When did liberal become a dirty word?

Question

According to the dictionary liberal means
1. favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.
2. (often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform.
3. of, pertaining to, based on, or advocating liberalism.
4. favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.
5. favoring or permitting freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression: a liberal policy toward dissident artists and writers.
6. of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies.
7. free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant: a liberal attitude toward foreigners.
8. open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.
Aren't those the values that United States is noted for?

Answer 1

It's not..Own it..be proud that you think more about people and the only home we got...Earth...more than you do about money and tax cuts....

Answer 2

I think that mike b is on the right track.

Remember that in the 1960s, the federal government was pretty much the opposite of what it was during 2003-2006. In the recent period I just mentioned, Republicans held the White House, both chambers of Congress, and a majority of the Supreme Court seats. In the 60s, it was the Democrats who held all 3 branches of the federal government. And by the end of the 1960s, the country was in far worse shape than the way it had started.

Somebody has asked this kind of question before (at least once) and my answer was picked as best answer (on one of the occasions). Somebody asked when "exactly" did the word "liberal" become a dirty word? I pinpointed the year 1972 -- when the Democrats nominated a far-left liberal for President who lost by a landslide.

Lastly, I have a whole lot of skeptism about what you said in #6. Okay, so undoubtedly "liberals" would say that they PREFER "respresentational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies." (That doesn't distinguish an American liberal from an American conservative, though.) I do believe that liberals for the last 50 years have preferred judicial authoritarianism over "representational forms of government."

Answer 3

Neo-Cons sometime use it as an insult around here. The funny thing is I'm A republican. I agree with Lara K. I rarely seen A true Liberal. Few that claim to be one are truly a person of their principle. I respect people of conviction. I keep seeing so called Liberal defend Clinton, yet rarely he did anything that a liberals would be proud of. I think FMLA was the only thing.

Answer 4

It became a dirty word when "Liberals" failed to live up to the dictionary definition of the word they adopted as their monikker. They abandoned #4 and #5 completely, leaving that to the Libertarians and actually ridiculing them for their stances on individual rights and freedoms (such as gun ownership, property rights etc.), became lost in #7 until it became an attitude of entitlement to foreigners and intolerance for their own, turned # 8 into a sense of madness-- a complete lunacy in regards to any conventional ideas, traditional wisdoms or values etc. and became completely intolerant towards the religions that founded their own country.

In other words, they have corrupted their own moral core and lost the greatness that was once associated with their name. They have become a sad little stereotype that is clinging to past glories and has to pull out a dictionary definition to try to garner any legitimacy. They are "tolerant" when it suits them, "progressive" when it suits them and "free from prejudice" in name only. Instead, they should be trying to reform themselves and to begin to stand for what they once did. THEN they might not be such a dirty word.

Answer 5

When hate radio (Rush Limbaugh, and others of his ilk) became the mouth of the GOP.

Of course, that has since been joined by "liberals" with an opposing viewpoint (Air America), which merely aggravates the enmity on both extremes.

Either way, a label is merely a label, but for some weak-minded people it becomes a definition.

Answer 6

Liberals share a belief in individual rights, free enterprise, representative democracy, and the rule of law. In this sense, almost all Americans accept liberal ideals, so much so that it is easy to forget how revolutionary these ideals were when the American Constitution was written. Jefferson said "peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none." All of our founding fathers considered liberalism a foundation of “the grand experiment”, America. In our era, liberalism has been derided to appear weak and elitist, and, our military is used to enter entangling alliances with some. Think liberal, think BIG!

Answer 7

Jimmy Carter. San Francisco, Demon Crap National Convention.

Answer 8

The process by which the Republic Righteous Wing has used to demean and weaken the term liberal that actually means Democrats, is to create an image of weakness and timidity. Whereas, in reality the Republic Righteous Wing of the Nationalist Party, are really the 'stay at homes' in time of war and practice self-righteous indignation at any critics views that are different from theirs.
A good way to tell them from good, decent, intelligent citizens is, they usually wrap themselves in the American flag and clutch a bible. They then appear indignent, and self righteous and hurt at being reminded that they didn't actually serve in the military at all.
Thanks,
John

Answer 9

TECHX69- You speak like a true liberal. What you are suggesting reeks of dictatorship. This comes as no suprise. After all, history has shown that Liberalism breeds Socialism, and Socialism breeds Communism. Go ahead and elect Clinton you fool, but don't complain when jack-booted bastards break down your door to take everything from you. After all, it's what you wanted...

Answer 10

the 60s

Answer 11

When the republicans saw them as a threat, I guess. Slandering your opponent always happens in politics. This time the republicans realize they are going to lose in '08, and are trying to pull out all the stops (including this petty, slanderous play). They're just desperate to hold onto the ability to make choices for the country based on their own & their interests welfare and benifit. I.e. Money!