# Why do people use "partisan" as an epithet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 9, 2002, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046 "2002-11-09T18:12:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/1 "2002-11-09T18:12:16Z")
I get accused of being a partisan all the time. I say “accused”, because that is how it is presented, as an accusation. Most recently it was “blind, hateful, partisanship” in connection with this person’s (erroneous) belief that I am not disgusted with the Democrats who voted with Bush. (I am and I’ve said so before, even started threads about it, but whatever.) It has been said to me in a manner that makes it sound like I’m a KKK member despising black and Jews, which is, of course, just silly. I \* am \* a partisan. I am a devoted supporter of liberal politics and the people who are or would be in a position to make laws which reflect these liberal ideas I agree with. (Or as close as possible) And this is wrong because of what, exactly? Am I supposed to occasionally be in favor of a Republican for the sake of “balance” or something? Just for the hell of it? I really don’t get this. Yes, sometimes a Republican will be better in one area than a given Democrat. So? I want the guy who is going to vote the way I believe 9 times out of 10, not 1 out of 10. This isn’t racism, folks, it’s politics. I make choices about what I want and believe based on what is important to me, and I support the people who are closest to me in my beliefs (and have the best chance of winning…different discussion, had it last week, that’s not what this is about.). It isn’t as though I have some kind of weird, obsessive devotion to the word “Democrat” just because I like the way the letters are arranged. So spitting “partisan” at me as though I’m supposed to be ashamed of it makes about as much sense as spitting “Woman”. So…can anyone explain the use of “partisan” as an epithet? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/2 "2002-11-09T18:23:38Z")
“Partisan” means “You adamantly refuse to see that I am right.” (Except in Japanese, when it means “Honorable Mr. Parti”.) Please don’t take this the wrong way, my bobolink, but what precisely are you suggesting we debate here? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/3 "2002-11-09T18:26:26Z")
Whether partisanship is inherently a bad thing, like racism. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/4 "2002-11-09T18:27:40Z")
And I just noticed the Japanese joke. You slay me. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/5 "2002-11-09T18:30:37Z")
> [@](#): > > _partisan_ : a firm adherent to a party , faction, cause, or person; especially : one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance Being a firm adherent is OK. However, exhibiting blindness, prejudice and unreason is not OK. Since the word _partisan_ has either meaning, partisanship may or may not be a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/6 "2002-11-09T18:36:59Z")
Well, that certainly clears that up! I have just stated my complete and unequivocal agreement with **december**. I have to go lie down now. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/7 "2002-11-09T18:51:01Z")
If one is partisan to the degree that they blindly agrees with whatever position their party holds, simply because it is the position of their party and **not because of the merits of said position** , then that deserves scorn IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/8 "2002-11-09T19:09:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*If one is partisan to the degree that they blindly agrees with whatever position their party holds, simply because it is the position of their party and **not because of the merits of said position** , then that deserves scorn IMO. \*\* Well, I’ve never done that. (Be hard to do since “my” party is such a soggy mess) And who decides what those merits are, Revtim? The opposition? The word “blind” is used in conjunction often with the word partisan… indicating a sheeplike mentality, where one doesn’t have any real opinions of one’s own. I think a good example, in my liberal Democratic opinion, of “blind” partisanship, is the support Bush supporters are giving him on Iraq, for instance. Blinding themselves to the fact that they pretty much didn’t give a shit until he started talking about it, and then \* because \* he started talking about it, suddenly it’s “Rah rah! Let’s go git saddam!”, and “blindly” ignoring the CIA and all the other information sources that are disagreeing with Bush. It’s pretty “blind” partisanship when you don’t have any feeling about something until your party tells you what it is, and there is no more perfect example of that than the Iraq thing. Having said that…it is my liberal Democratic opinion (which of course I think is right, and I think so because of the actual facts of the case, not just because I pulled the opinion out of my ass, but that’s not the point). So it can easily be argued that \*\* Boris \*\* was exactly right about what “partisan” really means. “You don’t see that I’m right, you must be an evil partisan! If you saw the light, you’d break with your party!” I do not believe as I believe because I have chosen a party. I have chosen a party based on what I believe. ---
**Author:** ![zigaretten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/91b2a8/32.png) [@zigaretten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zigaretten)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/9 "2002-11-09T19:26:25Z")
Stoid… A…Who is Boris? B…What exactly are you arguing at this point; that you aren’t partisan but you’re proud that you are? ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/10 "2002-11-09T19:27:57Z")
I agree that the title of this thread should be “Why do people call me “partisan” as an epithet?” ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/11 "2002-11-09T20:24:49Z")
A: Boris is elucidator. You may see him occasionally call me Natasha. B: Partisanship is not inherently wrong, evil or blind. It is actually pretty neutral. So why keep using it as a demonization? It has become a habit of this country. “People are tired of partisan politics” Huh? Really? Everybody wants everybody to agree with everybody else about everything? I don’t believe that for a second. (Well, actually, of course, we do want everyone to agree…with us!) What people may be tired of is pointless sniping at the opposition, negative campaigning, and demonization of the other side. But partisanship? It’s what keeps this country and our politcal system alive. And this crap about it being evil is what is slowly eroding the differences between the two parties, a horrific development. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/12 "2002-11-09T20:29:04Z")
I also note that “partisan” (as an epithet) is a term thrown about most often by the right. It seems they are on a campaign to discredit the word “partisan” in the same way they nearly managed to discredit the word “liberal”. The sickening part is that it is working. Whatever else, I gotta give the right full credit…they are masterful at using the language to acheive the desired effect. “Death tax” indeed… ---
