In America, many Democrats find the term "Democrat Party" highly provocative. That's because Republicans use it disparagingly against Democrats. It is meant to belittle and insult us and our party.
You see, we belong to the "Democratic Party," not the "Democrat Party."
Here's an excerpt from a 2019 piece about the phenomenon:
You May Have Heard Republicans Use The Term 'Democrat Party'
Jeremy Hobson
7 February 2019
WBUR Here and Now
President Trump referred to a "Democrat agenda" in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday. He's said before that he prefers the term "Democrat Party" to Democratic Party, its official name.
But it's not grammatically correct — "Democrat" is a noun, "democratic" is an adjective — and it's also seen as a slight to Democrats.
NBC News national political correspondent Steve Kornacki, author of the book "The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism," says while the term doesn't have a specific date of origin, Republicans have used it as far back as the 1950s.
"[Sen. Joseph] McCarthy himself was known to use it. Other prominent Republicans of the period used it as well," Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) tells Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson. "The explanations that you heard back then were that they thought using the full, official name 'Democratic' suggested that they were kind of granting the premise that the Democrats were the party of the people. And then if you take that '-ic' suffix off of that, it changes the suggested meaning."
As Washington, D.C., enters a new period of divided government, something as small as dropping two letters off a party's official name could only serve to deepen partisan divisions, Kornacki says.
"Some Democrats kind of feel like it just sounds inelegant, it sounds rough, it sounds harsh, whatever word you want to put on it. So I think they're pushing back," he says. "They also just take it as disrespect — as a needless disrespect — as, 'Hey, this is the official name of our party. Call us by our name.' So I doubt they're going to turn around and embrace it too much."
In sum, "Democratic Party" and "Democrat Party" are not synonyms. The latter has negative connotations that are going to rile some Americans who are Democrats. To avoid causing unintended offense, the better practice is to refer only to the "Democratic Party" and leave "Democrat Party" to the likes of former president Trump, former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and the blonde baboon who goes by the name of Marjorie Taylor Greene.
I have a problem with an office that’s being run by people who were not elected to run it. Now, I’m not so naïve as to believe that all past presidents, who had full command of their faculties, didn’t have their mini oligarchies unbeknownst to us…I’m just voicing this as a point of principle. I don’t even believe that either party follows their party platforms anymore, and that it’s no longer about getting the business of government done. I’m not sure *what* it’s about, but governing isn’t at the top of either party’s list.
It's complicated. Imagine for a second that you are working class, as most of us are here in America. Democratic policies have been unimaginably horrible for many of us. Many millions of low paid laborers have been illegally allowed to enter and work. Maybe ten million, maybe fifteen. Wages have been extremely depressed and actually shrinking during the four years of Biden. In response, close to the elections, the Democratic Party and Biden have made gestures that actually do nothing and in some cases exacerbate the problem.
Min wage has been the same for 15 years, millions live homeless on the streets, suicide and drug overdose ubiquitous.
On the flip side Trump is a horrible person, responsible for a ridiculous covid response, he wants to reduce taxes on corporations and had no fiscal plan that is realistic. His party would love to end what little social benefit programs we have. He would abandon Ukraine and shows his admiration for dictators. Flouts the rule of law.
Trump leads in all income demographics except below $20K and above $140K. Dems are good for the wealthy and the indigent.
I believe my party, the Democratic Party, needs a total overthrow, top to bottom. Expunge woke and neolibs. Become the party of the people once again. Losing to Trump might do it.
In America, many Democrats find the term "Democrat Party" highly provocative. That's because Republicans use it disparagingly against Democrats. It is meant to belittle and insult us and our party.
You see, we belong to the "Democratic Party," not the "Democrat Party."
Here's an excerpt from a 2019 piece about the phenomenon:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You May Have Heard Republicans Use The Term 'Democrat Party'
Jeremy Hobson
7 February 2019
WBUR Here and Now
President Trump referred to a "Democrat agenda" in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday. He's said before that he prefers the term "Democrat Party" to Democratic Party, its official name.
But it's not grammatically correct — "Democrat" is a noun, "democratic" is an adjective — and it's also seen as a slight to Democrats.
NBC News national political correspondent Steve Kornacki, author of the book "The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism," says while the term doesn't have a specific date of origin, Republicans have used it as far back as the 1950s.
"[Sen. Joseph] McCarthy himself was known to use it. Other prominent Republicans of the period used it as well," Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) tells Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson. "The explanations that you heard back then were that they thought using the full, official name 'Democratic' suggested that they were kind of granting the premise that the Democrats were the party of the people. And then if you take that '-ic' suffix off of that, it changes the suggested meaning."
As Washington, D.C., enters a new period of divided government, something as small as dropping two letters off a party's official name could only serve to deepen partisan divisions, Kornacki says.
"Some Democrats kind of feel like it just sounds inelegant, it sounds rough, it sounds harsh, whatever word you want to put on it. So I think they're pushing back," he says. "They also just take it as disrespect — as a needless disrespect — as, 'Hey, this is the official name of our party. Call us by our name.' So I doubt they're going to turn around and embrace it too much."
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2019/02/07/why-republicans-say-democrat-party
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In sum, "Democratic Party" and "Democrat Party" are not synonyms. The latter has negative connotations that are going to rile some Americans who are Democrats. To avoid causing unintended offense, the better practice is to refer only to the "Democratic Party" and leave "Democrat Party" to the likes of former president Trump, former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and the blonde baboon who goes by the name of Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Thank you!
I have now edited so as not to convey connotations I do not intend
Spot on, Helen, as usual. This Yank agrees and thanks you.
May the sane argument/calculation that’s been made by Ezra Klein and others, be heeded by those who can persuade Biden to step down now, as a hero.
I have a problem with an office that’s being run by people who were not elected to run it. Now, I’m not so naïve as to believe that all past presidents, who had full command of their faculties, didn’t have their mini oligarchies unbeknownst to us…I’m just voicing this as a point of principle. I don’t even believe that either party follows their party platforms anymore, and that it’s no longer about getting the business of government done. I’m not sure *what* it’s about, but governing isn’t at the top of either party’s list.
Where are the grown ups? (Rhetorical question).
Two books: 1) Thomas Sowell “A Conflict of Visions,” and 2) Tulsi Gabbard “For Love of Country: Leave the Democratic Party Behind.”
It's complicated. Imagine for a second that you are working class, as most of us are here in America. Democratic policies have been unimaginably horrible for many of us. Many millions of low paid laborers have been illegally allowed to enter and work. Maybe ten million, maybe fifteen. Wages have been extremely depressed and actually shrinking during the four years of Biden. In response, close to the elections, the Democratic Party and Biden have made gestures that actually do nothing and in some cases exacerbate the problem.
Min wage has been the same for 15 years, millions live homeless on the streets, suicide and drug overdose ubiquitous.
On the flip side Trump is a horrible person, responsible for a ridiculous covid response, he wants to reduce taxes on corporations and had no fiscal plan that is realistic. His party would love to end what little social benefit programs we have. He would abandon Ukraine and shows his admiration for dictators. Flouts the rule of law.
Trump leads in all income demographics except below $20K and above $140K. Dems are good for the wealthy and the indigent.
I believe my party, the Democratic Party, needs a total overthrow, top to bottom. Expunge woke and neolibs. Become the party of the people once again. Losing to Trump might do it.