# The Democrat Party
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [November 13, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521 "2010-11-13T02:49:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Pierrot\_Le\_Fou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pierrot_Le_Fou)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/1 "2010-11-13T02:49:38Z")
I hate it when people refer to the Democratic Party as the Democrat Party. It is a childish, petty thing to do.
From these boards:
> [@Sam Stone](#):
>
> The obvious answer is that Democrats push hard to register disadvantaged voters because they know that those people will vote _ **Democrat.** _
emphasis added.
Hendrik Hertzberg on the “Ic” factor:
> [@](#):
>
> There’s no great mystery about the motives behind this deliberate misnaming. “Democrat Party” is a slur, or intended to be—a handy way to express contempt. Aesthetic judgments are subjective, of course, but “Democrat Party” is jarring verging on ugly. It fairly screams “rat.” At a slightly higher level of sophistication, it’s an attempt to deny the enemy the positive connotations of its chosen appellation. During the Cold War, many people bridled at obvious misnomers like “German Democratic Republic,” and perhaps there are some members of the Republican Party (which, come to think of it, has been drifting toward monarchism of late) who genuinely regard the Democratic Party as undemocratic. Perhaps there are some who hope to induce it to go out of existence by refusing to call it by its name, à la terming Israel “the Zionist entity.” And no doubt there are plenty of others who say “Democrat Party” just to needle the other side while signalling solidarity with their own—the partisan equivalent of flashing a gang sign.
> **[Comment](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/08/07/the-ic-factor)**
>
> Hendrik Hertzberg on what the President calls his opposition party.
> **[Tension between "the voters can't be trusted" and "let's register lots of...](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=584953)**
>
> It should go without saying that a constant refrain of the recent ACORN debate has been the claim from vocal SDMB participants that ACORN was attacked for registering lots of new voters - mostly voters from urban areas. Cites on request. In the...
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### Author:  [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/2 "2010-11-13T03:16:32Z")
I’m glad you’re not letting the fact that Sam didn’t actually use the phrase “Democrat Party” slow you down any. Good for you!
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### Author:  [@Pierrot\_Le\_Fou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pierrot_Le_Fou)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/3 "2010-11-13T03:18:11Z")
> [@Giraffe](#):
>
> I’m glad you’re not letting the fact that Sam didn’t actually use the phrase “Democrat Party” slow you down any. Good for you!
It is the same principle. A person does not vote Democrat. A person votes Democratic.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/4 "2010-11-13T03:25:02Z")
Just to avoid confusion whenever I mention local politics here, the name of the ruling party in Thailand, and the country’s oldest, is the Democrat Party, not Democratic. It’s the official English version and always rendered that way. Maybe I’m just used to it, but it does not sound ugly to me. It did sound funny at first, being used to Democratic back home, but now I don’t give it a second thought.
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### Author:  [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/5 "2010-11-13T03:26:05Z")
So a person votes for Democrats, but they vote Democratic? That’s awfully fine hair-splitting, albeit strictly speaking the correct usage.
I could understand this had he been intentionally insulting Democrats by referring to the party as the Democrat Party, but he wasn’t and so this is somewhat ill-considered.
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### Author:  [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/6 "2010-11-13T03:46:26Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#):
>
> So a person votes for Democrats, but they vote Democratic? That’s awfully fine hair-splitting, albeit strictly speaking the correct usage.
>
> I could understand this had he been intentionally insulting Democrats by referring to the party as the Democrat Party, but he wasn’t and so this is somewhat ill-considered.
Let’s not get off track here. I believe Sam’s use of the term was without malice. The OP’s point is that there are quite a few people who use the term “Democrat Party” in a manner intended to be demeaning or insulting in some way.
To me, it’s simply a sign that a person is childish, boorish and very possibly a moron. The fact that I’ve seen Michele Bachmann doing it is pretty strong evidence, I think.
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### Author:  [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/7 "2010-11-13T04:00:00Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#):
>
> To me, it’s simply a sign that a person is childish, boorish and very possibly a moron. The fact that I’ve seen Michele Bachmann doing it is pretty strong evidence, I think.
I am pretty sure that’s using proper English. You might find it overly precise, but it is the technically correct thing to say because, IIRC, the proper name is the _Democrat_ Party. People who vote for _Democrats_ are voting _Democrat_, for people in the _Democrat_ Party.
In any case there are right and wrong ways to say Democratic and Democrat even the most commonplace parlance. Sam Stone was not, in any case, even remotely in error in using it the way he did, and it’s pretty pathetic that some people actually complain about it.
now, the Republicans can’t (well, shouldn’t) be properly referred to, because it properly is the _Republican_ Party. Thus, you can vote Democrat or Republican, but not Democratic or Repubic.
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### Author:  [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/8 "2010-11-13T04:06:02Z")
> [@Pierrot\_Le\_Fou](#):
>
> I hate it when people refer to the Democratic Party as the Democrat Party. It is a childish, petty thing to do.
Huh.
A.) I’m not sure I’d notice and b.) I’m not really seeing it. Mr. Hertzeberg’s take seems a kind of a stretch to me. While Democratic Party sounds better to me in context, I can certainly just see it as a linguistic laziness.
“Who’d you vote for?” “The Democrat.”
“What party do you usually vote for?” “Democrat.”
Yeah, just not waving any red flags for me. But then I’m a registered independent/decline to state sort of guy ( who usually votes for Democrats ), so what do I know?
