# We need a DNC 2012 Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 5, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695 "2012-09-05T00:04:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/302 "2012-09-07T01:38:50Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > [Ahem…](http://www.google.com/search?as_st=y&tbm=isch&as_q=&as_epq=Vote+democrat&as_oq=Sign&as_eq=&imgsz=&imgar=&imgc=&imgcolor=&imgtype=&cr=&as_sitesearch=&safe=off&as_filetype=&as_rights=&biw=480&bih=268&sei=QU5JUN-JJqbfyAGb-YHoBw) Absolutely! Because “Vote Democrat” and “Democrat Party” are EXACTLY THE SAME. Thanks for pointing that out! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/303 "2012-09-07T01:41:41Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Jenifer Granholm will be ring announcing at WWE next week. Wow, she was pumped up. She was hot, and I don’t just mean “pumped up” hot. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/304 "2012-09-07T01:44:20Z")
Oh Joe…Vice President Piehole…why did you have to talk about the “enormity” of Obama’s soul? “Enormity” is a [false cognate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_cognate). It doesn’t mean enormousness. It means egregiousness. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/305 "2012-09-07T01:48:23Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Oh Joe…Vice President Piehole…why did you have to talk about the “enormity” of Obama’s soul? “Enormity” is a [false cognate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_cognate). It doesn’t mean enormousness. It means egregiousness. Webster’s differs with you on that subject: > **[Merriam-Webster: America's Most Trusted Dictionary](https://www.merriam-webster.com/)** > > Find definitions for over 300,000 words from the most authoritative English dictionary. Continuously updated with new words and meanings. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/306 "2012-09-07T01:56:22Z")
someone (i betting the name may begin with o) must have put the word out on being respectful about the republican nominees. the way not just one or two, but many of the speakers, quell the boos for romney and ryan. it has become really noticable. things like: noo, nnnooo, he’s a good man. he is a family man. he loves america. i just disagree with xyz, pdq, rst. one thing i noticed right off, from when he was running in 2008, in the primaries was how he always showed respect for those he was running against. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/307 "2012-09-07T02:18:07Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > Kerry was pretty funny. loved the zingers on foreign policy. Kerry will be the next Secretary of State. You heard it here first. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/308 "2012-09-07T02:28:03Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Absolutely! Because “Vote Democrat” and “Democrat Party” are EXACTLY THE SAME. Thanks for pointing that out! I submit that such signs and slogans are largely responsible for the use of “Democrat” instead of “Democratic” amongst the American public at large. When a person goes through life hearing “the Democrats want this,” “the Democrats say that,” “Vote Democrat,” or “He’s a Democrat,” it’s hardly the fault of the Republicans if people use the word “Democrat” when referring to the party. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/309 "2012-09-07T02:31:22Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I submit that such signs and slogans are largely responsible for the use of “Democrat” instead of “Democratic” amongst the American public at large. When a person goes through life hearing “the Democrats want this,” “the Democrats say that,” “Vote Democrat,” or “He’s a Democrat,” it’s hardly the fault of the Republicans if people use the word “Democrat” when referring to the party. So it’s the Democrats fault that our opponents can’t be arsed to use our correct name? Even when you’re corrected over and over and over again? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/310 "2012-09-07T02:32:47Z")
ut oh, some one has added jokes into the speech. ---
**Author:** ![akwally1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akwally1/32/3220_2.png) [@akwally1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akwally1)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/311 "2012-09-07T02:38:42Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I submit that such signs and slogans are largely responsible for the use of “Democrat” instead of “Democratic” amongst the American public at large. When a person goes through life hearing “the Democrats want this,” “the Democrats say that,” “Vote Democrat,” or “He’s a Democrat,” it’s hardly the fault of the Republicans if people use the word “Democrat” when referring to the party. You may certainly submit that, but I will be turning it back to you as an incomplete since I don’t think even you believe that. Mark ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/312 "2012-09-07T02:43:07Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > . . . it’s hardly the fault of the Republicans if people use the word “Democrat” when referring to the party. [Actually and historically and contemporaneously, it is.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democrat_Party_(epithet)#History_of_usage) > [@](#): > > The partisan use as epithet has been traced by William Safire to the 1940 presidential campaign of Republican Wendell Willkie. Willkie’s campaign manager Harold Stassen explained to Safire his motivation for using the term. Stassen said that because the Democratic Party was at that time controlled by undemocratic bosses—“by Hague in New Jersey, Pendergast in Missouri and Kelly-Nash in Chicago, [it] should not be called a ‘Democratic Party.’ It should be called the ‘Democrat Party.’”[15] > > The noun-as-adjective has been used by Republican leaders since the 1940s, and in most GOP national platforms since 1948.[16] By the early 1950s the term was in widespread use among Republicans of all factions.[12] In 1968, Congressional Quarterly reported that at its national convention “the GOP did revert to the epithet of ‘Democrat’ party. The phrase had been used in 1952 and 1956 but not in 1960.”[17] > > Use of the term has been a point of contention within the Republican Party. In 1984, when a delegate of the Republican platform committee asked unanimous consent to change a platform amendment to read the Democrat Party instead of Democratic Party, Representative Jack Kemp objected, saying that would be “an insult to our Democratic friends” and the committee dropped the proposal.[3] In 1996, the wording throughout the Republican party platform was changed from “Democratic Party” to “Democrat Party”: Republican leaders “explained they wanted to make the subtle point that the Democratic Party had become elitist”.