taking back the word "liberal"

[liberal_in_GA]

It bothers me to no end that Repukes have managed to make the word "liberal" a negative, and "conservative" a positive in the minds of average Joe voter. You'll always hear Shrub and others of his ilk talk about their "conservative family values" but you'll never here a Dem extolling the virtues of being a liberal.

Is there any way we can malign the word "conservative" in terms of how it's used politically? Can we start calling them "regressive"? (and would average voters catch on to that?) And should we try to resurrect and redefine the word "liberal," or start using the word "progressive"? When someone says that a politician is "more liberal than Ted Kennedy," it should not be taken as an immediate insult. I understand that this is more than a matter of semantics; it also has to do with the rightward shift our country has taken. But it would be nice to at least reclaim traditional Democratic adjectives and attributes so that they aren't immediately considered epithets by the majority of America.

Any thoughts?:shrug:

[proud patriot]

1. I bought this for my Husband and he loves it

http://www.cafeshops.com/nostamj.11661935

[liberal_in_GA]

2. PERFECT!

:toast:

[RevCheesehead]

3. Ya know, it was Bush 41 who sneered & said "Li-burl"

He also did it with "The A.C.L.U. - a Libural organization.

And it has stuck. Shame on us. We took it, and did nothing.

[DaveinMD]

4. this is why

we have taken to using the word progressive. YOu can re-educate people during one election.

[Sporadicus]

5. How About 'Cheap Labor Conservatives'

a term that's advocated by the owner of this website:

http://www.conceptualguerilla.com/index.html

It contains a wealth of information for tarring conservatives with the 'cheap labor' brush - including applying this label to every position they espouse.

[MissMarple]

6. Being anti-liberal is being anti-American.

Liberals wrote the Constitution. Liberal values are the foundation of our country.

[seabeyond]

7. surprised conversation with rw brother

i said i was a liberal and he started saying, well you called yourself that i didnt. what........i was confused. he was acting liked i had called myself a bad name. finally told him, liberal is to democrat what conservative is to republican, asshole. you all made it a bad word. it is not

the surprising was he then said, oh oh i see what you are saying. ok if you want to see it like that, ok.

he really how liberal as evil

[Hippo_Tron]

8. We should just promote the word "progressive"

Because clearly this country needs to make some serious progress.

[drmom]

9. Here is a great piece on "liberal" influences...

..I'm pretty sure that I've seen in on DU before, but it is worth another read!

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=144

[Eurobabe]

10. Read Lakoff, I now refer to myself as a progressive

'Liberal' has been permanently tainted.

[StevieM]

11. I am proud to call myself a liberal

and I agree we need to rehabilitate the word. After all, it is the conservatives who have screwed up miserably time and time again. When liberals have been given the opportunity to govern we have done a great job.

Steve