Republicans Have Been Smearing Democrats As Socialists Since Way Before You Were Born

[DonViejo]

02/24/2019 05:45 am ET

From FDR to Barack Obama to Bernie Sanders, conservatives are reading from the same playbook.

By Paul Blumenthal

Republicans believe they have hit on a bold, brand new line of attack that is sure to doom Democrats heading into the 2020 elections. President Donald Trump made it a central point of his State of the Union. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), head of the National Republican Congressional Committee, promises to bring this fresh hit in his party’s effort to regain control of the House.

The big plan is to ― wait for it ― attack Democrats as socialists.

“Socialism is the greatest vulnerability by far that the House Democrats have,” Emmer told the New York Times.

As any American who has developed to the stage of object permanence can tell you, this isn’t a new plan. It is, in fact, the oldest trick in the book.

Every single political actor since the late 19th century advocating for some form progressive social change ― whether it be economic reform, challenging America’s racial caste system or advocating for women’s rights or LGBT rights ― has been tarred as a socialist or a communist bent on destroying the American Free Enterprise System.

more
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/democrats-socialists-republicans_n_5c706ea1e4b03cfdaa553c17

[procon]

1. Heaven forfend that the working class finally rise up

against their wealthy overlords. Have we finally reached the tipping point where even the best focus group slogans have lost the ability to keep us enthralled with Republican BS?

[shanny]

2. and yet so many--even here!--continue to fall for it.

smdh

[Scubamatt]

3. And we never seem . . .

to learn how to fight back! We have such a powerful message, but we seem afraid to say it. We need to learn how to go on the attack and talk about Republican class warfare as all they do is serve the 1% - that’s not “we the people.”How many Americans still view the ‘Pubs as the “fiscal responsibility” party even though NO Republican president has had a balanced budget since Eisenhower!!! I love how the new group of leaders like AOC is willing to put strong effective messages about our priorities out there. Don’t accept Republican and media labels!