One of the de facto leaders of the Republican Party, Michael Steele, has expressed his opposition to an intra-party resolution that would change the name of the Democratic Party to the "Democrat Socialist Party".
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Socialists offended by Republicans renaming Democrats
By Jimmy Orr | 05.14.09
How do you offend a Socialist? Call him a Democrat.
With the Republican party reeling, some in the GOP think the answer to their problems could be pretty simple. It’s all in a name.
One of the agenda items at a special meeting of the Republican National Committee next week is to formally rename the opposition from the Democratic Party to the “Democrat Socialist Party” — a strategy perhaps modeled after the very successful effort to rename French fries “Freedom fries.”
Succeed
One of the proponents of this move, a Mr. James Bopp (we’ll call him “Hale”), told David Weigel at the Washington Independent that the resolution will pass.
“I don’t know of any opposition to it,” Hale said.
There might be some. Like one of the de facto leaders of the Republican party who spoke out against it.
Rush Limbaugh Michael Steele wrote a memo last month stating that he agreed that “Democrats are indeed marching America toward European-style socialism…. But I believe these proposed resolutions will accomplish little than to give the media and our opponents the opportunity to mischaracterize Republicans.”
Alternative
During an online chat yesterday hosted by the Washington Post, one participant who called himself a “lifelong Republican” appeared exasperated before offering up his own strategy.
“Seriously? At long last, that’s the party of Lincoln?” he wrote. “Why not just call ‘em the ‘Democrat Socialist Poopy-head Baby-Eater Party’ and be done with it?”
Most upset
Who might be the most offended by the effort? Democrats, for having their name impugned? No, they’ll laugh. Republicans? No, most will sink into a deeper depression.
It’s the Socialists. They’ll get bent out of shape. The head Socialist told the Independent that it will give “socialism a bad name.”
“It’s objectionable,” said Frank Llewellyn, “because they’re giving socialism a bad name by associating it with the Democrats, who are the second-most capitalist party in the world. The election of this president, sadly, hasn’t changed that.”
Idea
If Hale is unsuccessful next week in rebranding the Democrats, Christopher Orr at the New Republic has a creative suggestion. “If Bopp really wants to turn the public against the Dems, he could call for them to rename themselves ‘Republicans’.”
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3. susanai | 05.14.09
You have to be kidding me. Is this an article written in jest or tongue in cheek? I cannot believe that adult people would behave so childishly - and they [republicans] want to run the country! Please.
4. lol | 05.15.09
after running this country in the ground and saying no to any soulutions offered, all they can come up with is a rebranding of the opposition
6. Dan Rains | 05.19.09
With all the problems America is facing the GOP comes up with this inane, worthless resolution? And they want America to give them back the reigns of power? HA!
7. comity of arrears | 05.20.09
I have a resolution for them. Let’s call them the Republican Fascist Party. Go here to see the counter-proposal: http://comityofarrears.blogspot.com.
8. Fergen Denja | 06.16.09
I’m actually worried, the republican party is making itself not a viable option anymore and we’ll just have one option for voting. The republican party needs to get itself back to sanity or we’ll be in trouble later on (I say this as an extreme liberal and voted for Obama).
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Dave | 05.14.09
Keep digging GOP… you’re making that hole of yours deeper every day.