Why do Republican Conservatives and Fox news use the word Liberal like a Bad Word?

Question

Seriously wasn't Geaorge Washington, Benjamine Franklin, Tom Paine, and Thomas Jefferson Liberals in their time?

Answer 1

Most of the power that Republican conservatives and Fox News have is derived from the divisiveness of partisan politics. People feel better when they have someone painted as an enemy that they can heap the blame on or hate or fear. The Republicans have lost the integrity to the basic Republican tenets of lessening the scope of the government, cutting down on spending and the free market so the only way to define themselves as a party is to define themselves as what they are NOT-- liberals.

Since the liberals have been defined in a specific way by the Republicans, this means that there are several divisive issues that the Republicans can bring up that they are sure will impact people emotionally such as gay marriage, flag burning, etc. Of course, this is why the Republicans are constantly on the attack and why partisan politics have grown so heated. Without the liberals for the Republicans to beat up on, they would have to focus on actual issues and their results. Of course, this can work both ways but since this has been the modus operandi of the Republicans for a longer period of time than the Democrats, they have more historical momentum on their side to help them.

Note, there is a distinction between being Republican and being conservative as the former is a party affiliation while the latter is a political leaning. The same with Democrat and liberal.

Answer 2

Same reason the liberal Democrats and CNN use the word Conservative like it's a bad word... partisan politics. They have differing views from each other so the other MUST be evil and against all that is good... At least that's the way I see it. I only think that the extremists on both sides are nuts and need to be removed from whatever office that may hold. They really are doing more harm than good. All this fighting each other detracts from the fact that the government is supposed to do what is right for the PEOPLE. Not what is right for their career...

Answer 3

It's no surprise that Halliburton are stepping up their PR campaign (funny how that works, isn't it? They take the taxpayer's money, do a shitty job, and then use more of the taxpayer's money to make TV ads telling the taxpayer what a great job they're doing). Yes, it was revealed last week that Halliburton officially "wastes taxpayers' money" according to company whistleblowers. And not just by making god-awful TV commercials either. According to the Associated Press, former Halliburton employee Henry Bunting revealed to a Senate committee that "Top Halliburton officials frequently told employees that high prices charged by vendors were not a problem because the U.S. government would reimburse the costs and then pay the company an additional fee. Higher than necessary prices were paid for ordinary vehicles, leased for $7,500 a month, and for furniture and cellular telephone service. Halliburton tried to keep as many purchase orders as possible below $2,500 so its buyers could avoid the requirement to solicit quotes from more than one vendor. Supervisers provided buyers with a list of preferred Kuwaiti vendors, including companies that charged excessive prices. Buyers were not encouraged to identify alternative vendors." But as if wasting taxpayers' money isn't enough, Halliburton are also alleged to have been trading with the enemy. It was announced last week that "The US Treasury has reopened an investigation into whether Halliburton, the oil services firm once run by Vice President Dick Cheney, broke US laws in its dealings with Iran via a foreign subsidiary." My, my. On a side note, it was reported last week by the GAO that "A total of $3 billion in unpaid taxes is owed by more than 27,000 defense contractors." Sounds like these poor guys need another tax break! Oh, won't somebody please think of the multi-national corporations? So as you can see they too can be very liberal

Answer 4

Yes, they were, and I think they were Democrats also. But then the Democrats became the Republicans, and the Republicans became the Democrats, so who knows? Who cares?
It's wrong to judge ANYONE based on their political affiliation.
I don't watch much Fox News. A little here and there, but I balance it with reading the Washington Post, the LA Times, and the NY Times. I also peek in on the Seattle PI, and the Tacoma News Tribune. I also watch CNN, ABC and NBC news.
Yet I have voted Republican (voted for Bush, actually), and I tend to be "conservative". Though conservatives consider me too liberal, and liberals consider me to be too conservative. Meh. Go figure.

Answer 5

Actually Jesus isn't the world's first liberal, but he is the most influential. But on to the point. The word liberal is being used as a bad word because liberals are seen as those who want change and want what's better for all not just some (being the super rich). So since the super rich are in control of the Senate and the White House, they're trying to dirty the name of their opposition.

Answer 6

What? They have a another issue to bash? - No, they don't or are
too busy partying to stop to see what the real problems are.
Everything they do is to promote their party - they have no idea
of what's going on with the middle class.
I consider bashing a lack of intelligence & a first class turn-off.

You know Bush is getting ready to veto stem cell research.
That's lovely for them. All the wealthy will be able to fly to a
foreign country for treatment, while the poor die off.
It's their plan to get rid of the poor, esp., the sick poor.

Yes, I did see a victum cured of leukemia in France.
And I did see a PBS show where another disease was cured.
I don't know what's wrong with these people, but, just once,
they could shock me by talking about the real issues,
instead of the only word they know - liberal.
They just look stupid to me.

Anyone who falls for their attempt at brainwashing is a fool.

Answer 7

Liberal was not always a bad word, but it has become that now. Why? Because liberals have made it that way. They are nothing more than communists/socialists in disguise. The founding fathers would be considered the far right by todays standards.

Answer 8

Liberal became a bad word by the end of the 1960s because during that decade the liberals bit off more than they could chew, because the country seemed worse off by the end of the decade compared to the start.

Answer 9

Conservatives specialize in demonizing. They also specialize in condescension. It's a social and interpersonal trick they've learned, a kind of snobbishness. It's not that their enemies have a bad viewpoint - it's that they are the Wrong Crowd. And if you make it seem that a person with a good point is a member of The Wrong Crowd, that's all you have to do to continue with your views. They really are elitists snobs with tricks, not honest, fair-dealing political activists. And ask a Conservative to sign the Declaration of Independence, and he will not have anything to do with that radical liberal crap.

Answer 10

Have you seen some of the foolishness that serves as great ideas for liberals? Do you think any of the founding fathers would in anyway support anything that liberals say? Liberals are not logical and they promote hate and lies as truth.