Poor John McCain isn’t especially good at grammar, either.
Given McCain’s reputation for reaching across the aisle and his daily pledge to treat Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton with respect, Washington Wire was a little surprised to hear McCain using the [”Democrat Party”] language.
“One thing I’m not any good at predicting is the outcome of Democrat elections,” he said Tuesday aboard his bus, dubbed the Straight Talk Express. A day earlier, he had mentioned his “Democrat friends” to a Cleveland-area audience.
Asked aboard his bus about the “ic,” he replied, “I’m sorry, I usually say Democratic. They prefer Democratic, so I try to say Democratic… It offends some members of their party, so I’ll say Democratic if that’s what makes them feel better.”
But his resolve didn’t last long. Later on that same ride, he was talking about his annoyance that Democrats take credit for the improving situation in Iraq. “To say, as Sen. Obama has said, that it’s because of the Democrat majority that we have experienced success in Iraq, that’s just beyond comprehension.”
For the record, it’s not a matter of “preference,” or “feeling better.” “Democrat” is a noun, “Democratic” is an adjective. This isn’t optional; it’s English. “Democrat Party” isn’t bothersome, it’s just wrong.
No Trackbacks To “McCain and the ‘ic’ factor“
what a jackass
Here’s a few “ics” describing McCain:
moronic
demonic
sick
apoplectic
septic
ichh!!!
“Poor John McCain isn’t especially good at grammar, either.”
Seems to be a prerequisite to become president of the USA.
It always strikes me how the Right feigns ignorance over the difference between “Democrat” and “Democratic”. They know very well the difference.
One could argue that the word “black” to describe Barack Obama could be used this exact same way, benign if used one way, offensive if used in another.
If the republicans say “democrat”, i say democrats say “republicants”.
funny that the party that bitches about people learning to english if they want to be americans don’t speak it properly
Republicans seems to be attracted to candidates that are poorly educated.
That may be why so few are qualified to be teachers or professors.
On Joe’s show this morning they showed a clip of McCain saying that he was a republican conservative liberal. McCain realized what he had said and corrected himself.
McCain thinks his age and his history as a POW will shield him no matter what he says.
Joe also said that the republicans will go after Obama in ways Hillary can’t. He said the republicans will use race. He said they don’t care if they are criticized for doing it. Man, if Obama is the candidate he is going to have to deal with a lot of hell. I think he can handle it though, he’s probably heard it all at some time in his life.
Sorry but it’s not grammatically wrong to say “Democrat Party” merely because “Democrat” is a noun.
A perfectly good example from US history is the “Whig Party”; “whig” is certainly a noun as well. Nouns can be used as adjectives sometimes.
However, saying “Democrat Party” doesn’t really make sense, because the noun “Democrat” is formed from the adjective (and not vice-versa). A “Democrat” is someone who adheres to Democratic ideas. So “Democrat Party” is using a noun formed from an adjective as an adjective.
Which is why just using the adjective directly as in “Democratic Party”, sounds much better.
pissed off patricia @ 8:
On a commercial airing on the radio in Dallas, McCain talks about a fellow POW that was tortured for making an American Flag. He then went on to say that he didn’t want the suffering of his fellow POWs to have been in vain.
So is he making it clear that he will refight and win the Vietnam War?
Does he know that the war is over?
Rick Tallarigo @ 5:
How about Republicunts
It’s not about grammar. It’s a purposeful way of distinguishing between the Democratic party and the administration’s efforts to instill a democratic form of government in Iraq. At some point they realized they didn’t want to associate a drive for democracy with the Democrats, so the memo went out and they all started saying “Democrat Party” on the same day. It’s juvenile and decisive. They need to be called on it every time.
It’s just the usual childish games that the republican party does, just like emphasizing Obama’s middle name. Maybe they think they’re being clever? Or, more likely, stupid nonsense like that appeals to the lowest demonators that reside in the republican party.
Oops, I meant “divisive.”
Fantomina @ 11:
No, my understanding is that “Democrat Party” goes back to Newt Gingrich in the mid-1990s Congress. But for similar reasons: they didn’t want voters to think of the democratic process when they heard of the Democratic Party. So they dropped the “ic” to emphasize the “rat” at the end and make people think of rodents instead.
