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:''For the political party in Thailand, see [[Democrat Party (Thailand)]]''

:''For the political party in Thailand, see [[Democrat Party (Thailand)]]''

'''Democrat Party''' is the ungrammatically correct term for the [[Democratic Party]].  The Party is "[[democratic]]," and proper nouns like "Democrat" is a correct term to describe a person who is in the Democratic Party In fact, the Democratic Party is more democratic than the other political parties.

'''Democrat Party''' is the grammatically correct term for the [[Democratic Party]].  The Party is not "[[democratic]]," and proper nouns like "Democrat" are not converted into adjectives by adding "ic" as a suffix.  For example, it is not the "Republicanic Party," or the "Libertarianic Party," or a "Smith-ic Wedding."  Yet many Democrats bristle at the term "Democrat Party," and perhaps they prefer the false illusion that their party is somehow more "democratic" than other parties. In fact, the Democrat Party is '''''less''''' democratic than the other political parties, as '''''demonstrated again by the last-minute, undemocratic replacement of [[Joe Biden]] with [[Kamala Harris]] as its presidential nominee in 2024'''''.

In the 1800s, the Democratic Party was predominantly social conservative, pro-states rights and pro-[[slavery]].  Today, the Democratic Party is predominantly social liberal.

In the 1800s, the Democrat Party was predominantly pro-[[slavery]].  Today, the Democrat Party is predominantly [[pro-abortion]] and [[left-wing]] on social and economic issues.

==History of usage==

==History of usage==

"Democrat Party" has a long history of usage by critics of the [[Democratic Party]] — mostly Republicans, but also third party leaders like [[Ralph Nader]].<ref>See "Transcript: Ralph Nader on 'Meet The Press' Sunday, May 7, 2000" at [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/050800-03.htm](Nader repeatedly uses the term "Democratic Party" in the transcript); "Presidential candidate Ralph Nader makes stop in Minnesota; sees little difference between Bush, Kerry," Oct 27, 2004, at [http://www.hometownsource.com/2004/October/27nader.html]</ref> The history has been traced by scholars and commentators to the early 20th century.<ref>including Feuerlicht (1957), Lyman (1958), Safire (1993), Sperber and Trittschuh (1962), Numberg (2005) and Hertzberg (2006).</ref>  The earliest known use of the term, according to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'', was in Britain in 1890: "Whether a little farmer...is going to rule the Democrat Party in America."<ref>under "Democrat" 4 citing ''Spectator'' 15 Nov. 1890 p 676.</ref> The term was used by [[Herbert Hoover]] in 1932, and in the late 1930s by Republicans who used it to criticize Democratic big city machines run by powerful political bosses in what they considered undemocratic fashion. Republican leader [[Harold Stassen]] said in 1940, "I emphasized that the party controlled in large measure at that time by [Frank] Hague in New Jersey, [Tom] Pendergast in Missouri and Kelly-Nash in Chicago should not be called a 'Democratic Party.' It should be called the 'Democrat Party.'"<ref>Hertzberg (2006) citing Safire</ref>

"Democrat Party" has a long history of usage by critics of the [[Democratic Party]] — mostly Republicans, but also third-party leaders like [[Ralph Nader]].<ref>See "Transcript: Ralph Nader on 'Meet The Press' Sunday, May 7, 2000" at [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/050800-03.htm](Nader repeatedly uses the term "Democratic Party" in the transcript); "Presidential candidate Ralph Nader makes stop in Minnesota; sees little difference between Bush, Kerry," Oct 27, 2004, at [http://www.hometownsource.com/2004/October/27nader.html]</ref> The history has been traced by scholars and commentators to the early 20th century.<ref>including Feuerlicht (1957), Lyman (1958), Safire (1993), Sperber and Trittschuh (1962), Numberg (2005) and Hertzberg (2006).</ref>  The earliest known use of the term, according to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'', was in Britain in 1890: "Whether a little farmer...is going to rule the Democrat Party in America."<ref>under "Democrat" 4 citing ''Spectator'' 15 Nov. 1890 p 676.</ref> The term was used by [[Herbert Hoover]] in 1932, and in the late 1930s by Republicans who used it to criticize Democratic big city machines run by powerful political bosses in what they considered undemocratic fashion. Republican leader [[Harold Stassen]] said in 1940, "I emphasized that the party controlled in large measure at that time by [Frank] Hague in New Jersey, [Tom] Pendergast in Missouri and Kelly-Nash in Chicago should not be called a 'Democratic Party.' It should be called the 'Democrat Party.'"<ref>Hertzberg (2006) citing Safire</ref>

