Shouldn't we wonder why Bush called the hijackers "folks" on 9/11?

[DerekG]

Well after the second plane hit the World Trade Center, Bush delivered a brief speech to the American people. Many of us recall one unique moment in said speech, when he said something along the lines of, "We're gonna get the folks who did this." Upon hearing "folks", I erupted in anger. An inappropriate handle for terrorists, no? And for a while, like everyone else, I assumed it was just another Bushism.

But what if there are darker connotations for employing such a word? Does anyone actually use "folks" to describe anyone they perceive as an enemy, no matter how boorish the speaker may be? Try to tap into the psychology of our Caligula--isn't it possible that Bush may have fancied the hijackers as allies?

Could this be yet another marker--albeit unsubstantial--of LIHOP/MIHOP?

[Jawja]

1. Great point.

In other words, he wasn't angry enough as our "leader" to come up with a more deserving description (as in "bastards") of those who attacked "his" country and killed "his" people??

That is indeed strange.

[RichardRay]

2. 'Folks' as a general term

I use folks all the time - it's gender neutral, easy off the tongue and has a nice connection to our American past. I often use it when speaking of those with whom I do not agree and even to prvide a non-judgemental term for some I might consider enemies.

So, I might very well refer to the hijackers as 'folks', as in: "Those folks were really sick". I doubt I'd use it in the form "We're gonna get the folks who did this." But then, I can't think of a term I would use like that.....

Richard Ray - Jackson Hole, WY

[txindy]

3. It's a Texas thang

He was workin' that accent. Seriously, though, it's a common
expression in Texas. He should've gotten stronger, yeah, but he was playing to the delicate ears of his base.