstink rich kids with an unlimited credit card (they expect US to pay the bill). But it just isn't in the mindset of INTELLIGENT people to demonize someone for their beliefs. It is, however, the first thing a childish moron will reach for when they are losing an argument.

I know I am right about this. Democrats are more highly educated as a group than the GOP. And it shows in the way we approach the issues.

[Jade Fox]

5. We need to bring back the word "reactionary" in regards to the right....

pointing out that mindless policies like Bush's "War on Terror" are the actions
of a Reactionary, not a Conservative. As many have pointed out, the Neo-cons
are not true conservatives, but extremists. That is the definition of a
Reactionary--someone who takes a radical but thoughtless stand based on
predjudice and fear.

We also need to reclaim the word "propaganda." We need to label the information
which supports unquestioningly the agenda of the Neo-Cons as Right-Wing
Propaganda, and not allow it to be passed off as some sort of neutral truth.

[lawladyprof]

20. I second that--they are reactionaries

And the media is remiss in not pointing this out. Yet another instance of the media not using its power to educate.

[lawladyprof]

22. Furthermore,

They are reactionaries in the correct sense of the word as wanting to return to the past. BTW, they conflate liberal with both socialist and communist, especially in the textbooks used in Christian schools, which is one more reason they want vouchers. You ought to take a look at some of those textbooks, especially those by A Beka and Bob Jones University Press--pure Republican propaganda.

[Julien Sorel]

6. You said the magic word.

"Hippie." Find the conservative counterpart, and you have your demon.

[T Bone]

12. The ESTABLISHMENT is the conservative polar of Hippie

At least it was. I have heard conservatives use the phrase 'liberal establishment' occasionally though, so that was probably a preemptive attempt (meme) to co-opt the possibility of the phrase being used against them again. You don't hear it THAT much though, so I am not sure that maybe for some reason they found it unsuitable to keep trying to pair up the two for some reason.

If you were a hippie, the ESTABLISHMENT was your nemesis. That was for certain.

However, on edit, just for grins I googled 'conservative establishment' and got 719,000 hits, the first of which was an article by DAVID Limbaugh. (Is he being groomed as a hereditary successor when Rush goes to jail?) And for 'liberal establishment' I got 640,000 hits so both memes are out there with CE having the edge at present.

If they see any possible meme developing they will fight to co-opt its use. I mean even if we used Leviathan, they would have an alliterative meme.

I think Leviathan has possibilities though. eh, maybe not.

[TaleWgnDg]

7. I am a Liberal. That's L-I-B-E-R-A-L as in one who is

1. generous.
2. ample; abundant
3. not literal or strict
4. tolerant; broad-minded
5. favoring reform or progress - n. one who favors reform or progress.


If the choice were mine, then I would chose "tolerant; broad-minded" and "favoring reform or progress" and I would also include the words "open-minded."

My question to you is, why are you allowing others to define who YOU are? Why are YOU accepting THEIR repugnant definition? Aren't they attempting to psychological project upon YOU who THEY are?

Think about it.


. . . .


on edited I added: try this DU thread too . . . http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1079140 this should be of some help.

[flordehinojos]

10. We ought to plaster this, 'LIBERAL IS BEAUTIFUL', as a slogan all over the

U.S.A.

drive poppy bush and his two evil sons mad (while reclaiming the fact that, indeed, LIBERAL IS BEAUTIFUL)!

}(

[TaleWgnDg]

11. good one !! hey, maybe George Soros would be "up" for that . . .

funding billboards all across America! How grand.

. . .

[gavodotcom]

15. I understand where you're coming from and I do respect your position.

And believe me, I don't feel like a 'hippie' or a 'commie.'

I don't accept the definition, obviously, but 'a good defense is a good offense.' It'd be much easier to debate someone when the other guy simply can't dismiss something as the dirty L word if the L-guy can describe their plans as some repugnant word in return. It would effectively negate the cheap dismissal, and let us instead focus on the differences in a more effective way. But that's just my opinion.

Debunking the connotations established by the conservative elements of the media and government is a different approach than what my original question asked, but I agree it's an equally important issue.

I'm not so much saying that I'm called as such, I just think it's a shame I have to fight through all of the pre-conceived notions that I have to argue about again, and again, and again.

I feel that's the first thing that pops into people's minds when they hear 'liberal,' and not only have the Republicans taken care of what 'liberal' is supposed to mean, they've also let us know what 'hippie' means as well.