The noun-as-adjective has been used by numerous Republican leaders since the 1940s and appears in most GOP national platforms since 1948.<ref>''National Party Platforms, 1840-1996'', editors Kirk H. Porter, and Donald Bruce Johnson, (1996).</ref> In 1947 the Republican leader Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] said, "Nor can we expect any other policy from any Democrat Party or any Democrat President under present day conditions. They can not possibly win an election solely through the support of the solid South, and yet their political strategists believe the Southern Democrat Party will not break away no matter how radical the allies imposed upon it."<ref>Robert Taft, ''The Papers of Robert A. Taft'', edited by Clarence E. Wunderlin, Jr., 2003, 3:313.</ref> President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] used the term in his acceptance speech in 1952 and in partisan speeches to Republican groups.<ref>''Washington Post'',  October 28, 1958, page A8.</ref> Ruth Walker notes how [[Joseph McCarthy]] repeatedly used the phrase "the Democrat Party," and critics argue that if McCarthy used the term in the 1950s then no one else should do so.<ref>Walker (2005).</ref>

The noun-as-adjective has been used by numerous Republican leaders since the 1940s and has appeared in most GOP national platforms since 1948.<ref>''National Party Platforms, 1840-1996'', editors Kirk H. Porter, and Donald Bruce Johnson, (1996).</ref> In 1947 the Republican leader Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] said, "Nor can we expect any other policy from any Democrat Party or any Democrat President under present-day conditions. They can not possibly win an election solely through the support of the solid South, and yet their political strategists believe the Southern Democrat Party will not break away no matter how radical the allies imposed upon it."<ref>Robert Taft, ''The Papers of Robert A. Taft'', edited by Clarence E. Wunderlin, Jr., 2003, 3:313.</ref> President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] used the term in his acceptance speech in 1952 and in partisan speeches to Republican groups.<ref>''Washington Post'',  October 28, 1958, page A8.</ref> Ruth Walker notes how [[Joseph McCarthy]] repeatedly used the phrase "the Democrat Party," and critics argue that if McCarthy used the term in the 1950s then no one else should do so.<ref>Walker (2005).</ref>

==Current usage==

==Current usage==

===Democrats using "Democrat" as adjective===

===Democrats using "Democrat" as adjective===

Although nationally prominent Democrats carefully avoid "Democrat party," they have started to use "Democrat" as an adjective, as in the phase, "not a Democrat or Republican problem."  Thus Vice President-elect Joe Biden, speaking of the [[recession of 2008]], said "This is not a Democrat or Republican problem, we’ve got ourselves a problem." Likewise Rep. Charles Rangel in prepared remarks said regarding the recession of 2008, "This is not a Democrat or Republican problem, but an American problem."<ref>see [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/tag/cnn-political-producer-alexander-marquardt/ Biden Statement of Dec. 2, 2008]; also see [http://waysandmeans.house.gov/News.asp?FormMode=release&ID=862 Rangel statement of Feb. 13. 2009]</ref>

Although nationally prominent Democrats carefully avoid "Democrat Party," they have started to use "Democrat" as an adjective, as in the phrase, "not a Democrat or Republican problem."  Thus Vice President-elect Joe Biden, speaking of the [[recession of 2008]], said "This is not a Democrat or Republican problem, we’ve got ourselves a problem." Likewise, Rep. Charles Rangel in prepared remarks said regarding the recession of 2008, "This is not a Democrat or Republican problem, but an American problem."<ref>see [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/tag/cnn-political-producer-alexander-marquardt/ Biden Statement of Dec. 2, 2008]; also see [http://waysandmeans.house.gov/News.asp?FormMode=release&ID=862 Rangel statement of Feb. 13. 2009]</ref>

Regarding the New Jersey budget crisis,  "It’s not a Democrat or Republican problem," said Governor Jon Corzine.<ref>see [http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=corzines_choice June 20, 2008 interview.]</ref>

Regarding the New Jersey budget crisis,  "It’s not a Democrat or Republican problem," said Governor Jon Corzine.<ref>see [http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=corzines_choice June 20, 2008 interview.]</ref>

Some believe that the use of the noun "Democrat" as an adjective is ungrammatical.<ref>Copperud (1980)</ref>  Using a noun as a modifier of another noun is not grammatically incorrect in modern English in the formation of a compound noun, i.e. "shoe store," "school bus," "peace movement," "Senate election," etc. Americans commonly speak of "the Iraq war" rather than "the Iraqi war."<ref name=walker>Walker (2005); [https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0812097203&id=efMpTxl3n2cC&pg=PA64&lpg=PA64&dq=%22nouns+used+as+adjectives%22&sig=7SOy_ENpfdI1iBit9e4yF36KwGM ''Master the Basics: English''] by Jean Yatets, 1996, page 64.</ref>  

