Socialists offended by Republicans renaming Democrats

How do you offend a Socialist? Call him a Democrat.

With the Republican party reeling, some in the GOP think the answer to their problems could be pretty simple. It's all in a name.

One of the agenda items at a special meeting of the Republican National Committee next week is to formally rename the opposition from the Democratic Party to the "Democrat Socialist Party" -- a strategy perhaps modeled after the very successful effort to rename French fries "Freedom fries."

Succeed

One of the proponents of this move, a Mr. James Bopp (we'll call him "Hale"), told David Weigel at the Washington Independent that the resolution will pass.

“I don’t know of any opposition to it,” Hale said.

There might be some. Like one of the de facto leaders of the Republican party who spoke out against it.

Rush Limbaugh Michael Steele wrote a memo last month stating that he agreed that "Democrats are indeed marching America toward European-style socialism.... But I believe these proposed resolutions will accomplish little than to give the media and our opponents the opportunity to mischaracterize Republicans.”

Alternative

During an online chat yesterday hosted by the Washington Post, one participant who called himself a "lifelong Republican" appeared exasperated before offering up his own strategy.

"Seriously? At long last, that's the party of Lincoln?" he wrote. "Why not just call 'em the 'Democrat Socialist Poopy-head Baby-Eater Party' and be done with it?"

Most upset

Who might be the most offended by the effort? Democrats, for having their name impugned? No, they'll laugh. Republicans? No, most will sink into a deeper depression.

It's the Socialists. They'll get bent out of shape. The head Socialist told the Independent that it will give "socialism a bad name."

“It’s objectionable,” said Frank Llewellyn, “because they’re giving socialism a bad name by associating it with the Democrats, who are the second-most capitalist party in the world. The election of this president, sadly, hasn’t changed that.”

Idea

If Hale is unsuccessful next week in rebranding the Democrats, Christopher Orr at the New Republic has a creative suggestion. "If Bopp really wants to turn the public against the Dems, he could call for them to rename themselves 'Republicans'."

------

Hey, we'll call you whatever you want. Just follow us on Twitter!