"Liberal Double Talk"

Doug Hagin

Tis the season for presidential campaigning. This means of course political spinning,campaign speeches, political rallies, more spinning, political double-talk, more spinning and finally, some more political spinning.

This time of an election year we are inundated with more hot air than a hot-air balloon festival. If you happen to be a novice at this political double-talk you might need a primer on what the politicians actually mean when they, and their running-mates go on campaign mode.

Both Democrats and Republicans are guilty of speaking in a language which should be known as politicalese. Politicians it seems are truly fearful of actually answering direct questions with direct responses. This is why they have invented politicalese as their first and second language. Their fear of saying the wrong thing in front of microphones prevents them from speaking their minds and from speaking with true conviction too many times.

When asked a question the politician will respond with phrases like “ That is a great question” or “I am so glad you asked that question” or the classic “ That is such an important question and an issue that matters deeply to me”. What they are really saying is they do not wish to tackle this question because they might offend voters so they are going to talk for five minutes about how important the question is without actually saying anything substantive at all.

Although both major parties do engage in this artful dodging of brutally honest dialogue it is the Democrats who seem most afraid of admitting who they are and what they stand for. In fact they are also afraid of what Republicans stand for ever coming to light either.

So let us focus on the brand of politicalese spoken by Democrats since their speech causes the most confusion amongst those listening. Remember to listen for Democrats to say these catch phrases and launch these spins during the coming months.

First and foremost be sure to listen for the all-time Democratic classic “tax-cuts for the rich”. This one is about as far from the truth as they can get. The truth is if we cut taxes in America then those who actually pay the taxes will naturally receive most of the cuts in taxes. Democrats can never say that of course. So they spin tax-cuts and try to convince us the rich are getting their taxes cut while we are left out in the cold.

This of course amounts to class warfare and the Democrats are very adept at it. For years they have painted themselves as saviors for the poor and middle class and the Republicans as champions of the rich and elite. Nothing could be further from the truth. Tax cuts mean everyone pays fewer taxes. That is a good thing, it is, after all our money to begin with.

Then there is another Democrat favorite, the “working Americans”. This is another ploy by Democrats to divide Americans based on income and wealth. Democrats love to say they are fighting for working Americans, and that they are supportive of cutting taxes on working Americans.

The whole “working Americans” slogan is ridiculous and discriminatory, as are Democratic policies on taxation. When Democrats insist on classifying “working Americans” as only lower and middle class they also assert that wealthy Americans are fat, lazy, and do not work. This is, of course, patently false. Wealthy Americans work too, many of them long, tough hours just as people who make less money do.

Democrats might make some political gain by embittering voters against the rich, but they do no favors to anyone by playing such petty politics. Every American should be taxed fairly. And that means everyone should either pay the same flat rate or pay an excise tax. Yet Democrats support punitive tax codes which punish success.

Choice is another term Democrats love to use repeatedly. When a Democrat says he supports choice what he really means is he supports only a woman’s right to abort her unborn child. Choice for schools? No! Choice to carry a firearm for self-defense? No! Choice to privatize your Social Security? No!

Certainly there is no greater example of politicalese than when Democrats speak on inclusion and diversity. These concepts are noble and great goals to aim for. In truth color, religion, sexual orientation should not matter when judging character, or ability. Yet the Democrats have long since learned to never hold themselves to the same standards they set for Republicans where inclusion and diversity are concerned.

When Democrats say they support a society where skin color or gender matter not they actually mean unless affirmative action is involved. The very same Democrats who claim to abhor racism support programs which offer scholarships, promotions, or hiring based on race or gender.

The very same Democrats who claim skin color or sexual orientation do not matter also somehow support hate-crime laws which take such issues into account when punishing crimes.

So listen to Democrats very carefully until November. Listen and remember to hear not only what Democrats say but what they really mean.