Demagogues

The Dividing Line on Illegal Immigrants – washingtonpost.com
Connolly, who is seeking a second term as chairman Nov. 6, said during a meeting with Washington Post reporters and editors. “We’re not going to demagogue. We’re not going to essentially roll back the welcome mat. . . . That’s not why I ran for office and that isn’t who we are, and we’re not going to do that.” (…)

Baise, who has taken an understated approach to the issue in his own campaign, defended Stewart.

“I don’t think Corey Stewart is demagoguing the issue,” he said. “Corey Stewart is trying to act responsibly and trying to figure out what is the situation in Prince William County.”

You’ve really got to wonder whether these guys actually even know what the word demagogue means. The last time I checked, demagogue was still a noun.

Posted by RebeccaHartong on October 23, 2007 under Politics

4 Comments to Read


  1. I had to check it out.

    Unfortunately, I’ll have to add this to my list that includes incentivizing and gifting. :(

    dem·a·gogue /ˈdɛməˌgɒg, -ˌgɔg/ noun, verb, -gogued, -gogu·ing.

    –noun

    1. a person, esp. an orator or political leader, who gains power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people.

    2. (in ancient times) a leader of the people.

    –verb (used with object)

    3. to treat or manipulate (a political issue) in the manner of a demagogue; obscure or distort with emotionalism, prejudice, etc.

    –verb (used without object)

    4. to speak or act like a demagogue.

    Also, dem·a·gog.

    ————————————————————

    [Origin: 1640–50;

    2. Linn on October 24th, 2007 at 5:05 pm

  2. Interesting! My dictionary doesn’t show it as a verb. It only shows it as a noun. Hm, well… I guess even I learn new things every day! Thanks!

    3. Rebecca Hartong on October 24th, 2007 at 5:26 pm

  3. Ah ha! More information was available at the foot of the dictionary.com page for the word “demagogue”.

    Usage Note: Among the nouns that the Usage Panel is loath to see used as a verb is demagogue, meaning “to speak about something in the manner of a demagogue.” Ninety-four percent reject it in the sentence The President will demagogue Medicare, unwilling to acknowledge that fundamental reforms need to be made. Resistance to the use of traditional nouns as verbs is sometimes strong, especially when the novel usages are associated with business or bureaucratic jargon.

    I note also that Merriam-Webster online lists it only as a verb, though my research reveals that demogogue was apparently first used as a verb back in the mid 1600s. It remains controversial, however, and I forbid its use as a verb here!

    4. Rebecca Hartong on October 24th, 2007 at 7:26 pm

  4. Hey its her blog…no more demo#!@*ing…. and…is Incentivizing a word? Now THERE is a Bushismed word. Dont be so hypocritilystical.

    5. David c on October 27th, 2007 at 10:29 pm

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