Mallard Fillmore

[David A. Daniel]

Because conservatives are much better at putting a spin on stuff than
liberals.
DAD

-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
Bill Palmer
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 11:17 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Mallard Fillmore



This is the title of a rightwing political cartoon, which for unknown =
reasons, is carried in the comics section of the Raleigh News & =
Observer.

It is dull, unoriginal, and unfunny. However, in a strip last week, the =
character made the valid point that "conservative" political candidates =
brag about their conservative position, and include it in their campaign =
ads, whereas liberal candidates avoid public mention of their =
liberality.  They don't even use "progressive" in referring to =
themselves, altho when some characterization is unavoidable, they will =
generally use that term.

So the point is, and please excuse if this has already been examined in =
this list, how did "conservative" come to mean "self-reliant", =
"courageous", "dependable", and liberal to mean "devious", "weak", =
"untrustworthy", etc.?

Bill Palmer

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.862 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3183 - Release Date: 10/07/10
15:34:00

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org