Some believe that the use of the noun "Democrat" as an adjective is ungrammatical.<ref>Copperud (1980)</ref>  Using a noun as a modifier of another noun is not grammatically incorrect in modern English in the formation of a compound noun, i.e. "shoe store," "school bus," "peace movement," "Senate election," etc. Americans commonly speak of "the Iraq war" rather than "the Iraqi war."<ref name=walker>Walker (2005); [https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0812097203&id=efMpTxl3n2cC&pg=PA64&lpg=PA64&dq=%22nouns+used+as+adjectives%22&sig=7SOy_ENpfdI1iBit9e4yF36KwGM ''Master the Basics: English''] by Jean Yatets, 1996, page 64.</ref>  

In American history many parties were named by their opponents (Federalists, Loco-Focos, Know Nothings, Populists, Dixiecrats), including the Democrats themselves, as the Federalists in the 1790s used "Democratic Party" as a term of ridicule.<ref>Nunberg (2006); Safire, (1993), 176, 391-2, 595-6; Sperber and Trittschuh. 118-9, 150, 231-2.</ref>  

In American history, many parties were named by their opponents (Federalists, Loco-Focos, Know-Nothings, Populists, Dixiecrats), including the Democrats themselves, as the Federalists in the 1790s used "Democratic Party" as a term of ridicule.<ref>Nunberg (2006); Safire, (1993), 176, 391-2, 595-6; Sperber and Trittschuh. 118-9, 150, 231-2.</ref>  

The use of "Democrat Party" could be part of a broader linguistic trend. As one linguist explained, "We're losing our inflections – the special endings we use to distinguish between adjectives and nouns, for instance. There's a tendency to modify a noun with another noun rather than an adjective. Some may speak of "the Ukraine election" rather than 'the Ukrainian election' or 'the election in Ukraine,' for instance. It's 'the Iraq war' rather than 'the Iraqi war,' to give another example."<ref>Walker (2005)</ref>

The use of "Democrat Party" could be part of a broader linguistic trend. As one linguist explained, "We're losing our inflections – the special endings we use to distinguish between adjectives and nouns, for instance. There's a tendency to modify a noun with another noun rather than an adjective. Some may speak of "the Ukraine election" rather than 'the Ukrainian election' or 'the election in Ukraine,' for instance. It's 'the Iraq war' rather than 'the Iraqi war,' to give another example."<ref>Walker (2005)</ref>

==Objections in the [[Lamestream media]]==

==Objections in the [[Lamestream media]]==

Complaints about the term "Democrat Party" can be found in the [[lamestream media]].  ''New Yorker Magazine'' commentator Hendrik Hertzberg wrote: "There’s no great mystery about the motives behind this deliberate misnaming. 'Democrat Party' is a slur, or intended to be - a handy way to express contempt. Aesthetic judgments are [[Subjectivism|subjective]], of course, but 'Democrat Party' is jarring verging on ugly."<ref>Hertzberg (2006)</ref>

Complaints about the term "Democrat Party" can be found in the [[lamestream media]].  ''New Yorker Magazine'' commentator Hendrik Hertzberg wrote: "There’s no great mystery about the motives behind this deliberate misnaming. 'Democrat Party' is a slur, or intended to be - a handy way to express contempt. Aesthetic judgments are [[Subjectivism|subjective]], of course, but 'Democrat Party' is jarring verging on ugly."<ref>Hertzberg (2006)</ref>

==References==

==References==

* Roy H. Copperud, ''American Usage and Style: The Consensus'' 1980, pages 101-102.

* Roy H. Copperud, ''American Usage and Style: The Consensus'' 1980, pages 101-102.

* Ignace Feuerlicht. "Democrat Party," , ''American Speech'', Vol. 32, No. 3 (Oct., 1957), pp.&nbsp;228–231 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-1283%28195710%2932%3A3%3C228%3ADP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0 online in JSTOR]

* Ignace Feuerlicht. "Democrat Party," ''American Speech'', Vol. 32, No. 3 (Oct. 1957), pp.&nbsp;228–231 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-1283%28195710%2932%3A3%3C228%3ADP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0 online in JSTOR]

* Bryan A. Garner, ''A Dictionary of Modern American Usage'' 1998, p.&nbsp;196.

* Bryan A. Garner, ''A Dictionary of Modern American Usage'' 1998, p.&nbsp;196.

* Hendrik Hertzberg. [http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/060807ta_talk_hertzberg "The 'IC' Factor"] ''The New Yorker'', August 7, 2006.

* Hendrik Hertzberg. [http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/060807ta_talk_hertzberg "The 'IC' Factor"] ''The New Yorker'', August 7, 2006.