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

[NeoLiberal]

Republi-cons?

[ashabot]

Republi-crooks.

[SimonNZ]

Republi-c#&*ts

[NeoLiberal]

Really, in all fairness, they're trying to clean up their act. I'm mean, the fact that they had to put in in writing should say everything: their spoken word can't be trusted.

[jeaton]

Bullshit!

[TomR]

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

Oh sure, the Republics say that now.

- Tom

[Liberal2]

Hey, if yer gonna refer to that other party, use the correct spelling: rethuglican or republiklan, either is acceptable.

[ashabot]

Also rePUKElickin

[Cynth]

More like the term never took hold and they looked foolishing continuing to promote its usage based on a specious argument. Can't wait for their next "clever" scheme.

[Biscuit]

I guess we'll have to stop calling them "Republicans" now, since it's too negative of a word.

[ashabot]

Heh heh..

[marinade]

We all lost a ton of sleep over Bush's slight. A ton.

[Liberal2]

Duh! IIRC, the author of the term was Newt Gingrich who liked it because it gave a hard edge to the party name. It was part of his list of words to use when talking about democrats.

[grf67]

Bush and the republicans and their tacky attitude are yesterday's news. Not even Iraq cares what they have to say.

[filo]

Republitards LIE !!! So who believes any of this tripe??

[OhMy]

Who knew it was politically incorrect to say democrat? I prefer democraptic anyway.

[Liberal2]

Which is why we never expect a display of class by a rethugliKlan.

[ashabot]

RepubliTURDS.

[filo]

I stand corrected.

[normalkid0615]

The Re-I-havemyheadsofarupbush'sass-pub-mywifeisonlyforshow-licans need to go hide under a rock.

[milo9]

It's too late. It's ON now! We're giving it back measure for measure. Enjoy, Republican'ts!

[ashabot]

Republic*nts.

[Grannysue]

Who cares, we have all kinds of names for the GOPERS, unfortunately they won't let me print them.

[YouDisgustMe]

they can call it whatever they want...no one gives a sh_t

[allamericanboy]

Darn, I never got my idea to catch on. I always thought if they're going to remove a syllable from our name, we should add a syllable to their name. Hence, the Republicanal party.

[TrooAmerican]

ooo thats pretty good. i like that one

Republicanical for the most robotic of the old stodgy rich guys club

[ThomasMc]

Who cares what the Publicans think.