Democrats fall in love, and Republicans fall in line.

[Garson O'Toole]

James A. Landau asked about a phrase in a recent George Will column.
Barry Popik examined the phrase. Below is a link to his webpage on the
topic. Bill Clinton was a locus for popularization though he did not
claim coinage.

“Democrats fall in love; Republicans fall in line”
Entry from January 01, 2010

Short link: http://goo.gl/Wy3yq

Long link: http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/democrats_fall_in_love_republicans_fall_in_line/

Garson

> The second paragraph of today's George Will column contains an "axiom" which I have never heard before:
>
> <quote>
> Rick Santorum has become central because Iowa Republicans ignored an axiom that is as familiar as it is false: Democrats fall in love, and Republicans fall in line. Republicans, supposedly hierarchical, actually are — let us say the worst — human. They crave fun. Supporting Mitt Romney still seems to many like a duty, the responsible thing to do. Suddenly, supporting Santorum seems like a lark, partly because a week or so ago he could quit complaining about media neglect and start having fun, which is infectious.
> </quote>
>
> Has anybody heard this proverb (or whatever) before?
>
> The closest I can think of is a line by (I think) Tip O'Neil.  He was delivering a set of FACETIOUS "Republicans do x, Democrats do y" statements, and ended with something like "Democrats believe in sex.  That's why there are more Democrats than Republicans".
>
> WARNING to anyone intending to read this particular George Will column---only the first part is amusing.  The last part is a polemic.
>
>     - James A. Landau
>
> _____________________________________________________________
> Netscape.  Just the Net You Need.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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