Republicans: "Democrat Party" No More

WASHINGTON — Republicans have come up with another name for the opposing party _ the right name.

For years now, the GOP has gone after "Democrat schemes," "Democrat presidents," "Democrat Congresses" _ all phrases from the 1996 Republican platform, repeated many times since. Twenty years earlier, Bob Dole famously declared that all wars of the 20th century were "Democrat wars."

On Tuesday, members of the Republican platform committee meeting in Minneapolis voted down a proposal to call the opposition the "Democrat Party" in the 2008 platform. Instead, they'll go with the proper Democratic Party.

"We probably should use what the actual name is," said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, the panel's chairman. "At least in writing."

In 1996, references to the Democratic Party were purged from a draft of the platform. As party leaders explained at the time, they wanted to make the subtle point that the Democratic Party had become elitist, no longer small-d democratic.

In the debate Tuesday, Jim Bopp of Indiana echoed that sentiment but said fair's fair.

"We should afford them the respect that they are entitled and call them by their legal name."

(This version CORRECTS SUBS 5th graf to correct to 1996.)

Comments

[DoTheMath]

Good luck retraining McFlub.

[lisakaz2]

Actually, the Rethugs ought to become an endangered speces so Booo$hie can do away with 'em too. Wait, isn't he doing that already?

[DCtrain]

George W., anything he says or does with respect to the election is a negative for McCain..lol

[Liam]

Wow, respect? Maybe we can actually hope that the neocons are losing their influence over the Republican party.

Maybe they'll go back to being the Republican party of my parents' generation, the Republican party of Goldwater. The Republican party that produced Lincoln.

Sooner or later, they're going to realize they've been hijacked, and they're going to take back their party.

I'm going to hope that this is a first step in that direction.

Liam.

[dadw5boys]

No more, No way, No Mc CAIN !!!!

No Mc Cain to prevent a full investigation of the 9 / 11 atacks.

No Mc Cain to Pardon BUSHCO for TREASON if what many of us believe is proven.

No Mc Cain to BLOCK INVESTIGATION of the FRAUD of Bush's Buddys from Country Wide, Banks and Hedge Funds.

No Mc Cain to pardon WAR PROFITEERS !

[lisakaz2]

And include those KBR slave traders and rapists.

[swift goat pet for truth]

When did they ever "play nice"?

When did they ever keep their promise?

[Tommygun264]

Eight years too late.

[Bisharama]

I am proud to be a Democratic American!

[realpolitic]

To Republicans, to call the Democratic party by their rightful name is the highest measure of statesmanship. It is the equivalent of talking with the Iranians. This reason is why we need new leadership.

[MadJeffersonian]

The Republican party and their supporters are proof that the lack of a good educational system here in the US adversely affects people.

[BGallegos]

They don't want to be know as RepubliCANT's. There's not a men's restroom they can't wait to get to.
They can't win the war on terror, they Can't win the war on Drugs. They can't keep their hands out of corporate pockets. They can't help Americans, They can't stop the torture. The list goes on.

[WatchIt]

OH? NOW, after YEARS of Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage and the rest doing their damage? Now, in order not to look like low-lying schumcks? Now, they say this? Hmph.

Hmph, this is like a 9-year old kid saying he won't pull his sister's pigtails when he is hoping to go on a cool trip with his buds. Now he will be nice, but as soon as he gets back, same old, same old.

[ashabot]

@#^#!%$&*@%! them.

[WorkingClass]

In writing I always refer to Republicans as Republicans. In everyday speech I refer to them as "scum".

[BetterDays]

LOL. Hilarious comment.

[DCtrain]

Partisan politics at its worst === Repubs; Look at the talent pool of America and they came up with
George W.? and Mc Same? pathetic. The Repubs need to go back to the drawing board and rediscover an identy that is in step with America and in step with the World. The're a buch of pathetic dead-beats with a strong following of want-ta-be's