Neither an Adjective Nor an Adverb

Some highly partisan Republicans frequently refer to their opposition as the “Democrat” Party". This phrase sounds as ignorant and as grating as some hayseed saying “I done that” or “I seen that”. An advisor to President Clinton likened it to “fingernails on a chalkboard”.

The term “Democrat” should only be used as a noun, not as an adjective nor an adverb. When an adjective is needed, the correct term is “Democratic”. When an adverb is needed, it might be best to use a work-around instead of the awkward "Democratically". For example, say "vote for Democrats" instead of the wrong "vote Democrat" or the unwieldy "vote Democratically".

Republicans have used “Democrat” as an adjective for years to both annoy Democrats and to try to dispute big-D Democratic claims to small-d democratic values. William Safire traced use of the term as a slur to the 1940 Presidential campaign of Wendel Wilkie.

The infamous 1950's Communist witch-hunter Senator Joe McCarthy (R-WI) always used the term Democrat as an adjective. He explained that he didn't think the Democrats really represented democratic ideas, and should not be allowed to call themselves democratic. As if Ol' Tail-gunner Joe was any great judge of democratic ideas!

During the 1976 Vice-Presidential Debate, Bob Dole famously spoke of “Democrat Wars”. Never accused of being a grammarian, George W. Bush used the term constantly and unconsciously. One Bush campaign e-mail mentioned “the Democrat Party”, the hazards of “a Democrat victory”, and “if you want the Government in your pocket, vote Democrat”.

Bush was also called out by the press after he used the term in his 2007 state of the Union Address. In his usual goofy-jocular manner, the President explained in a later speech, “Now look, my diction isn't all that good. I have been accused of occasionally mangling the English language. And so I appreciate you inviting the head of the Republic Party."

Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich often used “Democrat" as an adjective. The 1996 Republican platform referred to "Democrat schemes," "Democrat presidents," and "Democrat Congresses". However, the party relented in the 2008 platform and has since used the term in the correct way.

Right wing bloviators such as Limbaugh and Frank Luntz use “Democrat” as an adjective almost exclusively, going out of the way to purposely annoy their opponents. One writer compared incorrect usage of the term as a wink to their party faithful, a partisan equivalent of a gang sign.

But even Democrats are not faultless. The irritating sign pictured above is actually displayed on the wall of one of the local Wisconsin County Democratic Party headquarters !

Any G.O.P. politician who claims that they want to work across the aisle, but insists on calling the other side the “Democrat Party” or worse, is being disingenuous. Use of two little letters can speak volumes. In the interest of improving political civility, each party should be referred to by its actual name. 

 

(edited from article first published by Paul Adair in Germantown NOW  Just Sayin' blog December 18, 2012)