Ideas on Ice: Political Code Words

COLUMN: Political campaigns exist on several levels, some high-minded, some in the gutter. What is interesting this year is the emergence of new code words. With innuendo and subterfuge, a shipload of low-road commentary is being slipped into mainstream discourse. What follows is a brief sampling of how below-the-belt smear tactics and race-baiting are being made to sound reasonable.

Here is what they say:
That candidate is “elitist.”
Here is what they mean:
That candidate is “uppity.”

Here is what they say:
That candidate will raise taxes.
Here is what they mean:
That candidate will make corporations pay their fair share.

Here is what they say:
That candidate doesn’t understand economics.
Here is what they mean:
That candidate will tax people earning more than a quarter million dollars.

Here is what they say:
Is that candidate ready to lead?
Here is what they mean:
OMFG that candidate is black!

Here is what they say:
Is that candidate ready for a 3 a.m. phone call?
Here is what they mean:
OMFG that candidate is black!

Here is what they say:
That candidate doesn’t have enough foreign policy experience.
Here is what they mean:
OMFG that candidate is black!

[tags]Obama, McCain, Democratic, Republican, politics, campaign rhetoric[/tags]

About John Scott G

John Scott G owns G-Man Marketing (gmanmarketing.com) in Los Angeles, where he consults on marketing and sonic branding, creates cross-media advertising campaigns (print, broadcast, Net), produces radio commercials, and composes music and aural IDs for radio and TV spots. © John Scott G. (Note: The opinions expressed by JSG do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of this site or its publisher.)

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