Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Dog Whistle Politics
Recently, George W. Bush made a rather odd remark about Iraq:
This seems both odd and offensive, until you realize that it's another example of "Dog Whistle Politics", a code phrase designed to be understood by his right-wing base, but not necessarily by anyone else.
According to The Agonist:
He did the same thing during the 2004 debates, using a reference to the Dred Scott decision as a code for Roe v. Wade.
Thanks to Avedon Carol of The Sideshow for posting the link, as well as a link to this illustration.
Someone should be keeping track of these things, and making sure that everyone understands what the President is really saying, whether he wants most of us to understand him or not. (Possibly someone already is.)
UPDATE: Bush is still talking about commas.
I like to tell people when the final history is written on Iraq, it will look like just a comma because there is -- my point is, there’s a strong will for democracy.
This seems both odd and offensive, until you realize that it's another example of "Dog Whistle Politics", a code phrase designed to be understood by his right-wing base, but not necessarily by anyone else.
According to The Agonist:
The phrase is: "Never put a period where God has put a comma." Which is to say - it ain't over yet, and God may well make it better. So Iraq's bad, but if we trust in God, he'll make it better.
He did the same thing during the 2004 debates, using a reference to the Dred Scott decision as a code for Roe v. Wade.
Thanks to Avedon Carol of The Sideshow for posting the link, as well as a link to this illustration.
Someone should be keeping track of these things, and making sure that everyone understands what the President is really saying, whether he wants most of us to understand him or not. (Possibly someone already is.)
UPDATE: Bush is still talking about commas.