[18] A proposal to use the term again in the August 2008 Republican Platform for similar reasons was voted down with leaders choosing to use “Democratic Party”. “We probably should use what the actual name is,” said Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, the panel’s chairman. “At least in writing.”[18] > > The term has been used by Ralph Nader.[19] > > **Modern usage** > > Following his inauguration in 2001, President George W. Bush often used the noun-as-adjective when referring to the opposition party.[20] Likewise, it has been used by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay,[21] Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner,[22] Senator Charles Grassley,[23] former Congressman Steve Buyer,[24] and other Republicans. In 2006, Ruth Marcus, a columnist for The Washington Post, noted that “[t]he derisive use of ‘Democrat’ in this way was a Bush staple during the recent campaign”, and she chastised Bush, alleging he was being intentionally offensive.[7] Marcus went on to say the argument about the term was “trivial, sticks-and-stones […] linguistic bickering”.[7] > > Bush spoke of the “Democrat majority” in his 2007 State of the Union Address.[25] The advance copy that was given to members of Congress read “Democratic majority.”[6] Democrats again complained about the use of “Democrat” as an adjective in the address. “Like nails on a chalkboard,” complained Clinton White House Chief of Staff John Podesta.[6] Some commentators ignored Bush’s slur against the newly elected Democratic majority;[26] others “debated” whether Bush was intentionally using the term. Congressional Historian Julian E. Zelizer said “It’s hard to disentangle whether that’s an intentional slight”.[6] Political analyst Charlie Cook doubted it was a deliberate attempt to offend Democrats saying Republicans “have been doing it [using the term] so long that they probably don’t even realize they’re doing it.”[6] > > Bush later joked about the issue by talking about his leadership of the “Republic Party” the following month.[27] On February 4, 2007, Bush joked in a speech to House Democrats, stating “Now look, my diction isn’t all that good. I have been accused of occasionally mangling the English language. And so I appreciate you inviting the head of the Republic Party.”[28] > > Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh uses the term almost exclusively when referring to Democrats.[29] > > Alaska governor and Republican Party vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin used the term during the 2008 United States presidential campaign.[30][31] ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/313 "2012-09-07T03:00:03Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Well, I’m Canadian and have no vote and no skin in the game - and I think Michelle Obama’s speech, while warmly and skillfully delivered, was predictable, trite, and uninspiring. > > But I’m telling you right now Bill Clinton’s speech was one hell of a speech. It was the best convention speech I’ve ever seen. It was too long, and yet he still nailed it. It was so superior to the RNC speeches it’s unfair. It was an awesome speech that absolutely tore the Republicans to shreds. God damn, we need to elect him again. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/314 "2012-09-07T03:03:07Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Kerry will be the next Secretary of State. You heard it here first. Excellent choice. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/315 "2012-09-07T03:04:17Z")
Obama. Obama, Obama , awesome man! ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/316 "2012-09-07T03:05:32Z")
Bruce sounds just about right ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/317 "2012-09-07T03:08:45Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > So it’s the Democrats fault that our opponents can’t be arsed to use our correct name? Even when you’re corrected over and over and over again? No need to correct me, I know the difference - though admittedly I don’t always say “Democratic” because it sounds so awkward and pedantic (an awkwardness and pedantry which I suspect underlies the use of “Vote Democrat” in the first place. Otherwise why not just say “Vote Democratic?”) But to your first point, is it really your impression that only Republicans say Democrat instead of Democratic when referring to the party? It’s a big wide world out there you know, and most people aren’t as attuned to the vagaries of American politics as those of us here on the Dope. And on preview, **BG** , you’d have more of a point if not for the Dems’ own campaign signs and sloganeering. People can hardly be blamed for thinking “Vote Democrat” means they should vote for the Democrat party. (I suspect that the origin of this problem lies with the Democrats themselves anyway. Care to hazard a guess as to why Democrats began to use signs and slogans that say “Vote Democrat” rather than “Vote Democratic” to begin with?) ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/318 "2012-09-07T03:09:46Z")
And **THAT** , ladies and gentlemen, is how you knock it out of the park. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/319 "2012-09-07T03:13:45Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > No need to correct me, I know the difference - though admittedly I don’t always say “Democratic” because it sounds so awkward and pedantic (an awkwardness and pedantry which I suspect underlies the use of “Vote Democrat” in the first place. Otherwise why not just say “Vote Democratic?”) > > But to your first point, is it really your impression that only Republicans say Democrat instead of Democratic when referring to the party? It’s a big wide world out there you know, and most people aren’t as attuned to the vagaries of American politics as those of us here on the Dope. There’s a difference between using it out of ignorance and using it out of asshole-ishness. But fuck all, take this shit to another thread, what the fuck does this have to do with the Democratic National Convention? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/320 "2012-09-07T03:14:05Z")
Was only able to catch the tail end of President Obama’s speech. Sounded good, but I suspect Clinton’s speech yesterday will be the Gold Standard of Speeches for the rest of this century. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695/321 "2012-09-07T03:17:13Z")
> [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](#): > > _Ooooohh, Say “Arithmetic” again! Say it again!_ i believe jon stewart agrees with you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-a-dnc-2012-thread/633695.md?page=17)