**Author:** ![Bukk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d2c977/32.png) [@Bukk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bukk)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/13 "2002-11-09T20:53:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > **I also note that “partisan” (as an epithet) is a term thrown about most often by the right. It seems they are on a campaign to discredit the word “partisan” in the same way they nearly managed to discredit the word “liberal”.** Seems to me that they already have discredited the word “liberal.” It functions acceptably among liberals, but in the general population, I never hear it used in any way except as a pejorative. In the media, “conservative” seems most typically presented as an explanatory adjective. “Liberal” comes out as a snipe, with the implication that the thus named is not just politically left of center, but a whacko extremist. As you suggest, the same is slowly but surely happening to “partisan,” and my own perception is that this is certainly process being driven by the Right, which means that before too long “partisan” will mean essentially the same thing “liberal” has come to mean. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/14 "2002-11-09T21:01:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > **I also note that “partisan” (as an epithet) is a term thrown about most often by the right. It seems they are on a campaign to discredit the word “partisan” in the same way they nearly managed to discredit the word “liberal”.** > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Bukk_ > **As you suggest, the same is slowly but surely happening to “partisan,” and my own perception is that this is certainly process being driven by the Right, which means that before too long “partisan” will mean essentially the same thing “liberal” has come to mean.** You guys have _got_ to be kidding. Remember the Clinton impeachment? One of the big criticisms from the left was how (gasp!) _partisan_ it was. The right has no monopoly on the use of the term “partisan” as a pejorative. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/15 "2002-11-09T21:53:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > \*\*And who decides what those merits are, Revtim? The opposition? \*\* The point I was trying to make is that **individuals** should decide what the merits of a position are, regardless of whatever his/her party’s official view is of that position. Or the opposing party’s official view, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![zigaretten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/91b2a8/32.png) [@zigaretten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zigaretten)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/16 "2002-11-10T05:43:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > \*\*I also note that “partisan” (as an epithet) is a term thrown about most often by the right. “Death tax” indeed… \*\* Then you’ll no doubt be shocked by this “[study](http://secure.mediaresearch.org/news/reality/2000/Fax20000503.html)” which shows the media using the phrase “partisan Republican” 50 percent more often than “partisan Democrat.” The phrase “extreme right” shows up three and a half times more often than “extreme left.” You might even try this yourself using google. I got some very interesting results. > [@](#): > > \*\*“Death tax” indeed… \*\* I agree…ranks right up there with “pro-choice,” don’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/17 "2002-11-10T06:43:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zigaretten \* > \*\* > > Then you’ll no doubt be shocked by this “[study](http://secure.mediaresearch.org/news/reality/2000/Fax20000503.html)” which shows the media using the phrase “partisan Republican” 50 percent more often than “partisan Democrat.” The phrase “extreme right” shows up three and a half times more often than “extreme left.” You might even try this yourself using google. I got some very interesting results.\*\* Google was rather interesting. The first use of partisan republican was in the title of [http://www.republicandailynews.com/](http://www.republicandailynews.com/) All the ones on the first page of google were republicans references to themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/18 "2002-11-10T07:16:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zigaretten \* > \*\*I agree…ranks right up there with “pro-choice,” don’t it? \*\* And what would you call it? Pro abortion? Then you’d be lying. ---
**Author:** ![zigaretten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/91b2a8/32.png) [@zigaretten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zigaretten)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/19 "2002-11-10T07:28:40Z")
**Sterra** Thanks, I didn’t even spot that. It is kind of silly to argue that the right wing is trying to discredit “partisan” when so many Republicans describe themselves that way, isn’t it? **Stoid** In what way am I lying when I call myself pro abortion? ---
**Author:** ![MrO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@MrO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrO)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046/20 "2002-11-10T07:57:10Z")
I confess to a certain amount of apathy and cynicism concerning national politics, and I don’t follow the whole mess very closely, so my comments may deserve to be ignored. “Partisan” seems negative to me for the same reason that the whole two-party (for all practical purposes) political system seems wrong. When politics becomes partisan, it seems to me just a contest to see whose side can win, with no real concern for making the right choice. The idea of politicians serving the people becomes even more of a joke than usual. Partisanship reminds me of a ball game. We have two teams, and each team wants only to beat the other. Each player is trying to further his or her own career, and no one really gives a damn about the people in the stands, except for having it uncomfortably in the back of their minds that the people in the stands are the ones paying for this game. As long as they keep paying (and in politics, there really isn’t much choice, is there?), the audience is ignored. And the audience in general isn’t bright enough to realize that none of the players care enough about them even to dislike them. I admit I don’t see the value of political parties in the first place. I’m sure it’s naive, but it seems to me that the people would be better served if all the politicians “serving” them were on the same side. Each individual decides what’s best in each situation, and acts accordingly–rather than each individual suppressing ideas about what might be best, and acting according to the party line. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-use-partisan-as-an-epithet/136046.md?page=2)