General Discussion

orangecrush

(32,039 posts) Tue Jun 30, 2026, 01:26 PM Jun 30

The 'Democrat' party

The origins of this schoolyard taunt.

It seems the MAGATs are fond of these.

The origin isn't surprising.

""Back in the 1950s, Joe McCarthy and his entourage began using Democrat Party and explaining by way of saying they didn't think the Dems really represented democratic ideas, etc. and should not be allowed to call themselves democratic," said Elving. "Most news organizations quoted his usage but did not adopt it."

Elving said that in the 1980s, former Republican Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich revived the usage of Democrat Party.

NPR's then-White House correspondent, David Greene, was asked about this in a February 2007 interview with NPR host Scott Simon.

GREENE: Republicans have been using Democrat as an adjective off and on for years. Some say it started in the 1940s when Republicans said the other party was controlled by labor bosses and big city machines, and so not really democratic at all. The infamous Joe McCarthy was fond of the shortened term in the 1950s. And in 1976, when Senator Bob Dole was President Gerald Ford's vice presidential running mate, Dole used the term in a debate."

https://www.npr.org/sections/publiceditor/2010/03/26/114585414/since-when-did-it-become-the-democrat-party

10 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

The 'Democrat' party (Original Post) orangecrush Jun 30 OP

Should be the Democracy Party. Srkdqltr Jun 30 #1

Bob Dole was an evil SOB and mentor to the likes of Stone and Manafort. Just sayin' ;) n/t Cheezoholic Jun 30 #2

My dictionary still sites "democrat" as a noun, not an adjective. CrispyQ Jun 30 #3

When republicans say "Democrat Party" I respond with LogDog75 Jun 30 #4

You are too kind orangecrush Jun 30 #8

Sadly, this misnomer has caught on even among some Democrats. City Lights Jun 30 #5

Dems should call them out and put it on the record everytime they use it malaise Jun 30 #6

I can't say it here orangecrush Jun 30 #9

I've been calling them ReTHUGs for nearly 20 years malaise Jun 30 #10

They only do it because we react to it MichMan Jun 30 #7

Srkdqltr

(10,223 posts)

1. Should be the Democracy Party.

Reply to orangecrush (Original post)

Tue Jun 30, 2026, 01:31 PM

Jun 30

Cheezoholic

(4,204 posts)

2. Bob Dole was an evil SOB and mentor to the likes of Stone and Manafort. Just sayin' ;) n/t

Reply to orangecrush (Original post)

Tue Jun 30, 2026, 01:42 PM

Jun 30

CrispyQ

(41,214 posts)

3. My dictionary still sites "democrat" as a noun, not an adjective.

Reply to orangecrush (Original post)

Tue Jun 30, 2026, 02:00 PM

Jun 30

When I can, I point that out to people who say Democrat Party or democrat candidate. It's usually a big WHOOSH over their heads.

LogDog75

(1,498 posts)

4. When republicans say "Democrat Party" I respond with

Reply to orangecrush (Original post)

Tue Jun 30, 2026, 02:09 PM

Jun 30

...the republic Party" and the look on their faces shows they haven't been programmed on how to respond. If they want to play the game of insulting our party's name then I will do the same with them.

Also, when I refer to the republican party I purposely use the lower case "r." Hey, if they can't take it then they shouldn't dish it out.