I begin by stating that the term Democrat Party is a Republican pejorative meant to suggest our party is not truly democratic. I explain that the phrase dates back to the 1880s and was used by Republicans from the 1940s, with wider use in the 1980s. I argue that the Democratic Party supports diversity, equity, inclusion, and broad access to voting while the Republican Party often opposes these goals and seeks to restrict voting. I note that Democratic is the correct adjective and that Democratic Party is our legal and proper name. I welcome those who have recently left the Republican Party to join our diverse ranks. I close by saying our commitment to democracy goes beyond our name and is reflected in our actions.
Transcripts
Speaker A:
Damn it, Dagley with another Riverside rant, I got into an argument on social media recently.
Speaker A:
It's hard not to these days.
Speaker A:
When I pointed out to a commenter that his use of the term Democrat Party was a pejorative used by Republicans, or should I call them republics?
Speaker A:
His response was to call me the posting police and add your know it all arrogance is why people get turned off by the Democrats.
Speaker A:
Speaker Newt Gingrich in the:
Speaker A:
I was mistaken.
Speaker A:
According to the lengthy citation filled Wikipedia entry on the subject, the term Democrat Party did originate with Republicans and is indeed intended as an insult, but it didn't come from Newt Gingrich.
Speaker A:
It dates back as far as the:
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se of the term started in the:
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The idea behind the term is the Republican's notion that despite its official legal name, our party is not actually Democratic, or no more so than theirs.
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In any case, I'll pause here to give my fellow Democrats time to finish laughing.
Speaker A:
These are the same people who like to say that our nation is a republic, not a democracy.
Speaker A:
That's like saying that's not a dog, that's a poodle.
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A republic is a form of democracy.
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In case anyone wonders which party is more Democratic, compare any two group photos of Democratic and Republican elected officials.
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Is there any diversity among the Republicans?
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There may be a white woman among the group of white men, or even a person or two whose skin isn't pale or painted orange.
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The Republican Party has even been on the rampage against diversity in recent years with their anti DEI campaign.
Speaker A:
DEI stands for diversity, equity and inclusion, something they consider radical and improper.
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Their anti DEI movement certainly is anything but Democratic.
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How about the way those elected officials are chosen by their party?
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Which party has rules designed to have its leadership reflect the demographics of the general population?
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That would be the Democratic Party.
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Which party's goal is to make life more fair for the majority of Americans rather than to stuff the already bulging pockets of the most wealthy?
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The party behind that Democratic concept is, hence the name, the Democratic Party.
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How about voting the very bedrock of our democracy?
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Or for those who insist, our Democratic Republic, that is Poodle dog.
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The Democratic Party works to allow as many eligible voters as possible to vote.
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That's Democratic.
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The Republican Party works to keep them from it.
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That's not Democratic.
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Aside from those indisputable facts, there's the issue of grammar.
Speaker A:
Democratic is an adjective, a word that describes something.
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Democrat is a noun, a person, place or thing.
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Even right wing grammarians bristle at the term Democrat Party.
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Finally, Democratic Party is our group's official legal name and should be respected as that, if nothing else.
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I've seen the term used lately by one demographic in particular, and I do not blame them for it because they were brought up thinking it was the correct name.
Speaker A:
They are the people who have recently fled the Republican Party because it has abandoned its long standing principles and become ridiculously radical under the leadership of, ironically, a former Democrat who has stated plainly that he joined the Republican Party because its members are easier to fool.
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And as Republican President George W. Bush famously said, fool me once, shame on, shame on you.
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Fool me, can't get fooled again.
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To those newcomers, I say, welcome New Democrats, to the Democratic Party.
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We're happy to include you, too, in our diverse group.
Speaker A:
You'll find that our commitment to being Democratic goes far beyond our name, and we hope you won't get fooled again.
Speaker A:
This is Janet Dagley for the Riverside County Democratic Party.
