# The Democrat Party **URL:** \ **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:** 4
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/61 "2010-11-14T02:26:13Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > (b) I can see why Tea Partiers don’t think it’s funny, but you don’t have to be a 13 year old to find their unintentional adoption of a sexual act as their de facto label to be hilarious. No different really than when you hear that “Pepsi” actually means “frog anus soup” in Swahili – it’s funny to pretty much everyone except Pepsi. And the frog. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/62 "2010-11-14T02:36:43Z")
I vote (D) all the time (more recently now that the Republicans have become the Party of Crazy), and I gotta admit… I can never remember when it’s Democrat and when it’s DemocratIC. Frankly, it doesn’t bug me at all. I never really realized it was supposed to be some sort of veiled insult- I guess it’s very veiled. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/63 "2010-11-14T02:40:59Z")
deleted. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/64 "2010-11-14T02:58:20Z")
Wasn’t it Rush who first used the expression “Democrat Party” as a means to divorce the brand from the benevolent associatons of the word “democratic”? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/65 "2010-11-14T03:00:55Z")
I don’t really have really benevolent associations with the word democratic. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/66 "2010-11-14T03:03:14Z")
[Democrat Party (epithet) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(phrase)) It is a slur and is attended to be one. It has been around since 1940. They never called them selves the Democrat party. The baggers however proudly proclaimed themselves to be Tea Baggers. Now calling them ,what they called themselves is an insult? So they were insulting themselves in the beginning? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/67 "2010-11-14T03:11:24Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > 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? Honestly, that’s incredibly stupid. Seriously, if you’re that touchy about it, you can try putting out a tyle gyuide. I can assure you, that however I enjoy making fun of Democrat(ic)s, using their name in a comfortable manner is not one. And don’t call me Smiley. It’s _Chuckles_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/68 "2010-11-14T03:15:11Z")
Basically it boils down to two positions: If you’re calling it the Democrat Party because you don’t know any better … well, that’s just appallingly ignorant. If you don’t even have the rudimentary political knowledge to know the NAMES of the two major parties I don’t see how you can claim to be an informed voter. It’s political cluelessness on the level of not knowing how to spell the President’s name, or what the First Amendment is. On the other hand, if you’re calling it the Democrat Party on purpose because it gets a rise out of lefties … well then you’re a juvenile prick who doesn’t deserve to be engaged with on a serious level. Once you grow up and stop acting out, then we’ll pay attention to what you have to say. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/69 "2010-11-14T03:16:52Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > It’s _Chuckles_. You don’t get to pick your own nickname, **Smiley**. We decide what your name is, not you. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/70 "2010-11-14T03:18:38Z")
Tell me about it. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/71 "2010-11-14T03:34:05Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > You don’t get to pick your own nickname, **Smiley**. We decide what your name is, not you. Very Democratic of you. What’s my fine if I decide not to go along with your plan? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/72 "2010-11-14T03:35:27Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Tell me about it. I think that’s gone now; I haven’t seen anyone call you **luci** in ages. Oops. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/73 "2010-11-14T03:36:58Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Tell me about it. You be a good boy now, **'lucifrito**. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/74 "2010-11-14T03:44:27Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > What’s my fine if I decide not to go along with your plan? You get to snarl, “My mother called me **Doorsie**. Once.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/75 "2010-11-14T03:58:57Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Very Democratic of you. What’s my fine if I decide not to go along with your plan? Ah … so you agree that picking a nickname for someone else against their wishes is a dick move? Even if the nickname itself is not derogatory? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/76 "2010-11-14T04:17:10Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Basically it boils down to two positions: > > If you’re calling it the Democrat Party because you don’t know any better … well, that’s just appallingly ignorant. If you don’t even have the rudimentary political knowledge to know the NAMES of the two major parties I don’t see how you can claim to be an informed voter. It’s political cluelessness on the level of not knowing how to spell the President’s name, or what the First Amendment is. Absolutely ridiculous. A whole bunch of very smart, knowledgable people in thsi thread have already said they weren’t aware of it. It’s a nitpicky, trivial thing to get worked up about. Some of us who care a lot about political issues and policy actually don’t care very much about labels and other trivialities, and don’t pay much attention to them. > [@](#): > > On the other hand, if you’re calling it the Democrat Party on purpose because it gets a rise out of lefties … well then you’re a juvenile prick who doesn’t deserve to be engaged with on a serious level. Once you grow up and stop acting out, then we’ll pay attention to what you have to say. Or, on the other hand, feigning indignation over the logical use of a word just because it isn’t technically correct, just so you can accuse someone else of being disrespectful or deceitful is also a ‘dick move’. Selective hypersensitivity against one’s political opponents is an aggressive, partisan tactic. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/77 "2010-11-14T04:22:50Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Ah … so you agree that picking a nickname for someone else against their wishes is a dick move? Even if the nickname itself is not derogatory? “Democrat” is not a nickname. It’s the name of people who belong to the Democratic party. It’s an easy thing to confuse. And it’s a real stretch to see anything offensive in the incorrect use of the word. The notion that anyone who says “Democrat party” is really saying “DemocRAT party” is just stupid. Now, if someone spells it with caps like that I’ll agree with you, because the intent becomes clear. That would also be true if they said, “DemocRATic party”, so I have a hard time seeing how leaving the “ic” off the end changes the fundamental meaning. Frankly, this entire thread makes me want to throw up a little. This is partisanship at its absolute trivial worst. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/78 "2010-11-14T04:25:11Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Some of us who care a lot about political issues and policy actually don’t care very much about labels and other trivialities, and don’t pay much attention to them. Sloppiness about things like spelling, grammar and names makes you look ignorant. If you can’t even be arsed to learn the proper terms for things, it’s unlikely that your thinking on the subject is very rigorous or deep. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/79 "2010-11-14T04:28:51Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > “Democrat” is not a nickname. It’s the name of people who belong to the Democratic party. It’s an easy thing to confuse. And it’s a real stretch to see anything offensive in the incorrect use of the word. The notion that anyone who says “Democrat party” is really saying “DemocRAT party” is just stupid. As I said, a nickname doesn’t have to be derogatory to be insulting. Picking a name (even an innocuous one) for someone against their wishes is a dick move. Being too lazy or careless to learn the proper name for a person or an organization is disrespectful and makes you look like a clueless tool. > [@](#): > > Frankly, this entire thread makes me want to throw up a little. This is partisanship at its absolute trivial worst. Then stop being a douche and call the Democratic Party the Democratic Party. It’s not like you’re ignorant of your mistake anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2010, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521/80 "2010-11-14T04:52:21Z")
Where did I say I wouldn’t? Now that I know the correct terminology, that’s what I’ll use. Unless I slip up somewhere - I’m not perfect. I just think it’s a trivial thing to worry about, and the outrage some people are expressing over it strikes me as being a bit manufactured. They’ve just found another club to hit their opponents with, and they’re using it. I’ve already said that the intentional use of derogatory misspellings and unwanted nicknames is childish and stupid. It’s also childish and stupid to constantly seek offense over trivial things. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-democrat-party/560521.md?page=5)