January 2003

Evasion Terminology: The Pride and Joy of the Morally Corrupt GOP

Point: Terms such as "The Race Card" and "Class Warfare" are used by Conservatives to scare the dumb and paranoid from discussing an issue with them, or to just simply confuse the issues.

It's hard to say what's more frustrating these days- listening to George Bush dictating US policy, or waiting for strong Democratic opposition to his policies. Democratic weaknesses are far more apparent now as the minority party than when they had a President in the White House. The Democrats lack a concrete set of terminology to dictate the tone and direction of public policy discussion (and, apparently, the guts to take a stand). The Republicans dominate in that arena. We like to call it, for lack of a better term, 'evasion terminology.'

'Evasion Terminology' stops intelligent discussion dead in it's tracks. The words have a concrete history that conjure up images for all people of a certain aspect of the issue which serves to misdirect any conversation form the issue itself. The words are deep with implication, heavy with innuendo, yet light on reality. The use of such terms gives the party an advantage in our world of quick media sound-bites, and confuses people during every election cycle. And, as we have already stated, the Republicans have a clear advantage.

Example: In Maryland's race for Governor, candidate Kathleen Townsend got tons of grief for "playing the race card" at the one debate against Bob Ehrlich. She answered a question in reference to affirmative action by mentioning racial violence and discrimination of the past. By accusing her of playing the "race card", many pundits, and then individuals, disregarded her point. People want to treat the issue of 'race' in political discussion as a non-issue or irrelevant - as if racism died way back in the 1960's. But racism, and it's effects are unavoidable in America. Yet the only way a real conversation about race can start in this country when the goddamn Senate Majority Leader makes an ass of himself in the name of segregation, not when a Democrat tries to defend affirmative action.

Of course, another way for the Republicans to dodge the subject of affirmative action is by call it 'quotas.' There is no doubt that one of the most illogical forms of affirmative action is the quota system. When it is used as a way to even the odds for the disadvantaged, not just issue a free ride, affirmative action is best. But by calling it a 'quota' system in every discussion, they fire up all the anger of the displaced-white-males in their target audience, ignoring that these white males have been given great advantages already- from a much better chance to receiving a quality education to the most unfair privilege: nepotism.

'Class Warfare' is probably the most egregious piece of evasion terminology used by the right. Even before the latest tax reduction plan from Bush's people was released, he and his spokesman, Ari Fleischer, accused reporters and critics of waging 'class warfare' just for being in opposition to lop-sided tax cuts for the wealthy, thereby difusing the truth of the matter- that these tax cuts are, essentially, class warfare being waged against the middle and lower classes. Far from participating in a discussion about the proposals, the term allows Bush to ask "Do you hate the rich? Because they are my friends, and I am trying to look out for their needs." without saying it in so many words. While this is politically brilliant spin, it's absolutely morally reprehensible.

The words 'class warfare', play into the hands of the conservative talk radio. The 2 percent of the population that will reap the rewards of the giant tax-cut are painted to be one-third or one-quarter of the population. Blow-hards like O'Reilly and Limbaugh scream 'class warfare' at people who oppose the tax-cuts to make it seem like the rich are a large and oppressed 'class' of people in fear of their fellow citizens. All this hot air directs the conversation away from the tax-cut itself and into a castrated discussion about 'class' in American.

The Liberals don't have that kind of verbal advantage. Sure, they can call themselves "progressives", but they are real short on 'evasion terminology.' What's more sad, is they seem to lack the initiative and voice to blow the whistle on this nonsense. Why can't Tom Daschle come out and say "this is bullshit" and tell us why? Is it because the media is clearly controlled by conservative interests (yes, while employing many liberal reporters and editors), or is it because the "progressives" are just too gutless to stand up for those that elected them? Who can say. But in either case, it's not good for anybody but the millionaires already collecting their spoils of this class war.

"Media elite", and "Tax-and-spend" are older terms from years past that give the false impression that the Republicans are nothing more that rough and tumble working class Janes and Joes just trying to make it in a world of "smarty-pants" liberals who are trying to take all your money away and spend it on illiterate mothers.

The problem with the liberals is that we know how to complain about it, but we don't know how to compete. All we know is that the Republicans (not to mention 80 percent of talk radio who get the memo as well) have the upper hand. And we, the liberals, think we're above such shenanigans. But the longer we wait, the more people the republicans will take from the voting base. And the harder it will be to revive the voting public to believe in liberal, or at least progressive ideals.

Obviously, the best solution to this epidemic of such cynical governance, short of taking to the streets, is for us to stop electing such cowards. In either case, it's about time for us, the American People, to either learn to be happy living under such oppressive, amoral rule, or get a healthy sense of outrage and do something about it. Because this is bullshit and I have no problem saying it.