Fantomina @ 11:
Or at least make them tickle our balls when they misuse the term. Nothing too humiliating, just a little tickle will be enough.
Weaseldog @ 10:
One question here. How does a POW in a prison cell make an American flag?
That was a bizarre statement about the suffering of his fellow POWs to be in vain. God only knows what he’s talking about. I don’t know what vietnam POWs have to do with this war. Sounds to me like he’s playing for sympathy. He never lets us forget about his history.
Remember yesterday the clip of the guy talking about the flag pin? Remember how he said it was fun to irritate the left? I think this is just more of that. Doing picky things just to get a rise out of us. They know what they are doing and they do it on purpose. They like to be aggravating. What does that say about them?
If “Republican” is the right term to use for a member of the “Republican Party”, then shouldn’t “Democratic” be the correct term to use for a member of the “Democratic Party”?
Or maybe it just sounds better to drop the “ic” when referring to either the party or it’s adherents?
Is this really a huge issue? I’m just saying…
Ah, but it’s from the brain of Karl “Permanent Republican Majority” Rove and, diligently carried out by people like Roger Ailes, head of Fox News, who jointly insist that Repub party members and Fox on-air personalities ALWAYS say “Democrat” when referring to the opposition party. We live in a democratIC society: the opposition party has not right to use the term exclusively. Bush does it, too, if you’ll note.
See, it’s not a grammar issue, it’s a political message, just like everything else these asshats do. It’s a subtle form of brainwashing. Another example: if anyone at the Republican Headquarters office is caught referring to the opposition candidates as either “Hillary” or “Barack,” they’re fined $10. That’s why Rove was saying yesterday that his people should start saying “Senator Obama and “Senator Clinton” (”Mrs. Clinton” even better), otherwise you’re encouraging familiarity with them…or more to the point, fraternization with the enemy.
Only a true Fascist like Rove could come up with camel shit like this. Imagine what kind of mind games he’ll come up with when Obama’s the nominee. It’s nauseating just to think about, but - you can’t stop what’s comin’…
Usually Republicans win elections by being the biggest asshole possible. They act like they’re “one helluva guy” and “God’s gift to the world” and the Democratic opponent gets their panties in a twist or gets all hung up trying to pretend the other guy doesn’t exist.
But Obama has so much natural class and has run his campaign so smoothly, that I think this tactic is going to blow up in McCain’s face. He looks like a fucking jerk.
Sure, it’s annoying, but what’s the point of complaining?
Do the Dems really want to be known as the Pedant(ic) Party?
Olbermann made the “Democrat Party” mistake last night, then said “Did I just say that?” and corrected himself.
It happens.
You must understand that the only way to get to the top of the heap in the republic party is to be the most willfully ignorant moron in the group…..
21 - you are so right! We should completely ignore this little barb and soon enough it will no longer be any fun for them - just like children teasing!
This does go back to Newt. Perpetuated by Limbaugh. Laura Ingraham says “dumb-ocrat”…every time. They know exactly what they’re doing. I agree that they need to be called on it at every opportunity.
I will not vote for John McCa.
May I suggest we begin using the term “Rape-public-an” until the Right wing relents?
This is just my own question regarding McCain. Meaning no disrespect to his history, how does having been a POW help to qualify someone to be president? I know he suffered a horrible experience and that he survived that is admirable. I just can’t see how that gives him an edge in knowing how to conduct a war.
He’s acting innocent on this “ic” factor and so many other things, but I’m afraid he is being handled by such as Rove. He seems to have lost his ability to be what he wants to be and instead is allowing himself to be manipulated by the Republican party. If he continues this way and following their orders, I think he will have serious problems getting independent voters.
chuck @ 27:
They won’t relent. They will hold Congressional Hearings.
This isn’t optional; it’s English. And aren’t they the “English only” party?
Actually saying democrat is a “cute” way of calling dems “rats” as their ad did in 2000 or was it 2004? Such a “cute” group of thugs.
chuck @ 27:
LOL — Best one yet.
BobD @ 30:
That is a very good point. If we criminalized bad grammar as well as making English the official language…shit we would have to bring in labor to build and guard all the prisons.
“Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas”
John has been around GW tooooooo long. He’s beginning to sound like that wus.
