Origins of a political slur

Have you ever wondered why “Democrat Party” has become the popular way for Republicans to refer to the Democratic Party?

Turns out, “Democrat Party” is a political slur devised by the Republican Party to disparage and attempt to delegitimize Democrats.

Over the past decade-plus, Republican leaders have adopted the slur into their common lexicon, to the point where now it would be odd to hear a Republican leader or most Republicans refer to the opposing Party by its actual name, the “Democratic Party”.

So why are Republicans doing this and why is using the term “Democrat Party” wrong?

First, that’s not what the Democratic Party calls itself. Choosing to misname your opposition against their wishes is a transparent and juvenile tactic meant to disrespect and antagonize.

Second, Republican leaders have openly acknowledged that the underlying objective with taking the “ic” out of “Democratic” Party is to push out a pernicious narrative that Democrats aren’t democratic, and thus aren’t good for democracy. While reasonable people can disagree about political ideology and policy, to believe that Democrats are undemocratic is a false and extremist view.

Finally, Republicans don’t hide that they revel in the basic annoyance the misnomer causes Democrats. It’s yet another act of Republican incivility that serves to further erode an already spiraling democracy.

So the next time you hear a Republican refer to the “Democrat Party”, kindly share the origins of the political slur and remind them that they can just as easily be misnamed the “Republic Party”, but that there are more important things to do, like saving democracy… from the Republican Party run amok.

⁘

Share your thoughts in the comments below. Email or SMS text this post to family and friends or re-post to any of your social networks using the buttons below.