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### Author:  [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/9 "2010-11-13T04:07:13Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#):
>
> I am pretty sure that’s using proper English. You might find it overly precise, but it is the technically correct thing to say because, IIRC, the proper name is the _Democrat_ Party. People who vote for _Democrats_ are voting _Democrat_, for people in the _Democrat_ Party.
You recall incorrectly. The proper name is the Democratic Party.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/10 "2010-11-13T04:08:18Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#):
>
> Huh.
>
> A.) I’m not sure I’d notice and b.) I’m not really seeing it. Mr. Hertzeberg’s take seems a kind of a stretch to me. While Democratic Party sounds better to me in context, I can certainly just see it as a linguistic laziness.
>
> “Who’s you vote for?” “The Democrat.”
>
> “What party do you usually vote for?” “Democrat.”
>
> Yeah, just not waving any red flags for me. But then I’m a registered independent/decline to state sort of guy ( who usually votes for Democrats ), so what do I know?
That’s one of the reasons I mentioned the Democrat Party over here. If I ever call the one in US the Democrat Party, please know it is just a slip and that nothing is meant by it.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/11 "2010-11-13T04:11:18Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#):
>
> you can vote Democrat or Republican, but not Democratic or Repubic.
Pubes rule!
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### Author:  [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/12 "2010-11-13T04:11:46Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#):
>
> I am pretty sure that’s using proper English. You might find it overly precise, but it is the technically correct thing to say because, IIRC, the proper name is the _Democrat_ Party. People who vote for _Democrats_ are voting _Democrat_, for people in the _Democrat_ Party.
>
> In any case there are right and wrong ways to say Democratic and Democrat even the most commonplace parlance. Sam Stone was not, in any case, even remotely in error in using it the way he did, and it’s pretty pathetic that some people actually complain about it.
>
> now, the Republicans can’t (well, shouldn’t) be properly referred to, because it properly is the _Republican_ Party. Thus, you can vote Democrat or Republican, but not Democratic or Repubic.
Do you really think Michele Bachmann and people of her ilk are making an honest and determined attempt to use precise language? Or that they have done rigorous research to find out the true name of the opposition party out of courtesy?
Or are they just being dickish?
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### Author:  [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/13 "2010-11-13T04:16:50Z")
Until your side stops calling them “teabaggers”, you’ve got nothing.
Besides, “democratic” is an adjective. **Sam Stone** ’s usage calls for an adverb. At best, it should be “…vote democratically.” If not that, then the second best is “…vote [for the] democrat.” Sorry, but “vote Democratic” just sounds dumb.
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### Author:  [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/14 "2010-11-13T04:18:44Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#):
>
> Do you really think Michele Bachmann and people of her ilk are making an honest and determined attempt to use precise language? Or that they have done rigorous research to find out the true name of the opposition party out of courtesy?
>
> Or are they just being dickish?
What? Their great insult is using grammar in a way which somehow offends? How does this even manage to get udner your skin unless you are looking for something to complain about?
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### Author:  [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/15 "2010-11-13T04:21:03Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#):
>
> You recall incorrectly. The proper name is the Democratic Party.
After some research, it seems this is correct. I was misled because they keep calling themselves Democrats instead of, well… Democratics. Yes, it sounds silly that way. But they’ve got Democrat and Democrats plastered everywhere, not Democratic.
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### Author:  [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/16 "2010-11-13T04:36:10Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#):
>
> What? Their great insult is using grammar in a way which somehow offends? How does this even manage to get udner your skin unless you are looking for something to complain about?
Oh, I’m not really bothered by it. Actually I find it useful for moron identification purposes. It’s sort of like the guy who insists on calling people by nicknames that he made up for them. You understand, don’t you Smiley?
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### Author:  [@Pierrot\_Le\_Fou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pierrot_Le_Fou)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/17 "2010-11-13T04:37:27Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#):
>
> Besides, “democratic” is an adjective. **Sam Stone** ’s usage calls for an adverb. At best, it should be “…vote democratically.”
Sam Stone was describing what–not how–the people will vote.
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### Author:  [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/18 "2010-11-13T04:41:58Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#):
>
> Until your side stops calling them “teabaggers”, you’ve got nothing.
The Fringes of either side are beyond anyone’s control. What can be measured is the leadership of either party. The elected officials are the chosen leaders of both sides.
Can you point to a single elected member of the Democratic Party that publicly refers to members of the Tea Party as teabaggers? One or two? anywhere? Even one instance?
Do you think it’s going to be harder to find elected officials that call people ‘Teabaggers’ or elected officials that call people ‘Democrat’.
Compare the leadership and come back with your conclusion. Your side has the majority if not all the sinners in the comparison. You’ve got nothing.
In text I don’t find ‘Democrat’ all that offensive but understand it is a directed insult to dissociate the Democratic Party from the universally respected term Democracy.
It’s the verbal ‘Democ **rat** ’ you occasionally hear out of people that gets on my nerves. It’s so childish.
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### Author:  [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/19 "2010-11-13T04:49:11Z")
Meh. As someone who’s largely supported Democratic candidates in recent years, I can’t say this bothers me much. Yes, many of the people who go out of their way to use the term Democrat Party are douches.
But at the same time most people who adhere to the principles of the Democratic Party refer to themselves as Democrats not Democratics. As someone mentioned above, to get worked over this is hairsplitting, and if anything is just undeservedly validating these linguistic tricks.
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2010, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/20 "2010-11-13T05:07:56Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#):
>
> Until your side stops calling them “teabaggers”, you’ve got nothing.
“STOPS”? **STOPS**? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH The use of the slur predates the term teabagger by decades if not centuries.
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