Perhaps the funniest and fairly succinct (if incomplete) debunking of the 'evil' liberal connotation was done by rudepundit.blogspot.com

"...liberals got shot down tryin' to make sure you had an eight-hour work day, -- liberals got lynched for sayin' people oughta be equal, -- liberals got beaten down tryin' to stop the Vietnam War. And the next day they got up and kept keepin' on."

Thank you for replying. I really do appreciate the sentiments you expressed, as I do need reminding now and again that a high road does indeed exist. I just get frustrated by all the crap, that's all.

[TaleWgnDg]

18. welcome . . .

one last thing: if one doesn't refute, that is, a direct rebuttal at the very words within your opponent's assertion, then it may be argued that you have adopted your opponent's asserted words.

A tit for tat doesn't cut it, i.e., an exchange of epithets is not a repudiation (a rejection) of the word.

That's law school "101." Don't let nuttin get by you.

. . . . .

[pacifictiger]

8. Name calling

is that strange thing done by bully types.

Stranger yet, the "Liberal" party in Australia is Prime Minister Howard's party, the party of big business who opposes the "Labor" party.

Names are mental perceptions not reality. And the people who buy into that nonsense unfortunately are probably too brainwashed/brain-dead to be persuaded anyway.

[rman]

9. wouldn't have to be demonized,

if only we could point out what's wrong with the radical capitalism that conservatives believe in. It would not be name calling, but we'd need cooperation from the media.

[T Bone]

13. Radical Capitalism is Economic Royalism

'Economic Royalism' was used by the Democrats against the Republicans throughout the 1920's so I am not sure it was successfull then unless you consider the culmination of its' use to have been the election of Roosevelt as a result, and it is more likely that the crash and depression was more directly responsible for FDR's election not the phrase that described Republican economic policies leading up to the depression.

[Skidmore]

14. Conservative needs to

be the equivalent of "flat-earther", "Luddite", associated with stuck in the past--using the same old solutions to try to resolve new problems.

[Zero Division]

16. Many of us don't want to spoil the word "conservative"

I think the best course of action is tell it like it is: most of today's so-called "conservatives" do a horrible job of conserving anything. They're radical right-wing reactionaries (thanks to those above suggesting "reactionary"). It's sounds much dirtier and the alliteration is a great memory device.

So, for example, when someone in the media says "conservative Rush Limbaugh", perhaps we should reply that Limbaugh is no conservative, he promotes irresponsible and reactionary politics, therefore he's a radical right-wing reactionary.

[sweetheart]

17. its the wrong word to demonize

A true small "c" conservative is a "friend", so why demonize
potential voters for the cause. "I" am conservative.

It means to me:

1. Leaving people alone and no social engineering. A real
conservative legallizes drugs, and leaves people to their own
business... equal rights for all.

2. Making sure that we focus on the people of america as the primary
issue in politics, and stop spending money socially engineering other
countries with the army.

3. Leaving the environment alone, and punishing behaviour that
too much damages the environment and our public common.

4. Strong privacy standards.

5. Less taxes by cutting the army budget in half, ending WOD and
pardoning all non-violent drugs prisoners, and closing all the
prison overcapacity (with the drugs war gone, the prisons are too
much). Less taxes equates (to this conservative) more money in the
hands of the poor.

6. Keeping the books balanced, and running a tight ship, whilst
taking care of our elderly, and genuinely polishing the whole
country to be an example of quality government.

7. Respecting all people's human rights,

8. Respecting religious diversity by standing for strong separation
of church and state.

9. Removing all moneyed interests from the democratic process,
that we return to the one vote one person bellweather.

I think you wrongly want to demonize conservatism. Rather you want
to demonize "neo" conservativism, and it is right to use thier own
word neocon.

neocon is the ultimate slander. neo - (latin for new) and "con"
== convict, confidence artist, conservative....

Honestly, by their behaviour the real word for them is "neoliberals"
but as they've chosen the marker, i say stick it to them hard
and make neocon in to the ultimate slander...

As in:
"You fucking asinine lowlife yellow bellied NEOCON."

[mopaul]

19. repubs have substituted 'nigger' with 'liberal'

the word 'nigger' is one that causes instant revulsion and shock, and it would just be a harmless word if not for the way it's spoken, usually dripping with an insulting tone and intent.

when repubs mouth the word 'liberal', they use the same tone and intonation as when they say the word 'nigger'. you can just hear it and actually feel it when they utter the word 'liberal'.

someday, the 'n' word will just be a sad relic, with no power to offend, as will the 'l' word.

[helnwhls]

21. Republican?

I yelled "Republican" at some kids who ssnaked into my spot at the market. The driver was offended. I was driving in Berkeley.