language of politics

[Jessie Emerson]

An article by Ann McElvoy, published October 19 in the Independent (UK)
discusses briefly the language of politics as brought out by the
presidential debates.

"Watching the last of the US presidential debates yesterday was akin to
consuming an hour's worth of cold porridge: no salt or sugar added. What
have they done to language, so that it is stripped of any tension and
meaning? What is the difference between 'affirmative action' (Gore) and
'affirmative access' (Bush)?"

The full text of the article can be found here:

http://www.commondreams.org/views/101900-103.htm

Jessie Emerson