Why did the Democratic party choose a jackass as a symbol?

Question

How did this come to be?
The Republicans chose an animal known for strength and a good memory.

The Democrats chose an animal known for its stuborness and stench.

What is the the real meaning of these symbols, when/why were they chosen

This is a serious question. Im doing a test to see how many liberals attack me on this.

Answer 1

When Andrew Jackson ran for president in 1828, his opponents tried to label him a "jackass" for his populist views and his slogan, "Let the people rule." Jackson, however, picked up on their name calling and turned it to his own advantage by using the donkey on his campaign posters. During his presidency, the donkey was used to represent Jackson's stubbornness when he vetoed re-chartering the National Bank.

The first time the donkey was used in a political cartoon to represent the Democratic party, it was again in conjunction with Jackson. Although in 1837 Jackson was retired, he still thought of himself as the Party's leader and was shown trying to get the donkey to go where he wanted it to go. The cartoon was titled "A Modern Baalim and his ***."

Interestingly enough, the person credited with getting the donkey widely accepted as the Democratic party's symbol probably had no knowledge of the prior associations. Thomas Nast, a famous political cartoonist, came to the United States with his parents in 1840 when he was six. He first used the donkey in an 1870 Harper's Weekly cartoon to represent the "Copperhead Press" kicking a dead lion, symbolizing Lincoln's Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, who had recently died. Nast intended the donkey to represent an anti-war faction with whom he disagreed, but the symbol caught the public's fancy and the cartoonist continued using it to indicate some Democratic editors and newspapers.

You can get 'the rest of the story' at the web site listed below.

Answer 2

WOW, what an insightful, deep question. You must be really really smart. I mean, wow, I could never have thought of a question as deep as this. Im guessing that perhaps you are a professor of Philosophy or the like as I doubt a person of normal intelligence could come up with anything as deep as this.
I really really think you should consider a position with a Government think tank. Our country needs great minds such as yours, so deep and complex. Wow, it was in honor to just brush greatness by reading this really really insightful question. Thanks Genius....... Im sure that your MENSA application was put to the top of the pile. WOW,

Answer 3

Don't forget the jackass is also known for bitting the hand that feeds it and kicking innocent passers-by .
The LIBERALS should adopt the OSTRICH as their symbol , it sticks it's head in the sand or runs away and occasionally tries to do both at the same time .
Truely a confused old BYRD .

Answer 4

It's because they were in a political cartoon in the days. However, I don't know why they chose to take under something that was made to offend them... kind of like Yankee Doodle... =)

Answer 5

Association.

Answer 6

Andrew jackson....they used to call him a Donkey for being stuborn....


Donkeys may be known for their stench...but elephant turds are huge....kinda like the current turd in the white house.

Answer 7

I would say the donkey represent being a "work horse" or the one with burden. The average joe tilling the fields to put food on the table.

Answer 8

I expect it's because the dung beetle and the mosquito were already taken by even more asinine organizations!

Answer 9

i dont know man but it seems pretty fitting to me. i mean they are just as dumb if not dumber than most real jackasses ive seen.

Answer 10

I don't know. But I'm tired of not knowing... I'm going to Wikipedia to see if I can find out.