Ever since they suffered significant defeats in the 2012 election, the Republican Party has talked about "rebranding" themselves. This has been anything but successful, as for every one pro-women's or pro-minorities' rights speech they give, it seems as if they give four or five in the opposite direction.
When I thought about the GOP and "rebranding" the other night, though, a thought occurred to me - the party has been quite successful with the concept of rebranding, just not when it comes to their party's image. No, the kind of rebranding I'm talking about is in reference to words. Let me run down a list of the words or concepts the GOP has seemed to successfully rebrand over the years (unfortunately):
Liberal
Actual definition: "Favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, especially as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties," "favoring or permitting freedom of action, especially with respect to matters of personal believe or expression," "open-minded or tolerant," and/or "characterized by generosity."
GOP's rebranded definition: "Worthless moochers, takers, and socialists who just want to destroy freedom and punish success."
Socialism
Actual definition: "A theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole."
GOP's rebranded definition: "What Democrats all are. It's the same thing as communism. These no good, stinkin' communist socialist Marxist progressive liberal Democrats are trying to destroy what our Founding Fathers had in mind with capitalism!"
Welfare
Actual definition: "Receiving financial aid from the government or from a private organization because of hardship and need."
GOP's rebranded definition: "Lazy, irresponsible, drug addicts, who don't want to work and just want to take our money, so they can continue being lazy, irresponsible drug addicts!"
Patriotism
Actual definition: "Devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty."
GOP's rebranded definition: "Shouting to the the heavens about how much you love your country (while doing little to nothing to actually show that)."
Christian
Actual definition: "Of, pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ."
GOP's rebranded definition: "Screaming with all your might how much you love Jesus; giving to the rich and taking from the poor; condemning gays and slutty baby-killers (pregnant mothers); you know, loving everyone like Jesus would."
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberal?s=t
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/socialism?s=t
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/welfare?s=t
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/patriotism?s=t
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/christian?s=t
When I thought about the GOP and "rebranding" the other night, though, a thought occurred to me - the party has been quite successful with the concept of rebranding, just not when it comes to their party's image. No, the kind of rebranding I'm talking about is in reference to words. Let me run down a list of the words or concepts the GOP has seemed to successfully rebrand over the years (unfortunately):
Liberal
Actual definition: "Favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, especially as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties," "favoring or permitting freedom of action, especially with respect to matters of personal believe or expression," "open-minded or tolerant," and/or "characterized by generosity."
GOP's rebranded definition: "Worthless moochers, takers, and socialists who just want to destroy freedom and punish success."
Socialism
Actual definition: "A theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole."
GOP's rebranded definition: "What Democrats all are. It's the same thing as communism. These no good, stinkin' communist socialist Marxist progressive liberal Democrats are trying to destroy what our Founding Fathers had in mind with capitalism!"
Welfare
Actual definition: "Receiving financial aid from the government or from a private organization because of hardship and need."
GOP's rebranded definition: "Lazy, irresponsible, drug addicts, who don't want to work and just want to take our money, so they can continue being lazy, irresponsible drug addicts!"
Patriotism
Actual definition: "Devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty."
GOP's rebranded definition: "Shouting to the the heavens about how much you love your country (while doing little to nothing to actually show that)."
Christian
Actual definition: "Of, pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ."
GOP's rebranded definition: "Screaming with all your might how much you love Jesus; giving to the rich and taking from the poor; condemning gays and slutty baby-killers (pregnant mothers); you know, loving everyone like Jesus would."
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberal?s=t
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/socialism?s=t
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/welfare?s=t
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/patriotism?s=t
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/christian?s=t
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