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AverageOldGuy

(3,935 posts)

10. Dates directly to Newt Gingrich, 1990, "Language A Key Mechanism of Control"

Reply to Miles Archer (Original post)

Fri Oct 17, 2025, 11:28 AM

Oct 2025

1990, Newt Gingrich, "Language A Key Mechanism of Control"

As head of GOPAC, Newt Gingrich encouraged GOP candidates to use combative language that drew a stark contrast between Republicans and Democrats as a means of attracting media attention. It was so effective that within 15 years, the red-blue divide had become the narrative framework for discussing American politics.

Gingrich’s rise to the GOPAC chairmanship and later, to Speaker of the House, was propelled by his recognition that media attention is equal to political power, and that political conflict and controversy is what the media thrived on. Through GOPAC, he made sure others in the party followed his lead.

Language: A Key Mechanism of Control

Text of Newt's message to Republicans.
https://www.uh.edu/~englin/rephandout.html

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Highlight:

"The Democrat Party." It's my go-to litmus test for Republicans about to spew outright lies and divisive b*llsh*t. [View all] Miles Archer Oct 2025 OP

Stumbled across the web page for "Democrat Women of Mercer County" yesterday. sl8 Oct 2025 #1

IIRC, this was a linguistic innovation from Rush. CincyDem Oct 2025 #2

It goes as far back as the early Federalists.. ananda Oct 2025 #4

I often reply to people who say that with... themaguffin Oct 2025 #3

It's the way it's used, like a pejorative. Diamond_Dog Oct 2025 #5

Hey, that's fine. durablend Oct 2025 #6

I call them Bettie Oct 2025 #7

Word Association 2na fisherman Oct 2025 #8

Of course, some people are just ignorant PatSeg Oct 2025 #9

Dates directly to Newt Gingrich, 1990, "Language A Key Mechanism of Control" AverageOldGuy Oct 2025 #10

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