Is the elephant the symbol of the GOP because

[kuozzman]

Republicans are liars and elephants have a long ass nose like Pinochio?

[Solon]

1. Actually, if I remember my history correctly...

A political cartoonist back in the 19th century is responsible for the two major parties having their mascots. For the Democrats, the Donkey or Ass symbolizes our stubbornness, whereas for the Republicans the Elephant symbolizes the party going amok. Back in those days, and even sometimes today, zoos and circuses abused elephants so badly they would attack or kill their handlers and are known as cage breakers by picking the locks as well.

[njdemocrat106]

3. I believe that cartoonist was Thomas Nast

You can say that his cartoons were "Nasty"! :D

[Dogmudgeon]

5. The Democratic donkey

It dates back to Andrew Jackson's term of office (1829-1837).

The opposition Whig party called him -- and the Democrats -- jackasses, as in "Jackson and his Jackasses". The populist Jackson, in a prescient display of post-modern ironic mockery, adopted the jackass, or male donkey, as his mascot. (The Whigs were the conservatives back then -- the Republican party was established in 1854, and were not initially conservative.)

The Republican Elephant represented the rich people, much the same way as we use the word "fatcats". But the two were only loosely connected until the 1880s.

Here's what GOP pundit William Safire said about it:

An 1860 issue of Railsplitter and an 1872 cartoon in Harper's Weekly connected elephants with Republicans, but it was Nast who provided the party with its symbol.

(Attribution)

Thomas Nast's talent and national popularity cemented the identities of the Democratic Donkey, Republican Elephant ... and Santa Claus.

--p!

[Tweed]

2. No, it's because Republicans trample on everyone and ruin everything

[unblock]

4. no other animal comes close to producing the sheer volume of sh*t

that the banana republican party produces.