Democrats vs. Democratic

[Robson]

One of my first posts on DU I was chastized for using Democrats when referring to the Party even though I consider myself a Democrat. Supposedly that's not a valid representation of the Democratic Party. If some consider the use of the word Democrats as a slur why does the Democratic Party itself send me regular email from "Democrats.org." The issue is not what the Party is called but what it does and stands for.

In honesty I don't care if they call the Party "Democrats or Democratic" as long as the Party first supports equal opportunity and advancing the interests of the American middle class, and works very hard to offset the overwhelming power of Wall St, the capitalist elite, the mil-industrial, and corporate multi-national America that works very hard for the downfall of our country.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. The same thing happpened to me. In fact, someone alluded to me perhaps being a right winger.....

.... even tho I'm probably to the left of most Democrats!! I'm STILL confused on the terminology. What's correct, what's not correct. Where did this issue all get started??

[drm604]

7. The issue was started by Republicans.

The OP has unintentionally misstated the issue. There's nothing wrong with using the term Democrats to refer to members of the Democratic Party. The issue arises when someone refers to the "Democrat Party" or "Democrat policies" instead of "Democratic Party" and "Democratic policies". "Democrat Party" is not the legal name of the party nor is it proper English. It's used by Republicans as an intentional slur, therefore it can be a sore point among Democrats.

If you unintentionally misuse it and someone corrects you, try not to take it personally. It's simply people fighting Republican's manipulation of language.

See here: http://mediamatters.org/items/200608160005

In recent months, media figures, including news reporters at CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, and the Associated Press echoed Republicans by employing the word "Democrat" as an adjective to describe things or people of, or relating to, the Democratic Party -- including referring to the "Democrat" Party itself, even though that is not the party's name. The ungrammatical conversion of the noun "Democrat" to an adjective was the brainchild of Republican partisans, presumably an attempt to deny the opposing party the claim to being "democratic" -- or in the words of New Yorker magazine senior editor Hendrik Hertzberg, "to deny the enemy the positive connotations of its chosen appellation." In the early 1990s, apparently due largely to the urging of then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) and Republican pollster Frank Luntz, the use of the word "Democrat" as an adjective became near-universal among Republicans.

Hertzberg pointed out in an article for the August 7 issue of The New Yorker that the word "Democrat" is a noun, arguing that its use as an adjective defies the rules of English grammar:

The American Heritage College Dictionary, for example, defines the noun "Democratic Party" as "One of the two major US political parties, owing its origin to a split in the Democratic-Republican Party under Andrew Jackson in 1828." (It defines "Democrat n" as "A Democratic Party member" and "Democratic adj" as "Of, relating to, or characteristic of the Democratic Party," but gives no definition for -- indeed, makes no mention of -- "Democrat Party n" or "Democrat adj".) Other dictionaries, and reference works generally, appear to be unanimous on these points.

Hertzberg noted that Republicans "as far back as the Harding Administration" have referred to the "Democrat Party," including late Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-WI), who "made it a regular part of his arsenal of insults," and former Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS), who "denounced 'Democrat wars' ... in his <1976> Vice-Presidential debate with Walter Mondale ."

[Sarah Ibarruri]

9. Ahhh, so it's when it's grammatically incorrect. Ok, I think I have it now.

I think it's a matter of using correct grammar.

[drm604]

12. Yes.

As long as you use correct grammar you should be okay. Don't get me wrong, grammar is not the point. The point is that it's a Repub slur, but as a rule of thumb you're safe if you use correct grammar.

I think I might be the person who corrected you before. If so, it wasn't anything personal against you and I apologize if it sounded that way.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

15. Yes, you did sound that way :-) I guess I need to brush up on my English skills!

That way I'll stay out of trouble. :-)

[davidwparker]

2. I think the slur is Democrat Party. Democrats are those who belong to

the Democratic Party. (Upper case 'D'). Where democrats (lower case 'd') are those who support democracy without regard to party. (Although one well-known party is flirting with fascism at the moment.)

[Cerridwen]

3. Hi Robson and you, too Sarah. A little history for you.

Using the Democrat Party rather than the Democratic Party is an old, recycled slur against Democrats which was begun around the time of the mc carthy era; perhaps even coined by mc carthy though I don't remember specifically right this sec.

So, during this time of being labeled as "angry" - and painted negative; and "liberal - and painted negative; and "feminazi" - do I even need to say? :D

Anyway, a lot of baggage comes with Democrat rather than Democratic Party.

and a link I found on a quick google which might give you a bit more background on the whys, ways, and wherefores of it all:

http://www.pensitoreview.com/2007/01/31/mccarthyism-useage-of-democrat-party-was-popularized-by-joe-mccarthy/

[Sarah Ibarruri]

11. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, I knew there had to be some sick sob behind this....

I just didn't know it went as far back as that evil d**khead, McCarthy. Thank you for explaining it. It's always a Repugnican. I try to give those @$$holes the benefit of the doubt, but only for a second, 'cause they always come through as the BFU freaks of life.

[PDittie]

4. "The Democrat Party" is wrong

The first time I heard it used was by Former Republican Majority Leader Dick Armey. Like everything else, he spat the words out of his mouth.

It's an epithet, no matter who says it.

[Rydz777]

5. "Democrats" is a plural noun. "Democratic" is an adjective and is

properly applied to the Party. The Republicans violate both English grammar and proper usage when they say the "Democrat Party." I always assumed they were just trying to be nasty, but maybe some are simply ignorant.

[Robson]

6. Maybe someone ought to tell the .......

DNC and the Democratic Party. http://www.democrats.org/

I'm not big on semantics, and I realize this is a picayune thing to some (like myself unless I happen to get scolded and called on it, and accused of Freeperdom, and then I remember it) as it must be a big deal to others.

But if it is such a slur why didn't the DNC / "Democratic Party" call themselves Democratic.org

The email I get from the DNC is always from Democrat.org and tonight I guess the obvious supposed confliction in terminology raised the question.

My suggestion to DUers is don't accuse newbies of being subversive if they use "Democrat Party" or "Democrats". It means nothing.

[drm604]

8. It's really not necessary to tell them. They are quite aware of the issue.

That website uses it correctly. Look right at the top:

• "The Democratic Party"
  
• "The 2007 Democratic Reunion"
  

They use the domain "Democrats.org" because they are using it as a plural noun, not an adjective. That's perfectly acceptable, as would be Democratic.org if they wished to use the adjective instead. There are no rules stating that a standalone word in a URL is some specific part of speech. The problem arises when the word "Democrat" is used as an adjective, like in "Democrat Party". It's improper English and - much more importantly - it's used by Republicans as an intentional slur.

I don't understand why people here want to fight over this issue. Republicans use it as a slur, therefore we should avoid it.

[dorkulon]

10. You're confused.

I've never heard anyone object to being called "Democrats." The issue is being called members of the "Democrat Party."

[hiaasenrocks]

14. I agree with you. So how do we turn the tables?

Republicans are in the Republican party...so are they using an adjective in place of a noun?

I like to use the term "Republic Party" to make them mad, but I have trouble thinking of a way to explain it. They're for the Republic (gov't) over people? I dunno.

What's your thinking?

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Don't use Democrat as an adjective

and you'll be okay -- i.e., NO Democrat party. That just sets my teeth on edge every time I hear it. That smarmy little Ed Rogers does that all the time when he's on Hardball and I want to throw something at the TV.