# "Dog whistle" phrase? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 10, 2016, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistle-phrase/748503 "2016-03-10T02:07:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistle-phrase/748503/81 "2016-03-15T17:42:12Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > I question whether a “dog whistle” was actually issued when only the opposition hears the alleged “dog whistle”. > > As I understand the term “dog whistle” it’s supposed to be some sort of secret code issued from speaker to supporter. However, if the only people hearing the “dog whistle” are the opposition, the “dog whistle” fails as a secret code. It’s not a secret code if only the opposition hears it. These alleged “dog whistles” sound more like a delusion, or fantasy, on the part of the opposition. I think there are a few "dog whistles’ in a way, but most are really obvious. Those that are very subtle appear to be mostly in the ear of the opposition. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2016, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistle-phrase/748503/82 "2016-03-15T18:08:00Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I think there are a few "dog whistles’ in a way, but most are really obvious. Those that are very subtle appear to be mostly in the ear of the opposition. I’ll go with this. The person upthread who said that one of Palin’s speechwriters was making deep literary allusions is a pretty clear case of **doorhinge** ’s complaint. Even if the speechwriter really is that erudite (a point I personally doubt), it’s pretty clear that neither Palin nor her audience is. OTOH, Trump retweeting white supremacist groups’ stuff while claiming he has no idea what they stand for and that he certainly doesn’t mean to endorse, gasp, white supremacy, is rather the opposite. That fig leaf is as transparent as his comb-over on a windy day. Everybody on both sides can hear it and anyone claiming not to is either stone deaf, pig ignorant, or lying. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistle-phrase/748503/83 "2016-03-25T17:54:31Z")
Ok, here’s a challenge. Many posters here are solid supporters of a Presidential candidate. Give us an example of a "dog whistle’ _your_ favorite candidate used in one of his speeches. So far, all I see is the opposition claiming they exist. Let us see if a supporter will say they heard one- that the rest of us did not. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistle-phrase/748503/84 "2016-03-26T21:36:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Ok, here’s a challenge. Many posters here are solid supporters of a Presidential candidate. Give us an example of a "dog whistle’ _your_ favorite candidate used in one of his speeches. > > So far, all I see is the opposition claiming they exist. Let us see if a supporter will say they heard one- that the rest of us did not. A bit of a red herring because this time most of the bigotry and ignorance that applies to the ones being targeted for the dog whistles happens to be almost all in one party nowadays. But that does not mean that they don’t exist, had to dig a lot but I did remember that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. does use classic anti vaccine dog whistles, like “pro-vaccine safety”, “parents’ right to choose”, that sound plausible; but after years of dealing with anti vaccine people, guys like me do know that a lot of the hard core anti vaccine people do know (or want to believe) about what those politicians are really talking about, that they are talking about how to allow for more restrictions or the banning of many recommended vaccines and schedules. They look for whistles like those ones to know who they can support, they are always looking for a “champion” for their misinformed and ignorant voices. (There is a lot of old fashion pandering in this issue too BTW). So that democrat has a bit to be ashamed of; on the other hand, the many examples regarding anti vaccine whistles are coming in this election exclusively from the Republican candidates. > **[Donald Trump Peddles Discredited Vaccine-Autism Link](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-debate-vaccines_n_55fa2b36e4b00310edf5c111)** > > Is this for real? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistle-phrase/748503/85 "2016-03-26T22:37:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Ok, here’s a challenge. Many posters here are solid supporters of a Presidential candidate. Give us an example of a "dog whistle’ _your_ favorite candidate used in one of his speeches. > > So far, all I see is the opposition claiming they exist. Let us see if a supporter will say they heard one- that the rest of us did not. That’s not how dog whistles work. You hear dog whistles from people you _disagree_ with; from people you _agree_ with, all you hear is their words at face value. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistle-phrase/748503/86 "2016-03-26T22:41:07Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > That’s not how dog whistles work. You hear dog whistles from people you _disagree_ with; from people you _agree_ with, all you hear is their words at face value. And indeed, even if I agree a lot with the Democrats that does not mean that I see a few that I do disagree strongly with, particularly the (fortunately) few ones that follow woo. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistle-phrase/748503/87 "2016-03-26T23:16:17Z")
Since most of the commentary at this point is political, let’s move this to Great Debates. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-whistle-phrase/748503.md?page=4)