[Auntie Mame]

Kevin DuJan has talked about calling Democrats leftists for years. He's right. If you are talking to your Democrat neighbor you will not offend them if you speak about "leftists," because they don't think they're a "leftist." But if you speak about liberals they get defensive and you lose any ability you may have to pound sense into them. And as one commenter said:

"Rip a page out of the Democrat play book. Tag every descriptor with extreme. Extreme leftist Extreme lefty Extreme Marxist Extreme socialist It works."

[Auntie Mame]

What do you think about this?

[VTenigma]

I never use the term “liberal” unless it’s in quotes. I use progressives if I’m trying to be nice, and commies most of the time.

[realcleanguy]

Democrats are anti-democracy, and they are the opposite of true liberals. How someone can call themselves a liberal and be a democrat today is a mystery

[fruser1]

This is why I just call them communists.

I only use socialist if someone points it out, but only to elaborate why I think it’s as bad as communism and, in some ways, worse.

[dfwgator]

Communists hijacked the word “Liberal” years ago.

[Chickensoup]

chickensoup has been saying this ever since she first came to FR 17 years ago!

Words matter and how they are used matters.

Always use leftist.

Always paint them for what they are.

[mdmathis6]

Democrat leftists are morally libertine but politically fascist and totalitarian in their views as to how the state should be run!

I think people confuse liberal with libertine!

[Prolixus]

Yes! Exactly! Liberal is a euphemism. We should be calling Democrats radicals. Radical is much more accurate a description of their behavior and policies and it doesn't have any of the warm fuzzy connotations that liberal has (that is outside of the Conservative Tent).

[luvbach1]

...“liberal” is a word that the general public enjoys hearing and they have a good connotation that comes with it: they think it means open-minded, generous, kind, and caring....

I disagree. Most people with any kind of political awareness learned long ago the "liberals" are among the most illiberal people conceivable. "Liberals" themselves realized this years ago and have strived assiduously to supplant the term with the word "progressive." They are no more progressive (except toward a dictatorship) than they are liberal. I prefer to call them liberals precisely because of their aversion to the term.

[SES1066]

I fully agree with this and have been consistent about using ‘Leftist’ and ‘Statist’ for most of the past year, if not longer! I also dislike the use of ‘Progressive’ as it too is TOO POSITIVE for the Low Information Voter. If it is a term that they have STOLEN, we need to dishonor that theft and call them for what they are; the Manic, Marching Leftist Morons with Delusions of Competency in State Control (MMLMDCSC)!

[bk1000]

My ex would shut me down if I spoke of liberals or Democrats, even occasionally ‘the Left’. I could speak of Progressives and it was OK.
The Dims are all about using cute, feel-good phrases to pander to their emotional base. Any bill that begins with ‘affordable’, or describes ‘fairness’ is to be avoided. Even the homos co-opted God’s rainbow to use as their flag. It’s a psych game.

[Nateman]

“Collectivist” is the term Ayn Rand came up. When we refer to Hillary : Hard core collectivist wife of Impeached Ex-President Clinton.

[chopperman]

‘Globalist’ should be today’s catchword.