The Republic Party needs to get a taste of its own medicine. I think they really need to be focusing on much bigger issues. If, for example, Obama gets the nomination and then there is any funny business in the Nov. election, there will be rioting in the streets, and not just by Blacks or Youth. It will tear this country up. On the other hand, I think the Republics will continue to use the race card even if Obama wins, thus tearing up the country during his tenure. Those Republic strategiests gotta get a grip, and yet I believe they can’t.
Svendem @ 9:
No, “wig” is a noun. “Whig” is an adjective that has nothing to do with hairpieces.
Canuknotusa @ 18:
“Republican” can be both an noun, referring to someone with Republican ideals and an adjective, referring to something that has the property of having Republican ideals. Whereas “Democrat” means the former, and “Democratic” the latter.
This might be why McCain is confused.
But in both cases, the latter form should be preferred, because otherwise you’d be saying, in effect “The party of people who adhere to Democratic/Republican ideas” instead of “The party of Democratic/Republican ideas”.
In the case of the “Whig Party”, you are indeed saying “The party of Whigs” (being people who adhere to Whig ideas) In 20th century English, you could’ve said the “Whigist Party”, but the noun is still perferred here because it’s a proper name.
(e.g. “Pennsylvania State University” not “Pennsylvanian State University” or “Pennsylvania’s State University”)
More Repug penis fencing.
Just shorten it to the Pubic Party. They have demonstrated, repeatedly, that their interest lies there, rather than in Democracy.
Yes, the anchortainers should call them on it. Tweety actually did, once, and it was about the only time I have ever respected him.
I sure don’t want our party to stoop to their level. I want us to conduct ourselves just as Obama conducts himself. When they do these little barbs, just brush it off the way he does. Let’s not get down in the mud with them, the only thing that happens is that you get dirty.
If the Democrats take the high road and move beyond this childish stuff the Republicans are doing, the Republicans will have no one to play to. Soon lots of people will see that the Republicans only strategy is to be smut peddlers and race baiters. I think the majority of the country is ready to move beyond that sort of thing. Let the Republicans lose this by their very own doings. We don’t need to help them.
All the little school yard name calling, nuanced insults are not registering with the public. Everytime Hillary does it, even SHE gets booed and her numbers drop.
The public is fed up. The public knows that it has been HAD. $4 gas by the summer, job outsourcing is hurting EVERYONE now (how’s THAT for trickle down theory), mortgage defaults, people losing their homes and the government saying “Fuck you, you signed a contract”.
Yeah. The backlash is coming and in some ways already here.
Just wait till August when gas flirts with $5.
Then the shit is REALLY gonna hit the fan.
I had an evil Republican news anchor once that would try to slip democRAT party through the teleprompter. I’d have to go behind her and change her writing which was daunting because she was also my boss. We also went the rounds about saying Saddam versus Hussein. She actually pulled a Cliff Claven (Cheers) saying that last names are first and visa versa in the Middle East which is bullshit…that happens in the Far East. Saddam Hussein actually outlawed end names because they were tribal. His name was Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti. I think the anchor liked saying Saddam because she pronounced it Sodom (think george 41).
It’ll be a happy day if the Republican freak show is sidelined this election.
Radically Moderate @ 37:
What an image.
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Litabell @ 12:
What bugs me is that the name “Hussein” is automatically regarded as offensive.
I think of the late King Hussein of Jordan, who was a magnificent man, worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize (though I don’t believe he ever won one). Jordan could not of elected a more wise and decent leader. To equate his name with a “racists slur” is beyond offensive, and I can only imagine what Jordan’s current king… his son and our ally… thinks every time he hears the Republicans using his fathers name that way.
pissed off patricia @ 39:
I agree completely. He is magnificent when he does that. Why the Dems haven’t adopted this approach from the beginning has always angered and amazed me.
Again, I say the Republican party is filled with a bunch of cliquish (sic?!?) children. This purposeful misuse of the party name is reminiscent of such junior high school antics as “Ewww…he’s got cooties!”
“We gotchya chain link fence, we gotchya stockade fence, we gotchya picket fence and over here we gotchya penis fence.”
He’s going senile from drinking too much Boosh cool-aid.
Mugsy @ 43: