# Why are liberals referred to as "bedwetters"? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 21, 2007, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640 "2007-07-21T06:24:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bob\_co](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@bob\_co](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_co)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/1 "2007-07-21T06:24:10Z")
Does this mean timid? Similar to peacenik? I like this one. > **[Moonbat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonbat)** > > "Moonbat" is a pejorative political epithet used in United States politics, referring to liberals, progressives, or leftists (especially the far-left).\[citation needed\] > Descriptions of bat-like people on the Moon were part of the 1835 Great Moon hoax. > A long poem, The Proving of Gennad: A Mythological Romance by Landred Lewis (1890), uses the term "moonbat" to refer to unsound ideas, but not specifically political ones. > The term was used by science fiction author Robert A. Heinlein in the 1947... ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/2 "2007-07-21T06:27:30Z")
I’ve never heard the word bedwetter applied to liberals…do you have any examples of this? ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/3 "2007-07-21T07:15:43Z")
Usually, it’s because the halfwit using the term is utterly incapable of engaging in a substantive debate, and so tries to hide his inadequacy behind juvenile insults. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/4 "2007-07-21T07:16:24Z")
[QUOTE=Zoggie] I’ve never heard the word bedwetter applied to liberals…do you have any examples of this? [/QUOTE] Would the 103,000 results of Googling **liberal bedwetter** be a good start? ---
**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:** [July 21, 2007, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/5 "2007-07-21T07:21:21Z")
[QUOTE=E. Thorp] Would the 103,000 results of Googling **liberal bedwetter** be a good start? [/QUOTE] A Google vomit does not make a point. In any case, it is clear what the OP is up to. Let us take this to the pit. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=8802193#post8802193](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=8802193#post8802193) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/6 "2007-07-21T07:38:26Z")
[QUOTE=GIGObuster] Let us take this to the pit. [/QUOTE] Actually, you can just stay in this thread and vist the Pit when it moves. **bob\_co** , if you wanted a legitimate answer to the etymological question, you could have asked this in **GQ** with a request that the answers remain on topic and not get into a political pissing contest. Since it appears that you actual intent was to simply collect nasty names for people with whom you disagree, **GD** is not the appropriate Forum. Off to a new home. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2007, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/7 "2007-07-21T08:09:13Z")
You see **bob\_co** , the pit is your home as much as you want to pretend you are Great Debate material. What a poser. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/8 "2007-07-21T08:12:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Why are liberals referred to as “bedwetters”? Conservatives used to call them “bobs” but they decided that was going too far. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/9 "2007-07-21T09:45:20Z")
Oh, Jesus. First the Left Behinders. And now this. What’s next, a drunk Harry Binswanger? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/10 "2007-07-21T09:53:09Z")
[QUOTE=bob\_co] **Why are liberals referred to as “bedwetters”?** [/QUOTE] Because conservatives tend to have childish and none-too-bright minds, and most aren’t capable of adult criticism and reasoning ? ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/11 "2007-07-21T10:42:41Z")
[QUOTE=E. Thorp] Would the 103,000 results of Googling **liberal bedwetter** be a good start? [/QUOTE] You didn’t put the phrase in quotes when you searched. There are a mere 435 results for “liberal bedwetter.” ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/12 "2007-07-21T10:48:50Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] Because conservatives tend to have childish and none-too-bright minds, and most aren’t capable of adult criticism and reasoning ? [/QUOTE] :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/13 "2007-07-21T13:58:20Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] Because conservatives tend to have childish and none-too-bright minds, and most aren’t capable of adult criticism and reasoning ? [/QUOTE] As demonstrated by this carefully thought out, well-reasoned, and insightful remark? ---
**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:** [July 21, 2007, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/14 "2007-07-21T14:15:41Z")
Because liberals are the kind of people that conservatives wish had been chained to their beds as children in the name of discipline. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/15 "2007-07-21T14:22:52Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] Because conservatives tend to have childish and none-too-bright minds, and most aren’t capable of adult criticism and reasoning ? [/QUOTE] The irony is so sharp it hurts. 😃 I think it’s supposed to imply immaturity and specifically _fear_. At least a certain segment of liberals seem to be deathly afraid of anything which even suggests violence. I’ve seen some who can’t even stand the idea of conflict of any kind, down to the point where they ban most all video games (by definition, virtually all games include competition and often violence). ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/16 "2007-07-21T15:09:40Z")
Loathing and moral disgust is not fear. I find maggots revolting, I am not afraid of them. Yours is the kind of argument best made while scratching one’s nuts and combing the hairs on one’s manly chest. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/17 "2007-07-21T15:34:30Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Loathing and moral disgust is not fear. I find maggots revolting, I am not afraid of them. [/QUOTE] You need to [broaden your horizons.](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/asia_pac_eating_insects_in_thailand/html/1.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/18 "2007-07-21T15:49:49Z")
[QUOTE=smiling bandit] At least a certain segment of liberals seem to be deathly afraid of anything which even suggests violence. I’ve seen some who can’t even stand the idea of conflict of any kind, down to the point where they ban most all video games (by definition, virtually all games include competition and often violence). [/QUOTE] And a certain segment of conservatives believes reading Harry Potter exposes children to Satanic forces. I will stipulate that there are wingnuts at both ends of the political spectrum. Beyond that, I’m not sure what the point of your observation is. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/19 "2007-07-21T16:08:52Z")
[QUOTE=E. Thorp] Would the 103,000 results of Googling **liberal bedwetter** be a good start? [/QUOTE] I know **GIGObuster** already pointed this out, but is there anything stupider than counting hits in a Google keyword search? What exactly could it possibly prove? Search **liberal pedophile** and you get 538,000 hits – clearly, liberals are five times more likely to molest children than wet the bed. Of course, search **liberals go to heaven** and you get 1.5 million hits, so I guess even the urine-soaked kiddie diddlers are doing God’s work according to what words show up most frequently in blogs and porno sites. People do this all the time and it drives me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640/20 "2007-07-21T16:18:52Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] Because conservatives tend to have childish and none-too-bright minds, and most aren’t capable of adult criticism and reasoning ? [/QUOTE] Evidence [here.](http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2766040.ece) Also [here](http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=2008) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-liberals-referred-to-as-bedwetters/412640.md?page=2)