The following is a list of phrases widely used by Republicans in the political arena. These simple, catchy phrases, many of which were developed using focus groups, are part of the Republicans’ successful, coordinated effort to frame issues in their favor. See how many of these phrases you recognize as part of everyday political discourse that you read or hear in the media or in discussions with people you know. Notice how nearly all of the phrases are loaded terms, framed by the Republicans to benefit their party and/or to criticize the Democratic Party.
If you can think of any more such terms, please let us know by commenting here. And check back from time to time, as the list will be updated with new or newly remembered Republican messages:
“abortion on demand”
“activist judges”
“big government”
“Card Check”
“chain migration”
“class warfare”
“Clear Skies Act”
“climate change” (instead of “global warming”)
“culture of life”
“cut and run”
“death panels”
“death tax”
“Defense of Marriage Act”
“Democrat Party”
“drown it [government] in the bathtub” (anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, describing his main goal)
“energy exploration” (in place of “oil drilling”)
“enhanced interrogation”
“entitlements”
“extraordinary rendition”
“family values”
“far Left”
“freedom”
“government-run health care”, “government-run health insurance”, or “government takeover of health care”
“Ground Zero Mosque”
“Healthy Forests Initiative”
“Hillarycare”
“illegal” (describing illegal immigrant)
“job creators”
“judicial activism”
“law and order”
“legislate from the bench”
“liberal media”
“liberty”
“Obamacare”
“partial birth abortion”
“party of personal responsibility”
“patriot”
“peace through strength”
“playing the race card”
“pro-life”
“reform” (euphemism for “cut”)
“rule of law”
“soft on crime”
“teachers’ unions”
“tort reform” (limiting personal injury and other lawsuit damages to benefit big corporations)
“trial lawyers”
“right to life”
“right to work”
“smaller government and less taxes”
“Socialist”
“soft on crime”
“States’ rights”
“tax and spend liberal”
“tax revolt”
“values voter”
“War on Terror”
“Welfare Queen”
“woke”
Perhaps in the future, we will be able to make a list of Democratic political phrases. However, at the moment, that list would be extremely short.
@David, good point! Other such Orwellian bills during the Bush administration were the Clear Skies Act and the Healthy Forests Initiative, both of which were the opposite of their names.
They also love to do it with bills —
“The Patriot act” is a huge example..
talk about marketing!
I think one of their earlier and cheesier ones was (The evil doers)that was used a lot by W after 9/11.
How about
Weapons of mass destruction.
Trickle down economics.
Those are good ones, thanks!
I propose just a few:
refer to our “leader” by the name “Pinnochio”
“don’t confuse me with facts”
“tax less, spend more”
I think you’re right about those!
Defund the police
Welfare queen
Thanks Dan. “Welfare queen” is a good one from the Reagan era. However, “defund the police” came from the far left, and it is so unpopular and hurtful to Democrats that, as you point out, Republicans are using it to score political points.
How about
Woke —- they prefer folks to be asleep at the wheel.
Alternate facts.